SZ-ROR06 (Jun 28, 2023)
Puzzle
“6/28/23, 1/31/20, and…”
Knowledge | 1 Word
Clue
Hover over the clues if you require!
Clue 1: When is the 28th of June, from the characters' perspective?
Clue 2: What does the receipt on the 31st of January, 2020 - LUX02 - talk about? Better yet, what does LUX- stand for, and what's the theme connecting the two receipts?
Clue 3: ROR07 contains what you're searching for, barely. It's quite well hidden; almost Secretly so, in fact.
Clue 4: 6/28/23 is the present; 1/31/30 talks about Lucifer dying. Where do those two words - the present, and dying - appear in ROR07?
Clue 5: Once you've found it, put the whole sentence together. Same pattern.
Answer and Explanation
Answer: Beyond
Explanation: un 28, 2023 is “now”. Jan 31, 2020 is “death” (in that case, of Lucifer). This brings to mind the three-part invocation of Secret - 'Now, in death, and beyond' - of which the last part is “beyond”. This pattern can be found, amongst other places, in ROR07 as the first word of each sentence in the last paragraph, after 'Sealed away, that life is now...'.
Summary of Receipt
The plan goes far better than expected. Rune was successfully stabbed with the dagger, her soul was replaced, and her memories of the past three years - while still fuzzy - have returned. And then Secret shows up. It directly invites Katherine to swear the Oath of Zilence and become Dingane of Zulu, but not as Randall Rune - as Katherine Wade, with her own memories, ambitions and soul. Alternatively, it will remove Katherine's knowledge of its secrets and allow her to live in peace. Katherine decides to swear the Oath, but to swear loyalty to the Shakas instead of Secret, which it accepts.
Transcript
Receipt: SZ-ROR06
Author: Twain
Status: Shaka Secret
Subject: Kings Cult
I… I really can't believe that worked? I mean, we almost died. Sure, but it certainly worked. I'm guessing one of the Miracles kept us safe through that whole ordeal. Capgras was able to strike Rune with the Soul-Replacing Poisoned Dagger, and it seemed to have replaced Rune's ambition-corrupted soul with a near copy of Katherine's original soul. Thankfully memories aren't stored in the soul (they're stored in the balls, I believe), and Rune—or, sorry, Katherine, or—eh, whatever. She kept her memories of the past 3 years; she was just a bit groggy from the replacement itself. But… uh… that's not all. Not sure what I'd be allowed to say about the rest, so… whoops, it looks like my CaDCom-Z was taking a transcript.
S.O.T
Secret: Well done. A soul replacement. How interesting.
Twain: Secret?!
Capgras: What are you— How are you?
Secret: I must finish what I started, Shaka.
Katherine: What… is…
Secret: I am giving you a choice. A second chance. Dingane is no more. As such, there is an opening. The secrets Dingane held, they are still deep within you. I feel them. I can remove them, though it will be unpleasant. Or… I can resurface them, at the cost of your eternal silence.
Katherine: …I… what… is…
Twain: Katherine, you don't have to do this.
Katherine: A-amber? Wha—
Secret: Let us speed this process up. Ws'pakawme zlrylavqu'evuzizkrkrae. Viwxev'usme Mze'elel'cia Ob'son'sr ab-ix animo.
Katherine: AGHHH!!!
Twain: Secret!
Secret: This process is not without some pain. She will be fine.
Katherine: Agh…
Capgras: Katherine, are you okay?
Katherine: …Yes. Secret… did something to… "refresh" my memory. I'm… I'm caught up. I know what I did. I know who I was. And—
Secret: And informed of your choice.
Katherine: Yes.
Secret: Answer.
Twain: Katherine, you don't have to—
Secret: This does not concern you, Shaka. Answer.
Katherine: Suppose I accept. Would I keep the secrets I already know?
Secret: You would become Dingane. All secrets, rights, and statuses transferred.
Katherine: Without his ambitions controlling me?
Secret: You would remain yourself.
Katherine: I want a better deal.
Secret: No.
Katherine: But my circumstances are unique.
Secret: Thus, my generous offer to remove the secrets from you. There is no better deal. Answer.
Katherine: I will take the oath IF I can choose who I am bound to.
Secret: Perhaps. Who would you rather be bound to if not me?
Katherine: Shaka. Both of them.
Secret: Acceptable. Now, in death, and beyond, with words unsaid, your lips are sealed by this invocation of the ancient and untold Secret. Welcome back, Dingane of Division Zulu.
E.O.T