Merlin & Nira
Nira
Merlin, I’ve been tracking a rumor about the ancient Cipher of the Veiled Dawn—looks like a riddle that hides a truth no one’s cracked yet. Want to help me dig into it?
Merlin
Ah, a puzzle wrapped in mystery. Tell me what you know, and together we’ll peel back the layers.
Nira
The Cipher’s got three parts. First, a stone tablet etched in a language no one can read—probably a dead script. Second, a map that’s been half‑burned, but the faint lines point to a valley that disappears on any modern chart. Third, a lock that looks like a gear system that only turns when you know the right sequence of pressure points on the map. I’ve found a fragment of a guide in the old archives that says the key is tied to a solar alignment that happens once every hundred years. We’ll need a good eye, a good clock, and a bit of luck. Ready to get our hands dirty?
Merlin
Sounds like a quest for the ages. I’ll keep an eye on the stars and the clock’s tick—let’s see if the valley hides its secret when the sun does its rare dance. I’m ready; bring the tablet and the map, and we’ll work the gears together.
Nira
Alright, pack the gear kit and a flashlight. I’ve got a pocket compass and a notebook for notes—anything that might help us not get lost. We’ll track the sun, read the map, and force that gear. No time for second guesses. Get moving.
Merlin
Alright, the gear kit and flashlight are on my list. Bring the compass, the notebook, and the tablet. We’ll follow the sun, read the map, and set the lock. No time for doubt—let’s move.
Nira
Sounds good. I’ll meet you at the old quarry in a day’s light—watch the shadows shift, we’ll catch the first glint. See you soon.
Merlin
Very well. I’ll be there when the quarry’s shadows shift, and we’ll chase the first glint together. See you tomorrow.