"What do I mean, that he is a part of this book? I wrote in the book, as did some others. Would that not mean that we live on in the book, and hence be a part of it..? But that's the answer an empty scholar would give you... I would prefer to let you linger on my words and the book, and I shant say a thing more in regards to my meaning. You're intelligent enough to glean my meaning, aren't you?" Cygnus wondered. Then, he turned his attention back to his log. Recording the events of the storm.<br/><br/>Over the years he had garnered many eccentric acquaintances, some more insane than the last. He knew cannibals in Klomis, where the rich consumed human flesh as a delicacy and the poor consumed human flesh as an effort of survival. To the east he knew purveyors of the dance of the poppy, a magical substance that when smoked in a pipe caused one to drift off into mortal heaven. To the west he knew slavers of unchallenged sadism. In the north was Weiss, perhaps the place that felt the most influence of dying magic and holy power. From the south was where he got the book Altair was now writing in.<br/><br/>No matter where he traveled, the captain would always return to Klomis for one companion. A rich, literate merchant by the name of Sapi. It never failed to surprise Cygnus that he had Sapi to call a friend. Until his death, it was likely that Cygnus would never know why Sapi had taught him how to read and write in the common language of Weiss. There was no cause for Sapi to be generous, but Sapi had always given Cygnus anything he needed. Though, with a rather morbid suspicion, he suspected Sapi might've desired to eat him; at times Sapi would lick his lips when looking at him. Regardless of questionable motives, Sapi was willing to do much for him.<br/><br/>So when Cygnus had decided to act on one of his rare scholarly interests, which was to record the information of the lands of the world, it was Sapi who he asked to create a book for him. On a return to the South Cygnus acquired two slaves, one of which wounded him on the wrist when they bit him in defiance. In exchange for a book, Cygnus would give him both slaves. Sapi had told him to return after a year for the book, but before he bade farewell to him for a year, Sapi inquired about the bandaged wound on his arm. With no reason to lie, Cygnus told him how he had acquired it.<br/><br/>In a year's time Cygnus had returned to the South once more to collect his book. The book was plain but sturdy and purposeful. The first few pages had already been filled out, aptly titled Klomis. Eagerly he had flipped the pages, rubbing his fingers on the fresh parchment. Then he had noticed the last pages of the book were noticeably pale compared to the rest. When he queried about the state of the pages, he had received the same cryptic answer.<i> "One slave once thought to write falsehoods in this book. Now, he is a part of this book." <br/>
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"What do you mean, Sapi?" Cygnus had asked.<br/>
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"You had given me two slaves, Cygnus. One was stupid, so I fattened him up so that he could satisfy some royals. The other was smart. But not smart enough, it seemed. See, I had told him to write about Klomis for you, because you wanted this to be a book of lands, no? So I told him to write. Write he did. Would that not mean that he lives on in the book, and hence be a part of it..? Oh, that is true, yes. But at the same time I was rather unsatisfied with some of the things he wrote in the book. Hence, I made it so he was a part of this book in writing and body."</i><br/><br/>A long period passed where he listened to Altair speak fondly of Dusan, and he kept silent. Sometimes, there was nothing for him to say. It was easier for him to write without speaking, anyhow. Now the sun laid high in the sky. Finally breaking from his sloth-like routine of writing and listening to the slave, he waited until Altair finished a page before setting his hand on the slave's arm. Gently he took the quill and ink, setting it aside. Cygnus flipped the pages, marveling at how much the slave had written. "I can only be surprised at how much you've written... I desire to read what you've written thus far." Moving back to his seat and settling himself once more, he began to slowly read Altair's writing.