E.M. Lark <>

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Diana!

Sorry for making you wait. I've been holding off on responding to your email for a couple of reasons. First, it forces you to take a break. I have no idea how any human being is able to work as much as you do. Do you ever sleep, Di? Second, I've been waiting for the results from the dating. According to the lab, the paper at the very least is between twelve and fourteen hundred years old, meaning the timeline matches.

The experts want to run a few more tests before the university makes any kind of announcement, just to be certain, but between the results of the dating and the dialect it's written in—they had another linguist confirm that it's a northern Ecekasurian dialect, most likely native to Ecekasuri's famed giant forest, or the Ever Forest as you've translated it—I feel pretty confident that it's legitimate. Then again, I also fell for that hoax seven or eight years ago. I can't remember if you did or not. We might not have been talking at that point.

It's best not to think too much of the past. The real point of this email was to ask, given all of this information, how likely do you think it is that we've actually stumbled upon something real? Just... give me a rough number.

Dr. E.M. Lark

Professor of Modern Literature From Across the Continents

Director of Nisaba University's Modern Ecekasurian Literature Program

Diana Aylin <>

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96%

Before hearing the results of the dating I'd say I was around 82% certain. If the dating gave an inaccurate timeline, I'd still be 79% certain. Machines can be fooled. So can people, though.

The content is what convinces me. The words are exactly what I'd expect. The writer made mistakes but they're the kind of mistakes native speakers make. Non-native mistakes look completely different. It's also definitely written in a north-eastern Ecekasuri dialect. More so, it's in a script that was only popular for a brief period of time. It makes it a bitch to translate but this thing was definitely written between 900 and 950.

What convinces me most, though, are the details embedded within the work. Fragments have been discovered detailing Ecekasuri's mythical history and the magick its denizens supposedly wielded but this... this is unlike anything I've ever read before.

I'd like to read more of it. Send me more. Now.

E.M. Lark <>

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My dear Di,

I am vaguely familiar with Ecekasuri's magick but I wouldn't call myself an expert by any means. Whenever we begin the unit on Ecekasurian literature, I have my students read a couple of articles on the subject since references to magick show up in a good chunk of even contemporary Ecekasurian literature. Unfortunately, my knowledge of the subject doesn't extend much beyond these articles. I've attached them below in case you're interested in just how little I know.

In terms of getting you the next section to translate... I'm working on it. The labs still have it and they aren't exactly a big fan of my treatment when I was scanning it to send to you. There's probably some proper procedure to go about but who knows how long that will take.

Dr. E.M. Lark

Professor of Modern Literature From Across the Continents

Director of Nisaba University's Modern Ecekasurian Literature Program

Diana Aylin <>

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I read the articles.

The first one is fine. I've met White before. He's not very impressive. The article reflects that. It was simplistic, but I guess that's required for an introduction.

As for the second one... it was certainly different. I've only heard of Ilerik but I consider her less of a scholar and more of an advocate. Just as with White, the article reflects that. I've never read an article that does not include a caveat, at least in the introduction, that there is no evidence that magick existed and instead just... assumes. I appreciate Ilerik's work but this article felt less as though she'd researched it and more as though she was drawing from her own, personal beliefs. Fine for an opinion piece, less fine for a scholarly article.

The next thing you send best be more of the pages.

E.M. Lark <>

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Diana...

I forgot how boring you can be. I make my students read articles like that second one to ensure that they don't end up like you!

After all, I for one, wholeheartedly believe that Ecekasurian magick is—or at least was—real. When Ecekasuri first made contact with the outside world, the continent utterly terrified us despite being several centuries behind in technological advancements. They must've had some advantage, so why not magick? Plus, all accounts from when the continent was first discovered have something along the lines of "devils capable of spewing fire" or "witches who perverted the natural order to do their bidding." Dozens of people don't just write those things if something isn't going on.

Not to mention all of the Ecekasurian writings we have about magick! We have dozens of writings that teach the reader how to use elemental magick and hundreds of prophecies.

Even if there is no solid evidence, it makes more sense that Ecekasuri, at least at one point in time, had magick.

Dr. E.M. Lark

Professor of Modern Literature From Across the Continents

Director of Nisaba University's Modern Ecekasurian Literature Program

Diana Aylin <>

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One: It's called mass hysteria and the demonization of native Ecekasurians.

Two: What do you mean it makes more sense? How do people controlling the elements with their minds make more sense than a combination of a lack of scientific understanding and strong religious beliefs that magick is real, causing the records of true events to be altered?

Three: PAGES!!

E.M. Lark <>

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Diana,

You're still so, so boring.

Also, just to clarify, you think that "Nerluce Hebikoti" was a real person but the magick he wields is fake. How does that make any sense when the whole story is built around him using magick? It seems much simpler if people just recorded what they saw happening compared to them twisting the story up to fit with religious beliefs at the time.

You'll be happy to see that I've attached the next section to this email. I hope you appreciate the increase in the quality of the scans.

Dr. E.M. Lark

Professor of Modern Literature From Across the Continents

Director of Nisaba University's Modern Ecekasurian Literature Program

Diana Aylin <>

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Nerluce is real, at least partially.

While taking breaks between translating, I've been skimming records. There was a Nerluce Hebikoti who lived around the right time. However, this is a story. Likely an oral one, written down. Nerluce, the historical figure, and Nerluce, the character, would likely be extremely different. And most importantly it, in no way, proves magick existed.

Keep that in mind while reading my translation.