Okay, people, I am sorry that I wasn't clear.
Lecture Mode
When the Holy Roman Empire fell, many tribes of barbarians took over the land. Of these, the Goths took over what is now Germany. Their language, over the years, mixed with the lingering Latin and, in the 16th century, this was adopted as an official common language. Afterward, many different countries had contact with the language, and they were partially integrated into the spoken tongue. The modern language would be wildly different from that of the 1500s.
Ursula's POV
As Faust and I finished touring the upstairs rooms, we talked about a lot of things. I asked him about his family history, which in hindsight was a bad idea.
"Faust the Eighth? That's an odd name. You were named after other Fausts, right?" I said thoughtfully.
"Yes. Actually, the original Dr. Faust was famous, in an odd way. A man named Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote a poem about him. In it…he sold his soul." He kept walking as though nothing was wrong. I was stopped dead. His soul?
"Hmm?" he turned back to me.
"He sold his soul? To who? That's absurd! This Goethe guy must have made it up completely!" I tried to laugh it off.
"…No. It has been passed down through my family, a sort of victory tale. Dr. Faust was alive in the 16th century. He pursued knowledge above all else. This pursuit led to his discovery of the reality of a great power."
He started walking again. I ran a little to catch up to him, and couldn't keep my mouth shut. "What kind of power?"
"He told his sons only of a great power, nothing more. He died before he could explain to them fully what he meant. He did say…" he turned to me, with a smirk, "…He had found a magic who could keep the dead from leaving us."
"What?" I yelled. He'd lost it! What on earth was wrong?
The smirk was suddenly gone, and he turned away in a rush. He quickly disappeared downstairs.
I couldn't find him the rest of the day, so I went back to the only room we hadn't gotten to explore. My castle. I pushed open the door to a spacey library, facing my garden through a huge window in the entire wall. I climbed a ladder to a section of encyclopedias and pulled down 'F'.
I loved reading. My mother had taught me when I was four to recognize certain syllables, and that had lead to my reading before I was in school at all. I settled into a cozy chair and began searching.
Faust-(foust) , Faustus , or Johann Faust , fl. 16th cent., learned German doctor who traveled widely, performed magical feats, and died under mysterious circumstances. According to legend he had sold his soul to the devil (personified by Mephistopheles in many literary versions) in exchange for youth, knowledge, and magical power. Innumerable folk tales and invented stories were attached to his name. The first printed version is the Volksbuch (1587) of Johann Spiess, which, in English translation, was the basis of Christopher Marlowe's play Dr. Faustus (c.1588). Many versions followed, ranging from popular buffoonery to highly developed art forms. Spiess and Marlowe represent Faust as a scoundrel justly punished with eternal damnation, but Lessing instead saw in him the symbol of man's heroic striving for knowledge and power and therefore as worthy of praise and salvation.
Lessing's view of Faust as seeker was continued by Goethein one of the greatest dramatic poems ever written. He enlarged upon the old legend, adding the element of love and the saving power of woman and giving the story a philosophical treatment. Goethe first came to grips with the theme in 1774 (in what is called the Urfaust). The first part of Faust appeared in 1808; it is more suitable for the theater than the more profound and philosophic second part (1833).
I shut the book and looked out window when I heard a car approaching.
Faust's POV
Ursula and I discussed a multitude of topics as we toured the upper rooms. Suddenly, she asked me about my family.
"Faust the Eighth? That's an odd name. You were named after other Fausts, right?" I stiffened slightly, but managed to keep going.
"Yes. Actually, the original Dr. Faust was famous, in an odd way. A man named Johann Wolfgang von Goethe wrote a poem about him. In it…he sold his soul." I continued my pace, but heard Ursula's footsteps stop.
"Hmm?" I looked at her.
"He sold his soul? To who? That's absurd! This Goethe guy must have made it up completely!" she chuckled frantically.
"…No. It has been passed down through my family, a sort of victory tale. Dr. Faust was alive in the 16th century. He pursued knowledge above all else. This pursuit led to his discovery of the reality of a great power." I began walking once more.
"What kind of power?" she said, running up.
"He told his sons only of a great power, nothing more. He died before he could explain to them fully what he meant. He did say…" I looked at her, imagining the possibilities, "…He had found a magic who could keep the dead from leaving us."
"What?" she cried. What was I thinking? I couldn't show her this! I knew it wasn't possible; I must have had the worst look on my face…
I ran downstairs, and into my room. Oh, dear, this was bad…she must have thought I was some psycho, talking about bringing the dead back to life. My eyes strayed to the book of memoirs on my desk.
One of my relatives...Could it be that the first Faust had written his findings down on paper? I was unable to read the words, though…I would need to study the language first. I had no idea where to go for a dictionary, however. I was in trouble…
I suddenly felt tired, most probably a side effect of a rush of adrenaline that was now subsiding. I laid my head on the pillow and closed my eyes.
To Be Continued (still)…
Do you two like it? No one else is reviewing, just Morningstripe and Queenstheif Draconess Herselve…Well, if you've any other questions, feel free to ask! Review!
Oh, and I am sorry if I have mistakes, I don't have a beta reader. Do I need one?
