| placid | peaceful |
| melancholy | gloomy state of mind |
| ominous | portending evil or harm |
| plutonian | like the underworld |
| pallid | pale |
| chamber | room |
| invest | to put into |
| dynasty | family of rulers |
| pagoda | tall Asian shrine |
| empire | groups of lands under the rule of one ruler |
| academic | relating to education |
| clarify | to make clear |
| confide | to tell something in secret |
| disclose | to uncover |