391 AD:
Sadly, the Temple of Serapis has now joined the rest of the library in destruction. The Christians have taken the Roman empire by storm, and those who still hold their pagan beliefs are hunted by Theodosius I and the angry mobs I have come to know as an integral part of this city. I will admit that the temple and attached library were not entirely destroyed, and my stone prison is unfortunately still intact. In fact, it is being used to build a new Christian church from the scuttled temple. While I would have liked for my prison to have been smashed by the mob, finally setting my soul free, as long as I remain trapped inside I would rather my personal chunk of marble reside within a renowned library than a Christian church.
400 AD:
The repeated reuse of my prison as old buildings are destroyed and it is hewn to fit in new construction projects has damaged and continually shrank it smaller and smaller. Eventually, I am taken out of a pile of rubble as a souvenir and carried with a scholar back to Rome as they flee the increasing violence in the city. I personally have mixed feelings about heading to Rome. As someone who was raised in an outer province subservient to the empire, I have always viewed them and their brutal policies in a strongly negative light. However, since I have been trapped in this stone for such a long duration of time, my perspective has shifted. I still see Rome as the seat of an unjust imperial power that controlled my homeland but after so many hundreds and thousands of years trapped in this boring rock, it will be an exciting change of pace to be in such a bustling city. The likelihood of my prison and I becoming situated at the crux of the action as important events unfold is incredibly high, much higher than it was in even Alexandria.
402 AD:
I predict that Rome’s downfall is at hand. They have elected to move their capital from the city of Rome itself to a more defensible position as the barbarian Visigoths were approaching the city. I am torn between exhilaration and trepidation. The approaching barbarians will certainly lead to an entertaining conflict for me to observe and it is plausible that the city will be sacked and the empire will fall. However, despite my animosity towards the empire for stealing my homeland, I worry that victory for the Visigoths will have ramifications. As much as I may enjoy watching the empire crumble, they are a fascinating culture and I may find myself sad to see them gone. Only time will tell, so, as always, I shall watch, listen, and record.
410 AD: (Much of the final tablet is melted to the point of being illegible. The edges still flicker with the turquoise tinges of spectral fire.)
The hour of reckoning is upon us… years of siege and conflict Visigoths have breached the city...has fallen. and everything is burning. The flames of rend my soul from the stone
I am free.