Chapter 77: The History of the Magi

The boys quickly reached their location, and upon arriving, would be mesmerized by its size. It stands at a large height of around 19 to 20 meters, slanted slightly upon the stomach, with a large hole made on the back of the tower, supposedly being done thanks to the stomach acids. When investigating such a hole, and when having the garden infuse itself with the tower to ensure it is sturdy, they would be met with some sort of library. Books were lined across the shelves, some being badly damaged, as well as the banners being hung high on the walls. A Staircase was shown on their left. Solomon was quick to have Shady investigate the banners while he looked through the books, with Harvard investigating upstairs.

The banners themselves would be consisted of the standard art style made in the Dark ages, detailing supposedly of some history. The banners would depict what looked to be like kingdoms being plagued with a disease, slowly corroding their cells, as well as the Grim Reaper itself, watching over everyone amidst the clouds. "Yeesh, forgot that's how it was back then..." The shadow commented.

"Forgot what?" Solomon asked, reading through one of the books, being entirely written in Latin.

"D'ah, let's just leave it as a plague the rats brought about and-"

"Oh, the Black Plague. Is it detailing how we got our magic?"

"....Sorry, repeat that?"

Solomon would stop his reading and gesture towards the likes of the banners, displaying a story made through its art. The Black Plague, a notorious disease that destroyed almost everyone within the 1300's. A biological nightmare that made people desperate for an answer. Some consulted to science, while others consulted within the arts of mysticism. Because of such divisive paths, The people would often argue, proclaiming that one is superior, or that the other is unaffected by such a practice, due to the nature of the plague itself. A separate banner was displayed on its side, but was somewhat damaged due to the acids. It mainly removed the man's face, but his clothes and his famous name was still etched in its glory of such soft threads.

Nicolas Flamel.

The Immortal Alchemist.

The Banners would depict him as a wiseman. A Scholar. A Scientist. A Sorcerer. To quell the arguments, he himself would act as the test for the idea of both magic and science to be implemented as a cure. Day and night did the man work, and day and night he ensured his progress was in its full force. It wasn't until he came upon a discovery, where he accidentally had a beaker of a red liquid mixed with the likes of electricity. Such an experiment was somehow working, and such an experiment was what created the first style of magic, giving birth to a magical artifact in the form of the Philosopher's Stone, a red jewel that blessed Flamel the more he touched such an item. A jewel that healed him from any injuries he has sustained. The first man to have combined the likes of science with arcane knowledge. The first man to have created Magic. 

The man leapt in cheer and jubilation as he shared this knowledge, letting people create more of such stones to heal them from the plague, and from that day forward, their curiosity grew. They would quickly learn the likes of energy in the form of the electricity sparking the liquid. As many would try to copy Flamel's teachings, however, they would instead be granted a different style of magic. One that bends time itself, halting the very world. One that bent the earth, which is what expanded the planet itself to sustain more life. One that provided food and water, sustaining them from hunger and thirst. It was as if a miracle was made. Shady would be immersed in such stories as Solomon finished it. "To put it simply, thanks to that guy, We basically have magic now. To this day, people are basically mastering their own style of magic with no limit." 

"Jesus...and it was all because of a plague, no less?" Shady would ask.

"Well, yeah. What, you think humans are gonna wanna let it kill them? They'll find a way to keep going, even if they're not capable of doing such things." Solomon would answer, leaving Shady speechless. Before Solomon would investigate the books, a loud noise would be heard. A scream of pure joy, no less, coming from above. The footsteps that came down almost sounded like stomping noises as Harvard came down.

"GUYS! GUYS!! GET OVER HERE!! I FOUND SOMETHING AWESOME!!" Harvard yelled with conviction. Solomon and Shady would follow the child upstairs, carrying one of the books by his side, reading it along. When they achieved upstairs, they would be met with a staggering sight: A second set of tapestries, all within its own story. A banner that held the story of a man, casting so many good deeds, he was considered close to an angel. Solomon examined the banner and would see that the man was holding something in its hand.

A Card. A Card depicting one of Harvard's spells.

Solomon was flabbergasted at this sight. "WAIT HUH!?!? SINCE WHEN!? SINCE HOW!? Harvard, did you do-"

"NOPE! NOT A THING! IT WAS LIKE THAT WHEN I CAME UP! Something about a good guy holding festivals with MY cards!! Its actually crazy!" Harvard would respond, prompting Solomon to investigate further and reading the text within one of the books.

"Ambulabat in gaudio sicut subveniret lassis...."

"Qui hoc miraculum crederent ei crederent. Codex Machina instrumentum miror ac mysterii erat...."

"Ante omnia instrumentum erat ad coelum paene aequipararetur..."

The boy heard those words loud and clear, as he'd put two and two together as what he was witnessing. "So, wait a second.....My cards.....are an Artifact??"

"Supposedly, yeah. According to this book, its called the Codex Machina." Solomon stated, reading aloud as the child looked at the tapestries some more.

"Constrata chartarum domorum internis utentis desideriis...."

"Catalogus, qui domos omne incantamentum homini notum habent, sed eae solae animi apertae bene gestare possunt."

"Wait, EVERY SPELL!? NO WAY!"

"Hey, book says so, not me. A casual reminder, by the way, that your deck would've solved this problem no sweat."

"Oh shaddup with that." Harvard gave a pout before getting back to the top at hand. "Sed eae solae animi apertae bene gestare Possunt, eh? Would that mean if someone else would've had my cards, the deck would be entirely different?" The boy would ask, sparking a theory towards Solomon.

"Screw it, Let's test it." Solomon state, his palm open. Harvard, quickly taking his cards and placing them in one deck, placed the cards upon Solomon's hand. When he did so, the deck itself would begin to change. The card art began to disappear, and in its place, were a new set of spells. The most evident change has to be the actual monsters, now formed into shadow-like specters and demons. The boy watched this transformation underway, seeing the cards change shape to fit the needs of the user. It was true. A Deck that houses the very desire in card form. "I can't believe it. Harvard, you realized what this means...?"

"Yeah.....Not only that, just imagine what else it would've been if....." The two were mesmerized by the deck, amazed with its origin, yet terrified of the results if anyone else were to get their hands on it. Harvard recalled his father gifting such cards before, but he never recognized it to be something this legendary. Before they were able to figure out more regarding its properties, before questions would arise to make them wonder what exactly makes it connect so much..

BA-BOOM!!

Disaster struck.