act35side

Titi...

Fetch!

(Fetches the ball)

(Brings it back)

Who's the cutest little thing? You are!

Stop fooling around, Titi!

I've always wanted a pet, but my family wouldn't let me have one. Look how cute it is!

It's not a pet, its part of the museum's collection.

Tell that to Pepe. She's yelling at part of the museum's collection.

SAY THAT AGAIN?

I apologize, Pepe Khanum, but I am unable to answer. My memories of the trove's location remain vague.

You sure you don't want to stop her? I'm starting to feel sorry for that corpse cowering in a corner.

Well, try harder! Maybe you'll remember then.

I'm afraid that would be futile...

They who split my memories distributed them evenly across all the gems, to ensure that the secret could not be easily accessed.

There are five gems in total. You may have to find all of them before I can tell you the answer.

Where are the rest of the gems? You must know that, right?

(Shakes head)

You don't?

The army that defeated me consisted of many padishahs and lords ameer... They took the gems with them when they left.

It's like looking for a needle in a haystack...

There must be another way! Use that golden brain of yours!

Zubayr is forced into a corner by Pepe, even as the short girl doesn't come up to his chest.

He feels a pressure so great, it threatens to buckle even his hardened metal kneecaps.

Please, hanimefendi... have patience...

Then tell me something useful!

There is a faint resonance between the gems that I can sense if I am in their proximity.

Are you kidding me? You want me to take you across all of Sargon? This city alone holds thousands of gems!

I think I sense one faintly...

Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go!

Look, Anat, she's trying to remove part of the museum's collection!

Pepe, Zubayr Effendi is a valued part of the museum's collection. We must ensure that he is stored under appropriate conditions, and I can't allow him to be exposed to the elements.

Leave that thought and do your research here. Do NOT go out.

Forty-percent increase in funding next year?

No.

Double?

My staff will be watching you at all times. <i>Senebty.</i>

What's come over her?

Zubayr Effendi, I know it's not exactly polite to ask a man for his funeral effects, but I would be remiss...

Can I borrow this for a couple of days?

(Spins rapidly)

Of course, hanimefendi.

You can come out now, Zubayr. There's no one here.

How do you go through a hole like that at your size? It's like you turned liquid or something.

My body is extremely flexible, allowing me to pass through narrow spaces.

I thought I would have to tear down the wall, if you couldn't get out.

There is no need.

Zubayr closes his eyes and shakes his sistrum.

As the chimes ring, the wall around the hole slowly turns to sand, falling to the ground, leaving behind a much bigger hole.

With eyes wide, Pepe walks back and forth through the hole, then picks up a handful of sand.

Why didn't you use your Originium Arts? I almost hit my head crawling through the hole.

You didn't ask.

Well... you should close it back up. Wouldn't want anyone else to see it.

As you wish.

The chimes ring again, and sand flows back into the hole. Soon, there is no sign that the hole was ever there.

Centuries ago, there was nothing but sand. Now, tall buildings line the streets. Such prosperity.

Lamps line the banks of the river flowing gently through the city. It reminds me of Shar-Cheshmeh, built upon an oasis.

Shahr-Cheshmeh, the City of Springs? I thought it was just a legend. No one has found it in centuries.

No, it was very real. Its padishah was a despot who challenged the Shah's authority on multiple occasions. I had to pay him a personal visit.

And then?

And then it was no more.

Did... the whole city have to pay for the sins of a single padishah?

I did nothing but cut the padishah's head off and throw it into a spring. It was the chained slaves who burned the city to the ground.

If you visited yourself, you would be shocked by the filth and stink. They made sacrifices in the water, but the water system was... primitive.

Please, stop. I can almost smell it.

I see. Can we go to the river?

No, not that way!

It's early. The banks of the river are still brightly lit. Anat would kill me if someone saw the museum's collection walking the streets.

I know a place. Follow me.

Curator Anat, we've taken inventory of the collection. Here it is...

...Medjehtiqedti Khanum? What are you doing here?

Anat went to meet a guest, so I'm taking over some of the documents.

'The Padishah's statue wasn't damaged in an accident; it was missing one eyeball to begin with! Who wrote this?'

Ha...

How's my impression?

But it's true that the statue's records are wrong. Be careful next time.

R-Really? Let me see who was in charge.

Izaja and Inaja. I think they were under your...

Ahem... here, Age of Shadow exhibits counted twice. Make sure you double-check.

This is...?

My favorite place in the city.

You like empty streets.

It's not like this during the day. Everything in Menat-Ha'mait goes through here.

Merchants from all across the country come here to trade gems, furs, spices, crafts... people come from other countries too, often making large transactions.

If we're going to find a gem somewhere, this would be it.

Deep in the Grand Bazaar is a trading post dedicated to gems. Virtually every gem in the city passes through it.

Do you sense the gem we're looking for?

Are you listening?

Forgive me...

I am curious about the crafts being sold here. In my time, animal sculptures like these were guardians of tombs, companions for the dead.

Now, though, they are being peddled on the streets as everyday items.

Well... it's a decorative sculpture for home use. Twenty-five dinars.

From the murals on the walls, to the hieroglyphs all around... many things feel so familiar, yet so strange at the same time.

Perhaps we should go and see a few more places?

Medjehtiqedti Hanimefendi, the great families have sent inquiries.

The padishahs take the solemnity of Sargonian history so seriously. How do we explain this incident to them?

Just tell them it was an intern's mistake and we'll deal with it accordingly.

Deal with whom?

The acting curator, perhaps?

...Huh?