"Elves are always so odd."
Jenkins muttered to himself, his eyes lingering on the beautiful, branch-like letters for a moment longer before he pointed at them.
"I think I understand," he declared. "In Elvish, the word for 'to give' can also mean 'to open.' The word for 'gift' sounds remarkably similar to 'pinwheel chrysanthemum.' And 'Sylph' is the ancient term for the element of wind. Therefore, the phrase can be understood differently."
As he spoke, he took a sheet of paper from the desk and, with a practiced hand, wrote another sentence in the elegant Elvish script, despite never having written in the language before.
"The secret to opening the element of air lies in the pinwheel chrysanthemum."
He read the words aloud as he wrote them, allowing everyone else in the study to grasp their meaning.
Jenkins capped the ornate fountain pen and set it back on the desk, simultaneously fending off Chocolate's attempt to conquer the tabletop.
"It's a cipher," Jenkins explained. "As I see it, this means we need a pinwheel chrysanthemum."
Jenkins took the flowerpot, set it on the table, and then, under the expectant gazes of everyone present, lifted the casket and held it close to the flower's petals. Nothing happened. The only sound was the cat's meow, which made Jenkins feel utterly foolish.
"Could I have been wrong?"
"So, does it need to be buried in the soil, near the roots?"
"No, Jenkins. Perhaps you're overthinking it." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ nοvelfire.net
Alexia spoke softly, prompting Jenkins to set the casket down. She reached out, plucked the most beautiful of the blooming flowers, and let it drift slowly down over the top of the box. As it fell, she recited in Elvish:
"To the love of my life, Sylph."
She had no knowledge of Ancient Elvish, but she had perfectly committed Jenkins's pronunciation to memory.
Her actions proved correct. As her voice faded, the bright yellow blossom settled perfectly upon the casket's lid. Instantly, golden patterns flared to life across its surface, their light swelling from a faint glimmer to a blinding glare before extinguishing completely. A soft, almost inaudible *click* echoed through the room.
"Alexia, you truly are the cleverest."
Jenkins was generous with his praise. The petite woman smiled and took a step back, positioning herself just behind him.
All four people and the single cat in the room were burning with curiosity about the contents, but the ever-cautious Jenkins had everyone step back for safety. He tied a silk thread to the latch, moved to a safe distance, and gave it a sharp pull. The lid flipped open.
No poison needles flew out. No horrifying specters emerged, nor was there a massive explosion. All was calm.
They gathered around the table again, only to find that inside the metal casket lay another one, this time made of packed earth.
Jenkins resisted the urge to say, "Just as I expected," not wanting to waste time explaining the thought.
This casket, too, emanated a yellow spiritual aura of moderate intensity, and it was just as impossible to open and difficult to destroy. Its earthen surface was rough and covered with cracks that resembled the menacing tattoos of a sailor, all converging to frame a string of bizarre runes.
"This is an ancient human language. It's been lost to time."
Alexia recognized the script and added:
"As it happens, I recognize these characters."
Her expression was so intense that neither Jenkins nor Miss Stuart dared to interrupt.
The room fell silent for a long while. The only sounds Jenkins could hear were the soft rhythm of Julia's breathing and Chocolate licking a paw. The stillness felt odd, but some instinct told him it was best not to break Alexia's concentration.
"I've figured it out!"
the woman suddenly announced. Just as Jenkins had done, she took a sheet of paper from the desk and began sketching an unrecognizable shape.
"It's another cipher, and a very interesting one," she declared. "But I've solved it, yes!"
She quickly sketched the shape, then muttered under her breath as she shaded in specific parts of the drawing with her pencil. Finally, she lifted the paper, turned it over, and held it up to the gaslight on the wall. After a moment's inspection, she announced the result with a triumphant smile:
"The secret to opening the element of earth lies in the Flameblood Rose."
The Flameblood Rose was an exceedingly expensive ornamental plant, so named because the color of its petals was a striking blend of fire and blood. The price was exorbitant, but its beauty and rarity (the latter being the primary factor) made it the perfect gift for a gentleman wishing to confess his affections to a young lady.
But no matter how precious the flower, this was the royal palace of one of the continent's three great kingdoms. Finding such a plant here proved to be far easier than locating a simple pinwheel chrysanthemum.
Once the earthen casket was opened, it revealed—unsurprisingly—an even smaller box inside. This one was wooden, and inscribed with a language that no one present could read... except, perhaps, for Chocolate.
Only Alexia could faintly recognize it as a variant of Ancient Draconic, a language lost since the 15th Epoch. Nowadays, it could only be found on a few scattered, ancient stone tablets.
"Alright," Jenkins mused. "It seems that during my baptism, I'll have to pay a visit to this Nidhogg."
It was the only solution Jenkins could come up with.
The evening's gathering lasted until the early hours. Miss Stuart, still full of energy, wanted to discuss the banking industry further with Jenkins. But the hour was late, and she had social engagements the next day that she couldn't possibly miss. At Julia's gentle insistence, she finally let Jenkins depart.
Back in his home in Nolan City, Jenkins sat with his cat in his lap, staring blankly at the dancing flames in the fireplace. About five minutes passed before Alexia's figure began to slowly materialize on the small sofa.
"Do you need me to come back?" she asked directly. "The situation is extremely dangerous. I think you might need my help."
She asked very directly.
"Even by steam train, I could be in Nolan by this time next week," she added.
"No, things haven't gotten that desperate yet."
Jenkins shook his head, refusing the offer. He was unwilling to let Alexia return to the dangers of the city. Even as a demigod, she would not be entirely safe from the threats unfolding there. Besides, things hadn't reached their most critical stage just yet.
"That sword is fearsome, I'll admit, but its current wielder is nowhere near as dangerous as the one from thirty years ago," he assured her. "Alexia, you just take care of things in Ruen. There's no need to return. I'll be perfectly fine."