"...And so it was that Atlasdam was found two centuries ago." A proud scholar wearing regal clothing explained. "Indeed, our fair city-state is the longest standing on the continent of Orsterra. But there was another city-state as long and proud as our own that came to its ruin a short eight years ago."

Cyrus Albright stands as one, if not one of the finest, professors at the royal academy in Atlasdam. He has many admirers but his true passion lies in the pursuit of knowledge. But everything changes on this day.

"Now, can anyone tell me what the name of this city state was? How about you, Miss Therese?" Cyrus inquired.

"Um.. well… ah, here it is! It was Hornburg." Therese said.

"Good. Hornburg was said to have been ruled over by a royal family said to have been descended from priests of an ancient long forgotten religion. On the other hand, Atlasdam was founded by one of the original clans who inhabited the flatlands. Who can tell me how many clans lived in the Flatlands at the time? Your highness?" Cyrus asked.

"Er… I believe there were...eight?" a regal girl said.

"Correct you are, your highness. It was a great deal of strife in the flatlands as these clans waged a long and bitter war. Change would come when the armies from Grandport invaded these lands two centuries ago. They sought to extort the territories inland. Ironically, this compelled the tribes to put aside their differences to face a common foe. Oh look at the time! We'll pick up where we left off next time. Don't forget to read chapters 3 and 4 before our next lecture and be prepared to answer questions on the material within." Cyrus said walking out as the girls congratulated him on his lecture.

"Professor Albright." a guard said. "A message from Mercedes from the library. You've been granted special permission to take a look into the special archives."

"Ah...I've been looking forward to that. Now I can begin my research." Cyrus said as he headed out of the academy.

Cyrus approached the library where he talked with the librarian.

"I'm a little surprised you wanted into the archives." Mercedes said.

"When I heard than an original copy of The Church of the Flame: A Complete Histoire, I just had to see to it." Cyrus said.

"Just sign in." she said as Cyrus did so and showed himself in. A few minutes in and…

"Miss...could you come in?" Cyrus asked as she did. "The tome I just mentioned doesn't seem to be in here."

"Missing? I'll look into it at once, professor. By the way...I recently got word. Headmaster Yvon wishes to see thee." Mercedes said.

"What could it be this time? Very well...best not keep him waiting." Cyrus said heading out and knocking on said door within the academy. "Cyrus Albright by your request."

"Do enter." a voice said as Cyrus showed himself in. "My apologies for summoning you on such short notice."

"How may I be of assistance?" Cyrus asked.

"That treatise on arcane studies you published...what in the god's name were you thinking?" Yvon said.

"Sir, I believe I made my hypothesis quite clear." Cyrus said.

"I'm not talking about your hypothesis. You went out of your way to cite one of the tomes within our special archives. Those books are the academy's greatest treasure! It is not to be divulge to the public." Yvon said.

"I am very well aware of the value of those tomes which is why I mentioned that info." Cyrus said.

"That info is for the eyes of the academy only!" Yvon said.

"But headmaster…" Cyrus said.

"Silence! Not another word! You are dismissed." Yvon said. "Oh wait...there is one last thing...I hear the special archives are going to be closing early today so if you have research...I suggest that you do it quickly." He said smirking.

"(It's as if he enjoys watching me suffer.)" Cyrus thought. "(Knowledge is power, and that power isn't meant to be hoarded. A deplorable attitude indeed…)"

"You may go now." Yvon said as Cyrus departed.

"That man...sometimes. But now I need to focus on locating that tome. It was just delivered today so it shouldn't have gotten far. But where could it be? Perhaps...could someone from the academy have stolen it?" Cyrus thought to himself.

Cyrus didn't think of the possibilities any longer, and began to think.

"Let's see now...who has been acting a bit differently recently? Hmm...my fellow scholar Russell has been acting a bit different today. There has been talk of him being in debt." Cyrus said. "He could have stolen the tome to try and pay it off. Question is where would…" He thought before seeing a boarded off cavern under the academy. "Of course. Go to where the rats hide."

Cyrus managed to uncover the cavern entrance and made his way downwards to a secret underground lab. There, he saw his colleague Russell.

"As expected, I find you here. For what reason are you hiding down here, Russel?" Cyrus asked.

"Professor Albright? Are you always in the habit of barging into colleagues' places of work?" Russell said.

"Perhaps you've heard a few tomes have gone missing from the archives. I'll get straight to the facts… you are a thief, and I can prove it." Cyrus said.

"Like hells you can!" Russell said.

"When you were trying to sneak the key back, your friend the guardsman was just waking up." Cyrus said.

"No...he was still asleep. I'm positive he…" Russell said. "Ah!"

"Keeping up on our friends somnolence, are we?" Cyrus said.

"It was just a slip of the tongue." Russell said.

"Well...if you believe yourself innocent, you wouldn't mind accompanying me to the academy to prove your innocence?" Cyrus asked.

"Damn it! Damn it all to hell!" Russell said as he went to attack Cyrus.

BANG!

"Freeze, turkey!" A voice said as a shot barely missed Russell's face and hit a flask, making him stop in his place.

"What in the bloody hell?!" Russell asked as he saw someone standing there.

"So...finally decided to come out of hiding, have you?" Cyrus asked.

"The rumors are true. You really are the best." The person said as it stepped out of the shadows to reveal Connor. "So...how long have you known I was tailing ya?"

"Since I first left the library. I decided to say nothing and just simply waited to see if you were either a friend or foe." Cyrus said.

"Oh believe me, I'm definitely a friend, Prof. And I couldn't have time my shot better. Need a hand with this guy?" Connor asked.

"Neither of you are catching me like this!" Russell said firing spells at both Connor and Cyrus as both dodged.

"So it's gonna be like that? Okay then…" Connor said firing his revolvers rapidly.

"Allow me to assist." Cyrus said drawing his staff. "Icewind!" he said as a cold wind blew damaging Russell.

"Time to knock you down." Connor said loading up his shot hun and firing, releasing a net bomb and entangling Russell. "Gotcha!"

"Very well done." Cyrus said.

"You can't do this to me…" Russell said.

"I just did." Connor said. "So, we caught the perp. What's next?"

"He'll receive his justice from the academy." Cyrus said.

Later at the library…

"I've returned." Cyrus said holding a bag of unsold books. "I've managed to get most of them back..except for one..From the Far Reaches of Hell. Wonder when he stole that." Cyrus said.

"I'm afraid he didn't. That tomes been missing for 15 years." Mercedes said.

"(How interesting…)" Cyrus said before a woman appeared.

"The headmaster requests your presence." she said.

"Oh what now?" Cyrus pondered as he headed off back to the office.

"Well, Cyrus...seems you've gone and done it now." Yvon said.

"Whatever do you mean?" Cyrus asked.

"Anonymous sources dictate that you have abused your position to enter an illicit relationship with her highness, Princess Mary." Yvon said.

"WHAT? And you believe this?" Cyrus asked.

"If it is untrue, then say so." Yvon said.

"Why this is nothing but balderdash of the highest order!" Cyrus said.

"I'd like to take your words to face value but I'm afraid the manner is not so simple. A rumor even such one as this is sure to spread quickly. If something is not done, her name will be ruined forever. Firing you would only make the rumors be confirmed true." Yvon said.

"If I may, headmaster, why not give him a sabbatical?" The woman asked.

"Excellent suggestion, Lucia. We can have you leave without no harm coming to her highness." Yvon said. "Agreed...Cyrus?" he asked.

"Oh, more so than you think. In fact, I would like to take this Sabbatical as an opportunity to do a little field work. A matter has piqued my interest as of late, and i would like to do a little research." Cyrus said. "(This is the chance I've waited for. With this time off...I can go and find that lost tome...From the Far Reaches of Hell.)"

Cyrus then exited the academy into the courtyard.

"Going somewhere?" Connor asked leaning against the walls.

(Cue-Theme of Dudley: Super Street Fighter 4)

"A man like you has no real reason to leave your post unless it was somethin' important." Connor said. "You goin' tome hunting?"

"As expected of you. Yes...I plan to use this time off to find that missing tome...From the Far Reaches of Hell." Cyrus said.

"That sounds pretty interesting. We want in." Connor said.

The rest of Team Revival appeared out of the corners of the academy.

"We came to Atlasdam in search of a job. I think you need us." Connor said.

"Hmm. Very well. I shall accept your offer of assistance." Cyrus said. "As for where to begin, I know of an old Scholar from the Academy currently living in Quarrycrest in the Clifflands. It seems as good a place to start as anywhere."

"Then I guess Quarrycrest is where we're goin'." Connor said.

"I have a feeling that this tome has more secrets than we think…" Mustang said.

"If a tome like this was missing for this long, it should." Morph said. "But question is...who could possibly want it?" she asked as they headed out unaware of a person in a dark hood watching them.

And so, Cyrus departed from the academy…in search of a lost tome

From the Far Reaches of Hell...what dark secrets does its pages hold?

Only the gods know