Chapter 348: The Usual Suspect
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Chapter 348: The Usual Suspect
The Usual Suspect
Labouring to make ink in the workshops gave Martel the chance to question Master Jerome as the latter stopped by the small laboratory to check on his progress. As the artificer was about to leave, satisfied with Martel's performance, the acolyte quickly spoke up. "Master Jerome, I've a question about enchantment."
"Again? I seem to recall that's happened before. You know, you'll get lessons soon enough." His eyes twinkled.
"This might fall outside the lessons," Martel explained. "I was at a temple containing a relic, and it lay inside a chest. What's curious is that the chest was locked by enchanted Archean letters."
"And this awoke your curiosity?"
"I just wondered what's different from how we do enchantment. You don't use letters, do you?"
The artificer shook his head. "We cast the spell with the intended effect on the object, weaving magic and material together, in a sense. I've never really studied how the Archeans did it, but it sounds similar to how those northerners do it with their runes. Using a symbol to hold the spell in place."
The thought had occurred to Martel, though there had to be a difference. After all, he was being taught how to use Tyrian runes, but nobody used Archean letters for enchantment. Or did they? "Anybody who enchants how the Archeans did?" If someone had that knowledge, they might also know how to overcome such an enchanted lock.
Master Jerome scratched the back of his neck. "Never heard of that. No wizards of Archen left, after all."
"Could anyone have figured out how they did it?"
"Good, because I don't," Martel admitted.
The Keeper gave his half-earnest smile. "We already know of one thief capable of acquiring the means to suppress magical measures and with no qualms about stealing from a sacred place."
"You mean Ruby." It took Martel a moment to realise he had just confirmed what the Friar had perhaps only suspected, and his mouth became a thin line.
"I do. No need to look consternated. None had interest in the stolen will other than Lady Pearl. It was not hard to guess her involvement." The Keeper cleared his throat. "As for the relic, its absence serves only the one purpose of destabilising the Pact. Given her feud with the Comtesse, that would suggest our bald purveyor of flesh intends to strike at her rival."
"I suppose." Martel preferred not to speculate too much about the Nine Lords. He had made a deal with the Friar to help find the relic; otherwise, he had no desire to get caught in between these criminals. "These two thefts aren't the same, though. At the convent, the magical protection was Tyrian runes. At the shrine, it was Archean enchantment."
"Well, you're the expert, so you tell me. If this Ruby could get her hands on something to suppress a Tyrian rune, could she not obtain something similar for the Archean lock?"
Martel was about to answer in the negative when a thought made him pause. On the surface, these were two completely different schools of magic. He would not expect one to have any influence on the other. Yet he remembered their one similarity, which he had considered earlier. Both used symbols to create an effect. If a Tyrian rune could suppress other Tyrian symbols, might it also do the same for Archean letters? While he initially would have doubted this, Martel knew too little to dismiss it. "It's possible."
The Keeper regarded the acolyte with a satisfied expression. "In that case, I suggest we begin our search. If Lady Pearl has taken the relic – and given its value and importance, it is reasonable to assume she would keep it close – we know where to look for it."
Martel licked his lips. His throat felt dry, and not from lack of sustenance; a half-empty mug of ale stood on the table in front of him. "I am not exactly welcome at The River Pearl."
His strange companion arched an eyebrow. "Curious. But no matter. I did not intend for us to appear as ourselves." The Keeper leaned forward with one of his sly smiles. "Tell me, have you ever attended a masquerade?"
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Chapter 348: The Usual Suspect
The Usual Suspect
Labouring to make ink in the workshops gave Martel the chance to question Master Jerome as the latter stopped by the small laboratory to check on his progress. As the artificer was about to leave, satisfied with Martel's performance, the acolyte quickly spoke up. "Master Jerome, I've a question about enchantment."
"Again? I seem to recall that's happened before. You know, you'll get lessons soon enough." His eyes twinkled.
"This might fall outside the lessons," Martel explained. "I was at a temple containing a relic, and it lay inside a chest. What's curious is that the chest was locked by enchanted Archean letters."
"And this awoke your curiosity?"
"I just wondered what's different from how we do enchantment. You don't use letters, do you?"
The artificer shook his head. "We cast the spell with the intended effect on the object, weaving magic and material together, in a sense. I've never really studied how the Archeans did it, but it sounds similar to how those northerners do it with their runes. Using a symbol to hold the spell in place."
The thought had occurred to Martel, though there had to be a difference. After all, he was being taught how to use Tyrian runes, but nobody used Archean letters for enchantment. Or did they? "Anybody who enchants how the Archeans did?" If someone had that knowledge, they might also know how to overcome such an enchanted lock.
Master Jerome scratched the back of his neck. "Never heard of that. No wizards of Archen left, after all."
"Could anyone have figured out how they did it?"
"Good, because I don't," Martel admitted.
The Keeper gave his half-earnest smile. "We already know of one thief capable of acquiring the means to suppress magical measures and with no qualms about stealing from a sacred place."
"You mean Ruby." It took Martel a moment to realise he had just confirmed what the Friar had perhaps only suspected, and his mouth became a thin line.
"I do. No need to look consternated. None had interest in the stolen will other than Lady Pearl. It was not hard to guess her involvement." The Keeper cleared his throat. "As for the relic, its absence serves only the one purpose of destabilising the Pact. Given her feud with the Comtesse, that would suggest our bald purveyor of flesh intends to strike at her rival."
"I suppose." Martel preferred not to speculate too much about the Nine Lords. He had made a deal with the Friar to help find the relic; otherwise, he had no desire to get caught in between these criminals. "These two thefts aren't the same, though. At the convent, the magical protection was Tyrian runes. At the shrine, it was Archean enchantment."
"Well, you're the expert, so you tell me. If this Ruby could get her hands on something to suppress a Tyrian rune, could she not obtain something similar for the Archean lock?"
Martel was about to answer in the negative when a thought made him pause. On the surface, these were two completely different schools of magic. He would not expect one to have any influence on the other. Yet he remembered their one similarity, which he had considered earlier. Both used symbols to create an effect. If a Tyrian rune could suppress other Tyrian symbols, might it also do the same for Archean letters? While he initially would have doubted this, Martel knew too little to dismiss it. "It's possible."
The Keeper regarded the acolyte with a satisfied expression. "In that case, I suggest we begin our search. If Lady Pearl has taken the relic – and given its value and importance, it is reasonable to assume she would keep it close – we know where to look for it."
Martel licked his lips. His throat felt dry, and not from lack of sustenance; a half-empty mug of ale stood on the table in front of him. "I am not exactly welcome at The River Pearl."
His strange companion arched an eyebrow. "Curious. But no matter. I did not intend for us to appear as ourselves." The Keeper leaned forward with one of his sly smiles. "Tell me, have you ever attended a masquerade?"
Chapter 348: The Usual SuspectThe Usual SuspectLabouring to make ink in the workshops gave Martel the chance to question Master Jerome as the latter stopped by the small laboratory to check on his progress. As the artificer was about to leave, satisfied with Martel's performance, the acolyte quickly spoke up. "Master Jerome, I've a question about enchantment.""Again? I seem to recall that's happened before. You know, you'll get lessons soon enough." His eyes twinkled."This might fall outside the lessons," Martel explained. "I was at a temple containing a relic, and it lay inside a chest. What's curious is that the chest was locked by enchanted Archean letters.""And this awoke your curiosity?""I just wondered what's different from how we do enchantment. You don't use letters, do you?"The artificer shook his head. "We cast the spell with the intended effect on the object, weaving magic and material together, in a sense. I've never really studied how the Archeans did it, but it sounds similar to how those northerners do it with their runes. Using a symbol to hold the spell in place."The thought had occurred to Martel, though there had to be a difference. After all, he was being taught how to use Tyrian runes, but nobody used Archean letters for enchantment. Or did they? "Anybody who enchants how the Archeans did?" If someone had that knowledge, they might also know how to overcome such an enchanted lock.Master Jerome scratched the back of his neck. "Never heard of that. No wizards of Archen left, after all.""Could anyone have figured out how they did it?""Good, because I don't," Martel admitted.The Keeper gave his half-earnest smile. "We already know of one thief capable of acquiring the means to suppress magical measures and with no qualms about stealing from a sacred place.""You mean Ruby." It took Martel a moment to realise he had just confirmed what the Friar had perhaps only suspected, and his mouth became a thin line."I do. No need to look consternated. None had interest in the stolen will other than Lady Pearl. It was not hard to guess her involvement." The Keeper cleared his throat. "As for the relic, its absence serves only the one purpose of destabilising the Pact. Given her feud with the Comtesse, that would suggest our bald purveyor of flesh intends to strike at her rival.""I suppose." Martel preferred not to speculate too much about the Nine Lords. He had made a deal with the Friar to help find the relic; otherwise, he had no desire to get caught in between these criminals. "These two thefts aren't the same, though. At the convent, the magical protection was Tyrian runes. At the shrine, it was Archean enchantment.""Well, you're the expert, so you tell me. If this Ruby could get her hands on something to suppress a Tyrian rune, could she not obtain something similar for the Archean lock?"Martel was about to answer in the negative when a thought made him pause. On the surface, these were two completely different schools of magic. He would not expect one to have any influence on the other. Yet he remembered their one similarity, which he had considered earlier. Both used symbols to create an effect. If a Tyrian rune could suppress other Tyrian symbols, might it also do the same for Archean letters? While he initially would have doubted this, Martel knew too little to dismiss it. "It's possible."The Keeper regarded the acolyte with a satisfied expression. "In that case, I suggest we begin our search. If Lady Pearl has taken the relic and given its value and importance, it is reasonable to assume she would keep it close we know where to look for it."Martel licked his lips. His throat felt dry, and not from lack of sustenance; a half-empty mug of ale stood on the table in front of him. "I am not exactly welcome at The River Pearl."His strange companion arched an eyebrow. "Curious. But no matter. I did not intend for us to appear as ourselves." The Keeper leaned forward with one of his sly smiles. "Tell me, have you ever attended a masquerade?"
