2.  Gaelin

As soon as I arrived I found I was in a cave.  Outside the opening of the cave I could see the rock where the strange spherical building would be.  Below, right in front of me, was a panel on the ground.  I examined it.

I suddenly realized that this was my key to the age!  A map of the island and nearby rock was on the panel, with English text marking three locations:  Guilded Sphere (hey, hey), Linking Cave and Study.  I copied the map into my journal:

Map of Gaelin

I ventured out into the beautiful sunshine, and went straight to the study.  As I approached the study I could see that it was a very small building, and upon entering, all I could see was a small bed, a garbage can, a workbench and a map of D'ni on the wall.  Out of interest, I copied the map into my journal:

Map of D'ni

The only other thing I was interested in was the workbench.  On the workbench was a gas flame, which I flicked on and off a few times for fun.  I then noticed a strange contraption with a small screen displaying the current state of the guilded sphere and a large red button.  I found that by pressing the red button I could open and close the guilded sphere.  By default, the sphere was closed, so I opened it.

I was about to leave when I noticed a book.  Opening it, I discovered it was a journal.  I read through it, and copied the most important entries into my journal:
 

Seventh Journal of Agmis              Journal Entry 574                    I know something terrible has happened.  A great wash of gloom has penetrated deep within               me.  It is because of this formidable feeling that I have not written a journal in some time.  I cannot               tell if it has been one day or ten days since I linked to Gaelin.  Since, I have slept in the bed, trying               to shake off the monstrosity that has overtaken my mind.  At first I feared the worst.  I now know               that the worst is unimaginable.                    Father was taking me to my next lessons within our library when it appeared.  From our view of               K'veer, a monstrous cloud began to lick it's way from the rock walls and oust itself towards the               city.  We could hear other people shouting within D'ni.  Father looked me straight into the eyes told               me to link to Gaelin.  He was going to get mother, and meet me back in the                age.                    To this day I wait for him.  Although I realize what this great feeling of dread is.  I have lost my               family, friends, and even those I did not know, but one day might have.              Journal Entry 575                    Today I have decided to get out of this futile depression that has tried to take control of me.  I will               live on.  And forever carry out the memory of those I loved.  I stepped outside to breathe in the               air and take in the beauty of this age for the first time since my arrival.  Father has never taken me               here, I believe it to be one of his works in progress.  Even the cave which I linked to was not up to               D'ni standard.                    The main island is extremely small.  Although, I can see another larger island from afar, I do not               know if it is inhabited.  Last night I believe that I saw lights, and could almost make out the sounds               of chanting...  All these days in the darkness of the cabin may be getting to me.                     Since it seems that I am now very autonomous, I have taken the problems at hand into               consideration.  The barrel which holds my food rations are lowering drastically.  My options are to               hunt around this island for fish, find a way to the other island, or use the linking book back to D'ni.                To me D'ni is not an option.  I am sure many frightful obstacles lie past that link....              Journal Entry 576                     These obstinate fish refuse to be eaten!  I have attempted to catch the fish with no success.                With my horrible fishing skills, and my fresh water running low, I am afraid that I will soon be               pushed back into D'ni to confront my fears.              Journal Entry 577                    I'm not sure if they want to help me or cook me.                     There are natives on the other island.  Apparently the noises and lights were not just my               imagination.                     Early this morning a small boat arrived at the island, with several young children running around               rampant, especially near the gilded sphere, which they are highly curious of.  Of course when I               approached them, they ran away.                     Soon enough several boats were circling the island, with many faces staring at me till dusk.                What am I to them?  Surely these people have never seen a young D'ni.  Old stories come to               mind.  Stories about cannibals, to keep children out of Ages they were not permitted to visit...  I               hope that they are just stories...              Journal Entry 578                    They want to help me.  The natives know that I was in need of help.  My emotional sickness must               have been very obvious in my tattered state.                     Even though our languages are different, I accepted the invitation to their island.  There was a               small feast at night, I'm not sure if it was in my favor or an annual event.  As dark neared, the               elders of the village took me to a store room which is hidden in one of the smaller scattered               islands.  Where I found, to my astonishment, dozens of empty books!  They are surely the books               used for the Art.  These will enable me to transcend beyond the walls of Gaelin.  Why father               decided to keep them here, I cannot fathom.              Journal Entry 579                    I made a trip back to the main island by myself today to retrieve the linking book back to D'ni, for               study.  On the way to the bridge controls I found a native in my room!                 She was inspecting a D'ni map when I arrived, which raises questions about how often she had               visited the room for further explorations beforehand, and the question of had she found the linking               book within the gilded sphere?                     At first I meant to usher her out of the room.  Except she pulled out a map and begged for an               explanation.  Soon after Noira had me trying to explain every new trinket to her despite our               language barrier.                     "D'ni."  I tried to example.                     "Duhneeee."  Noira attempted to pronounce.                     "D'ni..."                     "Dunny..."                     Even though the exchange of words didn't get past our names and D'ni, we did get somewhere               in communicating.                     Perhaps Noira's absorbing mind can be the key to unlocking my communication with the rest of               the Gaelin.              Journal Entry 1253                     I cannot find any of my newer journals, so I'll have to settle for using this old one.  A man by               the name of K'aastor has linked here to Gaelin!  He claims to have opened up my father's old               library back in D'ni and used the linking book from there.  There is so much to exchange with the               man, and he seems to be extremely interested in the Ages we have created.  Noira is just as               excited as I am to meet a D'ni.  It has been so long!  And K'aastor says that the city cavern is               safe...  such memories from the years back...  Noira is trying to convince me to face the ghosts that               I have run from for so long.                     I'll make up my mind now.  Tomorrow we link back to the place that I came from.  Back to D'ni. So...  The writer of this unfinished age was the father of a guy called Agmis.  And the age was called Gaelin.  I decided I should also copy the symbol of Gaelin from Agmis's journal into my journal: Gaelin

Hmm, I wonder where all these people are.  Agmis...  Noira...  K'aastor.  Ha ha!  Agmis's spelling of D'ni, 'Dunny' has to make me laugh.  He he!  I suppose I still have five ages to explore (Assuming I can get back to D'ni).

I notice another identical map of the island on the floor below the workbench, but I had already copied it down.  I walked outside and waded through the water (it wasn't too deep) to the rock with the gilded sphere.  After traversing a short bridge, I entered the gilded sphere, and the door closed behind me.  Inside, on a small bench, was a book titled .  Opening it to the last page, I found that it was indeed a book back to the book room in D'ni (probably located on K'veer).  I then took a deep breath, and placed my palm on the image.

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