After spending yet more time in another maddeningly slow elevator, we arrived in front of the largest steel door I had ever witnessed. Ancient Aramaic was engraved across the entire expanse of the doorway.
"What does that say?" Pelit asked.
"Why would he know a language that died thousands of years ago?" Irina challenged.
"You would be surprised," Rimel answered, offering a small, knowing smile.
Since all eyes were on me, I translated quickly.
"Something about duty, family, and honor. What now?" I turned to the manager, keeping the true, deeper meaning of the inscription to myself.
"Oh, yes. Insert the key," he handed it back to me. "Then, present your wand."
I felt the girls collectively tense up. Lor had clearly informed them, and this was likely the only reason they had accompanied us.
I inserted the key and simultaneously placed my palm onto the cold steel, allowing my inherent magic to override the mechanism. Soon enough, the grating sound of massive tumblers turning prompted me to step back.
The odor that wafted out was not pleasant, a stale, metallic dust as the heavy door began to open, unveiling the interior.
I froze.
I had always known my family was ancient and famous, that our house was built on the centuries' worth of blood shed by our ancestors in defense of the world. But the sheer, ridiculous volume of gold and precious jewels piled everywhere was simply overwhelming.
The space inside was ludicrously large. I could not see the end of the cavernous room.
"W-well, that certainly is something," Rimel managed, tapping my shoulder.
"Brother... we can retire," Pelit remarked, utterly awestruck.
I smiled faintly; it was exactly that ridiculous.
I walked in, and just kept walking.
"You are not joining us?" I asked the manager.
"Our employees are not permitted inside the vaults, Mr. Aslan. Please enjoy your time. There is a call button inside the elevator we arrived in. Please press it once you are finished."
With that, he left, and we were free to explore.
"Some of these pieces are incredibly old," Rimel announced, holding a gold chalice. "As in, absolutely priceless."
He slowly and carefully placed it down, terrified he might damage it.
"That's wonderful, but you cannot pay for books and robes with gold and shiny, priceless stones, can you? Should we just use the money the Captain gave us?" Pelit asked, ever practical.
"We should save that, I think. Give it back to them at Christmas, you know," I replied without looking.
I was beginning to realize there was no standard currency in sight. Looking around, I found a few leather bags near me and opened one.
"Money?" Pelit asked hopefully.
"Papers," I answered.
I couldn't even read them, or tell what language they were written in. I placed them back inside and opened the next bag.
I looked up. The others were huddled awkwardly together in the large open space.
"Please help. Fan out, go further inside, and check for actual, spendable currency. Go, go, go," I urged, waving them on.
They slowly gained confidence and moved deeper into the vault.
Damn you, Uncle.
Shouldn't currency be placed front and center? Easy to grab and go? Why didn't he just hand me a card, like the girls used? Did he want me inside this ridiculous vault for a specific reason? And if so, what useless mystery was he now cultivating?
None of the bags I checked contained money. One was simply full of brightly colored drawings.
I got up and stumbled slightly. Luckily, someone was close behind, so what should have been a small stumble ended with both of us falling onto a pile of glittering golden goods.
"...Leyla?"
"S-sorry. It's my fault for being sneaky."
I quickly got up and helped her to her feet.
"It's fine. Boy, you really are quiet," I finished awkwardly.
We were alone. I checked with my eyes to confirm, and I had absolutely nothing to say.
Normally, I broke the ice with ease, but she was... strange. It was difficult to start a conversation with these intensely focused, strange people.
She didn't seem interested in talking, either. Seconds stretched into minutes. At one point, I started hearing the distinct, amplified sound of a clock ticking.
"Did you... perhaps find any currency?" I fished.
"No."
I started to wonder if she was dangerous, but then I caught a glimpse of a small embroidered unicorn on her skirt and quickly dismissed the thought.
"Maybe we should go... find the others?" I asked carefully.
"Okay."
I had expected that.
"Yes. Please, after you," I offered a polite gesture.
She smiled and walked ahead, while my own smile died.
My politeness was merely a mask for the primal fear of having some unhinged person walking directly behind me, but she didn't seem to notice.
I was so preoccupied that I forgot to check for any more signs of money and just kept an eye on her.
We found the others largely doing the same thing: checking random bags and even the furniture, courtesy of Pelit.
"Any luck?" I asked.
At this point, I was ready to grab a few handfuls of jewels and sell them at the nearest discreet exchange.
"Nothing. But this place is far bigger than we thought. Look."
Rimel came over and showed me... a door.
"God damn it! It's not just a long hall?" I looked ahead, still unable to see the end of the cavern.
"Unfortunately, no. Though the doors can be ignored, we think, since they all appear to be magically sealed shut," Irina answered, standing by his side.
"Pelit, grab some of those diamonds, brother, and maybe that chalice Rimel was playing with," I commanded.
I walked past them as Pelit began placing gemstones inside a small cloth bag that seemed to have been placed there for that very purpose.
"Stop! You can't simply sell those stones!"
This annoying liability was beginning to get on my nerves. I turned to her and walked closer.
"Lor... dear. Are you suggesting there isn't a place to sell these throughout the entire town?"
"That's not what I mean," she explained, walking closer as well. "These gemstones could be individually worth as much as the entire lives of most people, children included."
"Pfft," a sound of pure disdain escaped me.
She was just as surprised by the sound as I was.
"Don't worry," Rimel interjected quickly. "Irina says most shops here sometimes stay open late, although some close mid-day."
The issue was not the shops closing, but the lack of universal opening hours. I nodded, defeated, thinking, Why establish a universal business schedule when you can just wing it? That would be far too convenient.
We continued to explore the space, ignoring the sealed doors for now, and eventually found currency—just not the kind used in France.
"Is there a place that exchanges dollars?" I asked.
The girls exchanged looks but ultimately shrugged. I put a small stack of bills in my pocket just in case.
"I say we give up, man, and use the Cap's money."
I felt stupid that we hadn't done this in the first place. As I had noted, Pelit was occasionally smart, meaning we needed to listen to him more. As dangerous as that sounded.
"I kind of want to see the end, though," Rimel looked longingly into the distance.
The latent adventurer inside him needed to be suppressed.
"I know what you mean. Who knows what other treasures are down there?" Irina shared his enthusiasm.
I couldn't care less myself, so I took a seat at a large, round table and let them loose.
Pelit went with them, but Lor and Leyla sat down opposite me.
I closed my eyes, hoping they would begin chatting amongst themselves and leave me out of it, but that didn't happen.
"Hey... hello? Ferith!"
"...Yes, Lor?" I replied without opening my eyes.
"That whole doing magic without a wand... how does that work?" she asked, already sounding suspicious.
I was mentally prepared.
"I don't know," I shrugged.
Hearing that visibly frustrated her, as it would most people. I wasn't trying to be mysterious, but I also owed her nothing.
"Are you lying?" she pressed.
"No," I sighed.
"I don't think I believe you."
"He is telling the truth."
Leyla's words drew my attention, more so the absolute conviction in her voice. Not even her friend questioned it, which I found deeply weird.
"Hmm... how is it I never heard of you?" Lor switched angles.
"Why were you supposed to hear of me?"
She had a practiced answer loaded. "For one, your uncle is a powerful member of the Regime, the leading magicians of our age. And as far as I know, there hasn't been anyone else born without—"
"Listen," I cut her off, having reached my limit. "I don't know anything. Okay? In fact, that super-powerful member of the regime you mentioned? He doesn't know anything, either. The End."
She huffed but did cease the questions.
Not many people knew the truth about me. Three, to be precise.
How much was spent on bribery? How long I carried a fake wand as if it were my own? How good it felt to make that useless piece of wood burn to ashes after they burned my parents?
Well, I would keep those answers to myself, Miss Orlean.
Soon, the rest of the crew returned, bags slung over their shoulders.
"Don't tell me..." I stood up.
"Ka-ching. We are probably carrying more currency than the Border Control ever got paid."
Pelit gently tapped one of the bags as if handling a fragile, old friend.
Lor walked beside me.
"If you want, we can ask Mr. Manager to put it all on account and give you a card?"
I nodded immediately. Lor was trying to be useful, and she had nailed it.
"Thanks."
"Hmm."
On our way out, I stopped in front of a random, sealed door.
"What's wrong?" Rimel asked.
Without answering, I walked closer and tried to open it.
It was sealed shut.
"See? Spelled shut, mate. Don't bother," he smiled.
I thought of leaving, but a sudden impulse took over. I placed my hand on the surface and let my curiosity get the better of me.
Not every spell can be broken, kid... but you can dilute the magic inside and then...
"Hirin."
(BOOM!)
The door was blasted inward, hinges and all, creating a massive dust cloud.
"Ferith! Are you okay?" Rimel pulled his wand, and the dust soon disappeared.
"Fine," I took a deep breath, savoring the intense high that came with a large magical output.
It was euphoric.
Pelit rushed over, knowing my symptoms. He placed a steadying hand on my arm.
"Brother?"
"I'm here. Come on, let's take a peek," I calmed him quietly.
His worried expression changed to a nervous smile.
The three of us stepped inside, one after another.
Then, we walked out almost immediately.
I concentrated, and the door reversed, falling back into its original position as if time had reversed. I then cast a potent sealing spell over it.
"W-what was inside?" Lor asked, shaken.
My friends looked pale. I probably looked the same.
"It's... just... nightmare fuel for all kinds of reasons."
I offered the best explanation I could without descending into graphic details.
"Like...?" Lor pressed.
"How about you just take our word for it?"
Rimel walked ahead, gently turning the girls around and guiding them toward the exit.
Pelit and I exchanged a horrified look.
What in the actual hell? Why would my family own something like that?
I tapped him lightly and nodded toward the exit.
He wiped his brow and walked ahead.
I put a few more layers of powerful locks on the door, praying no one would ever walk inside. I would have questions, and Marcus needed to provide answers.