Ancient Language.
The word brought a hint of unease into the atmosphere among the mbers of the Red Olive Society.
"It sounds quite rare."
Anos took the initiative to break the silence,
"Do you have more information, Mona?"
Mona nodded slightly and continued:
"According to people from the Olive Guild, they were digging a cellar to store olive oil when they discovered an underground tomb, which they roughly estimate to be four or five hundred years old, though it could very well be even older..."
Mona detailed each step of the story; as one of the top comrcial guilds in the Imperial City, the Olive Guild often acquires dim, cool places to store olive oil. Over the decades, as the size of the guild has expanded, their purchasing reach has widened, and the existing storage facilities within Danschel City could no longer et their needs. Therefore, they turned their attention to the outskirts of the city, intending to excavate new cellars.
It was on a plot of land to the west of the city that the construction workers happened to unearth a tomb. This was swiftly followed by rumors of a haunted worksite; the workers were panic-stricken, and the guild called upon a Church Priest to exorcise the site. After several unsuccessful attempts, the Priest suspected that the disturbance involved not only spirits but also had sothing to do with the Ancient Language.
"Are you saying that you lot of students are going to perform an exorcism?"
Stephanie said, sowhat incredulously.
"More or less, but a Priest will be accompanying us, so there’s no need to worry about safety."
Mona reassured her.
The rest of the mbers exchanged glances and quickly made their decisions.
Elena was the first to speak up:
"What do you think? I find this commission acceptable, and the guild’s rewards are generally quite handso."
Elena was not exaggerating; the Olive Guild was renowned for their deep pockets, and considering that most mbers of the society were of noble descent, the guild wouldn’t dare to offer too low a reward.
Karen stated directly:
"I think it’s feasible, and I’d like to see if there are any ancient tos hidden in the tomb besides the Ancient Language."
The other two mbers of the poetry society, Eugene and Colin, were also of noble birth. However, Colin was a heathen, following Kagawus, a deity from the Three-eyed Ape People.
Both of them were in favor, with Eugene appearing sowhat impatient, excited about the task at hand.
"Deciding so quickly; shouldn’t you take more ti to consider?"
Princess Anos looked at the society mbers, her tone laced with teasing and resignation.
"The Olive Guild won’t let us take too many risks."
Elena said, soothingly.
Her Sofia family had always maintained close relationships with the comrcial guilds within Danschel Imperial City, and so, when it ca to guild-related matters, this gentle, golden-haired lady always naturally sided with them.
After Elena said this, the other mbers also nodded in agreent.
Anos surveyed everyone present, and under their expectant gaze, she spread her hands:
"Then, let’s go with what you all want."
The mbers showed signs of happiness; although they were of noble heritage, they were still just children in their families, and two were not inheritors, so the monthly allowances they received were neither too little nor too abundant—the financial reward from the Olive Guild was still quite tempting.
The hostess here, Stephanie, also welcod this developnt. Even though the current leader of the Red Olive Poetry Society was the daughter of the Emperor, the Olive Guild had always been the main sponsor of the society, and Stephanie, who managed the society’s accounts, was quite concerned about the society’s relationship with the guild.
The Poetry Society had unanimously passed their resolution, and Princess Anos had arranged the ti for departure. After the chat, the mbers gradually dispersed one after another.
...
Even though Mira didn’t feel much involvent in the Poetry Society, and could only watch from the side whatever the mbers discussed, the experience was still novel enough for her.
On the way back, Mira chatted incessantly with Anos, chirping her opinions about each mber. In her eyes, the gentle Elena was the best, resembling her own big sister (Solumus), while Mona was quite aloof, a bit like and yet not like a certain relative at ho (Schiller)... She didn’t really like Stephanie and couldn’t find anyone in her family who resembled her.
Anos responded to Mira’s chatter as the two of them returned to their residence. Even throughout dinner, Mira continued to talk nonstop. Once a child starts to open up, it’s often difficult to get them to stop imdiately.
It wasn’t until they extinguished the candles for sleep that Mira reluctantly returned to her room.
Lying on the goose feather mattress, Mira grabbed her blanket, tossing and turning, struggling to fall asleep.
She was too excited, and her mind wouldn’t settle. She really wanted to run to Anos’s room and talk endlessly.
But no matter how excited she was, Mira’s physical strength was limited. After an hour or two, sleepiness overca her eyelids, and her thoughts grew less clear.
Gradually, Mira closed her eyes, clasped her hands together, and muttered against the soft pillow:
"God, I have t so many, so many kind people..."
As her words trailed off, Mira’s consciousness dispersed, about to enter deep slumber.
"Ah!"
A pained scream jolted Mira awake.
She opened her eyes wide, her slender neck shaking with fright.
Mira lifted her head and looked around, thinking she might have heard wrong.
"Ah...ah! Hiss!"
Just as she was about to put her head back on the pillow, another scream ca from outside her room, a sound like that of a patient with a perforated stomach who couldn’t bear the pain, filled with unimaginable anguish.
Mira climbed out of bed; she heard that the voice was coming from within the residence, and more precisely, from Anos’s room.
"Anos, what’s wrong?"
Mira burst out of her room in a panicked rush, scrambling to Anos’s door, her little hands on the doorknob, only to find that no matter how much she pulled, it wouldn’t open.
Anos had locked the door, presumably before going to sleep.
"What’s wrong?!"
Mira pounded on the door, shouting urgently.
The knocking and calling drew Anos’s attention, and a weak voice from behind the door could be heard,
"Mira... Mira?"
Right after she spoke, Anos let out another pained scream, a sound as if lungs were being pierced by so blade,
"Wait for ... I’m coming now."
After taking a few deep breaths, the door finally opened. Anos’s pale face appeared before Mira. The princess was drenched in a cold sweat, leaning weakly against the door fra, as though she might collapse at any mont.
Anos looked as though she had endured so heart-wrenching pain.
"Mira... why are you up at this ti...
Oh, no, I must’ve woken you..."
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