"I can't believe this!, it's you! and zeppelin on fire and alter says, do you know what, it means!", The man spoke in excitement.
Thomas recognised the man as a Panarii priest, Panarii is the major religion followed by majority of the inhabitants in whole Arcanum. Thomas, his father, and the entire paternal side of family who are atheist doesn't have any interest on all kind of religions, Thomas's mother and the entire maternal side of the family however are the firm believer of Panarii religion. Panarii religion emphasizes unity, hardwork, love and compassion, and most importantly morals, all taught by a great elven scholar, Nasrudin. Nasrudin is an elven mage, but he respected both the way of magic and way of technology despite being an elf and a magician. Perhaps it was for this very reason he condemned his archnemesis Arronax for destroying an ancient and powerful technological civilization known as Vendigroth. Arronax is a former colleague of Nasrudin who fell to the dark side, and destroyed Vendigroth out of fear of them becoming as threat to supremacy of magic and elves. This act angered Nasrudin, he and his followers fought Arronax and his followers, the war ended with Nasrudin's victory, all od Arronax's followers were eliminated and Arronax who was defeated by Nasrudin, got banished to the void, a place where great sinners are banished, by Nasrudin and his men. After the banishment Arronax, Nasrudin made a prophecy that although Vendigroth is destroyed, it not the end of technology, and in future the inhabitant of Arcanum will rediscover it, and restore the legacy of technology, which will kickstart the second industrial revolution, and this time it won't be stopped. Nasrudin's prophecy eventually came true, and the second industrial revolution began right after the invention of steam engine which is the result of rediscovery of technology. This results in massive increase of believer of Panarii religion after Nasrudin's prophecy came true. There was another prophecy made by st. Mannox, the founder of religion, that Nasrudin will return, by reincarnating as one of the Arcanum's major race, and will follow either the path of magic like in his past life or he will let go of old ways and choose the path of technology, regardless of which path he will choose, he will fight the last battle against Arronax, who will eventually escape his prison. The final battle will also determine Arcanum's fate, if Nasrudin's reincarnation also known as the 'living one' win, the Arcanum will be safe for eternity, if Arronax wins, then a dark age will begin, where all mages will forced to become the servent of Arronax while technologist will all die by Arronax's hand, thus, both mage and technologist will be doomed if Arronax emerge victorious. Thomas although an atheist, he learned lot about the religion through his mother, who is a firm believer of the Paranii religion, and worships Nasrudin as if he is a god. Thomas, unsheathed his sword after learning that the person is a Panarii priest.
"Excuse me can you tell me what's going on", Thomas asked.
"You spoke!!", the priest said in excitement, almost startled Thomas.
"I mean, of course you speak....(to himself)....why I am making such a blundering mistake!", the priest replied.
"Please slow down, and tell me what's going on here, properly", Thomas said.
"Yes, yes, I will speak....(to himself)....damn, why I making mess of this whole affair....(turning back to Thomas)....my name is Virgil sir, I am a priest of Panarii temple", the priest replied.
"A pleasure to meet you, my name is Thomas White, I am honored, to meet you", Thomas replied.
"I am the who is supposed to be more honored, you are 'him'", Virgil said.
"Him? Who?", Thomas asked seemingly confused.
""The 'living one', of course, according to the prophecy, the great Nasrudin's reincarnation will appear with the wing of fire near shrouded hills. Well since, it is a prophecy, it is anounced as a form of clue rather than actual future event. The prophecy simply means that the reincarnation of Nasrudin, will got himself in the incident that involves the appearance of blazing fire as well as him landing on the area near shrouded hills, and look here you are, landing near the place close to shrouded hills, got yourself involved in zeppelin crash.", Virgil said with the smile.
Thomas, felt like his head spinning, after all, although he is an atheist, he believed the Nasrudin and his reincarnation, the 'living one', to be a great existance, but isn't he a normal person looking for job?, how could he be turned out to be a reincarnation of such a great person?, Thomas felt that he got himself into a huge matter, suddenly he remembered something.
"Does the scripture say anything about the gnome and ring?", Thomas asked showing the ring that gnome gave him.
"Well there wasn't mentioned about the ring, but there is a line about something about a person telling the living one about an evil, sadly the race of the person who inform living one is not mentioned", Virgil replied.
Thomas although didn't get any answer about the ring or about the gnome, but he confirmed that there is indeed an evil threatening the world, just as the gnome mentioned. He realised that the evil is none other Arronax also known as 'evil one' according to the Panarii religion. Which means that Thomas as 'Living one' has to face Arronax to save the world. Just thinking about it made Thomas head spin, realizing that his life is no longer same and that he have to prepare himself to fight this evil, still as an atheist he doubted that the religion and the prophecy.
"I still have some doubt, can I have some confirmation", Thomas asked.
"I would like to clear the doubt you have, but you must know that I am new to Panarii myself, so I will like you to ask elder Joachim himself", Virgil said to Thomas.
"Who is the elder Joachim?", Thomas asked.
"Joachim is my mentor and fellow Panarii priest, who lend me a hand long time ago", Virgil replied.
"Okay, let meet the elder Joachim and clear all doubt", Thomas said.
"Oh, before we go let's see whether there's any survivor like you", Virgil said.
"(Looking around) Agreed", Thomas said