It was the crack of dawn, the leaves and grass laden with dew, the air cold and sharp. The sun peaked over the zenith of the evergreens casting harsh shadows on the lush ground. Cyrus was gathering herbs for his friend's experiment. He didn't get the whole herbology thing, nor did he care much for herbology either. Well, he had always had his heart in artificing.
He gathered the herbs, not caring to sort out the stray weeds mixed in. He stumbled onto a suspicious patch of overgrown weeds. Cyrus searched around for any more clues. He stood there, considering his next course of action. He was interrupted before he got to think too deeply. Cyrus waved Sen over. "What's taking you so long?" Sen asked, walking up to Cyrus.
Cyrus turned, pointing to the dubious growth of weeds. Sen shifted to get a better look at the patch, crouching down to sniff the plant.
What a fascinating plant. I have never seen one like it grow around here. It would be best to dig it up and bring it back. Sen's hands moved into his pockets, pulling a pair of nylon gloves out. He patted the ground around the patch before stuffing his hands into the soil. Soon he was elbow-deep in the dirt.
His hands then emerged with a dusty grain-covered book, the cover being a rustic brown bound in what he guessed was cow leather.
Cyrus ambled over. Now the duo was staring at the book, trying to make heads or tails of why the book was underground. Even more so, why it caused such irregular plant growth?
The sun illuminated the area, no longer hiding behind the trees. "It's about time we get moving. Com'on I'm getting tired standing around for you." Cyrus whined. Sen sighed, stuffing the book under one arm and, in the other, a bunch of those mystery weeds.
They made their way out of the forest and into the city of Castillo. The place they were to wasn't that bad compared to the rest of the city.
Castillo was an average city, besides its incompetent government and high unemployment, it's not that bad.
The business district was chalked with street vendors and people trying to persuade you to enter their shops. The duo continued their trek through the business district till they reached a small apartment complex. "Hey, Maxwell." Cyrus patted the sleeping guard. On the fifth floor, a scratched metal door with a peephole opened revealing a makeshift laboratory. Sen placed the plants in a pot above the brown leather book.
Cyrus stood over the book, looking over it one more time before spreading it for the world to see. The pages unfurled revealing the text on the first page, 'The history of the Atralene'.