U-ARCADIA04 (Aug 23, 2022)
Puzzle
"A carpenter of very few strings."
Knowledge – II | 3 Words
Clue
Hover over the clues if you require!
Clue 1: Someone who provided a building 'with very few strings'.
Answer and Explanation
Answer: The Mysterious Benefactor
Explanation: In CAD201, of Date With Death, the Mysterious Benefactor is referred to as providing the Second Cafe with a new base of operations, with very few strings attached.
Summary of Receipt
Summary
Transcript
Lucifer returned to Arcadia, seeking clarity in the mortal settlement's familiar chaos. She wandered through the town, observing Demiurge's accidental creations as they went about their fleeting lives. Their days, mere hours long, were a blink of an eye to her and her Archon-descended kin. They seemed so fragile, so easily broken. It was hard for Lucifer to believe they had survived so long in a world so perilous.
She spotted a young mortal, just stepping into adulthood, standing with a small group. He was tall, strong, built like one of her brother's warriors, yet instead of a sword, he held a stack of books. Curious, Lucifer listened as he spoke.
"We have no other choice," he said, his voice steady as he gestured to the others. "The Pale will seep into our town and slaughter us all if we don't build a wall."
"You can't be serious! We'd lose what little farmland we have left. We'd lose access to the ocean—to the others," one of them argued.
"Are you truly willing to seal us away from the world just to survive?" another added, their words heavy with doubt.
"We'll make it work. We'll find a way. The Pale has destroyed so much already; we can't afford to lose any more ground. A wall—a barrier… it'll work."
After a moment of silence, the group exchanged uncertain glances. "…Alright. Should we tell him our plan?" someone finally asked.
The young man nodded, and the group dispersed. Lucifer resumed her stroll, noticing that others in the settlement seemed to be discussing similar plans for a great wall. Interesting, she thought. Demiurge's creations were capable of learning, of reasoning, of strategy. An idea was spreading among them, and she felt compelled to trace it to its source.
Her path led to a large building on the edge of the town—a library, she surmised. Inside, a voice echoed through the stacks. Lucifer entered, disguising herself in a form that would go unnoticed by mortal eyes, and listened at a nearby table.
"Well, what do you think, Benefactor? Is a wall possible?" one of the mortals asked a figure with a marble stone-like mask. The Benefactor considered the question before nodding slowly. "And would it be enough to protect us?" Again, a nod.
"How much would it cost?" an elderly voice inquired.
The Benefactor shrugged and began scribbling on a parchment. When he slid it across the table, the room fell silent.
"That can't be right," one of the mortals said, voice tinged with disbelief. "The stone alone should cost a fortune."
The Benefactor shook his head, dismissing the concern.
"You must let us repay you somehow," another insisted. "At least accept food and supplies—a token of our gratitude."
The Benefactor tilted his head, considering. After a pause, he leaned in to whisper something into a mortal's ear. The mortal nodded, whispering something in return.
"Ah... an interesting secret," the Benefactor mused, turning towards Lucifer. "Hello, Lucifer."
Her eyes widened as she met the cold, glassy teal-blue gaze behind the mask. Gelid eyes.