Chapter Seven
Today's journey through Nork Cave had been a lot of fun. Anna loved exploring caves and this one was no exception. She admitted to wanting to hurry to up with the search and wished she had been more careful. Crystal Hall itself was breathtaking to see.
They were able to find the notes, only for them to be in code. It was a good thing Ed and his children were knowledgeable in alchemy. If she were to find them on her own, she wouldn't be able to solve it.
After their trip to the cave, they headed back to Alley City and asked directions to the villa. One man told them it was closed for today but it should be open tomorrow morning. He wrote the directions on a piece of paper and gave it to Daria. They were able to find a bookstore, though, and Ed bought a few books for his research. They were done for the night.
She and everyone else were staying in the same hotel. She had left her own room to go visit Ed with the intention of finding out if he already started deciphering the documents. While there, she would also ask Winry if she had any perfume. Anna knocked on the door and waited until Winry to open it. She greeted her with a smile.
"Oh hi, Anna!"
"Hello, Winry. May I come inside a minute?"
"Sure you can."
Winry stepped aside so that Anna could enter the room. Moving further, she spotted Ed next to a desk jotting down some notes. The children stood behind, watching their father work. Some books were piled up on his right. His eyebrows furrowed as he studied the journal in front of him.
"Ed, Anna is here," Winry said to him.
Ed froze his pen and looked up to see Anna. "What brings you here, Anna?" he asked.
"I was wondering if you would be interested in some books on alchemy being used in architecture."
A flabbergasted look crossed Ed's features. "Why is that?"
Anna held herself from smirking. It was amusing to see him caught off guard like that.
"You were quite amazed at Ettero Gatti's castle when we went there yesterday and I thought you might like to know more similar archeological finds."
"Oh." He cleared his throat. "Well, that's very generous of you, but it's all right."
Most likely Ed didn't accept her offer because he was still suspicious of her. She should've known he wasn't going to fall for that. No problem, it wasn't necessary.
"If you don't want them, then that's fine." Pausing, Anna took a quick glimpse at the journal and books. "I see you already begun work on decoding it."
"Yeah. Haven't gotten much done yet, but it's a start. Tomorrow's visit to the villa should help me in decoding the notes."
"Our dad will be able to solve it no time!" Esther said in great confidence.
Anna laughed. "I'm sure he will."
Ed smiled a little and looked back at Ettero's notes. A second later, his eyes flew wide.
"There's something I'm suddenly curious about," he said. "You have any idea why Ettero had his notes into a romance story?"
"His brother was a novelist under a pen name, so I think that's why."
"Huh, interesting."
Having done talking with Ed, Anna faked a yawn. "Well, I'll be leaving you to get back decoding those notes. " She then faced Winry. "Oh, Winry! Before I go, you have any perfume I can borrow? I used all of mine up today and I don't really want to go to different shops this late at night."
Winry looked confused by that request but smiled right after. "Sure! Hold on a moment."
Anna waited as Winry went to the bathroom and then came back with a small bottle of perfume. She gave it to her.
"I really appreciate it, thank you." Looking at everyone, she said, "Have a good rest, everyone."
Ed and his family said goodnight to her before she left the room.
She would have to wait until he solved the code to snatch the journal from him. Just a while longer.
xxx
The next morning Ed and everyone else left the hotel to go to the villa, just north of the city. It wasn't too long a walk, and once they arrived, he stood gazing in astonishment.
In front of the villa was a large garden with a non-working fountain at the center. The building had five bay loggias and there were several windows spread throughout. The group stepped inside the entrance hall and they were greeted with lavish paintings. Ed spotted one that featured a lady and a gentleman dancing in the rain together and another of someone surrounded with several animals.
"The paintings are magnificent, aren't they? That one is called Last Dance and the other one is Nature and Man," Daria said as she pointed to the paintings. "One of the previous owners hired several artists to paint in frescos."
"So this is the villa the academy visited often," Ed said. He imagined the building to be slightly less extravagant. "I wouldn't mind living here."
"I didn't know you have good taste, Ed," Winry said and offered him a teasing smile. "You're usually into something ridiculous like skulls and spikes."
"That was many years ago," Ed murmured and pressed his lips in protest. " I've changed."
Winry responded with a snicker.
"One of the academy members bought this as a summer residence," Anna said this time. "This was the academy's meeting place until the group had dissolved. Many years later it was recognized as a historic site."
Ed stopped gazing at the paintings when he heard footsteps nearby. He turned to see an older looking man heading towards them. Everyone else noticed him coming also.
"Hello, I'm Julius and I'm in charge of the visits here," he said when he approached them. "How may I help you?"
"We were wondering if you can show us where the Academy of the Falcon's notes are," Ed said.
The smile on Julius's face grew wider. "Ah. I take it you're an alchemist?"
"I am," he said immediately and smirked. Granted he couldn't use alchemy anymore, but he still studied it. "I want to learn more about Aerugian alchemy and thought their notes would be useful."
"My brother and I are alchemists, too!" Esther said and threw a grin at Julius.
Julius nodded. "You can find them in the library room. Follow me."
Everyone followed Julius up the stairs to the next floor and into a large room. The walls had also been painted like in the entrance hall and there were several shelves that were filled with books. A long table stretched out in the middle of the room. The main window had a beautiful view of the garden in the front.
"This is the room the members use if they want to study alchemy alone or collaborate together. They also store their works here."
Esther looked around the room in great interest, her mouth left open wide. "There's lots of book in here."
"Are you an alchemist also?" Henry asked Julius as he fixed his gaze up towards him.
"Indeed I am," Julius said and grinned. "I researched the Academy of the Falcon for a while now."
Ed flinched. It made perfect sense for an alchemist to oversee this villa. That meant Julius was already aware of the notes being disguised to prevent public viewing.
"Then you probably decoded some or all of their notes in here," he said.
"There are some I managed to decode, yes. I'll show you one of them."
Everyone watched when Julius headed to one of the shelves, grabbed a book, and went back to them. He stood next to Ed and handed him the book. Flipping through the pages, Ed skimmed some of the writing and recognized many of the alchemical elements used in the notes.
It occurred to Ed that Julius could help him with Ettero's notes. However, that would mean staying Aerugo longer and he was certain Winry and the kids wouldn't like that at all. It would also be weird to ask a stranger for help something as big as deciphering documents.
"These notes are supposed to be alchemy experiments concerning copper," Julius said, "and they were able to transmute several items from that element. Another one of their notes has some interesting researches concerning lightning alchemy. "
Ed hummed in acknowledgement and looked through the notes a while longer. It would be great if he could take some of the materials from the library with him back home, but he doubt Julius allowed that. He could have a look at them, at least.
"Is it all right if I check the notes out for a bit? I won't take too long."
Scratching the back of his head, Julius took a moment to consider. "You did say you want to know more about Aerugian alchemy. All right, you can look at the notes, but be careful with them. If you need any help, I'll be in my office two rooms down." He quickly headed out the room, leaving everyone alone.
"You didn't tell him about Ettero's notes?" Anna asked, looking at him in confusion. "He might help us solve them."
"I thought about that, but I don't want to bother him with it." He smiled. "Besides, my family and I need to get back to Amestris soon."
"You want us to leave you alone while you read through the notes?" Winry asked.
"I want to help!" Henry said in an eager tone.
"Me too!" Esther said right after, sounding just as willing.
"Are you sure you guys want to?" Ed asked.
Both siblings nodded without hesitation. They were capable of reading advanced alchemy literature and all he needed were some hints as to what Ettero could be researching, so no need for them trying to decipher codes. He also trusted them to not mess the room around.
"Okay, the both of you can stay."
The pair shouted in glee and high fived one another.
"We can wait outside while they work," Daria said.
Winry nodded in agreement. Looking back at Ed, Esther, and Henry, she said to them, "You three better come outside when it's time for lunch."
"We will, Mom!" After saying that, Henry beamed at her.
Winry and Jane left the room together first while Daria and Anna followed them behind. Once everyone was gone, Ed turned to face Henry and Esther.
"Right then. We should get started." Ed took a moment to glimpse around the room. "Esther, you go check the books at the right while Henry looks through the ones on the left."
"Okay!" Esther and Henry said in unison before they dashed off in opposite directions.
They didn't have much time, so all of them had to work through as much material as possible before they need to leave.
Ed didn't bring Ettero's documents with him to the villa, but he still remembered the alchemy references that popped up. Not surprisingly, several of them had been mentioned in the notes archived here also.
Each time Ed found something that could relate to Ettero's research he wrote it down on his journal. Often, Henry and Esther showed him anything they caught and he would make a note of it. Anything they could find helps.
He sat next to the table studying another set of the academy's notes. His children were reading too, sitting across from him. Ed tore his eyes from the page when he noticed Julius stepping inside the room.
"I came by to see if everything's all right," he said.
"We're fine here," Ed said, smiling.
Julius looked back and forth. "You had more people with you before. I take it they left?"
"Everyone else is waiting outside while we help Dad with his research," Henry said.
Julius chuckled. Facing Ed, he said, "Your children are very bright, then."
"I taught them everything I know about alchemy."
"I can see. Have you found anything interesting?"
"A few things, yes. It's cool that they had done so many different researches." Ed made a quick glance at what he wrote down so far. "You have anything on antimony?"
"Yes. Hold on one minute."
Ed looked over his shoulder to see Julius headed to one of the shelves. He had his finger scanned through the books until he found one and pulled it out. Julius then walked back to Ed and handed him the book.
"Thank you," Ed said. He opened the book and studied the pages carefully. These notes seemed to be written as a travel log.
"Are you all from Amestris or Creta?" Julius asked after a short silence from everyone.
Upon hearing that question, Ed looked up at him. "We're from Amestris, yeah."
"Many of the alchemists that visited here are from either of those countries. Like you, usually they want to see the notes as it would benefit their research. It's always nice to see the ones outside of Aerugo have an interest in this academy group."
Ed had his elbow rested on the table and hand on his chin as he listened to Julius. It was common for alchemists to travel around different countries to gain more knowledge on alchemy. He, his brother, and Hohenheim had done that. He could see why alchemists wanted to come to this villa. He was pulled away from his thoughts when Henry tugged on his sleeve.
"This looks like a drawing of a gemstone," he said while giving Ed the notes.
There was indeed a simple drawing of a turquoise. Ed read a paragraph of the writing, which described a girl asking a bird where to find that particular gemstone. This one seemed to be an adventure story.
"Oh that one two alchemists, Ettero Gatti and Augustus de Rege, collaborated on transmuting different things into gemstones. There were some interesting results."
Ed's eyes grew wide. "Did you say Ettero Gatti?"
"Yes I did. Is he of great interest to you?"
Ed hesitant to speak at first, but then he thought of a response. "Sort of. My father had studied about him long ago." Technically it was true. Hohenheim did learn about Ettero during his travels at Aerugo.
"Mom's going to be mad if we don't leave soon," Esther suddenly said.
Glancing at his watch, Ed saw that it was close to lunchtime. He did promise Winry they would be back by then. He rose from his seat and began to pick up the books, Henry and Esther doing the same.
"We really appreciate you letting us stay here for a while," Ed said when he reached to Julius. He had the books against his chest.
"It's my pleasure," Julius said. "Come visit again when you have a chance." He extended his hand and Ed shook it. Right after, Julius stepped out of the room.
"We should put these books back and then we can go," Ed said as he looked at Esther and Henry. Both of his children nodded in agreement.
The mention of gemstone should be a huge clue as to what Ettero had researched. It was likely he was able to make something valuable and didn't want anyone else to know. Ed needed to examine more of his notes to be absolutely sure but figured out a direction he could follow up on.