9. Light Directions

- "Let's find a high place to take a look" - Isabella said and continued in front of them. After some more walking they reached one of the highest mesas of the canyon. The sights were breathtaking. The way the mountains and crevices intertwined with the creeks and the dry vegetation were complimented by the sun was getting closer to zenith, shining above the water and creating shadows in the crevices.

Caoilainn did not come close to the edges. Seeing she was afraid, Isabella took the map and went to the edge to observe. She called Mazanlold and Richard to look with her:
- "So, do you have any idea where the place in the map is?" - she pointed at the horizon - "We should be able to find it from here." Richard said:
- "I can find two kind of pillars in the map, this might help us." - Isabella continued:
- "And there is a stream very close to them." - Mazanlold pointed to a place to their right:
- "There is a hole in that hill. If we imagine it from above, it might form the two pillars as we see" - Richard continued:
- "And I can see the stream at its side" - Isabella finished the conversation:
- "That should be it, let's go." - they went down and searched for ways to reach the two pillars.

The four moved swiftly through the canyon, Mazanlold led their path, as he was good in finding safe paths on uncertain terrain. Richard could see Caoilainn's uncomfortableness and Isabella being very attentive to her. It was not long before they reached the two pillars.

- "Here we are, let us check if the map corresponds to what we see" - said Isabella. The four of them split and took a look around to see if they had found the correct location. The four agreed. Caoilainn said:
- "Well, I guess we must find the X now" - she opened her arms - "I'm just not sure how" - Isabella said:
- "Let's get down to business" - and the four started looking around. They left the map on the ground to refer back to it. They made a honest effort to find the X but it was to no avail. It got to the point that Caoilainn sat down pouting:
- "I will rest a bit." - as she said that, Isabella and Mazanlold kept their search. Richard, on the other hand, slowed down and started to think more. He touched his chin, sat down and took the map. Caoilainn observed curiously as he moved the map around trying to find something no one had seen yet.

As he moved the map around in the sunlight, he noticed it seemed to change a bit depending on the light's angle. He observed it carefully, trying to find a pattern. Then he had an idea: he touched his glasses, turned the map around and said:
- "That's it, I found the X, it is in the map!" - Caoilainn took the map from his hand and moved it around. She complained:
- "I cannot see it, you are seeing things" - all he did was touch his glasses again to remove the myopia correction and gave her the glasses. Soon:
- "Here, the X is here! That is amazing!" - at the sound of Caoilainn's voice, Mazanlold and Isabella approached. They exchanged the glasses and map and all could see the X. Caoilainn continued - "Richard, how did you do that?"
- "Well" - he touched his nose, trying to find his glasses - "there is one thing in my world called polarized glasses. They block the light coming in specific directions. This can be used to block sunlight reflections, and sometimes to see hidden things that have been painted in a special way."
- "Amazing!" - she shouted - "Let's find go to the X!" - they went together and found the place. It was just ground, nothing special about it. Mazanlold asked:
- "Should we dig it?" - Isabella replied:
- "I don't think we have any other option" - with this, Caoilainn grabbed her walking cane, turned it into a shovel and gave it to Mazanlold. He said:
- "You sure are one of a kind, Caoilainn."
- "I really am, tehehe˜" - Mazanlold was ready for the job and started digging. It was only a minute before he struck a rock. He cleaned it and clearly there was an X carved on the surface of the rock. Before they could think about it, Caoilainn asked for the shovel, turned it back to her staff and started an incantation. She collected water from the stream, accumulating it in the air and sent it at full force on the X. The mighty rock split into two, revealing a dazzling yellow crystal and a bottle with a piece of paper inside.

Caoilainn's eyes shone as she quickly grabbed both. Before she could do anything else however, a creaking sound echoed in the canyon sending chills down their spines.