Part 4 - The Mayans

“Satan, what do you mean?” said Arthilis.
“Geez Arthilis, stop calling me like that. It’s Lucifer, that’s my proper name.” Lucifer folded his arms on his chest, face irritated. He continued, “The answer to your quest lies deep within the Central American territory.”
“Where is that?” asked Arthilis. Lucifer stared blankly at him.
“Ever heard about The Mayan tribe?”
“No, even if I do, I don’t care.”
“Seriously Arthilis, I have no idea why Zithlirim had chosen you as the God of Fire in the first place. Anyway, listen to this carefully.” Lucifer tried to recall back his memory about the tribe’s history. He touched his right temple with his fore finger. Both Arthilis and Arthinin watch the devil closely.

“The Mayans were a people who dominated Central America for 2500 years until AD1441. They began building large pyramids with small temples on top between 600BC and AD250. The Mayan civilization peaked between AD250 and 900. This is called the Classic Period. During the Classic Period, Mayan civilization centred on great cities such as Tikal in the Guatemalan lowlands. They traded far and wide on foot and in-dug out canoes. Also in this period, they developed a clever form of writing in symbols representing sounds or ideas. They recorded their history on stone monuments called stelae. Mysteriously, around AD800, the Mayans stopped making stelae and the Guatemalan cities were abandoned.”

“What was exactly happening to them?” said Arthilis. But Lucifer only shrugged.
“I wish I knew, but from AD800 to 1200, the most powerful Mayan city was Chiche’n Itza’ in the Yucata’n region. From 1200 to 1440 another city, Mayapan, came to the fore. After 1440, Mayan civilization rapidly broke up, though no one knows why.”
“Lucifer, what has this got to do with my quest?”
“Everything.” He replied.
“You see, The Mayans were deeply religious. Deer, dogs, turkeys and even humans were often sacrificed to the gods in the temples on top of the pyramids. They were worshiping something that leads to their ends.”

Arthinin the Knight Angel, moved closer to Arthilis and whisper something to his ear.
“I kind of like this Lucifer guy, he knows so much. But should we trust him?”
Arthilis ignored the Knight Angel and walked toward Lucifer.
“Give me a reason why we should trust you.”
“Because everything I said is true. And what the Mayans were worshiping was not a God. It was some sort of a weapon. I could be right or I could be wrong, because it doesn’t look like it came from this world.”

“How do you know that? Have you seen it?” asked Arthilis curiously.
“I’ve lived through The Mayans era, I’ve been there and seen it. Since I was expelled from Dirthilen thousands of years ago, I was the only one to live the earth. Alone. Since then, I traveled the world from place to place, season to season, period to period, I had witnessed thousands of tragedies and histories. With the power left in me I created the Ifrits out of smoke and have my self my own people.”

“What would you suggest me to do?”
“Go there, look for the signs and clues. But remember, be careful, it is not that easy. The place is sacred, and guarded by invisible forces. I’ll lend you two of my Ifrits to guide you there.”