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Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: Echoes of the Past

Richard remained motionless while the other students gathered their belongings and left Maxwell Auditorium. The message continued floating in front of him, visible only to his eyes, with the same supernatural glow he had seen in the hospital days ago:

[**New mission available**] 

[**Objective: Find information about the Book of Ur-Kigal**] 

[**Reward: Access to the First Level of the System**]

He had spent two days convincing himself that the first message in the hospital had been a post-traumatic hallucination, a product of his concussion. But now, sitting in the auditorium with the projection of the ancient codex still visible on the screen, he could no longer deny the reality of what he was experiencing. This was real, whatever "this" was.

Richard felt a chill run down his spine. That name, "Ur-Kigal," resonated in his mind like a distant echo, as if he had heard it before, but he couldn't place where. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to concentrate. The Sumerian tablet he had studied for weeks appeared in his mind, but he didn't remember seeing anything related to a text called "Ur-Kigal."

Professor Harrington continued explaining the details of the discovered texts, but Richard could barely hear. His mind was caught in a whirlwind of doubts and questions. Why did that name seem so disturbing to him? What did this "system" that seemed to be communicating with him really mean?

The class ended without further questions. Students began to disperse while the professor thanked them for their attention and gathered his materials. Richard, his heart still racing, decided he couldn't let the opportunity pass. He quickly stood up and approached the podium before the professor left the auditorium.

"Professor Harrington, excuse me," he said, trying to sound calm. "I wanted to ask you something about the book you mentioned, the 'Book of Ur-Kigal.'"

The professor, an older man with a kind but tired gaze, looked at him curiously.

"Ah, yes, the Ur-Kigal. Fascinating, isn't it? Although I must admit I don't know much more than what I mentioned in class. The information was shared with me by a friend, an archaeologist who is working at the site where the texts were found."

Richard felt a mixture of frustration and hope.

"Do you think you could give me his contact? I'm very interested in learning more about these discoveries."

The professor looked at him with a raised eyebrow, clearly intrigued by his insistence.

"Why such interest, Richard?"

Richard swallowed. He couldn't tell him the truth, couldn't mention the message that had appeared before his eyes. No one would believe him, and the last thing he needed was to be considered crazy.

"Well, you know how I am," he replied with a nervous smile. "I'm passionate about historical texts, and I can't miss the opportunity to learn more about something so unique. Plus, if there's anything I can help with, I'd love to contribute."

The professor observed him in silence for a few seconds, evaluating his response. Finally, he sighed.

"Alright, Richard. But first, I need to speak with my colleague. I can't share his contact without his permission."

Richard nodded quickly, grateful for the opportunity.

"Of course, I understand. Thank you very much, professor."

"I'll let you know if I have any news," added the professor as he packed his briefcase.

With nothing else to do, Richard said goodbye and left the auditorium. The message had already disappeared from his view, but the words remained etched in his memory as if they had been carved with fire.

---

Back in his apartment, Richard turned on his computer and began searching the internet for any information related to the "Book of Ur-Kigal." He spent hours reviewing databases, archaeology forums, and academic articles, but found nothing. It was as if that name didn't exist in any known record.

Frustrated, he decided he needed a different approach. He looked at the clock: he still had time before the university library closed. He grabbed his backpack and hurried out toward campus.

The library was almost empty at that time of the afternoon, with only a few students scattered among the study tables. Richard greeted the librarian on duty, an older man who always seemed to be lost in his own thoughts, and headed to the ancient history section.

He began reviewing the shelves, looking for any book that might contain information about Sumerian texts or recent archaeological discoveries. He pulled out several volumes and took them to a nearby table.

For the next few hours, Richard immersed himself in a sea of yellowed pages and footnotes. He found references to Sumerian tablets, ancient myths, and lost writing systems, but nothing that mentioned the "Book of Ur-Kigal."

Frustrated, he decided to search the digitized archives of the library. He sat down at one of the computers and began exploring academic databases. He entered keywords, combinations of terms, even searched in ancient languages, but the results remained null.

Finally, he remembered something the professor had mentioned in class: the texts found were being studied by a team of archaeologists at a specific site. He decided to look for information about recent excavations in the Sumerian region. This time, he found some articles that mentioned recent discoveries, but the details were vague and included nothing about "Ur-Kigal."

Time flew by, and before he knew it, the librarian announced that the library was about to close. Richard sighed, closed the computer, and returned the books to their place.

---

Two days after his fruitless search in the library and with no news from Professor Harrington, Richard decided he needed to clear his mind. Anxiety and frustration had begun to affect him physically; he had barely slept, and his appetite had decreased considerably. He sent a message to his friends suggesting they meet at "The Last Chapter," the café near campus where they regularly gathered.

The place was as cozy as always, with warm lights, soft jazz music, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air.

Jake was the first to arrive, with his camera hanging around his neck as always. He dropped into the chair across from Richard and looked at him with a mocking smile.

"What's up, genius? Did you discover the secret of the universe, or are you still obsessed with your tablets?"

Richard smiled weakly but didn't respond. Jake observed him for a moment before frowning.

"Hey, are you okay? You seem more lost than usual."

"I'm fine, just... tired," Richard replied, trying to sound convincing.

Emily arrived shortly after, with a book under her arm and a concerned expression on her face. She sat next to Richard and put a hand on his arm.

"Are you sure you're okay? Jake is right, you look exhausted."

Richard nodded, but he couldn't help feeling a pang of guilt. He knew his friends were worried about him, but he couldn't tell them what was happening. Not yet.

Elliot arrived last, laptop in hand and a curious look. He sat down in silence, observing Richard as if trying to decipher a code.

"What are you researching now?" he finally asked, breaking the silence.

Richard hesitated for a moment before responding.

"Something related to an ancient book. But I haven't found anything yet."

His friends exchanged glances but didn't press further. The conversation soon drifted to lighter topics, and Richard tried to relax, enjoying the coffee and the company.

However, in the back of his mind, the questions continued to torment him. What was the "Book of Ur-Kigal"? Why did it seem so important? And, above all, what did the message he had received mean? Why him?

For now, all he could do was wait... and try not to go crazy.

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