Chapter 145: The Speech Anchor

Rhovan translated the question.

The clerk shook her head and gave a lengthy explanation while pointing toward an illustration on the screen.

According to Rhovan, Tongue Scripts were Made Special Wroughts that interacted with something called the Speech Anchor. Their purpose was to establish a prepared language within the bearer, allowing them to understand, speak, read, and write that language without undergoing years of conventional study.

The Script wouldn’t increase his Authority, change his Sign, or provide any additional Astral abilities.

"Then what happens if I want another language later?"

"You can learn as many languages as you want normally. However, you can only possess one artificially Anchored Tongue at a time," Rhovan explained. "If you want to replace it with another House language, you’ll need to undergo a proper Unbinding procedure first."

Marek nodded.

He then remembered something else.

"What about Prime Language? Do we need to purchase another Script for that?"

"No. Modern House Tongue Scripts already contain Prime as their underlying language frame. Once your Thesarin Script has been successfully installed, you’ll gain functional Prime Language as well."

That was considerably more convenient than he had expected.

Marek completed the consent form, and the clerk proceeded with the commission.

The others went through the same process, with Rhovan assisting whenever someone encountered a question they couldn’t understand. Kellan took longer than everyone else because he kept asking whether the Script could teach him several languages simultaneously.

By the time the clerk finished explaining the restriction for the third time, even Dario had started laughing at him.

Their Scripts weren’t immediately available because each one needed to be prepared for its intended bearer.

Rhovan arranged the payment using his account, then received seven collection notices indicating when their orders would be ready.

Eren quickly asked to examine the receipt.

Marek was beginning to think that Eren might have found his true calling in the Prime Continuum.

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They spent the next hour exploring the surrounding district while waiting for their Scripts.

Marek noticed several bookstores, small restaurants, and shops selling ordinary household items. There were also establishments offering professional services, including legal consultation, medical screening, financial assistance, and various forms of education.

Some businesses displayed multiple House emblems beside their names.

One particular bookstore caught Marek’s attention because its entrance featured an enormous image of what appeared to be an ancient Meridian Road. Several books were arranged beneath it, accompanied by illustrations of structures resembling the ones he had seen during their journey from Earth.

He stopped outside the window.

Rhovan noticed his interest. "Want to purchase some books?"

"What’s the point? I can’t read them yet."

"You will soon."

Marek considered that.

Perhaps he could return after receiving his Tongue Script. He had always enjoyed reading, especially when the subject involved something he didn’t fully understand, and he imagined the Prime Continuum possessed an extraordinary amount of literature concerning Astral Marks, Routes, and the history of the Twelve Houses.

There might even be published research concerning Ophiuchus.

That particular thought interested him more than anything else.

However, he decided against purchasing anything until he understood what the books actually contained.

They returned to the registry shortly afterward and collected their completed Scripts.

Each was stored inside a small sealed case bearing the emblem of Libra, accompanied by the registered name of its intended recipient.

Marek examined his own case.

He could see a thin, pale strip resting inside it, covered in exceedingly fine lines that resembled written characters. A narrow silver pattern surrounded its edges, while another set of markings occupied its center.

He was surprised by how ordinary it looked.

After everything Rhovan had told him, he had expected something considerably more impressive.

"That’s it?" he muttered.

Rhovan leaned closer. "What were you expecting?"

"I don’t know. Something that looks like it could actually install an entire language."

"Should I ask them to make it bigger so you can appreciate its greatness?"

"No, thanks."

Rhovan laughed before reminding everyone not to open their cases until they arrived at the Clearroot Binding House.

It was actually a clinic located several streets away from the registry, inside another large building bearing Virgo’s emblem.

Unlike the registry, the place resembled an ordinary medical facility.

There were several reception counters, waiting areas, examination rooms, and people wearing uniforms that Marek immediately associated with healthcare workers. The interior also contained numerous plants arranged along the corridors, while large windows allowed natural light to illuminate most of the public areas.

The familiarity made Marek considerably more comfortable.

He had worked in a medical laboratory in their university before everything happened on Earth, so he understood the importance of proper screening whenever an unfamiliar procedure was involved.

Rhovan approached the reception desk and presented their collection notices.

The receptionist examined the documents, verified their appointment, and directed them toward a waiting area near the examination rooms.

Marek watched several patients enter and leave the rooms while they waited. Most emerged without showing any visible discomfort, which he found reassuring.

Eventually, their names were called.

Dario went first.

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When Dario returned from the examination room, he was holding a small document that he appeared to be reading.

Marek noticed something unusual. "Wait. You can read that?"

Dario raised the document and grinned. "Yeah! I can actually understand everything written here."

He then began reading several lines aloud.

But no one amongst them could understand a single word.

"Show-off," Kellan muttered.

Dario continued reading anyway, clearly enjoying the fact that he could finally understand something the others couldn’t.

Rhovan explained that the installation had been successful and that Dario was now fluent in Thesarin, with Prime Language included through the Script’s underlying frame.

The clinic still needed to complete several routine checks before releasing him, but the procedure itself had gone smoothly.

Nadia went next, followed by Rafe.

Both returned with similar results, though Nadia immediately began asking Dario questions in Thesarin simply because she knew Kellan couldn’t understand their conversation.

"Stop doing that!" Kellan complained when she started laughing.

Nadia answered him in another language.

Kellan’s expression became even worse.

Silas, who had been reading one of the clinic’s translated information sheets, eventually grew tired of their argument and told them to stop disturbing the other patients.

That left Kellan sulking until his own name was called.

Marek found the entire situation quite entertaining. At least everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves.

Eren completed his installation shortly afterward, leaving Marek as the final person waiting for his procedure.

When his name was eventually called, he retrieved his sealed case and followed Rhovan into the examination room.

A Virgo healer greeted them before requesting his First Entry Writ and collection notice. After confirming his identity, she asked him several questions concerning his medical history and whether he had previously received any Tongue Scripts.

Rhovan translated everything.

Marek answered that this would be his first installation.

The healer then examined his mouth and throat using a small medical instrument before conducting another examination involving his Speech Anchor.

Marek couldn’t directly perceive what she was doing, but a faint sensation passed through his jaw whenever the instrument approached the underside of his tongue.

He found that quite interesting.

"Is everything normal?" he asked.

The healer answered before Rhovan could finish translating his question.

"She says your Speech Anchor is suitable for installation. There are no signs of an existing Wrought Anchored Tongue, so we can proceed."

Marek nodded and settled into the examination chair.

The healer opened his sealed case and carefully removed the thin Memory Reed wafer.

Up close, he could finally appreciate its construction.

Several lines of silver-colored writing covered the surface, accompanied by markings so small that he couldn’t distinguish their individual shapes. The material appeared exceedingly delicate, yet it retained its form without any visible support.

The healer explained the procedure once more through Rhovan.

She would place the Script beneath his tongue, after which Marek would speak the First Phrase written on its case. The Bearer Key would then recognize him and release the prepared language into his Speech Anchor.

He wasn’t supposed to chew or swallow the wafer.

That last instruction made him slightly uncomfortable. "Will I feel anything when it dissolves?"

Rhovan translated his question.

The healer answered that he might experience warmth beneath his tongue, followed by a brief sensation involving numerous overlapping voices. Those sensations were normal during integration and should disappear once the language had settled.

Marek considered asking several more questions, but eventually decided that the explanations he had already received were sufficient.

He opened his mouth.

The healer carefully placed the wafer beneath his tongue.

It felt surprisingly cool.

Marek closed his mouth and waited as instructed. A faint taste gradually spread across his tongue, reminding him of something metallic, though he couldn’t identify its exact source.

The healer then pointed toward the First Phrase written on his case.

Rhovan translated it into Earth Language. "I accept this language of my own choosing."

Marek repeated the sentence.

For several seconds, nothing happened.

Then, he felt the wafer soften.

A strange warmth spread beneath his tongue, accompanied by a faint sensation near his jaw. The material gradually became thinner until he could barely distinguish it from the moisture inside his mouth.

Something else began happening at the same time.

He heard voices.