At dusk, like a painter painting the sky with golden paint, Alexander and Adrian stood on top of a sand dune, looking at the horizon, like two wise men standing on the top of a mountain, thinking about the philosophy of life. The desert scenery began to change subtly, like an artist creating his work, scattered rocks and ancient ruins began to dot the yellow sand, like a treasure, shining.
Adrian pointed to a vague outline in the distance, like a general guiding his soldiers.
"Look there, Alexander," he said, his tone full of wisdom and philosophy, like a wise man thinking about the philosophy of life, "that is our next destination - the lost ancient city of Zifara, like a treasure, waiting for people to explore."
Alexander squinted his eyes and tried to identify the scene in the distance, like a child exploring an unknown world.
"Zifara? I have never heard of this name," he said, his tone full of confusion and curiosity, like a child exploring an unknown world.
"It's not surprising," Adrian explained, like a historian, telling history, "Zifara was once the holy place of the 'Keeper of Knowledge', one of the Seven Sages, and it was like a hero, guarding the world. It is a city full of wisdom and mysteries, like a treasure, waiting for people to explore. But after the Great Schism, like a warrior facing failure, it mysteriously disappeared, forgotten by the world, like a ghost, wandering in the world."
A flash of excitement flashed in Alexander's eyes, like a child looking forward to a gift.
"So we might find more secrets about the Seven Sages and this world there?" He said, his tone full of expectation and excitement, like a child looking forward to a gift.
Adrian nodded, like a mentor guiding his students.
"That's right," he said, his tone full of wisdom and philosophy, like a wise man thinking about the philosophy of life, "but be careful, like a warrior, stay alert in battle. Lost knowledge sometimes means the danger of being forgotten, like a demon, tempting humans."
They began to move towards the ancient city, like two explorers, exploring the unknown world. As they approached, the desert gradually turned into a rocky area, like a new world, unfolding before their eyes; ancient stone pillars and broken statues began to appear on their way, like a treasure, shining.
When night fell, they came to the entrance of the city, like a hero, arriving at their destination. The huge stone gate was half-hidden in the sand, like a treasure, waiting for people to explore, engraved with complex runes and patterns, like a magician, casting magic.
Alexander carefully observed the stone gate, like a wise man, thinking about the philosophy of life.
"These symbols... they seem to tell a story," he said, his tone full of confusion and curiosity, like a child exploring the unknown world.
Adrian nodded in approval, like a mentor, praising his students' progress.
"That's right," he said, his tone full of wisdom and philosophy, like a wise man thinking about the philosophy of life, "This is the history of Zifara, like a historian, telling history. Try to "read" it with your elemental perception, like a magician, casting magic."
Alexander closed his eyes, like a warrior, preparing for battle, and placed his hands on the stone door, like a devout believer, feeling the power of the gods. Slowly, he felt the ancient energy contained in the stone, like a treasure, flashing light. Pictures flashed in his mind, like a movie, playing pictures.
A brilliant city, like a paradise, full of scholars and wise men, like a wise man, thinking about the philosophy of life.
The guardian of knowledge stood on the tower, like a hero, guarding the world, overlooking her territory, like a king, ruling the world.
Suddenly, the sky darkened, like a demon descending upon the world, and a terrible storm swept in, like a torrent, rushing.
The city was buried, like a warrior who failed in battle; the residents fled in a hurry, like a refugee seeking help.
Alexander opened his eyes, like a warrior who defeated the enemy, panting, like an athlete sweating in exercise.
"I saw... the destruction of the city, like a tragedy, happening," he said, his tone full of confusion and uneasiness, like a child facing the truth, "but this is not like a natural disaster, like a demon, destroying the world, more like... some kind of curse, like a magician, casting magic."
Adrian's expression became serious, like a general, feeling the threat of war.
"Your observation is very sharp," he said, his tone full of wisdom and philosophy, like a wise man thinking about the philosophy of life, "It is said that during the Great Schism, like a warrior facing failure, the guardian of knowledge tried a dangerous experiment, like a magician casting magic, which resulted in disastrous consequences, like a demon destroying the world."
Just then, the stone door suddenly made a rumbling sound, like a giant roaring, slowly opening, like a treasure, opening the door. A cold wind blew out of the dark passage, like a ghost wandering in the world.
"It seems that the city has accepted our arrival," Adrian said, like a mentor guiding his students, "but stay vigilant, like a warrior, stay vigilant in battle. Every corner here may hide dangers and secrets, like a demon, tempting humans."
They stepped into the city carefully, like two explorers, exploring the unknown world. The streets were lined with collapsed buildings and statues half-covered by sand, like a ruin, telling the glory of the past. Under the moonlight, the whole city seemed unusually quiet and strange, like a ghost wandering in the world.
Suddenly, Alexander stopped, like a warrior stopped in battle.
"Wait, did you hear that?" he said, his tone full of confusion and uneasiness, like a child exploring the unknown world.
A faint murmur came from all directions, like a ghost, echoing in the ears, as if the whole city was whispering, like a wise man thinking about the philosophy of life.
Adrian looked around vigilantly, like a warrior, keeping alert in battle.
"This is the echo of knowledge," he said, his tone full of wisdom and philosophy, like a wise man thinking about the philosophy of life, "Be careful, like a warrior, keep alert in battle, don't let them confuse your mind, like a demon, tempting humans."
They continued to move forward, like two explorers, exploring the unknown world, the sound became clearer and clearer, like an orchestra playing music. Alexander tried to identify the whispers, like a wise man, thinking about the philosophy of life.
"Secrets... power... price..."
"Eternity... betrayal... balance..."
These words echoed in his mind, like a storm, raging, bringing a dizzy feeling. Alexander shook his head, trying to stay awake, like a warrior, staying awake in battle.
Suddenly, they came to a huge square, like a stage, ready for a performance. In the center of the square stood a huge statue, depicting a woman holding a scroll, like a wise man, thinking about the philosophy of life.
"That's the guardian of knowledge," Adrian whispered, like a wise man, thinking about the philosophy of life.
At this moment, the eyes of the statue lit up, like a demon, watching his prey, and an ethereal voice echoed in the square, like a god, issuing an oracle.
"Intruders, why are you here? Like a warrior, roaring, for knowledge or for power? Like a king, ruling the world?"
Alexander stepped forward, like a warrior, ready to fight, and answered with courage, like a hero, facing a challenge.
"We are here to understand," he said, his tone full of firmness and determination, like a warrior, ready to fight, "to find a way to rebuild this world, like a hero, saving the world."
The statue was silent for a while, like a wise man, thinking about the philosophy of life, and then said, like a god, issuing an oracle.
"Understanding... This is a dangerous pursuit, like a demon tempting humans," he said, his tone full of wisdom and philosophy, like a wise man thinking about the philosophy of life, "but if you are really ready, like a warrior preparing for battle, then accept my test, like a hero accepting the test of fate. Answer my riddles, and you will gain the knowledge you seek, like a treasure, waiting for people to explore. But be careful, like a warrior, stay alert in battle, the wrong answer may bring terrible consequences, like a demon, destroying the world."
Alexander took a deep breath, like a warrior, preparing for battle, nodded, like a hero, facing the challenge.
"I'm ready," he said, his tone full of firmness and determination, like a warrior, ready to fight.
The voice of the statue sounded again, like a god, issuing an oracle, this time with a hint of challenge, like a demon, tempting humans.
"I am the beginning and the end.
I create and I destroy.
I am the most powerful force and the greatest weakness.
I can solve all problems and I can also cause all disasters.
What am I?"
Alexander frowned, like a wise man, thinking about the philosophy of life, thinking carefully about this puzzle, like a detective, looking for clues. He recalled his journey, like a traveler, exploring the world; everything he learned, like a student, learning knowledge; the challenges he faced, like a warrior, growing in battle. Suddenly, an answer flashed in his mind, like a treasure being dug out.
He raised his head, like a warrior, ready to fight, and said firmly, like a hero, facing a challenge.
"The answer is... knowledge," he said, his tone full of firmness and determination, like a warrior, ready to fight.
The square fell into a dead silence, like a world, standing still. Alexander held his breath, waiting for the statue's response, like a warrior, waiting for the arrangement of fate.