The stab wound hurt incredibly as Aefia slowly opened her eyes, only to find herself looking at a scared Cindy. She immediately got up to look for Nada, but her head said otherwise. "You should stay sitted for a while, don't rush to find her, she walked away immediately after you fell unconscious." Puppet spoke from behind her.
"Did she say anything else?" Aefia still stood up anyways. She noticed how the library floor was a mess with dried blood everywhere. "And I don't have the demon's power anymore, so..we need alternative ways." She said while glancing at the book on the ground.
"And this...odd book. It doesn't belong here, so Nada must have found it somewhere." Aefia spoke as she flipped through the pages. She picked out the ripped out page and read it using her Foreigner skill and it instantly send a wave of pain across her mind. She held her forehead and dropped the book while leaning against a bookshelve.
"Hey Puppet? How long will this headache last?" Aefia spoke as it slowly approached her and sat next to her. "Is it troubling you much? If you are willing to stay here for another while to investigate, you will lose it." Puppet replied. "But you don't know yet, I stole that guy's power by a bit, so you can use a little bit of that magic energy." It whispered near her ear.
"Helio, Puppet stole a part of your magic energy." Aefia snitched. "Did you allow it? Because it wants to use it on me, even when to think this was my magic energy to begun with." She spoke as she picked up the book and looked at the shelves for a gap that this book might be from, just in case.
"Stole? I didn't notice. It mustn't be that much so it can keep it." Helio replied. "Anyway, Nada said she would be waiting outside this area because she had something to talk about to you. And I almost forgot, she apologized when she saw the knife and said that she didn't mean it."
Aefia busy looking around, so she didn't say anything. The library stood as a giant room filled with thousands of old books that went all the way up to the very high ceiling. Long shelves made of dark wood covered every single wall, and they were packed tight with thick stories and secret papers.
Some of the books looked so heavy that it seemed like a person would need two hands just to lift one. The air felt thick and still, as if the room had been locked away for a very long time. High above the floor, wooden walkways with thin railings let people reach the books that were tucked away in the highest corners of the room.
Soft light came from many small candles and lamps that were stuck to the walls or hanging from the ceiling. These lights did not make the room bright, but they created many long shadows that danced across the floor. The walls were built with tall arches and fancy carvings that looked like they belonged in a very old castle.
At the very top of the room, a large window or opening let in a tiny bit of blue light from the outside world. This cool light mixed with the warm yellow glow of the candles, making the whole library look like it was under a magic spell.
Right in the middle of the floor, there was a round platform made of cold stone that had several steps leading up to it. On top of this platform sat a large stand that held a giant book wide open for anyone to read. The pages of this book glowed with a soft red light, as if the words themselves were starting to burn or wake up.
Around the stand, there were many glass bottles, bowls, and strange tools that looked like they were used for mixing special drinks or doing experiments. It looked like someone had just finished working there and had walked away for a moment.
Several tall wooden signs hung from the ceiling by heavy metal chains to tell people what kind of books were in each section. One sign had the words for blood magic written on it in bright gold letters, while another spoke about rituals connected to stars and the sky. She already knew that one of them that was commonly known to everyone, was called the Three Moons' Shield.
These signs swayed just a little bit even though there was no wind in the room. The letters on the signs were easy to read because they were painted with gold that caught the light from the candles. It was clear that this was a place where people came to learn very important and dangerous things.
On the floor around the middle platform, many more books were piled up in messy stacks. Some books were left open on the ground, and loose pieces of paper were scattered around like someone had been searching for something in a hurry.
These piles of books made the room feel lived in, even though nobody was standing there at the time. The floor was made of dark, polished stone that reflected the light from the candles and the glow from the big book in the center. Every step in this room would have made a loud sound because it was so quiet.
Deep in the shadows near the back of the room, more tall arches led into even darker hallways where more books were hidden. The whole place felt like a giant maze where a person could get lost for days just looking through all the titles.
Everything in the library was made of wood, stone, or metal, which made it feel very strong and old. Even without any people inside, the room felt like it was full of energy, dangerous and wavering, waiting to find a victim. It was a beautiful but scary place that held all the knowledge of the universe in its quiet shelves.
Suddenly, all of the scattered papers and books on the ground started to climb up in a tornado pattern with a lime green wave of magic and moved towards their respective shelves. The papers recollected and gathered into their books before going into the shelves.
The book that was resting on top of the platform, flipped multiple pages and then snapped shut. It was then put into a much higher part of a elegantly crafted shelf up in front and was put inside a glass case. The candles flickered off before completely vanishing out of view. The carpets were restored and all of the dried blood was wiped clean.
Aefia clasped her hands. "That was amazing use of your skills. Did you learn about it from the mission we just came back from?" She asked as she looked towards the now clean library. "That reminds me, how have you not yet leveled up? You have demonstrated enough power to be able to surpress that of a Phase two."
"I am a teensy bit away from becoming a Phase two, but that reminds me, you had become one right? Congratulations, although it is a bit late to say so." Helio replied while carrying Cindy on his hands. "And what actually happened when the Iced mage had taken over Nada's mind?"
"That...Albert Nicholas is a mage who supposedly works for the Torture Cell, that's all I can say for now. And the destruction nearing, I guess you can see why this has been so. The Torture Cell didn't actually want to destroy this world, but rather, freeze it eternally so they could harvest some sort of energy they need to do a specific thing." Aefia explained.
"There are too many blank spaces in your explanations. What exactly does the Torture Cell want?"
"I am not sure, I don't work for them. But I have managed to discover this at most." Aefia tightly held the book that Nada had previously held, underneath her cloak and grabbed Puppet while putting it inside her cloak's inner pockets and continued looking around the entire library, looking for the exit.
"By the way, this was just an appetizer for the real destruction itself, did you know that? And since the caster of the disaster is not a huge fond of me, I think they might target me next. That maniac had said a few things before he left, that the next time he comes, he will totally turn me extinct...and he knows that I am not from around this dimension, but from Earth." Aefia spoke while turning around.
"And don't you think the staffs will get suspicious? We need to get going too. You look for the exit from that part of the library and I will go this way. We have gotten a little too deep into this part of the library."
"I have memorized the entire area of this library. I know the exit, but I can't guarantee you will co-operate with me. Aefia has been having a huge grudge against me for the last few days. She hasn't been properly listening to me." Puppet spoke up.
"I can understand why." Helio answered. "You were threatening a royalty that day, in my place. And if you realize, she has been giving me angry looks everytime I talk." He had a very strange angry look on his face.
"Yeah right, we can't waste time so Puppet will have to lead the way even if I am breaking the rules of punishments. But we can't get them suspicious, especially around this time. The destructors will try to frame us more frequently from now. If you recall, that's why I had asked for permission before coming here." Aefia answered while holding her forehead. "My head is severely hurting, I need to leave this place as soon as possible."
She held her head with intense pressure, only to stay upright. The pain caused her fever and her eyes were slowly watering. Puppet moved forward while Aefia followed last. If she were in the front, there was a possibility that she might get lost.
The door to the entrance and exit, was a intricate wood carved into its shape. Everything in Nikoan was an extravagant piece that made that place itself like a fantasy castle. It could fool anyone into thinking they had actually been there just for a tour and they could stay if they wished. Aefia had thought that way a few times, but only one thought would rewind in her mind.
The door had carved animals into the surface and star decorations onto the arch on top of it. Although Aefia had gone through this part of the library several times, the door still felt like something new, but maybe it was her headache that made her think that way. She walked past the doorway, but before doing so, she had her cloak hung over shoulder.
The book fell in front of her feet, and she quickly remembered that she had used the cloak to cover it. Aefia crouched to pick it up, which made her head knock against her skull as water fell from her eye. "You don't think that the headache is going to be a major problem...but you will soon realize, that I am never leaving this place." A voice rang into her mind.
She took out her own kitchen knife and pointed it in front while standing and turning around. There was nothing or no one to threaten, the voice seemed to have appeared out of nothingness and then she noticed how the atmosphere slightly changed. I am sure I just heard him, so he won't be able to leave?
She looked towards a shelf, a very dark, faint, and paranormal looking creature peaked out from behind. Upon noticing, it evaporated into thin air. Now, I am certain that I am really a victim to the ritual. It is no doubt that my blood had fell into it, not Nada's. The destruction then, it would me. Well, at least it isn't anyone else.
Aefia looked away and ran straight towards the door before it shut close. She pulled it with a little bit of force and ran out, slightly creeped. "What were you doing? I thought you were following us." Puppet said as it flew around the air and left a red and blue trail behind.
"I don't know, Albert is still inside that part of the library and I have a feeling that he is plotting something. But the only fact is, he isn't disposable like any other beasts because the Torture Cell are constantly fueling him. They must be very determined to kill off populations at this point." Aefia said while holding her right eye and wiping it with the back of her hand.
She walked forward, towards their table as she stared at the ground while walking. A part of her black sleeves were cripsed and hard due to the dried blood. Luckily, the magic energy that Puppet had stolen, Aefia stole it back and she could use the extra magic energy instead of wasting hers.
"Sorry, investigator?" The receptionist woman stopped her mid way. "Have you found what you were looking for? I am afraid, I might need to record it down for later."
"Oh yes, just looking for some ownership files that were kept here. I am afraid I can't say whose or what, because it's for my clients privacy. I hope you understand." And hopefully not tell the police because I am not from around here. You need to consider that the first two times are only coincidence, and this is the first time.
"Alright, thank you officer." The receptionist bowed and walked away. Was the officer and investigator necessary? I am not even a graduate and I believe I don't have any rights to being called any of those terms.
Aefia walked to her table and sat on the chair while slamming her head into the table. Her pile of books were nearly stacked and the papers were separately put into a folder that she didn't recall having before.
"Hey, are you tired? You should rest, I am doing your work for you." Nada said while petting her head like she would back on Earth. Aefia abruptly grabbed Nada by her wrist and looked up as a few strand of hair fell over her eyes, shielding them. "Don't act all friendly, we still have a few things to go after and I haven't forgiven you if that's what you are wondering."
She moved the hand away and stood up while pointing her knife at Nada's face.