The Echo of Compendious
Compendious isn't merely a book; it's a resonance. A whisper from ages past, attempting to articulate the chaotic symphony of existence. Legend claims it was penned by the Chronomasters, beings who existed outside the constraints of linear time, tasked with archiving the universe’s burgeoning knowledge – a knowledge far too vast for any single mind to contain. The book itself is written in a language known as 'Veridia,' a dialect born of pure observation, where every sentence is a reflection of a moment, layered with possibility and consequence.
The First Chronicle
The initial pages detail the “Great Unfolding,” the moment when the universe, in its nascent state, began to crystallize. It speaks of the ‘Void Singers,’ entities who shaped reality with their songs, and the ‘Stonekeepers,’ who guarded the first seeds of order. The text shifts and blurs, almost as if trying to avoid a specific memory.
The Paradox of Reflection
Further chapters explore the concept of ‘Echoes’ – fragments of past and future events that bleed through into the present. The Chronomasters believed that by meticulously recording these echoes, they could navigate the currents of time, preventing catastrophic divergences. However, they also warned of the danger of becoming trapped within the echoes themselves – losing oneself in the infinite reflections of what *was* and *could be*.
The Chronological Timeline
The Emergence of Veridia
The initial recording of the ‘Great Unfolding’ begins. The language of Veridia is first established, a reflection of observed phenomena.
The Shadowing
A minor temporal anomaly occurs, creating a 'Shadowing' – a localized distortion where the past briefly overlaps with the present. The Chronomasters document the event with meticulous detail, attempting to understand its cause and prevent further occurrences.
The Silence
The Stonekeepers, the guardians of order, mysteriously cease to function. Their absence creates a void in the timeline, a dangerous gap in the recorded knowledge. The remaining Chronomasters attempt to fill the void, but the effort proves futile.