Chapter 205: Historical Record (1)
Chapter 205: Historical Record (1)
Despite being called a private study room, the Pope's private room was somewhat akin to a witchcraft experiment room.
"You girls sit here. I'll take something in a moment." Alexander pointed to the sofas, which were arranged like a living room.
It was the first room they encountered the first moment after entering Pope's private area. There were several doors protected by barriers. Apparently, the rooms behind those doors were what could be called private rooms.
Hearing that, the girls nodded like obedient girls and headed to the long sofa to sit next to each other. After that, Pope opened the closest door with his magic and then entered there.
"Huh?" Elysia and Evelyn said the same thing. Strange but true, Pope suddenly disappeared as soon as he stepped into the room.
"Hehe... These rooms are called private for some reason. There are several barriers, and with different effects. Grandfather seemed to disappear as the illusion barrier worked." Ella chuckled when she saw the dumbfounded expressions of her two friends.
"Oh, yes, how could I forget that? I'm sure only specific people can pass through the barriers in each of these private rooms." Evelyn was no longer surprised after she heard that explanation. She remembered the security barriers in several vital rooms in her father's palace.
"I see the point." Elysia nodded in understanding. She didn't even try to see what lay beyond the barriers.
Elena also did the same. This place wasn't just anywhere, and they didn't want to piss off the Pope.
Not long after, Alexander returned with a magnificent box in his hand. He sat down on the single sofa opposite the girls and put that box on his lap. After that, he took out a yellow crystal with a card that was already stuck there.
"Elysia, hold this crystal and channel some of your magical energy." Alexander handed the crystal to the girl in question.
"En." Elysia accepted that and did what was asked. She knew this was what she requested, and it was finally granted.
It was similar to what happened during the making of the membership card in the Holy Library. The crystal lit up to scan Elysia's magic and body for an instant, then it dimmed back to normal. Done with that, Elysia returned the crystal to the Pope.
"Very well, this is your access card to the fifth floor of the Holy Library. You will be in charge of the knowledge you have, and I will hold you responsible if you abuse it." Alexander gave the yellow card Elysia. He spoke in a relaxed tone, but his gaze was profound.
"Yes, Grandpa. Thank you very much, I understand." Elysia gave a grateful bow, but Pope immediately stopped her. "No, don't give me a bow of respect. I consider you my own granddaughter for my own reasons."
"Ah, umm... Okay." Elysia nodded clumsily at that.
"That's good. Well, do you know what's in this box? Yes, it's an ancient book that I got under the guidance of the Goddess while I was sleeping." Alexander returned the nod, then went straight to their main issue.
"Woah, grandfather, the Goddess of Blessings appeared in your dreams to convey her message?" Evelyn became the first girl to express her admiration. She idolized a divine figure, and she hoped to meet one in the future.
"That's right, and this is only one of the ancient books. The Goddess divine presence descended into the world to guide humanity to the world's truths about what had happened long ago, for an inevitable preparation." Alexander stroked the box with a thoughtful look as if reminiscing about something.
"One book? You have another ancient book, Grandpa?" Elysia asked in wonder. What she realized with her advanced perception was that there was only one book in that box. So, where was the other book in question?
Even so, She and Elena began discussing what Nell had said, and they were excited to see what was written in the ancient book.
"Yes, I have more than one. This afternoon, I got another one from the secret expedition team I sent. If you are wondering why I looked so happy earlier, yes, because of that." Alexander smiled as he looked at the nodding Ella. She finally figured out why her grandfather looked so cheerful when he returned home a moment ago.
"Uhm, please forgive me if it's a little late, but is it okay for you to tell us young girls about lost history? Secrets, catastrophes, and so on... Is that alright?" Evelyn asked with concern. She suddenly had her own worries about what might happen.
"Ho? Why are you suddenly getting restless like that, Evelyn? If you are unprepared and don't want to know, you can wait for us in the home area. Just to let you know, this information is no secret to those who research it. Even your parents already know about this because Human Emperors are sharing some of their crucial information." Alexander smiled lightly. He made concessions for the girl who did not want to join the ark of lost historical truths.
"I... Humph! Who isn't ready? If it's okay for you to tell us, then I'm fully prepared." Evelyn cutely snorted when she saw Elysia and Ella take a look at her. She also didn't want to be excluded for whatever reason.
"Hum, well then. Elysia, take this box and tell me what you realized after reading this ancient book." Alexander gave a subtle nod before handing the box to the closest girl.
Elysia put Vanessa next to her, then accepted the box. However, before she had a chance to open it, her sleeve was pulled slightly by the girl on her left.
"Hm?" Reflexively, Elysia looked at Ella.
"Ely, before you open it, can you sit in the middle? That way, we can see it together." Ella asked with a sweet smile.
"En, Ely. Please sit in the middle~" Evelyn hummed in defense of her friend's request.
"Oh, sure. Ella, we swapped our seats." Elysia had no objection to that. She immediately stood up, and Ella shifted to Vanessa's side, then she sat between the two girls.
After the two girls were pleased with their smiles, Elysia opened the magnificent box with great care. The dull grimoire that looked frail was lying peacefully like a corpse in a coffin.
'Wow, that reads final. Is this a novel or a diary? This was written by that puny Goddess and her followers, right?' Elena exclaimed excitedly at the writing on the cover.
'En, maybe. Let's see what's in it.' Elysia smiled lightly, but her eyes were full of curiosity.
She took the ancient book even more carefully because she was afraid that a sudden movement could damage the book. The box was left open on her lap, and she opened the book with caution.
The ridiculous thing happened a moment later. What Elysia and her friends saw on the first page was a blank sheet with nothing in it. Completely empty, it was only paper that had turned yellow with age.
The first, second, third, and fourth sheets were all blank. Elysia, Ella, and Evelyn's enthusiasm and curiosity gradually deflated when they thought they were teased by Pope. Even Elena also felt cheated.
The three girls turned to look at the Pope with a grievance gaze. Very much made Alexander confused because he did not understand why with that look. Then, he glanced at the ancient book and immediately understood.
"What? Haha, ho-ho... You opened the ancient book from the back page. I forgot to tell you that the ancient book was only half-written. The other half was lost somehow. Maybe because of age? Who knows." Alexander laughed out loud because it looked funny, and the girls could only feel embarrassed about it.
Elysia immediately treated the ancient book in the right way. The way to open it was not from the right page to the left, but the opposite. After she opened it correctly, the first page had the ancient language read from right to left. However, she briefly frowned at the symbol she saw on the sheet.
"Umm, grandfather, why is half of this ancient book empty and missing? If it's because of age, is there no way to recover it?" Ella became curious about what she had just heard.
"I'm also looking into that. However, the Goddess never again visited my dream for her guidance after that day. Sigh... So regrettable." Alexander shook his head with a sigh.
"So, if this really is the remaining half, it's still a mystery, hmm ... But, this is only one of the two ancient books you have, right, grandfather? Where's the other?" Ella put her finger on her chin and thought of it.
"I'm still handling it. I'd better take care of the book I just got. It's still a treasure trove to be scanned carefully. You can see that after I'm done." Alexander gave a 'no' hand gesture while shaking his head lightly.
"Oh, fine." Ella didn't mind it because it was only a matter of time. She would find out about it sooner or later.