Professor Garcia really seemed to be giving a lecture at this moment. Shade thought that maybe he should turn up the gaslight a little to make this place more like a classroom:
"Regarding the rules of the time key, this is mentioned in your course "Theoretical Foundations of Time Travel". In addition, do not worry about any trouble caused by time travel. Our world is not as fragile as you think, and mortals are not as powerful as they think. In a world where thoughts can affect matter, the world itself is the most powerful. Now, please take the key from the basin."
He answered all of Shade's questions in one sentence. Probably every student who travels through time for the first time will have similar questions.
"basin?"
Xia De looked at the basin of water that was shining brightly, squatted down and put his hand into the water that was somehow warm, and then he really took out a key.
It was a wooden key, so small that it was not even as big as Xia De's thumb. The flat key had a plain shape, with teeth on one side and a very smooth surface on the other. The wood grain on the key was very obvious. After rubbing it carefully, he found a line of words engraved on it that were not even as big as a grain of rice.
Although they had learned a lesson from the incident with the Dark Box last time, they were obviously safe this time. Therefore, Shade once again used his talent for translation and interpreted it as:
The World Tree protects you throughout time.
"World Tree?"
Xia De was surprised in his heart, but did not show much expression on his face.
"The academy has many ways to transfer relics, and the poet's manuscript is the most basic one. Although the method we are using now is expensive, it is safer and can transfer objects of a higher level."
Professor Garcia still seemed to be giving a lecture:
"The time keys are graded from the poet level (level 5) to the unknowable level (level 0), and they come from the father of the infinite tree, the god of the past. Because this is just a course teaching, the time keys provided this time are the poet level."
The professor did not use the term "old god" but the vague term "god of the past", which caught Shade's attention.
"What do you know about this god?"
the pointy-eared professor asked.
“Only the name.”
"The Infinite Tree Father is a very special deity, and what makes him special is that he himself is also a world tree."
If Professor Garcia had said this before Shad deciphered the marks on the key, Shad's surprise at this moment might have been more sincere.
"You don't need to know about the World Tree for now. As for using the key, aim it at the keyhole of any door, turn it and push the door open, and you can go to a point in the past. For each key, you can know the corresponding time before opening it. The trick is to put the key under your pillow and fall asleep. The message left by the Father of Infinite Trees in the key will be displayed in your dream. We look for major events related to the Old Gods according to the age corresponding to the information, and use this to determine the level of the key."
"So which period of the Fifth Era does this one correspond to?"
Shade's fingers stroked the wood grain on the key's surface.
The Fourth Age of Chaos is too dangerous, and the keys of the first three ages are strictly prohibited to be used by ring sorcerers below the 9th ring, so this key can only be from the Fifth Age.
"Autumn of the 1068th year of the Fifth Era. The time point corresponding to each key must be related to the Old God. Therefore, the History Academy is proficient in the blasphemous element, because only the History Academy has the opportunity to safely obtain the silver blasphemous element without contacting the existing evil gods themselves."
Shad doesn't think time travel is a safe thing at all.
"We are time travelers and investigators. When you enter the past, you cannot bring any items with supernatural powers. Even if you want to bring them, they will fall before you step into the opened 'door'."
Professor Garcia looked at Shade, who shook his head hastily to indicate that he didn't have any now. Both the blood-sucking ring and the twenty-sided dice of fate were placed in the study.
“When we enter the past time point, there will be a lot of white fog in our field of vision. The ‘other me’ will also give him the time point and event information he obtained from the relic key of the fallen god.
The white fog will not dissipate during the entire investigation, and investigators can only move to a location without white fog to witness what happened. During this period, as long as you do not actively contact the past, no one will notice you. We are investigators, witnessing and recording things in the past, and bringing these things back to supplement the missing history before the era. "
"You mean to say that we are actually going to see a realistic ... opera?"
Shad gave an example.
“That’s a good metaphor.”
Professor Garcia finally smiled. Although this professor with pointy ears looked stern, he was a very nice person:
"There is a very small chance that the Fallen Infinite Tree Father will issue you some tasks, but the probability is negligible... So, Mr. Hamilton, let's get started now."
"Now?"
Xia De swallowed and looked at the bedroom door. Mia was probably tired, so the sound of her claws scratching the door hadn't been heard for a long time.
"Do you have anything else to prepare? Oh, don't worry. Each period of time that is opened will allow you to stay for a maximum of 3 hours. And when you return to the correct time, you will only appear 3 seconds after disappearing."
"I mean... isn't it too hasty, this kind of thing..."
Xia De thought that the instructor would give some systematic training, but he didn't expect it to be just such a simple introduction.
"A ring sorcerer must rely on himself. Of course, he must also rely on his 'other self', but he cannot rely on others. There is no need to take paper and pen to record. Any material you bring to the past will be restored to its original state when you return. Even if you really have the ability to interfere with the past, it will only be a small ripple in the long river of time. Don't underestimate time and the world."
"Very well then, Professor Garcia."
He stood up and walked to the bedroom door, letting the light from the brass gas lamp on the side wall shine on his head and shoulders.
I aligned the small key with the keyhole and unexpectedly it fit perfectly, but the two were obviously not a match.
“Remember, recite the mantra while turning it. You can recite it in any language—May the World Tree bless me in this time.
Mr. Hamilton, see you in three seconds. Please relax. The Academy has conducted a special investigation and found that nothing dangerous happened in the year 1068 of the Fifth Era. It is very safe. Please cherish your first time travel. It will be a memorable and interesting journey.
"Okay, see you in three seconds, Professor Garcia."
Feeling anxious, Xia De gently turned the wooden key in his hand and said:
"May the World Tree protect me in time."
There was a clicking sound, but it was obviously impossible for the lock on my bedroom door to make such a sound.
Xia De took a deep breath and finally opened the door.
But behind the door was not the tired orange cat Mia and the bedroom. Instead, silky white mist was slowly creeping behind the door frame, and behind the door was a foggy door covered with hazy white mist.
He swallowed, listened to Professor Garcia's encouragement again, and walked in bravely with the cat in his heart.