Chapter 62: The Value of Literacy |
"Do you feel any headaches after reading this book?"
Dr. Schneider asked again.
"Do I? Maybe..."
Shad hesitated, observing their expressions before replying, "Probably. I fell asleep right after reading it." In truth, he'd stayed up late playing with Mimia that night, and only ended up falling asleep from sheer exhaustion while reading. The headache he felt was more likely due to staying up too late and being rudely awakened by a hungry cat early in the morning.
"That's completely normal. Books infused with such maddening knowledge tend to affect readers. Even though Ring Warlocks have an 'Other Me' to block direct impacts, the warlock themselves are still vulnerable. Shad, there's no need to rush. Acquiring core runes is a process."
The doctor reassured him kindly, and Shad nodded silently while thinking to himself:
"Is it because of my strong willpower, or are you helping me block the effects?"
"You are me, and I am you. There's no difference."
At the study group, Dr. Schneider and Miss Luvia had been discussing challenges encountered during Ring Warlock training. Shad could only grasp half of it.
The course was highly complex and represented the forefront of Ring Warlock theoretical studies. The doctor wasn’t particularly interested in theoretical research but took the class to establish connections with Professor Rutherford, a notable figure in the History Department with impressive expertise in space-time arcana. Shad would likely interact with him in advanced courses.
Dr. Schneider, however, found the course content nearly incomprehensible, causing him to doubt his intelligence. Hoping for fresh ideas, he sought discussions with Miss Luvia, a junior student, on topics like "Comprehensive Theories of the Soul," "Hilbert Aether Space," and "Phenomenal Transformations." Shad noted her bewildered expressions mirrored his own initial foray into esoteric academic fields.
In contrast to the doctor’s struggle with his elective, Miss Luvia’s issues were simpler. She was preparing for exams in July to wrap up her senior year of non-practical courses. As a result, she had paused her main work, writing novels, to focus entirely on theoretical study.
Her biggest challenge was Ancient Languages. While Shad’s courses only covered basics, Luvia needed practical proficiency. She learned that the exam material would be based on The Four Elements of Pursuit: Wind and Fire, a book written in Chavic—a Southern Tribal language from the Fourth Epoch. The book, a mystical tome engraved with the elements [Wind] and [Fire], was part of the syllabus.
She hoped Dr. Schneider could help translate its 100+ pages, but the doctor waved her off the moment he heard the title:
"I barely passed my exams in the dozen or so ancient languages I studied. Luvia, it's not that I don’t want to help; I simply can't."
His reaction reflected his own traumatic memories of preparing for ancient language exams years ago.
While the two debated how to tackle the task, Shad took a peek at the book, an old handwritten manuscript with blue ink, open to page 29. To his surprise, he instantly understood the 200 or so runes on the two pages. They described a personified Wind Element traveling through the Abyss of Chaos.
Feeling a slight throb at his temples, Shad looked away. He had once again deciphered a language he didn’t know, though the act of understanding seemed to harm him.
"I think I can help with the translation," Shad said softly.
The so-called "golden finger" or special ability he had in this world, aside from the pleasant-voiced woman in his mind, was an innate understanding of any language. This gift came with risks—the older and more mystical the language, the more dangerous it became. Recently, the Poet-grade relic Box of Darkness had spiraled out of control, serving as a stark reminder that reckless translations could lead to catastrophic consequences, including his potential death.
Yet, this ability was invaluable for Ring Warlock studies. While he considered keeping it secret, revealing part of it could bring significant advantages.
"You can read it?" Dr. Schneider asked skeptically. Leaning back on the sofa to avoid the notebook Miss Luvia handed him earlier, he straightened up and pointed to a rune on the page:
"What does this mean?"
"Abyss," Shad replied, glancing at the doctor, who then looked at Luvia.
"Is that correct?"
"Probably," Luvia replied hesitantly, not even reaching passing proficiency herself.
"But how do you understand this?"
"I’m not sure. Just now, the [Space-Time] rune on my Fate Wheel flashed, and then my 'Other Me' told me I understood the language."
Both the doctor and Luvia nodded in sudden realization:
"You accessed past knowledge through the power of [Space-Time] when encountering the ancient language. That makes sense."
This explanation wasn’t far-fetched; core runes sometimes activated independently.
"So, Mr. Hamilton, would you be willing to help me translate this book?"
Miss Luvia handed him the notebook and pen again, adding, "Take two weeks. A rough translation is fine—I’m more concerned about your mental well-being. I don’t want to risk you losing control for my exams. Besides, if I get an exceptionally high score, I won’t be able to answer the professor’s questions convincingly."
Her reasoning was meticulous.
"I think two weeks should be enough," Shad nodded. The blonde writer finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"I won’t let you do it for free. I can teach you a rare incantation—[Frog’s Leap]. It temporarily enhances your jumping ability. The only drawback is the disgusting frog leg needed as a casting material. It’s otherwise flawless. When I donated it to the school library, I earned two practical credits."
Shad, naturally, didn’t refuse.