“Read thy… creed? I think that’s what that says. Then something about Ethinia? Her words?” Archibald said from behind Gardinal. How had the man slunk over there so fast? And what was he saying?

Gardinal turned and looked down at the gangly Jöln to find him kneeling in front of his shield.

“What do you think you’re doing with that?” Gardinal asked, stepping between him and the shield. Glancing around at all the fragile history in the room, Gardinal didn’t want to imagine the damage that would be caused if this so called ‘scholar’ even tapped the shield.

“Reading.” Archibald responded. “no... not quite creed… oath? No not that either…”

“Reading what?” Gardinal asked, growing only more confused, and impatient, by the moment.

“This artifact.” Archibald answered, reaching out to tap the shield. Gardinal winced, but as the Jöln tapped it, Gardinal could feel it begin to swell. With a grunt, he willed it to not do its pulsing and Gardinal breathed easily for the moment as it seemed to do as he willed. No destruction of artifacts worth a small fortune, Gardinal thought wiping his brow, well that was a blessing at least. Looking at the shield once more though, Gardinal scratched his head. That had been like nothing he had felt before.

“Jöln, I've had this shield for a few weeks now, there is no writing on it.”

“No writing?!” Archibald gasped, staring up at him. “The shield is covered in it!”

“What are you talking about?” Gardinal groaned. This man was far too exciteable.

“The vines! The vines and flowers and buds. They’re Sherya. Can’t you see that?” Archibald shook his head and adjusted his eyeglasses. The clear pieces of glass making the small man’s eyes look comically large. “Where did you even find this?”

“It was gifted to me by Josef Silverarm’s dying breath.” Gardinal responded with solemnity.

“That sounds… um… memorable.” Archibald responded, not even looking back.

“It is seared into my heart.” Gardinal responded, picturing the dying man in his head once more.

Leaning down next to Archibald, Gardinal inspected the shield. The filigree on it made for beautiful floral patterns, but he had a hard time making out any words. He could read and write in modern Sherya, and that was a curving twisting script. But this?

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“So… you can read this?” Gardinal asked.

“Well, with ancient Sherya ‘read’ isn’t exactly the correct term. But I think with time I could yes.” Archibald responded, jotting small notes down in his ledger.

“What do you mean not read?”

“Pre-Abandonement Sherya was tonal, you see, it needs to be sung. But trust me, you don’t want to hear me sing.” Archibald continued his responses under his breath as he transcribed some of the symbols.

“Well you boys seem to be having a good time.” Tabitha groaned from behind them. “So let me know when you’re finished Archibald. Your payment has already been arranged. And Brother Gardinal, do not keep my scholar busy all night. He has work to do.” Tabitha complained all the way up the stairs and right until she left the cellar. The two men paid her no heed.

“So what does it say?” Gardinal eventually asked after watching Archibald study and jot for a good few minutes.

“Hm? Oh, right. You’re still here.” Archibald chuckled, but Gardinal felt the man had been serious about forgetting him. “This is very, very old Sherya you understand. I’m quite well studied in Sherya from late Pre-Abandonment era to now, but this? This is not just Pre-Abandonment, but very very old even for that.”

Gardinal nodded. Scripture said that the Sherya lived in the Great Tree with the gods for thousands of years before it burned down. Of course there would be some relics dating back even further than that terrible event. But still, Gardinal thought looking at the shield, he had never thought he would have one in his own possession.

“Here.” Archibald announced, taping his ledger with the quill triumphantly. Gardinal looked over his shoulder and tried to read.

“This oath to Ethinia, I now take in truth.” Gardinal spoke in Sherya.

The shield glowed. A bright silver-teal light radiating from the inlay. Gardinal felt it as well. A deep pulsing coming from the metal. As its glow lit the room brightly, Gardinal felt he knew that light. It felt like... Her Radiance.

“What was that?” Archibald exclaimed as the glowing subsided.

“I… I think that was me.” Gardinal responded equally shocked, looking between Archibald and the shield. “Could you translate more?”

Archibald ran his eyes over the shield, taking in the whole of it. “Perhaps. With time and resources yes.” He shook his head. “But even just glancing at it, that was the easy part. There are words here I wouldn’t know were to even begin with.”

“But you could do it?”

“Yes. Though as a private scholar my resources are fairly limited and…”

“What if I could get you into the Temple of Ethinia’s library? Or the Golden Hammer’s archives?” Gardinal asked. Whatever that had been, it had felt powerful. He was not going to pass up any tool, any advantage, while X still stalked the streets hunting for Her Radiance.

“You… you could do that?” Archibald asked in shock.

“Easily.” Gardinal responded, laying his hand out for Archibald to shake. The Jöln grabbed Gardinal’s one hand in both of his and shook vigorously.

“Master Gardinal this could be the most important research I’ve ever had the privilege of doing.” Despite the man’s small size, the force of the handshake threatened to rip Gardinal’s arm free. “If you’ll be staying here a while yet then I’ll come by with some thin parchment and some chalk for a rubbing.” Archibald continued setting out plans, explaining what he would need from Gardinal to accomplish his study. Gardinal just nodded. This could be something that makes a difference. A chance for him to become what he needed to be: the Shield of Celeste. He would do this; he would be better. He would not fail her again. Never again.