The Appraisal Ritual

Forget the strange recurring dream. Forget the big, fancy houses, even. How could any of that matter when what was sitting on the desk before Lin Yuchen could be the oldest coin ever discovered?

"That's just a theory, though," he said to Professor Bai, "Is there any way to verify its age more definitively?"

"There is. I intend to seek the opinions of a few other respected archeologists in the coming days. But since no coin like it has ever been found, and there is no textual evidence of such coins existing in the third world, the only definitive way to determine its age is to have a Priest conduct an Appraisal Ritual. That will also give us an opportunity to probe it for any latent magical attributes."

Considering what he had just learned about the coin, Lin Yuchen did not find it at all surprising that the Professor was considering such extreme measures as commissioning an Appraisal Ritual.

Appraisal Rituals, for one, were only carried out by highly skilled Priests. The instruments needed to carry out the ritual were made of arcane alloys that could only be manufactured by expert alchemists. Also required were petals from a certain flower that only blooms once a year--for that they were called Yearlys. Since the flower petals were actually consumed during the ritual, the total number of rituals that could be conducted per year was limited by how many could be planted by the Imperial Gardens, the only entity that had the legal right to grow them. Because of all this, less than 1% of artifacts underwent the Appraisal Ritual.

"After it's confirmed, you and I'll publish an article reporting the find," Professor Bai went on, "Since that could take a couple days, I want you to get started on it now, if you don't mind. Take a week off from teaching, we'll arrange for a substitute. And after that, I reckon your reputation in the archeology would will increase a couple fold. Not undeservedly, of course--this is a marvelous find. Pat yourself on the back and expect a promotion."

Beneath his serious demeanor, Lin Yuchen's heart was swelling with joy.

"I won't let you down, sir," he smiled.

"I'll contact you when we've set a date and time for the ritual. I want you to be there. It's a good learning experience."

Having said that, the Professor put the coin in a cloth bag and gave it to a secretary to deliver to the storehouse.

After taking leave of the Professor, Lin Yuchen was prancing like a horse down the office corridor. This is it, he thought, this is my big break. My chance to become a famous archeologist has finally come.

His mind began racing. He imagined opening up the newspaper and seeing his face printed in one of the columns. Professor Lin, Doctor of Archeology at the Imperial University, makes groundbreaking discovery... After being promoted he would be given a new classroom where he would teach a higher level archeology course. He would be sent on voyages to far off continents or to caves thousands of miles below the surface.

Yes, the future was looking very bright--any brighter and it would have given him a headache.

Ever since coming to the University, Lin Yuchen lived in an on-campus apartment with the rest of the low ranking professors. It had only two full rooms and a bathroom. A kitchenette was attached to the living room, which one could cross in about five steps. The bedroom only had enough space for a bed and a desk. The floorboards creaked with even the lightest step, and the gray walls were thin as tree bark.

As he stepped into the apartment, Lin Yuchen, for once, didn't mind how humble it was.

He stayed up late into the night preparing the article, slouched over his desk. He was so focused on writing that he even forgot to eat. Not that the food he normally ate was anything worth getting excited over.

A couple days went by. He received a note from the Professor saying that they were going to hold the Appraisal Ritual in a couple hours at the Temple of the First God. He rushed out of the front door, almost forgetting to put on shoes.

Strict religious laws required that Appraisal Rituals only be held at designated temples. In the capital, which had thousands of shrines and temples of all shapes and sizes, there was only one such temple, the Temple of the First God, which was also one of the most important temples in all the Realm, dedicated as it was to the most important deity. Taking up the size of an entire city block, it was the headquarters of the Priest class and access was highly restrictive.

Lin Yuchen wasted no time getting there. He climbed several flights of stone stairs before reaching a wide avenue. Six or seven massive blue Holy Gates stood on the sides, but before he even reached them a crowd of armed gatekeepers swarmed him. They checked his credentials and, since he was on the visitor's list for that day, let him in.

As he walked past the massive pagodas and two-tiered blue-roofed halls packed densely among green spaces teeming with flowers, trees and exotic plants, he couldn't help feeling like a fish out of water. The men and women he passed were dressed in what appeared to be the flowing silk robes of immortals. Each one looked like a god or emperor to him. In his black scholar's outfit with brass buttons, he cut an odd figure.

The note had made it clear that they would be meeting in one of the auxiliary halls located near the temple's entrance, so he went straight there. When he walked in, he found Professor Bai conversing with a couple of priestly-looking fellows, but one of them--wasn't a fellow at all!

Her thick black hair dangled down to what must have been her knees, though it was hard to tell where her knees were with all those layers of heavy blue and white silk she was wearing. Her outfit was wrapped in several golden ribbons, which were tied into bows here and there. Her slender face, bearing at that moment a dignified expression, along with her wide eyebrows were a most pleasing sight. A tall black court cap cast was casting a shadow on them. She couldn't have been older than 25. In her hands was a small mahogany box.

"Professor Lin, you're here." Professor Bai noticed him quickly.

"I'm happy to be here," Lin Yuchen said.

"Let me introduce you to Shuang Ruicong, Jiang Tao and, the priestess who will be conducting the ritual, Diao Zhen."

"Pleased to meet you." Lin Yuchen bowed deeply. He knew the ranks of all three of them towered over his.

A little while later, the two male priests--apparently Diao Zhen's mentors--took their leave. All that was left was the three of them and a handful of attendants. They moved into another room, well lit and lined with all sorts of silken curtains and dividing screens. Everything that had a flat surface was either painted or decorated with some luxurious pattern. Diao Zhen sat the wooden box on a long table where a Yearly flower and a couple of strange instruments had already been laid out.

She opened the mahogany box, which was lined with red felt on the inside, and took the coin out of it.

"If you don't mind, we can get started now," Diao Zhen told them.

The ritual was done without a single mistake. It took almost half an hour. And though he had never seen the likes of it before, Lin Yuchen almost fell asleep listening to all the formulaic prayers Diao Zhen had to recite.

"Well, what are the results?" Professor Bai asked in an unusually curious tone.

"Professor, your theory was correct. It is indeed from the Third World. Not only that, but it has no less than fifteen latent attributes. It's an extremely lucky object. If it were worn as a medallion or hung from one's belt, it would grant the wearer an unusual protective aura. Not to mention, if meditated upon, it would probably increase one's cultivation speed by several fold."

"That's quite remarkable," Professor Bai said.

Lin Yuchen wanted to add something, but he just nodded.

"There's a fascinating memory associated with it too. I had a very clear vision just now, during the ritual, while I held the coin. This coin once belonged to the daughter of a nobleman who was in the service of the king. Which king, I am not sure, nor do I know either the father's or the daughter's name. He had given it to his daughter to buy brocade with. But that day there were strong winds, and a terror-inspiring storm descended upon the capital. While she was crossing a bridge on her way to the market, the waters suddenly surged and carried her away. Neither she nor the coin were ever seen again."

"You could see all that just by holding the coin?" Lin Yuchen had heard certain priests had this ability, but never knew it this powerful.

Diao Zhen smiled. "Of course. As a member of the Diao clan, descendants of one of the original five priests who founded this temple, Diao Qiangyu, the ability to see fantastic things runs in our blood. We are not just gifted with access to the Memories, but we can even make objects like this coin tell us their story. Although, I will say, most of the coins I have seen spent most of their heydays sitting in some rich man's coffer. This one, on the other hand, has a story behind it."

"Perhaps that is why it has so many attributes." Professor Bai stroked his thin beard.

"You're right, Professor," she said. "Professor Lin, congratulations on your discovery."

"Why, thank you," Lin Yuchen laughed bashfully.

She had a very bright smile.

"Though, I couldn't help but notice, this discovery wasn't entirely yours."

The name "Qiu Shujie" flashed into his mind. He had completely forgotten. So, these Priests can even tell you who found the thing!, he reflected.

"Ahaha, I had almost forgotten." His face turned bright red. "The student who picked this up is called Qiu Shujie. Of course, all of this is thanks to her. Professor, I was going to tell you when I had a chance."

"I'm sure you were," he said, though his face seemed more to be saying, Give me a break!

This whole time a scribe had been writing down everything Diao Zhen said. The report was forwarded to some of the higher-up priests, who decided to take possession of the artifact. By law, every artifact discovered immediately became property of the Emperor, but since there were dozens of agencies authorized to act on his behalf, stewardship of artifacts often changed de facto.

That's why, a few minutes later, some menials showed up and whisked the mahogany box away.

"Ahem, before you two leave," Diao Zhen said, "might I suggest we all three exchange contact cards. I'm set to graduate from the Religious Academy this year. Today, you saw my two mentors here; they were overseeing the ritual from a distance and assessing me. Though, after I graduate I'll be fully ordained to carry out rituals like this as I please. I am more than willing to work with you in the future."

"That's a wonderful idea," Professor Bai said.

The two professors each took out their business cards and handed them to Diao Zhen, who produced two of her own. They were a rich dark blue with silver trim, meaning that despite her youthful appearance, she was already Junior Fourth.