Chapter Three - Secrets Deciphered

     "It's been well over 2 years since we journeyed out from the sacred valley. To this day I don't know why I ever left. That city was so beautiful; her people so kind and wonderful. I dread the prospect of never seeing her jeweled dome again."

     I'm not sure what I was looking for when I first opened the chest, but when I saw those old tattered journals just lying there, I was disappointed. My sadness soon turned to amazement however, as I read about the wondrous journey that unfolded within the journals. In a sense, I'd found a map. A map to a treasure beyond anything I could have possibly imagined. Much of the story remained unclear but, from what I could gather, the explorers who wrote in these journals discovered an ancient city secluded by the harsh terrain of the Himalayas. They describe a society that has continued and thrived unbroken for millennia. A society that possessed technological and cultural wonders beyond anything before seen on this earth. How much of this tale is true I did not yet know. But it did pique my interest.

     Then there was the final book. In remarkably good condition compared to the others, this one was written in a strange, unknown language. It appeared to share some similarities to the modern Tibetan language, but far more complex. It was going to take a great deal of time and effort to decipher it. I returned to the journal I'd been previously reading.

    "As hard as it is for me to say, I have to give up. The beautiful city and her sacred valley will never be mine to see again. For the life of me I cannot understand why. I left Xanadu only to tell others of her remarkable beauty; to show the world what humanity could become. Only to loose her. I don't understand. I took detailed notes and carefully mapped the region. I should have found her again months ago but I simply cannot find any of the landmarks. It's as if she disappeared right off the face of the earth. Now my sponsors grow angry at my futility and how can I blame them. I brought them on this trip in the hopes of showing them treasure beyond compare but all I've given them is weary feet. No one will ever believe my fantastic story now. My only hope is that I can muster up enough money to try again. This expedition is now over."

     I couldn't help but feel sorry for the stranger who wrote these passages. It seems that he died before ever seeing the city again. Looking at the map he drew of it's location, I couldn't help but wonder if what he saw was true; or if they were just the ramblings of an insane man. Nevertheless, it was time for me to return home. Maybe I could discover more information by decrypting the enigmatic language found on the final book.

     Once I returned to the States and began decoding the book I now called the 'Codex of Presage,' I found strange references to people like Lylanth, Yyadrian and Indraya. As I continued my research, I also found connections between some of the information in the Codex and many ancient myths from around the world. As I dug deeper, my eyes opened to a history deeply influenced by Xanadu. And a horrible prophecy predicting the violent destruction of all humanity.