Discovery of the Century
Primary Research Notes
Starswirl "The Bearded"
Head Researcher at the Equestrian Academy and Princess Celestia's Personal Student
On this day, three months after the defeat of Sombra and the disappearance of the Crystal Empire, I have made a groundbreaking discovery into my study of magic. As such I found it necessary to formalize my notes and findings up to this point for analysis of my discovery.
Magic, as it pertains to most ponies comes in three forms. For Earth Ponies, magic is transferred from themselves into their fields to grow crops like no other race is capable. For Pagasi, magic is imbued within them, allowing them to shape and mold clouds like clay. Unicorns are able to harness magic to preform a myriad of tasks, from a simple levitation spell to a transmutation of metals. It should also be noted that the magical abilities of most unicorns is limited to their talent. Only a select few unicorns whose talent IS magic, such as myself, are capable of preforming complex spells outside their field.
This brings me to my discovery. I believe that I have found a new type of magic, spoken magic. What I believe I have found is an incantation which, when spoken, should make magic happen. This spoken magic, in theory, should be doable by all unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies alike. It may even be that this spoken magic can be done by other races such as minotaurs or gryphons. However I have not had any interaction with other races outside of combat, so this point is merely speculative.
I arrived at my discovery continuing the research I did at the Crystal Academy on the nature of magic. (Side note: The Crystal Empire sure has a thing for naming things The Crystal _______) During my studies at the Crystal Academy I discovered a mysterious resonate frequency of magical energy. Luckily for my research I was able to "acquire" enough equipment from the Crystal Academy before Sombra's uprising, otherwise my research would have been put on permanent hiatus. Without droning on about the technical details of how I found it, this frequency could be mapped to form a sound wave. This wave seemed to be a chant, or speech spoken in an unknown language. Written phonetically the chant is:
Dee Slen Ak Kronen
Kronen Ak Slen
Mah Deend Es Slend Nahkneed
Krunten Nahd Okdee Ukneed
An interesting note about this is that after I discovered the original sounding out of the chant, I attempted to preform the spell by saying the chant as it appears phonetically. Nothing happened, indicating verbal magic requires that the caster knows what they are saying. For me as a researcher, this is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing in that I don't accidentally tamper with the laws of reality, a curse in that all progress is slowed immensely. This language is unique in that it shares no similarities with any known language, modern, or ancient. I brought is before scholars of all groups, and none of them were able to find a mach to my chant. Eventually my search led me to only one option, contact with Surprise, the Omen of Death. While I cannot say I enjoy his ( hers, it's?) company, we do share an inseparable bond. He represents the Element of Laughter, and I the Element of Magic. If there were anypony to grab his passing attention it would be me.
I headed down to the Canterlot dungeon in hopes a prisoner would be ready to go soon. Luckily for me there was. (Equesria is a naturally peaceful place, with few criminals as it is. And most criminals are able to be reformed to be functioning members of society. It is a rare occurrence that someponies life would need to be taken) During that unfortunate soul's passing breath, I called out to Surprise. I had my assistant, Quilldance, write down the interaction for inclusion in my research:
(Prisoner dies)
SStB: Surprise! It is I, Starswirl! Hear me out, I wish to converse with you!
Surprise: Ah, Starswirl, my, old, friend. I say, what brings you to this most, joyous, occasion? Kha ha ha. You never have been the one for idle chit chat.
SStB: Surprise, you speak the language of the dead? From all times and places?
Surprise: Indeed. I've heard the same line in every tongue under the sun "NOOOOooo...." He he he, ahhh. But yes, I do know every language. It comes with the job.
SStB: Then please, I found this phrase in my research, with no translation anywhere. Please I wish simply for a translation. It reads: Dee Slen Ak Kronen, Kronen Ak Slen, Mah Deend Es Slend Nahkneed, Krunten Nahd Okdee Ukneed
Surprise: Gah! You dabble, where you aught not. But then, it is not up to me to judge the actions living, just the quality of their bones. Khe, khe khe... I do know the language you speak, however I dare not say it aloud. You there, with the quill and paper. give me one of each. I will write for you the translation, but be wary, there is a reason this tongue has been lost to time. (Surprise hands SStb the folded up paper) Say hello to Celestia for me. Tell her, it's been far too long since she's had a brush with death. Ha ha ha haaaaa.
And just like that Surprise faded out of existence just as he faded in. With parchment in hoof I returned to my chamber to prepare this document. From this point on my entries are current and pertain to my research. The verse, translated into modern Equestrian is:
From One to Another
Another to One
A Mark of ones Destiny
Singled out alone Fulfilled
What this means or does is a complete mystery to me. (also a terrible shame it does not rhyme as well in Equestrian) It is my hope that by saying this phrase I will cast some spell and take the first step into understanding Spoken Magic. However I dare not speak the phrase now. I wish to have as many instruments as I can monitoring myself when I speak for the first time. However, that shall be another day, for it it is dark and me tired. Tomorrow I shall continue my work and unlock the secrets of Spoken Magic.