You decide to take the path that will lead you to Codendaia. The arrow points almost directly to a small burrow in a dune, and you assume that you will be able to find Codendaia there. You walk over to the dark hole, and slip inside.
The inside of the burrow is dark, earthy brown, but still very hot. Feeling around the walls, you find a tunnel that leads sharply downward. You can't find any other means of getting to Codendaia, so you take the tunnel.
Soon, you can tell that the air is cooling off. The heat haze has dissapeared, to be replaced by the steady sound of dripping water. You wonder vaguely where it's coming from, when you leave the tunnel and get your answer.
You are in a cave. It's a huge, spherical cave with stalactites and stalagmites everywhere. There are also stone shelves cut into the walls of the cave holding row upon row of books. many of the thick, leather bound volumes look like they date back thousands of years, while others look brand new.
But the most interesting sight is an area where all rocks and debris have been cleared away. One solitary rock serves as a desk, and seated behind the desk is a fascinating creature, the likes of which you've never seen.
The creature is writing in a book similar to those on the shelves, and it seems to be completely oblivious to your presence. At leat, you think this until it speaks, it's voice firm and masculine.
"Take a seat," it says, without looking up.
Startled, you sit down.
"I am Codendaia," the creature says, still writing, "Chronicler of the Ages. What brings you here, child?"
Unsure of how to answer that question, you finally stammer out, "I was just exploring this realm and I thought I might come down and meet you --"
Codendaia looks up from his work so abruptly that he startles you into silence. "Do you come here to steal my knowledge?" he asks sharply, his black eyes peircing your soul.
"N-n-no," you say nervously.
"Do you come here to steal the secrets of the world?"
"N-no."
Codendaia looks at you appraisingly, and then sits back down. "I believe you," he says shortly. "Now, what do you wish to know?"
Thinking, you finally ask, "well, who are you? And what are all those books?"
"I am, as I stated before, Codendaia. I am an Armora, a breed of creature now nearly extinct." Pausing, he glances over at the books. "'Those books' are my chronicles. I record every happening in the universe in each of those chronicles, and select scribes borrow them to study. It is my sworn duty...I agreed to chronicle in exchange for eternal life."
You blink in astonishment. "Eternal life?"
"Yes," says Codendaia, shrugging off-handedly. "It's no rare thing to find. You just have to know where to look."
Seeming to decide that it's impossible to explain the concept further to you, Codendaia continues. "I am able to be omnipresent, or, as you would say it, be present everywhere and see what is going on everywhere."
"But isn't that confusing?" you ask in awe.
"Not when you've been doing it for eternity," Codendaia says dryly with a slight smile. "It takes practice, to be sure." This entire time, the armora has been frantically writing away with both paws, flipping pages three times a minute. However, he looks rather relaxed, if not leisurely, humming softly when he is not speaking. Seeing you stare in amazement, he adds, "I'll be doing this for a while now. Now you're breaking my concentration. Run along, since you seem to have nothing more to say."
Blinking at the abrupt farewell, you nod in thanks for your conversation, and leave to choose another beast from the signpost.
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| Name: Codendaia
Breed: Armora Color/Type: Rune Gender: Male Age/Stage: Ageless Adopted At: Jessie's Adoptables (closed, as far as I know) |
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