The Lost Entries and the Rift

Time Stamp: Vikram Era: 6 Chaitra 1637 (March 1579)

Siddharth continued to explore the living quarters with a newfound determination. The discovery of Alberta Koch's diary had ignited a burning curiosity within him. As he sifted through the remnants of this forgotten world, he found several more volumes of Alberta's diary, each offering a glimpse into the lives of the stranded settlers.

Diary Entry: 15th of Tishrei, 5694 (1st October, 1934)

It has been over a year since we arrived in this strange, frigid land. Life here is harsh, but our community has grown strong and resilient. We have managed to transform Bahlikiwara from a small, ramshackle village into a bustling fortress. Our population now stands at over 5,000, thanks to the frequent arrivals of new survivors in the ship graveyard. It's heart-wrenching how many don't make it—often too injured or too cold before we can reach them.

Today, I helped organize a group to salvage more materials from the ship graveyard. The journey is treacherous, but we need those supplies to continue building our new home. I still marvel at how diverse our group is. People from every corner of the globe are here, united by our shared struggle. The language barrier with the locals remains, their tongue unrecognizable to any of us. We've started calling ourselves the "stranded," a fitting name for those plucked from different parts of the world and thrown together in this icy wasteland.

Our scavenging missions to the ship graveyard, 50 kilometers northwest of Bahlikiwara, have been our lifeline. We've salvaged food, raw materials, and industrial equipment—everything we need to build a new life. Just the other day, we found a cache of preserved yak meat and mushrooms. A feast, considering our circumstances.

Henrietta Blucher suggested we create a community kitchen to make the most of our resources. She's a botanist and has been experimenting with growing mushrooms in a makeshift greenhouse. It's heartening to see everyone working together, pooling our skills and knowledge for the greater good.

Siddharth paused, lost in thought. He could almost see the struggles and triumphs of Alberta and her companions as they had started out a new existence. He turned the page to the next entry, eager to learn more.

Diary Entry: 27th of Nisan, 5695 (15th April, 1935)

Spring is here, but the cold still bites. We've come a long way since those first desperate days. Henrietta Blucher, our brilliant botanist, has been a godsend. She suggested we build a greenhouse to grow mushrooms. Using salvaged materials, we managed to construct a rudimentary but functional greenhouse. It's amazing how something so simple can feel like such a victory.

Today, we had a small celebration in the greenhouse. Henrietta brought in the first batch of mushrooms, and we cooked a stew. The taste of fresh food lifted everyone's spirits. We've started to rear yaks as well, thanks to the knowledge shared by the locals. The villagers showed us how to set up pens for the animals, and with their help, we've established a small but growing herd.

I often wonder about the world we left behind. My family, my friends—they must think we perished at sea. But here we are, in this strange land, building a new life from the remnants of our old one. Every day is a struggle, but every small success brings us hope.

Siddharth's mind raced with questions. How did Alberta and her group manage to adapt so well? What drove them to keep going despite the overwhelming odds? He felt a deep respect for their resilience and determination.

Diary Entry: 10th of Av, 5695 (28th July, 1935)

Today marks a pivotal moment for our community. We have decided to build an airship to explore beyond our immediate surroundings. We need answers—where are we, and is there a way back? The airship is a marvel, a testament to our ingenuity and determination. I've been chosen for one of the navigational roles. It's a daunting responsibility, but I feel honored.

As we prepared for our departure, the entire community gathered to see us off. There is a mixture of hope and anxiety in their eyes. I promised to return with answers, to bring back knowledge that will help us understand our place in this world.

We set our course southwest, hoping to find signs of civilization or at least more clues about this strange land. As the airship lifted off, I couldn't help but feel a pang of homesickness. Not for the world we left behind, but for this new home we've built together.

Siddharth closed the diary, his heart heavy with the weight of Alberta's words. The final entry left him with more questions than answers. Did the airship ever return? What did they find out there in the vast unknown?

As he pondered these thoughts, his map skill suddenly pinged, startling him. A new marker appeared, indicating a location to the southwest, not far from Bahlikiwara.

As Siddharth emerged from the underground with his security detail, his mind was racing. The map skill had suddenly pinged, reminding him of its existence. He quickly opened the map overlay, eager to understand the significance of the new marker.

The map displayed a marker at the location mentioned in Alberta Koch's diary. The tooltip above the marker read:

Rift Status 

Rift Type: Minor

Rift Nature: Peaceful

Connected Universe: ??456

Stability: 90%

Estimated Time Before Rupture: 5000 hours

Siddharth's heart pounded. The appearance of this rift confirmed his suspicions. He realized he would have to leave the city to find and close the rift, but the task was daunting. Given the recent incident, there was no way Vaniika would allow him to go alone. He would have to leave in secret, a dangerous but necessary move.

As he mulled over his options, the rest of the concerned security team approached. A small contingent of soldiers, led by Deputy Commander Kartik, arrived to check on his well-being.

"Your Highness, are you alright?" Kartik asked, concern etched on his face.

"I'm fine, Deputy Commander," Siddharth replied. "Just a bit shaken, but nothing serious."

Kartik nodded. "We've been worried sick. The repair team responsible for the accident has been duly punished. We must ensure your safety at all costs."

Siddharth appreciated the concern but felt a growing urgency to investigate the rift. As he was escorted back to the hotel, he couldn't shake the feeling that time was of the essence.

Siddharth sat on the edge of the seating, his heart heavy with the weight of the reprimand he knew was coming. The door to the room creaked open, and Vaniika entered, her face a mix of relief and anger. She had been worried sick, and now that the immediate danger was over, her concern quickly morphed into frustration.

"Do you have any idea what you've done, Siddharth?" Vaniika's voice was stern, echoing in the small room.

Siddharth looked down at his hands, unable to meet her gaze. "I'm sorry, didi," he muttered.

"Sorry?" Vaniika's eyes flashed. "Sorry doesn't even begin to cover it. You put yourself in incredible danger! You could have been seriously hurt or worse. What were you thinking?"

"I just wanted to explore," Siddharth said softly. "I wanted to learn more about this place."

Vaniika took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "Exploring is fine, Siddharth, but there's a right way to do it. You can't just wander off into unknown places without proper precautions. Do you know how many people were worried sick about you? How many people are responsible for your safety?"

Siddharth nodded, feeling a lump in his throat. "I know. I didn't mean to cause trouble."

"Trouble?" Vaniika shook her head, pacing the room. "This is more than just trouble. You have responsibilities, Siddharth. You're a prince, and your safety is paramount. You need to understand that."

She stopped pacing and knelt in front of him, her tone softening. "I know you want to explore and learn, but you have to be smart about it. You can't let your curiosity put you in danger."

Siddharth finally looked up, meeting her eyes. "I promise I'll be more careful," he said earnestly. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Vaniika sighed, her anger melting into concern. "It's not just about scaring me. It's about making sure you stay safe. We can't afford to lose you."

There was a moment of silence, and then she pulled him into a hug. "I care about you, Siddharth. More than you know. Please, just think before you act next time."

"I will, didi," Siddharth whispered, hugging her back. "I promise."

As they sat there, Siddharth felt a renewed sense of determination. He knew he had to be more cautious, but he also knew he couldn't ignore the mystery of the rift. He would find a way to balance his curiosity with his responsibilities, and he would make sure he didn't let his sister down again.

Vaniika pulled back, a small smile on her lips. "Good. Now, get some rest. We'll talk more in the morning."

Siddharth nodded, watching as she left the room. He lay back on his bed, the events of the day replaying in his mind. He had a lot to think about, and a lot to plan. But for now, he would rest, knowing that tomorrow would bring new challenges and new opportunities to prove himself.