The pavilion stretched before them like a hall lost in time. Wooden beams arched overhead, draped in cobwebs and glowing crystals that flickered with age. Shelves overflowed with relics—ancient jades, forgotten tools, old books, even weapons sealed in transparent boxes. Charles had never seen so much magical history packed into one place.
He had wandered section after section—one full of weapons, another of peculiar jewelry humming with faint magic—but nothing had truly caught his eye until now. He stood before a wall of scrolls and drawings, unrolled parchment glowing softly under enchanted light.
One sketch, in particular, called to him.
It was rough, jagged with rushed lines, but unlike the others, this one carried a strange familiarity. A four-legged creature with rounded ears, soft eyes, and a wide grin—it wasn't a beast or monster. It was something different.
"Diana," he called.
His sister turned from where she was browsing relics in the herbology section, raising an eyebrow as she joined him. "Found something?"
"What is this?" he asked, pointing at the drawing.
Diana glanced at it and crossed her arms. "That? Oh, it's one of the rare creature sketches. Every family has their own hidden treasures, and drawings are highly valued because they can be used in carnation. That one was passed down from our great-grandfather—an animal he supposedly encountered during a realm expedition. No one's been able to name it."
"Wait, you can gain carnation points from drawings?"
"Of course," she said with a light smile. "Most drawings here can grant one hundred to three hundred points. A handful, like this one, might grant five hundred if you're lucky."
Charles's eyes widened. "And more than five hundred?"
"Only the King has access to those kinds of drawings," Diana replied. "No one else is allowed to distribute them."
"Why not share them with others? Wouldn't that help people level up faster?"
She gave him a sideways look. "Did you also hit your head and lose your common sense?"
He blinked. "What?"
Diana sighed. "The more people learn a drawing, the lower its carnation value. First-tier drawings allow ten people before their point value drops. Second-tier can handle fifty, third one hundred, fourth can be known by everyone, and fifth-tier... well, that's about turning living things into non-living ones."
"Wait, you can reverse carnation?" Charles asked.
She nodded. "Rarely, and it's quite rare ."
Charles turned back to the scrolls, flipping through dozens with wide eyes. They were magical and strange, but none of them matched what he was truly looking for—until he realized something. Not a single drawing showed creatures from his own world. No dogs. No cats. No elephants. Nothing.
A slow smile crept across his face.
"What are you grinning about?" Diana asked suspiciously.
"Have you learned all the drawings in this place?"
She straightened, nodding proudly. "Of course. I've studied every sketch here since I was ten."
Charles's eyes sparkled. "Then, dear sister, I might just have a way to bring our family's glory back."
Diana stared at him, confused. "Glory?"
"Yes. The… what do you call it here?"
"Status?"
"Exactly!"
"What are you planning?"
"Alright," he said, taking a breath. "Just pretend I'm not crazy, okay?"
Diana folded her arms. "I'll try."
"I've seen hundreds of creatures in my life—real, living things—but none of them are in this collection," Charles said, stepping toward her. "I think… I think if we can draw one accurately and you carnate it, it'll be a brand-new creature. It might grant massive points!"
Diana tilted her head. "And how exactly have you seen all these 'unknown' creatures?"
Charles hesitated. "Just… trust me, okay? I'll explain later. For now, come to my room tonight. I'll prove it."
He didn't expect her to agree. Truthfully, he wouldn't blame her for walking away. But when he turned back, she was nodding.
That evening, the two sat cross-legged on the floor of Charles's room. Candles flickered against the walls, casting soft shadows as Diana held a brush to paper, and Charles described every detail he could remember.
"It's called a dog," he said. "Fur-covered, friendly. It walks on four legs. Its ears can be upright or floppy. It wags its tail when happy, and it barks—a sharp, repetitive sound. Some breeds are small like a pillow, others are big enough to tackle someone. They're loyal and they love humans unconditionally."
Diana worked in silence, her strokes fluid and confident. Charles watched with growing awe. He knew she was smart, but seeing her bring an Earth creature to life with such precision—it stirred something in him. Hope, maybe.
"You're amazing at this," he said softly.
She smirked. "Well, at least one of us inherited talent."
When she finished, the drawing glowed faintly. A low thrum vibrated through the paper.
"That's a good sign," Diana said. "It's ready."
"Do you want to try carnating it now?" Charles asked.
"Not on myself," she replied. "Let's go to the forest tomorrow and test it on something safe."
Charles raised an eyebrow. "Like a real forest?"
"Yes," she said. "It's nearby and full of beasts. Don't worry—they're low-level and already discovered. Beasts are just the start. Real realms have far more advanced creatures."
"Realms?"
"There are worlds selected during the school's realm competitions," she explained. "Students who reach high enough levels get to explore them—and discover entirely new creatures, artifacts, and history."
Charles felt a surge of determination.
Tomorrow, they'd test something that had never existed in this world. And maybe—just maybe—it would change everything.