"Not exactly," the Cardinal corrected, scanning the lines. "More like a philosophical split, which eventually led to the suppression of what they called 'greater forces.' The scholar speaks of tools, objects that were crafted to contain these forces. But over time, knowledge of these tools faded. The scroll hints at... rods, I think. Something designed to tap into this energy, to control it."
Aylin frowned. "But it doesn't give details?"
The Cardinal shook his head. "No. It's vague, like the writer wasn't fully aware of what these objects could do. They only reference them in passing, as if they were common knowledge back then. But what caught my attention is this one line: 'The rods reveal the unseen, but only to those who still possess sight.'"
Jiang blinked. "Possess sight? What does that mean?"
"I'm not sure," the Cardinal admitted, setting the scroll aside. "But it suggests that not just anyone could use these rods. Perhaps those who were attuned to this energy—or, as we might call it now, Spirit Essence—could unlock their full potential."
Aylin crossed her arms, considering. "So, the rods were tools... but limited to people who could 'see' this energy?"
"That's my interpretation," the Cardinal said. "But the text is too fragmented to be certain."
He picked up the second scroll, this one slightly newer but still ancient. "This one is more detailed, written much later, when people had lost most of their understanding of these forces. The tone is more practical, less philosophical."
He unrolled the scroll, revealing dense writing interspersed with crude illustrations of figures holding rods, surrounded by swirling lines of energy. "It talks about Spirit Energy, but not in the way we think of magic today. The author seemed to believe that certain objects, like the rods, could be used to expose the true form of things—what they call 'core entities.'"
Jiang leaned in, intrigued. "Core entities?"
The Cardinal nodded. "Yes. According to this scroll, some creatures—like the Yokai—don't die in the traditional sense. They regenerate through a hidden core. The scroll is unclear on where these cores are located or how they function, but it suggests that the rods were used to reveal them. However..." He paused, frowning at the text. "It also mentions that merely exposing the core wasn't enough. It had to be destroyed, and that required a specific kind of physical form—one that was 'complete.'"
Aylin raised an eyebrow. "Complete? What does that mean?"
The Cardinal scratched his chin. "That part's vague, but the scroll makes it sound like the person wielding the rod had to be physically whole in some way. It's as if fragmented or damaged bodies couldn't break the core, no matter how powerful the rod was."
Jiang frowned, glancing at his hands. "You mean... if someone's not whole, they can't crack the core?"
"That's what the scroll implies," the Cardinal replied, looking thoughtful. "It's as if the act of breaking the core requires more than just strength. There's something about the integrity of the person wielding the rod—maybe something spiritual or physical."
"Well, finding the rod isn't an issue," the Cardinal said with a slight smile, leaning back in his chair. "I actually already have it. It's often used by the Pope in yearly ceremonies, passed down through generations. However, right now, it's nothing more than a rod—at least in the way we've been using it."
Jiang blinked, surprised. "You already have it?"
The Cardinal nodded. "Yes. It's kept safely here in Rome. But perhaps, if I pass it to you, we can figure out how to activate it or make it do something more. I've read the scrolls, but... I honestly don't know how to tap into any special powers it might have."
Aylin folded her arms, her mind turning. "You used something powerful against the Yokai—Spirit Essence. Maybe if you channel that through the rod, it could do something. That's how the scrolls describe its use, right?"
The Cardinal shook his head, his brow furrowed. "Spirit Essence?" His voice was tinged with confusion. "I don't know what that is or how I did what I did during the fight. It wasn't something I controlled... It just happened. One moment I was praying, and the next, there was this... power."
Aylin's eyes narrowed as she processed that. "So, you're saying it wasn't intentional? You didn't know you were using Spirit Essence?"
The Cardinal exhaled deeply, looking both perplexed and slightly frustrated. "No. I've never heard of Spirit Essence before, and I certainly didn't mean to summon it. It felt like something beyond me, like I was merely a vessel for whatever that force was."
Jiang leaned forward. "So you think it's tied to your faith, then? The prayers you said—could they be what triggered the chain reaction?"
The Cardinal paused, staring at his hands as if trying to recall the sensation. "I don't know. Perhaps. But I can't claim to understand it. It's not like I've trained for something like this." He glanced toward the door, his expression resolute despite his uncertainty. "Let me go work on your discharge paperwork, and then we'll head to the Vatican, where the rod is stored."
"The Vatican?" Aylin asked, her eyebrow arching.
The Cardinal nodded. "Yes, specifically, the Apostolic Palace. The rod is kept in a vault where ceremonial items are stored. We'll go there as soon as we can."
Jiang let out a slow breath. "The Apostolic Palace... That's not exactly the kind of place you can just waltz into."
The Cardinal offered a small, tired smile. "It's not. But I'll arrange access. Under the circumstances, we can't afford to waste time. If we're going to try and stop the Yokai, we need that rod now."
Aylin nodded, her brow still furrowed. "So once we have the rod... then what? If you don't know how you used Spirit Essence, what's our plan?"
Jiang looked thoughtful for a moment, then sighed. "We test it. Maybe it's not about controlling the energy directly. If the rod responds to certain conditions—like faith or intention—then we'll need to experiment. But we won't know anything until we try."
The Cardinal stood, his expression grave but determined. "I'll have the paperwork sorted soon. Get some rest in the meantime. We leave as soon as you're discharged."
As the Cardinal left the room, the weight of their situation settled heavily on Jiang and Aylin.
Aylin paced the floor, the air between them thick with unspoken tension. "So, Spirit Essence... If he doesn't know how he used it, and we don't know what triggers it, then we're walking blind here."
Jiang rubbed his temples, the stress evident on his face. "We've dealt with worse. But yeah... we're taking a huge gamble."