Imprinted

The entire group sat spellbound, not able to move or speak. Dumbfounded, they sat staring at the last of the blue ink before it, too, was gone. Luca tried to open more pages but they were stuck fast. All that was left was the eerie image of an old man with hard eyes staring out of the page.

The picture gave the appearance of being able to look everyone in the eye at once. His wrinkled skin and worn attire gave Katalea the impression that their host had been around a few millennia. His eyes conveyed that this was not the first group to take up the challenge. His voice radiated distrust and weariness as it filled the room as if it played from a loudspeaker.

“You must prove yourselves worthy by solving the first puzzle. Then, and only then, will more be revealed unto you, with greater rewards and greater risks. Are you up to the task? Go forth now with urgency. Much depends on your success. Time is of the essence.”

Luca withdrew his hands from the glass encasement. He looked