It was a language Karlos didn't recognize.
It mixed old Schilden with foreign characters that resembled that of modern Beowulf, a language spoken in the Southern Continent.
Still, it was unreadable.
Well... Judging from how the text is formatted, it might be a poem? I wonder if the library has a dictionary for something like this...
He wasn't sure if any books recorded such a language. It seemed completely alien yet oddly familiar at the same time.
Looking back to the glimmering green box, Karlos found a strange mechanism he had never seen before, as well as a keyhole.
His first thought was obvious.
'KERCHACK'
I should have known...
Trying the green key, Karlos was unable to open it. He even tried the red key, but that too was unsuccesful.
"It probably has something to do with this strange device next to the lock... But what is it?" Karlos fiddled with the cylindrical contraption, and found that the characters on the device matched with the letters on the note.
This... Do I have to match the correct word in that language to this mechanism?
It was sort of exciting. As an fan of puzzles, Karlos tried matching the 'words' on the note to the suitable answers on the mechanism with great enthusiasm.
9 characters... What's a 9 character word that matches?
'Klik' 'Klik' 'CHAK'
'Klik' 'Klik' 'CHAK'
"This won't get me anywhere... There's too many possible answers."
After unsuccesfully forcing the combinations, he finally decided to visit the library.
Placing his hand on the bronze doorknob, he opened the door.
'Creak...'
Checking both sides of the hallway, Karlos quietly walked back towards the library.
He wasn't sure if anyone besides the impersonator Alphonse had decided to chase him, but he decided to silently traverse through the manor regardless.
Eventually, he reached...
Oh... Right...
In his fight with the fake Alphonse, he had collapsed the entire library and ripped a page from practically every book. Piles upon piles of books were strewn across the floor and ripped pages blanketed every empty space.
...If Sêlafrien saw this...
Chills ran down his spine, but an even bigger worry flooded his mind.
How am I supposed to find anything now?
Looking at the labels next to the fallen bookshelves, Karlos managed to find a pile of books that appeared to be dictionaries and encyclopedias, but they were utterly disorganized and damaged.
At least... The dust had settled.
...
Karlos had probably been searching for several hours, or at least, it felt like such.
With only one usable arm, Karlos's efficiency was pitiful.
One book at a time was checked and discarded from the piles of dozens, if not hundreds of heavy books.
This is ridiculous... Maybe the brute-forcing option would have been faster than this...
Suddenly, his eyes widened.
Isn't this what I'm looking for?
It was an old book, one that seemed several times older than even some of the classical works in the library. It was dark blue in colour, and on its front cover was a large crown that seemed expectionally detailed, with the text "Translates to - Schilden" near the bottom.
Near the top, big text in a foreign font proudly displayed the name of this language.
"Feohulic."
Thank the stars... I thought I would have to spend a whole day looking for this thing...
Opening the book, he was ecstatic that none of the pages were torn. Only some slight scratches were present.
Having found what he came for, Karlos quickly left the library, silently returning to the strange room.
'CRASH'
Karlos was alarmed, but spared no time. He quickly entered the room.
What was that...?
Kienas went by, but he didn't hear anything else. Chalking it up to a candle that fell from the library, he began translating the note.
...
The dark stone walls of the hall trembled with distain.
An old man in a blue trench coat, half top hat, and heavy leather boots walked out of a cylindrical device that connected to several tubes in the ceiling. He wore circular glasses that obscured his eyes, with his collar hiding the rest of his face. Beside him, six other devices housed individuals of their own, each with tubes attached to their arms, head, and chest.
"Out so soon, Gardener?"
The man looked over to a metallic desk and saw a woman wearing a feathered hat and flowing silk dress.
Unlike the man, who was obviously aged, the woman was still a young adult and had lustrous brown hair, which flowed down to her hips.
Her striking dark green eyes focused intently on the old man, who seemed like he's never spoken a word in his life.
"...I used too much Psyche." His raspy voice resounded through the hall, emotionless yet brimming with fury.
"On a child? You've gotten too soft, my dear." She circled around the desk and approached him with a smirk.
"Here."
She handed him a several papers. On them, a clear emblem of a bird with flowing tides for wings could be seen stamped onto the corner.
"...What for?" He took the papers and briefly glanced at them, before flicking his hand.
As per his command, the papers vanished from sight, replaced with several light particles that quickly disintegrated.
"Have you been spending too much time in your garden? You know, constantly inhaling perfume isn't good for your body." She adjusted her hair and picked up a wooden bowl of fruit.
"...My garden has no effect on my capabili-"
"Of course. I have no doubts about your mental state." She popped a grape into her mouth.
"The other eleven are planning something. Something... Dastardly.
'She' wants you to spy on our neighbours. That should be no hassle, what with your adorable blossoms, hm?"
The old man suddenly turned around, not giving an answer.
The woman smiled and turned around as well, walking back to her desk.
"Happy hunting." She said as she bit into a pomegranate, completely ignoring the skin.
'Klick'
Shutting the door, Gardener walked through the dark tunnel. After some time, he reached the surface, which was heading into the Second Midnight.
Staring at the two moons in the sky, he took off his glasses.
A wide grin was plastered on his face, supported by two gaping holes that were in place of where his eyes should've been, giving him a truly unsettling appearance. Slowly, he whispered into the night.
"Damned Harpy."
...
Karlos had finished translating the text, and found it oddly entrancing.
Apparently Feohulic is exceptionally old... Is it the origins of the Schilden language?
In any case...
Reading the translated note, he began with the first line.
"O Serpent of Jade
Engulf thy mind
Consume thy corporal agent
I beseach thee
Grant this vessel thy benisons
O Great Minstrel
Bare thy fangs
Converge thy bespeckled eyes
Direct this mortal being to thy kingdom
Unlock the Orb of Psyche"
What...? Is this an incantation? It almost sounds like it's referring to the diety of some cult...
Er, does this even tell me anything useful? I spent so much time trying to translate this, and I don't even understand it...
Karlos put his pessimism to the back of his mind and began seriously analyzing the contents of the note. Although he was never formally taught history, he had experience with translating old poems for his education.
O Serpent of Jade... This must be the entity the incantation is referring to.
Engulf thy mind
Consume thy corporal agent
I beseach thee
Ugh... I should've payed more attention in classes. I can hardly wrap my head around any of this...
Grant this vessel thy benisons
This line caught Karlos's attention in particular.
Vessel... According to the dictionary, 'benison' should mean blessing, so in this context... This incantation is to receive blessings from this Serpent of Jade?
Don't tell me... Are the 'blessings' from this entity inside that box?
Karlos was slightly apprehensive, but also immensely curious. He was taught from young not to believe things that seem too good to be true... But the reward seemed incredibly enticing.
His curiosity prevailed.
O Great Minstrel
Bare thy fangs
Converge thy bespeckled eyes
Hm... I don't understand these ones at all... I'll have to come back to it.
Direct this mortal being to thy kingdom... Kingdom? Does it mean heaven?
If I'm to assume the entity in this incantation is supposed to be a deity... Was this written by a foreign church?
Even if that is the case, why would this note be here? Was one of my ancestors a believer of this entity?
Unlock the Orb of Psyche
Karlos was confused. Psyche was a term he had just recently learned, and he couldn't comprehend its significance in a text like this.
Unlock... The Orb? What does that...
Karlos flipped through the dictionary once more.
Orb... Sphere... Globe...?
Globe... If what my teachers told me is correct, our planet is a globe. Is this line trying to mean "Open the World of Psyche?"
I'm not sure, and it even sounds ridiculous, but it's the best answer I have...
Inspecting at the dazzling green box once more, Karlos rested his head on his palm.
Open the world of Psyche... Benisons...
If what I'm thinking is true... Does this box contain Psyche? Actually, I'm not sure what Psyche even looks like, but what else could it be?
Looking at the unique lock on the box, Karlos contemplated deeply about what he had just interpreted, fiddling with the combinations.
...That was interesting, but it still doesn't tell me what to do for this...
His eyes wandered to the first line of the note.
...Snake of Jade...
...Snake... Of Jade? Why do I feel like I know who this is referring to?
Karlos suddenly stood up. He felt like he was at the cusp of a breakthrough, but it was if he had a barrier inside his mind. It would stop his thoughts from wandering in a specific direction, halting his efforts to recall something important.
Jade... Jade eyes... Snake with... Jade eyes?
"Asclepius."
'CRUMBLE'
Karlos was startled. He stumbled backwards and watched in surprise as the strange lock on the green box break apart, as if years of rust and weathering had affected it all at once.
After a few seconds of silence, Karlos began walking towards the box, one step at a time.
He took several glances towards the door as well, hoping none of his other 'servants' have noticed the noise.
Eventually, when he was close enough, he cautiously touched the box and found that it seemed completely normal, aside from the broken lock.
'KLICK'
He lifted the lid, a deep sense of anticipation overtaking his mind.
Inside was...
"...A scale?"
The inside of the box was pure white, and in the middle, a traditional golden scale stood upright. On one bowl, the scale held a reflective coin that radiated blue light, on the other, an unknown powder that seemed especially heavy.
Hm...? What?
Karlos blankly stared at the item inside the box. He was expecting all sorts of fantastical items, but he never expected something so... Ordinary?
I guess...I should take it out?
Karlos grabbed the beam of the scale, finding it oddly warm.
'FWSH'
"Wha...!"
The air around him swirled with energy. The coin shined a brilliant blue, and the powder suddenly expanded rapidly, clouding his vision.
In the next moment, Karlos felt his mind being infiltrated by a piercing force, seeping into his brain. The mark on his back seared with pain as the golden coin flew directly into it, melting into the mysterious lines and symbols.
...
Karlos found himself within the familiar white void once more, but this time, it was deathly quiet.
No pain.
No comfort.
And most importantly, no Asclepius.
...What am I doing here?
Karlos looked around, inspected his body, and walked for several kiena in multiple directions, but everything seemed static.
There was nothing but white to fill his vision, his wounds, although not painful, were still there, and no matter how far he walked, the endless expanse would be in the distance.
Suddenly, something would disturb the tranquility.
"...This space. It is a cheap trick."
A mystical voice echoed throughout the void, startling Karlos.
"W-Who's there?"
The voice didn't respond.
Karlos frantically glanced in all directions, but still, he saw nothing. Not even the small green snake which he was so familiar with.
"Balance is the basis of existence, and you too shall learn of it."
The voice resounded again, but this time, Karlos could tell where it was coming from.
Up!
He looked to the 'sky' and saw a grand piece of art in the air, made up of... Stars.
8 shining spheres of glowing light was in the distant void, contrasting the pure white.
3 spheres were arranged in a triangular pattern, connected by an ethereal ray of light. On opposite sides, 3 and 2 spheres extended outwards from the bottom right and left points of the triangle respectively.
A triangle with two tails... Isn't that-
"Libra is the sign of Balance. For you, too, have harnessed Stability."
"...What?"
Karlos was flabbergasted, nothing of what the voice had said made sense to him.
"W-Who are you?"
"...You may refer to me as..."
The voice paused for a moment.
"Anubis."