If only he had arrived an hour earlier…
Quintus Maximus could not suppress his feelings. He cursed all the demons in the world! He correctly figured out all the book’s hints, he found the place, and yet, everything had been in vain.
The inn was on fire. Huge spurts of flames were rising into the sky, throwing lights and shadows on the neighboring buildings, threatening to spread to the whole village. The entire building was engulfed by the flames.
Quintus Maximus sensed a growing pain. For the whole year he had been searching for this book, he learned so many details about it. Now, when he came to the realization that he would never even be able to touch it, it felt like he had just lost his last friend. A real soulmate.
There was almost no purpose left to his life. What would he do next? Keep rotting in the forgotten library without any chance to get back to his fellow soldiers on the battlefields, while drowning his loneliness in wine?
Another flame lit up the dark corner of the yard and suddenly he saw it. A familiar coded clasp, barely visible under an old rug. The book was still almost untouched. He heard people screaming, but the old soldier did not hesitate a single moment. Just like he used to throw himself into battle, he jumped into the middle of the burning chaos.
*
"Will he survive?" the hushed voices penetrated the old soldier’s mind, and Quintus Maximus opened his eyes. After the absolute darkness, the white walls of the hospital nearly blinded him again.
"Not sure." He recognized the second voice and almost felt happy despite the pain. A hospital doctor from his cohort? How come his friend was here? How long had he been unconscious? A week? "And given his condition, I'm not sure he would appreciate that. The beam fell right on his legs. He won't be able to walk anymore." The doctor sighed.
"The old croaker." Quintus Maximus could barely speak. The doctor came closer. "Don't be so gloomy. The book is still here? I hope you didn't open it!"
"No, I didn't. The clasp is well coded. I wouldn't have been able to unlock it even if I'd tried. But I regret that I didn't throw it into the fire for what it has done to you," the old doctor frowned, and the soldier suddenly heard tears in his friend's voice. "Oh, Quintus, how could you be so reckless? Was this book really worth ruining your life?"
Quintus Maximus took a long breath, but his voice was firm and calm.
"Yes, it was absolutely worth it. Now, can you bring it to me? It took me a year to find it, I am eager to know the end of this book."
The end:
A young soldier in a brand-new praetorian equipment silently entered the library. The place has not changed even a bit since the last time he was here. The same students, same shelves, and same dust on the book covers. It was the same sly librarian who now attentively stared at the visitor.
"Is it you?" The librarian gasped. "You look… different. Younger."
Quintus Maximus laughed.
"Fresh air, good adventure, and a good read, what could be better for your health than this combination? I brought the book back. Please, put it on its usual shelf. Friends should not be separated for such a long time. And I am coming back to mine as well."
He carefully pulled the old book out of his bag and patted its cover with a smile. "Goodbye, my friend. I'm happy to bring you back home." He turned to the librarian and smiled again. "Take care of it and remember – this old book is pretty good at paying its debts."
Task:
Crack the code.
Detailed information
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Start Date / Time: |
14.12.2020 - 09:00 UTC+0 |
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End Date / Time: |
21.12.2020 – 09:00 UTC+0 |
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Winners announced on: |
22.12.2020 |
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Winner chosen: |
We will pick 6 random winners among all the correct answers |
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Prize |
50 Gold x 6 winners |
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Gold Voucher valid until: |
30.04.2021 |
If you want to read other episode of Book of Wisdom, you can find them here:
Episode 1: The Book of Wisdom – Episode 1 – Neighbors Losing Patience
Episode 2: The Book of Wisdom – Episode 2 – The Secret Library
Episode 3: The Book of Wisdom - Episode 3 - The Theft
Episode 4: The Book of Wisdom - Episode 4 – Reading Between the Lines
Episode 5: The Book of Wisdom – Episode 5 – Why Should We Change?
Episode 6: The Book of Wisdom - Episode 6 - Mysterious transformations
Episode 7: The Book of Wisdom - Episode 7 - In the Shadows
Episode 8: The Book of Wisdom - Episode 8 - Shadows Thicken
Episode 9: The Book of Wisdom - Episode 9 - The hint
Episode 10: The Book of Wisdom - Episode 10 - To the fire
Episode 11: The Book of Wisdom - Episode 11 - The Secrets Revealed
