This also means that the Council of 18 Gates is much older and probably much more powerful than we imagined:
They have sent the book, in varying forms, to groups for centuries.
It requires immense power to send the book to us from where they are.
…the book persists because in each era the 18 Gates have used what power they have to not only send their cherished object to us, but also to protect it from The Storm and its Master. They have kept the book safe while also trying to spread what remained of that protection to those who’ve tried to unlock it.
…I convinced the 18 Gates to focus their power to protect you instead of the book when The Storm arrived, and let the book burn…