As Hin sobers up a little with the Professor's words and the new discovery, she quickly pockets the pen for safekeeping. Though she's content with these discoveries, she can't seem to shake this melancholy feeling left over from before. She exhales sharply and smiles. "How much time do we have left? I'd love to explore further, but I still want to we keep track so we don't go over time. We still have other classes to attend today, no?" With this, she steps inside the passage, casting Dancing Lights with her brooch.

"Well, we have about 30 minutes left to explore this dig site, then an hour walk back to the academy. By the time we get to the academy, class will be over and you're free to do as you wish. So, we have an hour and a half until class is over." He molds over what he's saying "but technically, we can stay as late as we want. While you're not supposed to be here without an escort, me, you are my only class for the day and I'm happy to stay late if you're all finding this enjoyable." He looks over each of you gauging a reaction. "This is your only class for the day. The thing to keep in mind is, if we stay over, you will be walking back to the academy on your own time, and not on class time. Which isn't an issue, but perhaps you have person things you'd prefer to take care of instead of spending extra time in class." Hin, you step into the passage with your dancing lights, and continue around the bend, until you find a simple wooden door in front of you. It has began decaying, a few holes here and there, but still stands. Peaking through the holes, with help of your dancing lights you spot what appears to be a small chamber with a pool of water in the middle of it.

Laurence mauls over the options, absent-mindedly patting Roquefort who's dozing off on their shoulder. They technically haven't even settled in the tower yet. While this passage is perhaps only a fraction of the discoveries that await them in the academy, it just seems too interesting...If we leave now, who knows if there'd be anything left to discover when we return later. The tower can wait. They do not voice that thought, instead, they say:  "It is not too late, I wouldn't mind staying. I'm quite curious myself."

Barburry is a mix of emotions.  The tower may be their new home, yet it does not feel like home yet.  He is equally new to doing this type of research and study but he at least feels like he is finding his groove here.

"I would also like to explore more.  This is all very exciting, and I could use the practice working as a team.  If that's alright with everyone that is.  I mean think about it, we may be the first people in who knows how long to see what's in the room behind that door!"

"Well, in that case, I would love to explore as much as possible. The only things waiting for me at the tower are books, anyways." She plants her hands on her hips and smiles. "I like how you're thinking, Barburry. Discovery awaits!" Hin turns around to face the door and takes a good long look at it, to see if there's anything of note. Then, she tries to open the door. 

Donavera Isemist

Vera is startled by the sudden clicking noise and drops the crowbar inadvertently, the metallic gear should hit the floor with a loud clang. When she watches the entrance to the newly discovered passage, she seems a bit paranoid. She will try to relocate the painting of the hand and place her own hand on the painting again to see what happens. Perhaps, I can close the door so that none of us have to explore farther. Maybe, it will prevent the insiders from exploring outside too.

Vera putting your hand back on the painting, nothing happens. The stone door stays hidden in the ceiling above. Hin, the door swings open freely, before falling off its hinges, creating a soft thud and throwing dust up as it does. It appears to have fully rotted out at the hinges and just the fact that it hadn't been moved in who knows how long, has kept it standing. The door opens up to a small chamber, about 20 foot in diameter, with just a pool of water that dominates the room. Just enough room to completely walk around the pool without stepping in.

"Heh...hehe. So, you don't think anything would still be alive around here right?"

Though he is nervous and hesitant, Barburry shuffles forward to lean over and look into the pool, minding his steps for any hazards magical or otherwise. He has read his share of books, and some of those were about adventurers and their ill-timed demise due to a misstep.

You move cautiously towards the pool of water, Barburry, and you look over the edge. It's shallow, maybe 2 feet deep. You don't initially see anything moving in the pool.

"Well that's not very sound carpentry." Hin remarks jokingly. "I don't think anything would be alive here, other microorganisms that might reside in the pool of water there." As if a light bulb lit up in her mind, she looks up. "What if there are ancient bacterial cultures in the water? Assuming it's water, of course. Or anywhere in this room?" While she's not as precautious as her friend Barburry, she takes a minute to cast Detect Magic and to see if there's anything out of the ordinary; magic in the water, magical water, glyphs of warding (or other glyphs), or alarms of any kind.

Hin, you cast detect magic taking a look in this room. There are no glyphs on the walls. As a matter of fact, there are no markings in this room. It's completely bare, just a shallow pool of water.

At this time, I'm going to assume all of you are either standing in this room, around the pool of water, or in the passage way leading to the room, just so I know where everyone is.

Hin

Laurence walks to the far side and crouches down, watching the still surface of the water. They nod: "there could be microorganisms. It might also be connected to the Divine? Do you think the item you have found could be related..?" They continue uncertainly from their crouched position: "It appears to be a pen, and this room is the only one we've seen so far without markings."

"I don't know what kind of school of magic the pen is from." Hin pulls out the pen and---if Detect Magic is still active---looks at it, seeing if the pen is also from the same school of magic. "But, the water is full of conjuration magic. I wonder what that could mean..." She thinks for a moment, then pulls out a small pouch of sand from her pocket. She takes a little and sprinkles it on the water, just to see if anything happens. 

"Conjuration you say?" Barburry develops a sort of 100 mile stare looking into the pool.  He keeps thinking about different purposes and reasons for this creation.  He doesn't even realize he's moving his hand absent mindedly to touch the water...

Hin, the metal rod gives off a universal aura. It has bits and pieces from every school of magic radiating off of it. As you sprinkle some sand into the pond, you watch as it hits the surface and disappears into the water. Barburry, you reach and reach until you touch the surface of the pool. The water is cool to the touch, but as you break through the surface, submerging your hand further, it begins to warm up, providing a pleasant feeling.

Donavera Isemist

Vera spots the treasure (pen) that currently belongs to Hin and she immediately finds it appealing. "Would you let me take a look at it? I think I can identify the origin of the pen and extract some details."

She will unclasp a pendant made of crushed pearls and use the material to cast Identify on the pen, assuming that Hin is willing to hand over the item. She beckons Zodiac to remain perched on her shoulder when she plucks a feather from her familiar, it transforms into an owl's feather. She uses the feather to draw sigils on the ground of the cave and places the powdered form of pearls at the center.

"Of course, Vera." Hin pulls out the pen from her pocket, and hands the pen to her. "It seems to be from all schools of magic, almost a universal kind of magic."  She turns over to Barburry, and just as she's about to mention that he probably shouldn't touch the water, his hand is submerged. She decides against it---the moment's passed---and instead asks, "What does it feel like?"

You cast identify on the metal rod, Vera.

Vera

"It's warm. Very cozy honestly.  Perhaps it's a bath of some sort? Would conjuration magic create such an effect?"

As Barburry asks this question, everyone please give me an arcana check!