Chapter 83. Insight

Silva POV

Before I set off to the ruins residing in the Emerald Forest, I hunted for an archeologist that could identify the age of the ruins I am looking for to gain a better grasp on magic. From what I have come to understand, magic from self-study is based on three parts knowledge and one part imagination. To construct a spell, I need to know what to do and how to do it.

For my mind-reading spell, I have a general idea of how brains are structured and that thoughts and memories are electrical impulses similar to computer programing to some degree. While this is partly true but unlike computers, there is a more significant margin of error and more complex chaotic management of said information.

While I can get it to work, it likely only works on those who have no defense against mental intrusions, which means that Salem, Ozma, and Huntsmen/Huntresses who have a semblance related to this subject have the necessary protection to keep me out of their heads. But back on point, finding an archeologist to make copies of their memories to make my time at the ruins slightly easier.

I looked through the Cross-Continental Network System to find an archeologist local to Vale. I have two hits, Bartholomew Oobleck, a hard pass if I can help it, and a guy named Clay Helios. Doctor Helios was not hard to find, and the information I got from him confirmed my thoughts on ruins that come from the Age of Magic and the Brothers do exist, but they are identified as Pre-Historic ruins.

There are a few ruins in the Emerald Forest that meet these requirements as Pre-Historic ruins, plus a few other places on Sanus and Anima continents. Now that I have the necessary information, I head off to my first stop in my current journey.

( A few days later)

As I head into the Emerald Forest, I look to my side and sigh due to my little hitchhiker, Lilith. I thought it was odd for her not to show up at the dinner table when I made my plans known, but I did not pay any mind to it. It turns out she followed me from a distance, and I did not realize until I was outside of Vale.

Regardless she is here, and she wants to stick around, but I will send her back when I head to the Land of Darkness where Salem resides. I went to the ruins in the valley that team RWBY fights that giant Nevermore to start with before heading deeper into the forest. It is a tall tower-like structure, and it was not difficult to find an entrance inside it.

While it has the hallmarks of a Pre-Historic ruin, there was nothing of interest in it which is not surprising since the Emerald Forest is Beacon's backyard practically. I then head to the cave that houses that Elder Deathstalker that team JNPR fights against. When I got close to the cave, the Deathstalker came out and attacked Lilith and me.

As its claw swiped at me, I took out my newest prototype weapon I have been working on; it looked like a sword handle with a large finger guard on it—a significant iron-colored semi-transparent barrier formed in front of me, stopping the Grimm's attack. The Deathstalker screeched and launched its stinger at me.

I switched between my prototype's shield form into its sword form, creating a six-foot-long blade of my aura, and sidestepped the Grimm's stinger, then cut it off in a single moment. The Deathstalker recoiled in pain and raised its claws to guard its faceplates. I extended the range of my Aura Blade to ten feet and channeled Echo Tremor into it.

I slashed downward, cutting through the giant monster in front of me, and it slumped after losing its false life. I analyzed my prototype and felt the transition into different forms could be smoother, but overall I consider it a success. Plus, I thought that the confrontation I just had was anti-climate, but oh well.

The cave turned out to be just a cave with no ruins within it, so I moved on. As I went deeper into the forest and came across a large group of ruins that meet the hallmarks of Pre-Historic, Lilith asked me.

Lilith: What are you looking for?

I vaguely answered her.

Silva: Ancient knowledge mainly, but I am unlikely to find what I want.

I doubt Salem or Ozma would let detailed information on magic be left untouched by them if they can help it for different respective reasons. Regardless I still need to check, at least to be sure, before asking Ozpin to teach me magic or cutting a deal with Salem for what she knows. As I look around the ruins, I have a nagging feeling that I forget something related to these ruins.

I scratch my head, unable to come up with anything, and I decided to put it aside for now. I think I will camp here for a couple of days.

General POV

Back at Castle Nightwall.

The twins Miltia and Melanie have just returned, and they are now dotting on Kyuu. Kyuu was sitting in Miltia's lab while enjoying some sweets the twins brought as souvenirs. Emerald, Morgana, Blake, and Ilia are in the living room with them. Melanie then bluntly asked.

Melanie: So Emerald, have you finally confessed to Silva while we were away?

Emerald immediately turned slightly red and gave a slight nod. Miltia congratulated her with a smile as she gave another sweet to Kyuu.

Miltia: Good for you, Emerald. That aside, can you introduce us to our new guests?

She gestured towards Blake and Ilia; while Silva did give them a heads up when they were away, he did not give any details on the two before them. The two Faunus tensed up, and Emerald started with her friend Ilia.

Emerald: This is Ilia. She is a chameleon Faunus, and we have a surprising amount in common. An Blake, here you can usually find at the castle library if anywhere else.

The twins appraised the two while Blake and Ilia looked nervous under their stares. The twins then shared a knowing look. Melanie gave a slight shrug while Miltia just nodded in their silent conversation. Melanie then asked the two Faunus.

Melanie: How much do you know about Silva?

Blake and Ilia looked confused at the question while Emerald has some idea of what they're talking about, so she interjected.

Emerald: Shouldn't Silva be the one to tell them about his past?

Before Silva left, he informed Emerald of his past as a bandit and the death he caused in his travels. She took some time to wrap her head around how much blood is on his hands but ultimately accepted him for who he is. Melanie then pointed out an important fact.

Melanie: True, but he won't be back for months at least, so it is better to give them some to come to their conclusions about him while he is away.

Emerald pursed her lips in worry about how Silva would perceive this course of action, but she did agree with the twins. Melanie took Emerald's silence as consent and informed Ilia and Blake on who Silva is after Miltia took Morgana and Kyuu away.

Silva is likely going to have a headache when he returns.

Silva POV

A month quickly went by, exploring these ruins, but I found very little on magic, and now I am checking the bit of the ruins before heading off to the Land of Darkness. The last of the ruins I am exploring is a sunken tower in the middle of a lake. I already sent Lilith back since I am soon heading to the Land of Darkness if I don't find anything here.

As I dived into the lake, summoning a Rip Jaws, a shark-like Grimm, to make underwater travel easier. I then expanded my sonar to find an entry point into the tower. There was one, but it is buried beneath several feet of mud. I focused Echo Tremor to sift through the lake bottom and found the large gate to the tower.

When I tried to open it, glyphs and runes appeared on the gate, blasting me out of the water. I couldn't help but smile because I finally found something, so I started landscaping to drain the water out of the lake. I summoned my Blight Worm to dig out a new path for the river around the lake.

Once that was done, I created a pair of dams to keep the water from refilling the lake. I then summoned Cerberus and Skyfire to breathe fire on the lake to turn it into steam and drive it away from the tower, this took several days, but the wait was worth it. I saw the structure in front of me and touched the gate again, which blasted me away once more.

This time I was ready and did not get sent flying again. As it knocks me back several feet away, I felt excited because I was paying attention to how it did so, and it was undoubtedly magic that blows me away. Now for the hard part getting in without destroying the contents within. Today is a good day.

( A month later)

The gate to this magical tower finally opened after bashing my head against it without relying on brute force. It took me creating a key with magic to unlock the defensive magic on the gate, which was a massive headache to figure out how to do it. It took a lot of trial and error to bypass the defenses, and with my limited reserves of magic, it took me longer than I would've liked, but I am happy to see what's inside this tower.

As I entered, I saw a massive, perfectly preserved library that looked untouched by time and nature. Oh, this is excellent. I randomly picked out a book and opened it to see an unfamiliar language written within; this means I got a lot of work ahead of me. I sighed and decided to store the whole tower away for later in my Blue Jade Ring so that I can get over it on my own time at the castle.

Next stop the Land of Darkness.