I had a small loaf for breakfast, after which I continued to explore the city. As I went deeper in and further from the main pathways the structures became more and more ruined. Entire walls had fallen and ceilings collapsed. Craters in the ground. Still no clues. Still nothing of value.
There was, however, more of the faint glow. This time it was coming from cracks in the walls where they had crumbled rather than runic carvings. That suggested to me that my one idea - that the runes were somehow connected with magic - was wrong.
I managed to break off, from one of the cracks in the wall, a piece of rock that was glowing. At least, it had a vein running through it and it was the vein that glowed. Without eyes it felt like a normal rock. The vein did not make any sound, it did not give off an aroma, it was as rough as stone usually is and it did not have any distinguishable taste. Despite this I could tell it wasn't an ordinary rock. It made the hairs on the back of my hand stand on end when I held it. The longer I held it the more it seemed to heat my hand but the instant I let go the warmth was gone. I have the rock in my pocket now. If I don't discover its secrets in the mountain I shall ask someone in the village if they know anything about it when I leave.
Today I have covered a lot of the city and I am still no closer to discovering why the dwarves died out. I will spend one more day in the city and then I think I will go and explore the other caverns along the right fork of the rails. Hopefully there will be more answers in that direction.
Runes
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