“You are permitted to inspect the spires, but you can only do so with the team of Archeologists that the queen has hired. I hope that will be sufficient. If not, then I cannot find you any other way to get what you desire.” The man with a golden helmet stated.

“I will accept that offer as long as they do not hinder me in my research.” Adrian replied and he was escorted to the Archeologists.

The group of Archeologists are a group of old men that dress funny in Adrian’s eyes. They are wearing too much baggy and over the top clothes. They look like those people who are unnecessarily rich and like to spend on thing that are over the top.

“From what I can observe from them, they are basically a group of rich snobs. I just hope that my prediction is not true, and they are actually the welcoming type.” Adrian thought as the guard introduced him to the head archeologist.

“Head Archeologist Zahi, this one says that he can read some of the writings so he will join your group as you move. You do not have to take care of him but please keep him in view so that he does not stray away from your group. It is the captain’s orders.” The guard stated as he returned to get back to his post.

“My name is Heh. It is a pleasure to meet you.” Adrian introduced himself.

“No need for the handshake as I do not shake the hands of those unfamiliar to me. Who is your teacher?” Head Archeologist Zahi stated with a tone of mockery upon seeing what Adrian looks like.

“I am just self-taught from the books that my late parents have on archeology so I would not say that I am an expert.” Adrian replied and the body language of the head archeologist suddenly changed.

The body language that the head archeologist shifted to that of disgust. Adrian knew that body language pretty well because a lot of people he met in parties he attended with his father are like that. They only liked what his father brought to them but not the members of his family.

“If that is all then just follow the group and do not expect any help from us. If you stray from the group, then we will not have responsibility for our actions. We are hired by her majesty while you are just a random passerby so know your place.” Head Archeologist Zahi stated as he snorted and returned to his colleagues.

“I guess my predictions are not off then. They really are giant pricks. Their asses are so stuffed up that they could not even feel relief.” Adrian thought as he went to a nearby spire to see what is written there.

Adrian is trying to focus but the stares ad gossiping of the apprentices of the archeologist is bothering him. He does not want to act cocky because he is on the verge of becoming an Intermediate Scribe right now. He is currently on the verge of a breakthrough because he can see a resemblance to the ancient letters that he studied under Aernas.

“The letters might be different because of the foreign continent but Aernas told me that the runic alphabet is the first writing system that the world has ever used. The letters here are more like characters compared to letters but the overall shape is almost the same.

There are a few letters that has deviated from it but that can be the result of a different culture. The culture dictates the letters after all.” Adrian thought as he now tried to decipher the message written in the spire.

“The wored ib not what it beetb. Well, that is quite odd. I was hoping for a direct translation, but it seems that I need to see the other spires.” Adrian muttered to himself as he went to look at another spire, but the archeology team started to move.

“It is annoying that I have to follow them, but I have no choice.” Adrian grumbled as he followed.

“Keep up wannabe or else we might report you straying from the group.” One of the apprentices stated with a mocking tone.

The next spire that they went to had faded out letters but the characters there almost resembled the one he read on the other.

“Are the characters of each spire the same? If that is the case, then what is the use for examining each spire? It is not like they can see any difference or are they a quack? I should sound out what they are saying then.” Adrian thought as he activated his essence and strengthened his hearing.

Adrian started hearing mumbled voices at first, but he took his time to disseminate each sound. At first, he heard all the voices of everyone in the vicinity including those faraway, but he managed to make it sharper by trying to focus on the archeologists.

“Do you have any idea on what is written on the spires?” One voice he managed to isolate stated.

“This is a new discovery but what would say to her majesty? The repercussions of having nothing to report would mean that we will not get paid. I worry what I will pay my wife for her luxurious spendings.” Another voice stated.

“We currently have no idea as this has never been on any character on the continent. This is the first tomb that does not look like a tomb. It is more of a shrine to venerate something. It would take weeks or us to decipher just one character.” Another voice stated and Adrian could recognize it as the voice of the Head Archeologist.

“What the heck?! Are they all quacks? They should know these characters better than I do. They have lived in the western continent their whole life. Each character should represent something. And they dare look down on me! Should I play with them a little?” Adrian thought as he smiled.

“Should I tease them a bit more?” Adrian thought as he suddenly pulled out a notebook without any writing.

“Oh!” Adrian suddenly shouted with enthusiasm.

All the archeologists suddenly stared towards Adrian’s location. At first, they did not pay much attention, but Adrian suddenly started mumbling words.

“So, this is what that character means. I never would have thought that the notebook that my parents left me would be so helpful. To think that the notebook has similar characters. Oh my!” Adrian uttered as he kept flipping his empty notebook.

“Should we take a peek?” One of the archeologists whispered.

“It seems that he is only bluffing. If he could truly read what is written here, then he should have acted up when he looked at the first spire. He is merely getting excited by seeing one familiar character. Pay him no heed and focus on your duties.

The Queen wants results so that the army could enter the tomb first. Flying there holds no merit as an invisible forcefield is protecting the floating pyramid. If those mercenaries beat us in finding the entrance, then you could kiss that bonus goodbye.” Head Archeologist Zahi stated. Everyone went back to their jobs, but some are still curious on what Adrian is now doing.

“Oh! It seems that me acting up is still not enough but one thing they said is interesting. The pyramid cannot be accessed even if one flies. From the looks of it, the key to entering this floating pyramid is right here but I need to decipher this code.” Adrian thought as he finally inspected the spires carefully.

The spire he inspected this time had the same characters, but some have been worn out which made it unreadable. Adrian no longer acted up and he inspected all of the spires by the end of the day. He saw that each spire is the same and he finally managed to barely translate the words.

“The World is not as it seems. That is the message, but I do not know what it means. I could mean a lot of things since it is too broad.” Adrian thought as he mulled over what the saying means.

“The World could mean many things. It could actually mean the actual world or just the place around us. ‘Is not as it seems’ could be something like one’s perception of the surroundings. Pyramid are regarded as tombs for the dead. Could that saying mean that only those who are dead could see the world for what it really is?” Adrian thought but he did not activate his evil eyes as his eye color would change.

“I should wait for them to clear the area before I activate my skills. The guards are also keeping a close eye on the archeologist so that they do their jobs. I should excuse myself while I have the chance. Kanlaon should be bored at the stables by now.” Adrian thought as he reported to the guard that he is done.

====

Adrian waited for the cover of night to complete his plan. Like what he expected, the kingdom is littered with watchful eyes both humans and artifacts. Some artifacts even floated like the demon eyes but emitted a yellow light.

He found a dark spot and activated his Soul Form Transformation. He knew that being invisible like this might not be effective, but he just needed to evade being spotted.

It seems that it was not only Adrian that waited for the cover of darkness because some thieves have been caught upon the yellow light shining upon them. The yellow light revealed their forms for everyone to see.

Adrian is so curious that he tried putting his arm out but there was no reaction. It seems that this artifact has no way to reveal the soul of a person. Adrian sighed with relief upon finding this information and immediately used his evil eye.

Upon the use of his evil eye, Adrian saw a vastly different world..

𝑖𝘦𝑎.𝗇t