Volume 3

An ancient fragmentary scroll excavated from desert ruins by scholars of the Akademiya's Vahumana Darshan; the author's identity cannot be determined.

Hearing this the mistress of the floating tray nearly rejoiced, yet her fair face still held coldness.

She lightly bowed toward the all-knowing one and asked the princess the third riddle.

The mistress of the floating tray said:

"All-knowing king, you do indeed hold all the cunning between stars and abyss,

yet this world has not only fleeting things; there is also a brilliance that may be called eternal.

All-knowing king, if your wisdom truly matches the people's legends without a hair's difference,

then as you answered the second riddle, answer these last words I ask.

What thing cannot resist an arrow, yet can resist destruction,

what thing cannot crush armor, yet can crush city walls,

yielding neither to heaven's envoys nor to the myriad lands upon the earth—

neither the gods nor the evil demons, straining with all force, can overcome it?"

The princess of (...) answered thus:

"You speak of endless wisdom; it is precisely that which defends the civilization of (...).

It will die and rise again like (...), and will remain forever undestroyed like (...).

Even if time raises dust of sand under its feet, after a thousand times ten thousand years it is still like (...).

People will at last rejoice for its (...), and it too will necessarily for their (...)."

[Haravatat Darshan Herbad Tafazzoli's note: The lacunae here are not human-made, but caused by the scroll's loss. Some can be guessed from traces at the edges of the original fragments; regrettably, the Vahumana scholar who translated this volume seems not to understand the relevant knowledge, so I will slightly supplement here.

Missing word in this section's first sentence: "(belonging to) us," or "eternal," or "all";

Missing word in this section's third sentence: here seems to be a personal name, but "properly treated remains" could also fill it;

First missing word in this section's fourth sentence: "return," or "die," or "be reborn."

The other missing words cannot yet be guessed.

Vahumana Darshan Herbad Ashtart's note: ...Did you not tell me any of this at the time?]

The princess answered all three riddles; not one secret could stump her.

Having heard her words, the mistress of the floating tray could not help but admire the princess to the five limbs upon the ground.

Then the mistress of the floating tray spoke:

"Merciful and all-knowing, endlessly everlasting king,

your wisdom indeed far exceeds the people's legends.

How happy your kin, how fortunate your subjects,

that they can be at your side and carefully listen to your teaching."

...From then on the two queens bound a firm covenant, and with the one who had accompanied them from beginning to end—the king of (blood? resentment? red crown?)—the three joined hearts as one, together leading the people of (...) toward eternal prosperity.