Mysteries of Aurora - The Manuscript Part 8

 

“One of the Architecture sections,” Alexia said. “That’s where the blueprints of the University would be stored.”

 

“But isn’t that scattered around the Library?” Janara asked.

 

“Yes,” Talia answered.

 

“That’s something Freya and I talked about last week,” Alexia said.

 

“So which spot?” Janara asked.

 

“Back to the Information Science Section,” Alexia said.

 

“I can tell you where they are,” Talia said.

 

“So, where?” Janara asked.

 

“They’re in the Renaissance Section,” Talia answered.

 

“Let’s go then,” Alexia said.

 

 

The Renaissance Section had a more organised layout than the Ancient Section. Talia led Janara and Alexia to the shelf.

 

 

Olivia found the area empty. “Where did they go?” she asked herself as she took out her tablet and messaged Janara.

We are looking at the University blueprints in the Renaissance Section.

 

 

“Here are the modern blueprints,” Alexia said.

 

“There are a lot of them,” Janara stated.

 

“True,” Alexia said. “We’ll start with the core; the Library and the other buildings around the Central Plaza.”

 

Olivia then came jogging up, “Where’s Freya?”

 

“She had class,” Alexia answered.

 

“Oh, right,” Olivia responded.

Alexia opened the book. “But not everything is in these. There are hidden parts of the campus.”

 

“I think that would be obvious,” Janara said.

 

“We’ll start with the present day and work our way backwards,” Alexia said.

 

“Or maybe forwards,” Olivia said.

 

“We can do both,” Alexia said.

 

“Backwards,” Janara said. “Slowly peel back the layers.”

 

“This is going to need more organisation,” Olivia groaned.

 

“So, we organise to meet up later?” Alexia asked.

 

“Freya said Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall, right?” Janara asked.

 

“Yes,” Alexia answered. “We can meet there after dinner.”

 

“In the meantime I’ll look through AAUA’s forums,” Janara added.

 

“I’ll text Freya,” Alexia said.

 

“So, that’s it?” Talia asked.

 

“We’ll talk about it tonight and fill you in sometime tomorrow,” Olivia said.

 

“I thought so,” Talia responded.

 

 

After they scattered, Janara went to one of the Library’s computer rooms and logged into her account. But first she looked at the time. ‘Plenty of time before class later this afternoon,’ she thought.

 

 

Olivia found a book that covered Aurora’s overall history. ‘Good, it uses the Seven Ages system,’ she thought. She had found that system a good way to remember what happened when in Aurora’s history. She took out her tablet and started recording. “First Age, Neolithic period…”

 

 

Freya thought about what she and the others had found as she entered the Dining Hall for dinner. “I’m sure that we’ll find it eventually.”

 

“Hey, Freya,” Dana said. “You’re talking about the manuscript?”

 

Freya nodded. “Things are more complicated than I expected. It could be anywhere in the middle of campus.”

 

“That would take ages to search,” Dana considered as they approached the servery.

 

“And it certainly has something to do with an obscure part of Aurora’s history! Like a needle in a haystack.”

 

“Three thousand years.”

 

“Or maybe just the past 900, but that’s still a long time,” Freya said.

 

“Definitely.”

 

 

They sat by the windows and Freya showed Dana the mind map of the mystery on her tablet.

 

 

That evening, Olivia thought about the situation as she and Janara approached Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall along the walkways. The manuscript was most likely in the core of the campus.

 

“Penny for your thoughts?” Janara asked.

 

“It’s going to be like a needle in a haystack, even with a focus on the centre of campus.”

 

“There are ways to narrow the search.”

 

“Gamer strategies?” Olivia asked. “But this is real life.”

 

“Gaming has helped improve my problem-solving skills,” Janara explained.

 

“Good point.”

 

They found Freya and Alexia waiting. Freya had her back turned and was sketching various runes.

 

“Hey, we’re here,” Janara said, as they sat.

 

Freya jumped up and waved and sat down again. “So, you’re going to go over our history? I know the basics, including that I trace my ancestry to the Nordic settlers.”

 

“Yes,” Olivia answered as she placed a notebook and a large scroll on the table., which she then unfurled. “It starts, of course, in the First Age, the Neolithic period, or Early Ancient Era.”

 

“The Stone Age,” Janara commented.

 

“To put it crudely,” Olivia answered. “It’s just that metalworking had yet to be invented. Societies were still sophisticated.”

 

“They were the foundation of what came later,” Freya said. “Like a baseline rumble in the background,” she added as she started drawing a stone circle.

 

“There are many ruins from the period throughout Aurora, but especially along the north coast and along the Aterana. Urbs Aeterna may look Roman, Nordic and Modern, but it was established during the period,” Alexia added.

 

“I suppose,” Janara said. “I’m more familiar with later history. The Romans onward. Although, I do know about Egypt.”

 

“There is evidence of Auroran contact with Egypt, but not until late in the Egypt’s New Kingdom Period,” Olivia said. “Which lines up with the next age.”

 

“Is it the Bronze Age?” Freya asked.

 

“Yes,” Olivia answered.

 

 

Alexia looked at Freya’s sketch. “A stone circle?” she asked.

 

“The foundation,” Freya answered as she twirled her pencil.

 

“Of course,” Alexia said with a slight laugh.