Liberi Reader

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Lamplighter

♪Night blankets the riverbanks♪

Lamplighter

♪Twin moons rise in loving embrace♪

Lamplighter

♪In the dark they kiss♪

Lamplighter

♪Then the stars illuminate♪

Lamplighter

♪And they blush in their glow♪

Lamplighter

Whoa!

Lamplighter

You gave me a fright, girl! What are you doing here in the middle of the night?

Pepe

Scared I'm gonna rob you?

Lamplighter

Of course not. It's only rich folks around here.

Lamplighter

Shouldn't a girl your age be on a date down at Riverside Avenue at this hour? What are you doing in front of the museum?

Pepe

I'm on the night shift.

Lamplighter

Ugh, the youth these days! My lamps used to shine on young couples in the throes of passion, but now you're all doing overtime at ungodly hours.

Lamplighter

Go on, I've lit your path. Have a safe trip home when you get off.

Pepe

Thanks for that!

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Pepe

There really is no one here... guess Titi wasn't messing with me.

Pepe

Let's see if they've picked up anything new.

Pepe

Gem workshop artifacts from the Age of Shadow. Hmm... The Originium circuits on this one is really something... assembled from multiple pieces?

Pepe

No, it was crafted out of a single piece of Originium. Amazing work. Really have to look close to see it.

Pepe

Wow, ritual instruments from the Age of Flow, found in the jungles. Are those blood spots from ritual sacrifices?

Pepe

And all these weapons... A ceremony from the Battle of Turbah Al-Sawda?

Pepe

...

Pepe

Well, I'll get to know you later. I have an appointment to keep.

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Pepe

It's here...

Pepe

Nice to meet you, old man! Sorry for disturbing your peace and quiet tonight, but I have questions that only you can answer.

Pepe

Please don't get mad at me.

Pepe

Wow, amazing!

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Pepe

Feline, approximately two meters tall. Most of the body has been replaced with mechanical parts, integrated with the remaining biological tissue.

Pepe

Skin color is purple, likely from the preservative fluids used, and it remains supple to the touch.

Pepe

A golden mask and a suit of golden armor. All internal organs have been removed.

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Pepe

Strange. Neither the mummy nor the funerary objects give any clue to the location of the trove.

Pepe

But everything from the site is here.

Pepe

Perhaps it's the gem itself that offers a hint...

Pepe

'First, the heart. At its first beat, we come to be.'

Pepe

'Second, the lungs. At their first breath, we come to feel.'

Pepe

'Third, the bowels. We fill them with food, cultivate our tongues, and develop our own likings.'

Pepe

'Fourth, the liver. We go into the night, awake and alert, for duty and obligation.'

Pepe

Now how do I use this gem?

Pepe

...

Pepe ponders for a while, then reaches into the mummy's chest cavity, placing the gem where the heart should be.

She holds her breath, waiting for something to happen.

Pepe

...

Pepe

...

Pepe

Nothing?

Pepe

No change at all...

No images or text appear. Pepe frowns and tries to retrieve the gem.

Perhaps she simply placed it wrong.

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But as soon as she reaches into the chest cavity, she senses that something is off.

There should be an empty space, but it feels like she's put her hand into water. The gem is right there before her eyes, but she feels like she's groping in a bottomless pond.

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Pepe

Huh...

???

Who goes there? Have you any idea what time it is?

Pepe

Oh no, it's security.

Pepe

...

Pepe closes the glass display case lightly, and sneaks into the darkness, holding her breath.

Museum Security

Who's there?

Museum Security

I thought I heard something.

Museum Security

Was it over here?

Pepe

(Don't come this way, no!)

Museum Security

Hey, is someone there?

Pepe

(Yikes! He's right behind me...)

Museum Security

Who is it?!

Pepe

(There's someone else?)

Mysterious Animal

Meow?

Museum Security

Oh, just a little critter. How did you get in here, cutie?

Mysterious Animal

Meow!

Museum Security

Hey, don't run! Look, I have a can of fins in oil!

Pepe

(I need to get the gem...)

Museum Security

Where did it go? I just turned a corner and it's gone?

Pepe

(Why are you coming back?!)

Museum Security

Did the last shift forget to shut the windows? Hot air's blowing in.

Museum Security

I guess that explains the critter. Can't let it run around the museum.

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Mysterious Animal

Mroaw—!

Mysterious Animal

Mroaaaw—!

Angry Woman

I don't care whose pet you are, one more sound from you and I'll have you castrated tomorrow!

Mysterious Animal

(Softly) Meow...?

Slumbering Citizen

*yawn* Sorry, Mio, I was fast asleep and didn't hear you outside.

Mio

(Shakes tail irritably)

Slumbering Citizen

Did you see that one?

Mio

(Nods)

Slumbering Citizen

Good work, Mio.

Slumbering Citizen

We've waited for so long.

Slumbering Citizen

Bring him to me as soon as you can.

Mio

(Nods)

Slumbering Citizen

Come, I have some jerky for you.

Mio

(Nudges with affection)

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???

Pepe...

???

What were you doing last night?

???

Come now... You have to tell me...

Pepe

I-It wasn't me! I didn't do it! I stayed in the whole night! Whatever it is, I didn't do it!

Anat

Pepe...?

Pepe

Anat...?

Anat

Pepe, did you... sleep last night?

Pepe

Why do you ask? I feel fine.

Anat

You fell asleep in the middle of a conversation...

Pepe

...

???

*yawn*... Morning, ladies.

Anat

You reek of alcohol, Titi. Where were you last night?

Medjehtiqedti

I took Pepe out on the town. Not like she's in town every day, after all.

Medjehtiqedti

How did you even wake up after drinking so much yesterday? And not one whiff of booze on you? Did you shower?

Pepe

Oh... yeah! My brain was all foggy, so I took a cold shower.

Anat

The opening ceremony is today, Titi.

Anat

And you took Pepe out drinking??? Don't I have enough to worry about already?!

Medjehtiqedti

Hey, I came first thing in the morning. I've looked at all the details of the exhibition. Your arrangements are perfect, except...

Anat

Is something not good enough? Just tell me, while we still have a chance to make changes.

Medjehtiqedti

You're too high strung today. Settle down.

Medjehtiqedti

Just focus on your speech. Leave this to me, and I guarantee your exhibition will go smoothly.

Anat

*sigh* Get changed before you make any promise to me. The guests will complain if they smell all that liquor on you.

Medjehtiqedti

(Whisper) That look on your face. What trouble did you get yourself into? Explain.

Pepe

(Whisper) I tried putting that gem into the mummy's chest cavity last night. I was about to retrieve it when a security guard showed up.

Pepe

(Whisper) Get me a bit of time alone with the mummy once the exhibition is over. I'll take the gem back.

Medjehtiqedti

(Whisper) Thankfully, no one has noticed anything wrong. You'll have an hour, at most. If you still can't get it out, I'll have to report that my pass got stolen.

Pepe

(Whisper) Don't worry, if I can't get it out, I'll apologize to Anat my self.

Pepe

(Whisper) How did you get that smell onto you anyway?

Medjehtiqedti

(Whisper) I poured a bottle of wine on myself before I came in.

Pepe

Explains why you're all sticky.

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Narantuya

How are preparations going over there, Ajani?

Right Earphone

No problem, Narantuya. The smoke emitter is set, and we'll have our commotion on your signal.

Narantuya

Your status, Ajazi?

Left Earphone

I'm in position.

Narantuya

Good. She's a Padishah's daughter, and there will be big trouble if we don't make this a clean kidnapping.

Left Earphone

I don't understand why you insist on doing it here with all these visitors around.

Narantuya

The more people, the better.

Narantuya

When the commotion happens, no one will bat an eye at a few compassionate souls carrying a poor fainted girl out of the room.

Narantuya

They'll be too busy worrying about themselves.

Right Earphone

I marked the camera blind spots on your map. Pick the right time to knock her out.

Narantuya

Right, I'll leave early to set an ambush.

Narantuya

Hopefully this needle will give her a good dream. I don't want to have to go into the jungle to make this serum again.

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Aspasia

I can't read the hieroglyphs on the sign... excuse me. Do you know how to get to the 'Northeastern Tributary' exhibit?

Picky Visitor

The Northeastern Tributary exhibit, huh...? I'm not sure. I've never been there.

Picky Visitor

We could look for it together, if you don't mind. I find the lines of your muscles more beautiful than anything on display here.

Aspasia

Please don't say that. Everything exhibited here is a piece of history.

Aspasia

All these artifacts are worth stopping to admire.

Picky Visitor

You could have just said you weren't interested and spared me the excuses.

Aspasia

...

Aspasia

Excuse me. Do you know where the Northeastern Tributary exhibit is?

Wandering Staff

Let's see... take a right there, walk five hundred meters, then take a left.

Aspasia

Thank you. I've asked quite a few people, but none of them knew where it was.

Wandering Staff

I understand. The citizens here are proud of Sargon's long history, but they don't care much about faraway places.

Wandering Staff

You should have seen when the Columbian history exhibit was running. So quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Aspasia

Yes... I can sense the arrogance.

Aspasia

Thank you for showing me the way.

Wandering Staff

Respect... that's what modern people lack.

Wandering Staff

Wait, how did I end up in this hall again? I should try the right side this time.

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Medjehtiqedti

There are more visitors than I expected.

Pepe

I'm a little worried about Anat. She's fidgeting so much she's going to tear her speech to shreds.

Medjehtiqedti

Can't be any worse than her first presentation. It took hours for her to come back to her senses that time.

Pepe

Hey, where are you going?

Medjehtiqedti

Just to have a little chat with her, get her to relax.

Anat

Phew...

Medjehtiqedti

How are the preparations going, Anat?

Anat

I can already recite this speech backwards from memory, but the moment I think about all those eyes fixed on me, listening to every word I say...

Anat

What will they think if I stutter, or make a mistake?

Medjehtiqedti

They'll all forget by dinner.

Medjehtiqedti

The Flood Festival is right around the corner. Who has room to remember one girl's embarrassment during all those festivities?

Anat

But I'm nervo—hey, why are you rubbing my ears?

Medjehtiqedti

Feel better now?

Anat

Yes...

Medjehtiqedti

Works every time. I still remember how Pepe and I rubbed your ears like this for an entire day to get you to relax before an interview.

Anat

...Thank you, Titi. Very thoughtful.

Bayanlar ve Baylar, take your seats, and welcome Curator Anat El-Aydin onto the stage with a round of warm applause!

Medjehtiqedti

Go. It's alright if you make a mistake, just keep going.

Medjehtiqedti

If you're so stiff, I'll sneak around behind your back and rub your ears. Better to be embarrassed together than alone, right?

Anat

Oh, Titi...

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Anat

Welcome to the Varjavandabad Museum's special exhibit, commemorating the Flood Festival.

Anat

The highlight of the exhibit is an unnamed man, discovered in the Fourth Necropolis Complex on the outskirts of the city, meeting the public for the first time.

Anat

Both the body, the armor and the funerary objects buried with him are remarkably well-preserved.

Anat

The extraordinary details on his clothing is clear indication of high status.

Anat

It has been dated to the early days of the New Calendar according to the Aslan dating method, making him a contemporary of Lugalszargus, the 'Shah of Past and Future'.

Anat

He has not been identified in any extant Sargonian historical records. Based on the artifacts recovered from his tomb, we theorize that he may have been...