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- Are you done? - I asked, as soon as I was in Hex's room, where Hope, with Gwen's help, was preparing her potion.

- Nearly. The last ingredient left. - Hope said as she tossed gold dust of unknown origin into the boiling cauldron.

Once in a boiling mess with incomprehensible contents, the pollen caused a violent reaction, which ended in a small explosion, and the contents of the cauldron changed its appearance from green slurry to clear water, which you wouldn't even think of as some kind of alchemical masterpiece.

- Now it's ready. We can start translating. - Hope said contentedly as she pulled three completely black pages from her magical purse, with blood-red text written on them in an unknown language.

- Where did you find these pages? They look pretty creepy. - Gwen asked, commenting on the torn pages.

- I found them in one of the ancient books that my uncle managed to take from Legerdomain's Royal Library before he fled to Earth. - Hope replied.

- Can I see it? - I asked, feeling something familiar from these pages.

- Certainly. - Hope said with a smile. handing me the pages, and then asked: - Do you feel it too? Something dark, but elusive, trying to hide, but at the same time penetrate the mind. Similar to…

- To the shadow. Yes, I feel it. - I replied, feeling exactly what Hope described.

Although, I also knew that I had felt like this before, and more recently, from a specific person and a specific object, but much stronger....

- What are you speaking about? I don't feel anything like that. For me, it's just old and ugly pages. - Gwen shared, overhearing our conversation with Hope.

- Hmm... Maybe you're just not as sensitive to things like Lex and me, because you still haven't fully revealed your gift and potential. - Hope suggested.

- I think you're just not used to your magical powers and still can't sense things invisible to ordinary senses. Gwen, just be patient and soon you will be able to learn it. Moreover, you have a teacher. - I said from my own experience.

- Since you say so. - Gwen replied, clearly annoyed that she couldn't do what Hope and I could.

- Do you know where those pages might have come from? Or how did they get into that book? ,- I turned to Hope, continuing to scan the pages and already understanding where I felt like this.

- Not. It seems to me that my uncle did not even know that these pages were in the book, since he hardly opened it, given that the History of Legerdomain was described there, which interested him little. So, it remains unknown who put the pages in the book and why. It is possible that they have been in it for several centuries. - Hope said.

- Hmm… - I uttered, thinking over the girl's words.

- Do you know something? - Gwen asked when she saw my thoughtful face.

- I can guess what race these pages are associated with. Look, Hope, that's exactly what I wanted to ask you to investigate. Do you feel? - I said as I took out the Ubramant Diadem and showed it to Hope.

- The same feeling. Only stronger. - Hope answered, picking up the diadem.

- So it didn't seem to me. These pages have some connection with the Umbramants. What if… - I said, and then I decided to bring my idea to life.

As soon as I turned into Cloak, the pages and diadem reacted violently as they sensed Umbramant nearby. Deep black smoke billowed from both the diadem and the pages, more like animated shadows that were reaching out to me, as if they wanted to be as close as possible to me.

- Try to read the pages, maybe you can do it. - Hope suggested, stepping away from me and dropping the diadem on the floor, since it was impossible to hold it properly.

Following Hope's advice, I looked at the pages and noticed that the text on them had changed, the symbols written in blood had moved, as if the previous text was just a trick, and now the real contents of these pages appeared, which, to my deepest regret, I could not understand. Although the Omnitrix provides a universal translator function, this does not mean that I can read in an unfamiliar language. It's a pity.

- Does not work. The text has changed, but I still can't understand its meaning. - I said.

- Hmm… I think there was a concealment spell on the pages that you broke by turning into this alien. Luckily you have it. Hope said.

- Yes, good luck. - with a smirk on my shadowy face, I said, noticing the irony. Still, my best acquisition was the Charm of Luck. No Omnitrix, can not be compared with the ability to bend luck as your own ... I will do without being rude.

- Try wearing a diadem. Maybe that will work. - Gwen suggested a good idea.

Silently pulling the diadem towards me with my telekinesis, I tried to put the Umbramant headdress on my head, but I couldn't. Before the diadem touched my shadowy hair, the stream of black smoke coming out of the jewelry increased dramatically and the diadem just flew out of my hands, clearly resisting such a possibility.

- Looks like she's against it. - Gwen pointed out the obvious as she watched the diadem land on the floor ten meters away from me.

- I don't understand anything. - Hope said with a frown.

- Maybe the answer is in these pages? No wonder they reacted that way. Will your potion be able to translate text from them? - I asked, returning to human form.

- Yes I'm sure. I made it because the translation spell I used earlier couldn't handle the pages and I needed something more powerful. Although, I may have been thwarted by the magical protection you removed. But, in any case, it is better to use a potion, it is more effective. Now, I even wonder what is hidden in these pages. - Hope said.

- Should I just throw the pages into the cauldron? - I asked, pointing to the pages that I still held in my hand and from which black smoke ceased to fall as soon as I became a human.

- Yes. They should soak in it for several days, after which the text will change into a language that is understandable to us. - Hope said.

- So long? - Gwen asked indignantly, who now also wanted to solve the riddle of pages and diadem.

- Efficiency comes at the price of time. - Hope said with a shrug, and then added: - But, this is a 100% translation method, without any errors.

- Can you give me the recipe for this potion later? - I asked, thinking that I might need a way to translate an unknown language.

- Certainly. - Hope said with a smile as she watched me drop all three pages into a cauldron of clear liquid after her reply.

- Is it supposed to be like that? - Gwen asked as she saw the contents of the cauldron turn black, bubbling intensely.

- Yes. When the liquid becomes clear again, the translation is ready. - Ashley said as she put the lid on the cauldron.

- Now, all we have to do is wait. - I said.

- Then, I'll examine those artifacts of yours and the diadem for now. - Hope said, holding up the diadem.

- Here you are. - I said, handing over the two artifacts that I had borrowed forever from the Forever Knights.

- What is it? - Gwen asked as she watched me hand Hope a piece of cloth that for some reason had the hardness of a diamond and a golden orb encrusted with purple crystals.

- That's the thing, I don't know. That's why I need help. - I said honestly.

- Don't worry, I'll find out their purpose. - Hope promised.

- Come on tomorrow. It's late and it's time for us to sleep. Grandpa won't like it if we don't get enough sleep. - I said, noticing that it was almost 1 am.

- All right, whatever you say. - Hope said a little displeasedly, but at the same time she clearly liked my concern.

Leaving the cauldron in place, we went down to the second floor and dispersed to our rooms. At the same time, Gwen made sure that Hope and I went into different rooms until the very end.

As soon as I climbed into my bed, I immediately fell into a sweet dream. Too many impressions for one day.

***

July 21, 2010.

*knock-knock**knock-knock*

- Mmm… Who's there? - I asked sleepily, hearing a knock on the door, trying hard to open my eyes.

- It's me. Wake up Lex. We urgently need to get on the road. - I heard Max's serious voice.

- Something happened? - I asked, still trying to drive away the remnants of sleep.

- I was contacted by an old friend who served with me in the Plumbers. Someone attacked his village and he asked for my help. - Max said quickly.

- Okay, I'll be right there. Give me five minutes to get ready. - I said. Looks like it's time to meet the Kai of this world.

- OK. I'll wake up the girls then. - Max said in the end and went to another room.

- He left? - Hope asked, crawling out from under the covers.

- Yes, you don't have to worry, he didn't understand that I wasn't alone. - I said with a smile to a naked girl who crept into my room at night and with whom we did various very indecent things.

- Wuuhh… It's good. It would be most embarrassing if he caught us naked. - Hope said with relief, not covering her nakedness.

- If you didn't want it, then you shouldn't have sneaked up on me. - I said with a smirk, hugging the girl.

- As if you were against my coming. Pounced on me like a hungry animal and tortured me for several hours, not letting me sleep. - Hope complained, punching me in the ribs.

- Heh… Okay, let's get ready, we still need to take a shower. - I said, getting out of bed and ignoring Hope's words.

- Wait for me. We can take a shower together. I don't think Mr. Tennyson would be angry if you were fifteen minutes late. - Hope said jumping out of bed, flashing her bare booty.

- Thirty minutes. - I said, admiring the view on my way to the shower.

***

- Are you sure you don't want to come with us? - Grandpa asked Hope as we packed up and prepared to leave.

- No, Mr. Tennyson. I still have things to do at the Castle. - Hope said with a smile, stroking Nebula, who had just woken up from familiar ritual.

- As you know. But, know, this offer remains in force. You can join our journey at any time. - Max said with a friendly smile.

- Thanks you Mr Tennyson. I'm very pleased. I will gladly join you in the future. - Hope said happily.

- You can just call me Grandpa. - Max said sincerely.

- I… - Hope said after a little hesitation, looking at me. But seeing my nod of encouragement, Hope smiled and said to Max: - Okay, Grandpa.

- Well, that's good. - Grandpa said with a smile, heading to the driver's seat.

- Thanks for the books. - Gwen thanked her, mentioning the two dozen books on magic that Hope had given her for general development, and then went to take her seat on the bus.

- I'm sorry she's acting like this. - Ashley said awkwardly.

- Nothing, I understand everything. - Hope said sincerely.

- I enjoyed spending time with you. I hope we can get to know each other better. Bye. - Ashley said goodbye, also entering the bus.

- I will visit you in a few days. - I said, kissing Hope on the lips, under the gaze of Gwen and Ashley.

- I'll miss. - Hope said, kissing back and handing me Nebula, who didn't resist Hope's caresses. Apparently, my fastidious tigress liked Hope.

- I also. Love you. - I finally said as I got on the bus.

- I love you too. - Hope said with a little wave goodbye before walking back to the castle.

- So where are we going? - Ashley asked as I closed the RV door.

- We need to go to the Navajo Indian Reservation in New Mexico. After retiring, Wes became the head of his native village, located in the desert. Well, according to Wes, they were attacked by a werewolf from Navajo legend. - Max said.

- Werewolf? - Gwen asked doubtfully.

- I know how it sounds, but Wes is sure that this werewolf wants to destroy their village, so he asked me for help. I don't think the werewolf fight will stand out too much compared to our usual adventures. - Grandpa said.

- If the situation is so dangerous, then why don't I move us to New Mexico right away? - I suggested, realizing that we seemed to be late for Loboan's first appearance.

- Yes, I think it would be best if we get there as quickly as possible. - Max thought for a moment.

- Okay, then hold on. - I said and enveloped the entire RV in a magical sphere, after which I activated the Infinity Tattoo, moving us to the place where grandfather indicated.

The scenery outside the window changed to the desert of red stone, familiar to Arizona, next to which we found ourselves.

Before Grandpa could start the bus and head towards the Navajo village that was visible on the horizon, Ashley exclaimed, pointing to the sky:

- Look. Familiar airship.

- Looks like the Saturday's have arrived here as well. Apparently, they found out about the werewolf. - Gwen said, immediately recognizing the orange airship belonging to the Saturday Family.

& Well, I think a werewolf is just right for their specialty. - I said, glad that I had the chance to give Zak the Hand of Tzul 'Kal so quickly.

- Then let's go meet them. - Max said as he drove us to the Navajo village.