The message was still floating before his eyes:
[New mission available]
Objective: Find information about the Book of Ur-Kigal
Reward: Access to the First Level of the System
Richard felt a chill run down his spine. That name, "Ur-Kigal," echoed in his mind like a distant memory, as if he had heard it before but couldn't place where. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to concentrate. The Sumerian tablet he had studied for weeks appeared in his mind, but he didn't recall seeing anything related to a text called "Ur-Kigal."
The professor continued explaining the details of the discovered texts, but Richard could barely hear him. His mind was caught in a whirlwind of doubts and questions. Why did that name feel so unsettling? What did it really mean?
The class ended without further questions. The professor thanked the students for their attention and began gathering his things. Richard, still with his heart racing, decided he couldn't let the opportunity slip away. He quickly stood up and ran toward the professor before he left the auditorium.
"Professor, excuse me," he said, trying to sound calm. "I wanted to ask you something about the book you mentioned, the 'Book of Ur-Kigal.'"
The professor, an older man with a kind but tired expression, looked at him curiously.
"Ah, yes, the Ur-Kigal. Fascinating, isn't it? Although I must admit I don't know much more than what I mentioned in class. The information was shared with me by a friend, an archaeologist working at the site where the texts were found."
Richard felt a mix of frustration and hope.
"Do you think you could give me his contact information? I'm very interested in learning more about these discoveries."
The professor raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by his insistence.
"Why such interest, Richard?"
Richard swallowed hard. He couldn't tell the truth; he couldn't mention the message that had appeared before his eyes. No one would believe him, and the last thing he needed was to be considered crazy.
"Well, you know how I am," he replied with a nervous smile. "I'm passionate about historical texts, and I can't miss the chance to learn more about something so unique. Besides, if there's anything I can help with, I'd love to contribute."
The professor observed him silently for a few seconds, evaluating his response. Finally, he sighed.
"Alright, Richard. But I need to speak with my colleague first. I can't share his contact information without his permission."
Richard nodded quickly, grateful for the opportunity.
"Of course, I understand. Thank you very much, professor."
"I'll let you know if I hear anything," the professor added as he packed his briefcase.
With nothing else to do, Richard said goodbye and left the auditorium.
Back in his apartment, Richard turned on his computer and began searching the internet for any information related to the "Book of Ur-Kigal." He spent hours combing through databases, archaeology forums, and academic articles, but found nothing. It was as if that name didn't exist in any known record.
Frustrated, he decided he needed a different approach. He looked at the clock: there was still time before the university library closed. He grabbed his backpack and hurried to campus.
The library was almost empty at that time of the evening, with only a few students scattered among the study tables. Richard greeted the librarian on duty, an older man who always seemed lost in his own thoughts, and headed to the ancient history section.
He began scanning the shelves, looking for any book that might contain information about Sumerian texts or recent archaeological discoveries. He pulled several volumes and carried them to a nearby table.
For the next few hours, Richard immersed himself in a sea of yellowed pages and footnotes. He found references to Sumerian tablets, ancient myths, and lost writing systems, but nothing that mentioned the "Book of Ur-Kigal."
Frustrated, he decided to search the library's digitized archives. He sat at one of the computers and began exploring academic databases. He entered keywords, combinations of terms, even searched in ancient languages, but the results remained empty.
Finally, he remembered something the professor had mentioned in class: the discovered texts were being studied by a team of archaeologists at a specific site. He decided to search for information about recent excavations in the Sumerian region. This time, he found some articles mentioning recent discoveries, but the details were vague and didn't include anything about the "Ur-Kigal."
Time flew by, and before he knew it, the librarian announced that the library was about to close. Richard sighed, shut down the computer, and returned the books to their place.
On his way home, he decided he needed to clear his mind. He headed to the café where he usually met his friends. The place was as cozy as ever, with warm lights, soft jazz music, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air.
Jake was the first to arrive, his camera hanging around his neck as always. He dropped into the chair across from Richard and looked at him with a teasing smile.
"What's up, genius? Did you discover the secret of the universe, or are you still obsessed with your tablets?"
Richard gave a weak smile but didn't respond. Jake watched him for a moment before frowning.
"Hey, are you okay? You look more lost than usual."
"I'm fine, just… tired," Richard replied, trying to sound convincing.
Emily arrived shortly after, carrying a book under her arm and a worried expression on her face. She sat next to Richard and placed a hand on his arm.
"Are you sure you're okay? Jake's right, you look exhausted."
Richard nodded, but he couldn't help feeling a pang of guilt. He knew his friends were worried about him, but he couldn't tell them what was happening. Not yet.
Elliot arrived last, with his laptop in hand and a curious look. He sat silently, observing Richard as if trying to decipher a code.
"What are you researching now?" he finally asked, breaking the silence.
Richard hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Something related to an ancient book. But I haven't found anything yet."
His friends exchanged glances but didn't press further. The conversation soon drifted to lighter topics, and Richard tried to relax, enjoying the coffee and the company.
However, deep down, the questions continued to torment him. What was the "Book of Ur-Kigal"? Why did it seem so important? And, most of all, what did the message he had received mean?
For now, all he could do was wait… and try not to lose his mind.