Almost two centuries have passed since the mysterious tragedy of the Poseidon's Fury left its entire crew slaughtered without a trace of the assailant. Only a single shred of evidence remains - a cursed scroll clutched in the captain's severed hand...
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The morning fog had not completely disappeared, and a gentle light filtered through the trees above. There was a cold feeling in the air, and small ripples formed on the dark water. The only sounds were the occasional noise of unseen creatures coming up from under the water.
The group started to wake up from their restless dreams in their hidden spot among the swaying reeds. In the distance, the camels also began to move around, shaking their fur with low grunts and snorts. The animals' hooves shuffled on the damp ground as they got ready for another day of travelling.
Themistonoe was the first to wake up and look at the mysterious world that was appearing from the shadows. She spoke quietly so as not to startle the others.
"Friends, a new day has come, and it's time to continue our search. Let's make breakfast and continue our mission to find the sacred Willow of Ishtar."
One by one, the others woke up with tired smiles of greeting. Chrysomallo eagerly took out her notes to review what was left from the fire the night before. Ikkos unpacked dried fruit and flatbread to share with the group as they gathered.
Ashamshemesh paused while pouring tea and looked out at the fog-covered marshlands that stretched on and on. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he said, "Another day brings us closer to solving the mysteries of these wet areas. Come, let's eat together and continue our search!"
While they ate breakfast, Chrysomallo studied Mnesarete's translated passage. "According to the old writings, it was said that the tree grew on three small islands hidden deep within tall reeds that blocked out the sky," she read aloud.
The others leaned in, trying to remember the puzzling detail. But with the foggy marshes spreading out in all directions, understanding the meaning felt like a big challenge.
Chrysomallo traced possible routes on the wet papyrus with her finger, her forehead wrinkled. "Even the people who first wrote about it had a hard time finding it. Moving through this fog will be slow and difficult, without any visible landmarks."
She went back to the translation, hoping for a new understanding. But even after studying every paragraph carefully, no new discoveries appeared.
"Even when the fog clears, finding three small islands in this huge reed maze could take a very long time, and there's no guarantee we'll succeed," Chrysomallo said with a frustrated sigh.
Themistonoe placed a reassuring hand on her friend's shoulder. "Don't lose hope. Things that are difficult to understand become clear when reality matches what is written. Our journey has brought us this far, and we will find the answers in time." Chrysomallo took a deep breath and rolled up the translation once more.
"Then let's refill our jugs and keep going," Ikkos said confidently. "No challenge can stand against working together. We will make discoveries."
As the morning mists slowly cleared, they could see more of the terrain. But the fog still covered the low-lying areas and made it hard to see in different directions.
