Late at night, Tivian North Suburbs.
Inside Green Shade Town No. 17, Dorothy remains seated at her desk in her study. At this moment, her consciousness is connected to Nephthys through the information channel, allowing her to access Nephthys’s vision and hearing. She listens in real-time to the conversation between Nephthys and Nust, the butler of the Boyle family.
After hearing Nust’s words, Dorothy is momentarily stunned and can’t help but scratch her head.
“Uh... it seems... maybe... this situation has a little something to do with me too…”
Scratching her head, Dorothy thinks somewhat sheepishly. Clearly, the precious spirituality Nust mentioned to Nephthys, which is used to resist curses and maintain the functionality of mystical items, is most likely Revelation—the very same Revelation that Dorothy, in collaboration with Beverly, artificially inflated in price not long ago to sabotage the Eight-Spired Nest.
At the time, after engaging in a divination battle with the Eight-Spired Nest, Dorothy leaked information to Beverly while using divination to provoke the Eight-Spired Nest, causing them to panic and rush to buy the overpriced Revelation. This action not only affected the Eight-Spired Nest but also rippled through the entire mysticism world of Tivian. Various secret societies, seeing the unusual spike in the price of Revelation, began to worry and consider whether they should also buy and stockpile some at high prices. This led to the price of Revelation remaining high to this day.
Dorothy made a considerable profit from this scheme, but she clearly hadn’t anticipated that the impact of her actions would be far more extensive than she had initially expected. For instance, the current situation with the Boyle family was something she hadn’t foreseen.
“I didn’t expect something like this to happen... But fortunately, it’s quite easy to resolve now. It’s just Revelation... I’ll provide it. It’s also a good opportunity to see the treasures Nephthys’s grandfather stole…”
“If it can absorb Revelation to resist the curse, then that means the primary spirituality behind the curse is Silence, right? It makes sense that the undead in the ancient tomb would curse tomb robbers with Silence spirituality.”
Dorothy thinks to herself. As the instigator of this incident, she naturally has to help resolve it. Fortunately, for her, Revelation is something she has in abundance.Next, Dorothy begins writing on the Literary Sea Logbook in front of her, using the Marionette Mark to remind Nephthys to check for messages.
…
East Tivian, Boyle Family Mansion.
In the study on the fourth floor of the mansion, Nephthys and Nust stand together. After hearing Nust’s words, Nephthys’s face shows deep concern.
“I didn’t expect... Father’s condition to be caused by the curse Grandpa brought back. The curse from North Ufiga is so powerful? It can span thousands of miles and curse us through bloodline...’”
Nephthys thinks to herself. The thought that this curse not only affects her father but could also spread to her fills her with even more fear.
"Nust Granpa, while the sudden price increase of that precious spirituality is one reason, didn’t our family have any reserves for emergencies?"
Nephthys asks Nust, who sighs in response.
"Sigh... We did have some reserves, but who could have expected the curse’s power to suddenly increase dramatically, depleting our stored spirituality all at once? Just as I was about to make an emergency purchase, the price of that spirituality skyrocketed, leading to the current situation."
Nust explains. Since Revelation is expensive, buying even a small amount can cause the price to rise significantly. Unless a family is exceptionally wealthy, it’s impossible to stockpile large quantities. Therefore, the Boyle family’s reserves of Revelation were not substantial.
After hearing Nust’s explanation, Nephthys finally understands that this situation arose from the coincidence of the curse’s sudden intensification and the sharp rise in the price of spirituality—a rare and unlikely event.
"So... Nust, what should we do now? We can’t just sit here and do nothing."
Nephthys anxiously asks Nust, who responds in a serious tone.
"Sigh... My plan is to sell some of the family’s assets to raise enough cash to buy some spirituality for an emergency. We’ll get through this crisis first.
"However, with the master unconscious and me being just a butler, I don’t have the authority to dispose of the Boyle family’s assets. That’s why I sent you an urgent telegram to return. Some legal procedures require your presence, Miss."
Nust says gravely. For them, the top priority is to quickly raise cash. Although the price of spirituality is exorbitant, selling some of the family’s assets should allow them to gather enough funds.
"Yes, that seems to be the only option now. No matter what, we must suppress the curse first..."
Nephthys nods in agreement with Nust’s words. Just then, she suddenly feels a strange sensation.
"Uh... Nust Granpa, I need to use the restroom. I’ll be right back."
Nephthys says hurriedly after a brief pause, and Nust naturally has no reason to stop her.
With that, Nephthys quickly leaves the study and heads to the restroom. There, she takes out a history book from her bag, opens it, and sees Dorothy’s handwriting.
Holding the book, Nephthys carefully reads the message Dorothy has written. The more she reads, the wider her eyes grow, and a smile begins to form on her lips.
"Revelation spirituality... So that’s how it is? The Rose Cross Order specializes in researching Revelation... That’s wonderful…”
After finishing the text, Nephthys murmurs to herself, her previous anxiety completely dispelled. She quickly puts the book back into her bag and leaves the restroom. With light steps, she returns to the study.
"Nust Granpa, where is the mystical item that resists the curse?"
Back in the study, Nephthys asks Nust. Hearing her question, Nust is momentarily stunned before responding.
"That item is kept in the underground vault of the house. Why do you ask, Miss?"
Nust asks Nephthys, who hesitates for a moment before speaking.
"Well... Granpa, you might not know this, but I’m not entirely ignorant of the mysteries and the mysticism world. I joined a society at school that studies the mysterious, and I’ve actually learned a few things..."
Nephthys says to Nust. After hearing her words, Nust frowns.
"There’s a society at Royal Crown University that studies the mystical knowledge? How could a group of students dabble in such dangerous things! Miss, you must withdraw from it immediately!"
Nust says sternly. After hearing his words, Nephthys pauses before continuing.
"Ah... Now’s not the time to discuss that, Granpa. What I want to say is that I’ve learned some things about mystical items during my time in the society. So, I’d like to see what this mystical item that’s crucial to our family’s survival looks like. As the heir of the Boyle family, I should have the right to see it, right?"
Nephthys says to Nust. Hearing her words, Nust pauses before nodding.
"Of course, Miss, you have that right. But I must advise you—just look at it. Don’t become obsessed, and certainly don’t try to delve deeper into studying it. That could bring great disaster."
Nust warns Nephthys, who nods seriously.
"Yes, I’ll keep that in mind. So, Nust Granpa, take me to the vault now."
Nephthys says. After her repeated requests, Nust finally relents and leads her out of the study. They descend the stairs, with Nephthys following closely behind.
Soon, Nust takes Nephthys to a storage room on the first floor. There, Nust activates a hidden mechanism behind a painting, causing a wall in the storage room to open, revealing a staircase leading downward. Nust picks up a gas lamp and heads down the stairs, with Nephthys following closely, curiously observing her surroundings. This is her first time entering the hidden part of her family home.
Soon, they reach the bottom of the stairs. Nust and Nephthys stand before an iron door. Nust unlocks it with a key, and they enter an underground room, where he lights the gas lamps.
The light illuminates the dim space, allowing Nephthys to see the room’s contents. It’s a moderately sized underground chamber, mostly empty. In the center of the room is a large ritual circle made of stone, its main feature being a closed eye. At the center of the eye’s pupil is a stone pedestal, on which stands a metal staff.
The staff is about as tall as a person, made of a dark yellow metal that’s difficult to identify by color alone. The staff is intricately carved with fine patterns, and its head is adorned with a winged eagle decoration. The craftsmanship of the staff is exquisite, making it a valuable piece of art just by appearance.
"This is... the mystical item that has protected our family from the curse for so many years?"
Looking at the staff, Nephthys murmurs. Nust nods in response.
"Yes, this is one of the most precious treasures the old master brought back from North Ufiga. This staff has the ability to resist curses and has protected the old master and the entire Boyle family for decades. But now, it’s running low on the spirituality needed to function, so its power is weakening."
Nust explains. Hearing his words, Nephthys nods and steps forward, approaching the staff on the stone pedestal. She carefully examines it.
“According to Miss Dorothy, what this item lacks is Revelation spirituality. While it’s precious outside, it’s nothing special to the Rose Cross Order, which specializes in Revelation. Both she and I have some Revelation in our bodies. All we need to do is inject it into the staff.”
Recalling the information Dorothy wrote to her earlier, Nephthys thinks to herself. After her recent efforts in "studying," Nephthys has read three or four mystical texts and extracted a fair amount of Revelation. Following Dorothy’s advice, she can now inject this Revelation into the staff to restore its full functionality.
Without hesitation, Nephthys, who deeply trusts Dorothy, gently places her hand on the staff. She then follows the method Dorothy taught her in the book and begins to inject her Revelation spirituality into the staff. Instantly, the staff on the pedestal emits a faint purple light. Seeing this, Nust, who had been watching from behind, is stunned, his eyes widening in disbelief.
"W-what? This is..."
Having cared for the staff for decades, Nust naturally understands what this phenomenon means—the staff is receiving spirituality!
"How is this possible? There’s no stored spirituality... How can it be receiving spirituality? Unless..."
With a look of disbelief, Nust turns to Nephthys, who stands before the staff. Just as he is about to say something, an unexpected change occurs.
Suddenly, the gas lamps in the underground chamber flicker, and the light in the room dims without warning. The temperature in the chamber drops several degrees, and a cold chill runs down Nephthys’s spine.
“What’s this…”
Nephthys senses that something is wrong. Injecting spirituality into a mystical item shouldn’t cause such an effect. Just as she begins to feel puzzled, a voice echoes.
"You can’t hide behind that cowardly protection anymore! Boyle!"
A harsh, grating voice, like nails scraping on a chalkboard, echoes through the chamber, startling everyone inside. Along with the voice, a translucent figure gradually materializes in the dimly lit room.
It is a gaunt, semi-transparent figure—a tall, desiccated mummy. The mummy is dressed in luxurious robes adorned with golden ornaments, and its head is crowned with a headdress featuring a rearing cobra. Its withered face is devoid of moisture, and its hollow eye sockets flicker with eerie green flames.
"Ahhh!!"
"Miss, be careful!"
The sudden appearance of the mummy startles Nephthys, causing her to let go of the staff and stumble back several steps, letting out a scream. Seeing this, Nust immediately draws a small, inscribed dagger from his waist and throws it at the apparition. However, the dagger passes right through it.
“This... it’s not a physical entity, nor a spiritual one... just an illusion?”
Nust thinks to himself. At this moment, the mummy speaks again. Its voice is not in the Pritt language, but everyone present can understand it.
"Davis Boyle... petty... despicable... shameless thief! You must pay for your actions! Even if you die and return to the Primordial Soul, your bloodline will bear the cost! You can’t hide forever!"
The mummy’s voice roars through the chamber like a howl. Hearing its words, Nephthys realizes that this is likely the manifestation of the curse. The top priority now is to continue injecting Revelation into the staff to restore its full power and resist the curse.
Thinking this, Nephthys steps forward to grab the staff again. However, as soon as she takes a step, a wave of weakness washes over her. Her consciousness begins to blur, and her body feels extremely frail.
In this weakened state, Nephthys collapses to the ground. The mummy’s apparition continues to shout.
"You can’t hide behind that cowardly protection anymore! I won’t let this opportunity slip! All Boyles must die! This time, your souls will be eternally enslaved by me! You won’t return to the Primordial!"
The mummy’s voice echoes. To prevent the protection from being reactivated, the curse targeting the Boyle family strikes directly at Nephthys.