Chapter 7: Library And Gardens

The great hall has an eerie silence to it as we walk, our footsteps being the only sound in the empty area. We continue to walk by crumbled pillars, making me worry about the structural integrity of the hall. Thankfully, the ceiling hasn’t come down yet.

A bat flying overhead actually makes me feel relieved, the silence of the space is getting on my nerves, making me jump at shadows. Keve seems to be doing slightly better, but I can tell that the vast openness bothers him as well.

Shar talks, breaking the silence, asking Keve questions. He responds in short sentences, but doesn’t seem to mind the conversation. I suspect that he’s quiet because of his trouble with the language more than anything else.

Eventually we make it to a door that Shar says is an exit. I quickly step through it, ushering Keve through. I close the door with a sigh of relief, happy to be out of the cavernous area.

I turn to look at where we’ve entered, and my breath catches as I take in the sight before me. Hundreds of books line the shelves of a library. Creatures I can only describe as bright blue jellyfish float through the air, glowing with a soft light and revealing what must be hundreds of texts.

I keep very still, observing the jellyfish as they seem to just float there. One of them floats toward us and I put my hand on my sword. Keve places his hand on mine, preventing me from drawing my weapon.

I look over to him and he shakes his head. “They are kind creatures.”

True to his word, the jellyfish just floats past us, bumping against the door and continuing on its way.

Keve removes his hand, and I let go of my sword’s hilt. I step forward, towards the shelves, shining my light on the books. Some of them were treated more kindly by time than others, likely because of the enchantments on them.

The jellyfish avoid us as we walk through the shelves. I can’t keep my excitement hidden as I study the treasure trove. I don’t think there’s a single intact library with this much knowledge in any stronghold. Just this room alone would make this delve highly profitable.

I don’t want to delay our journey back up to my camp, but all of me wants to spend just a little time in these shelves. “Shar, how far are we from the surface?” I ask, my eyes stopping on a section dedicated to the flora and fauna of the lands. I can’t read most of the titles, either due to their age, or due to the language being unknown to me.

Shar hops off of my shoulder, flying over to one of the shelves. “The stairs to the next level are close. It’s just one more level after that before we reach the tunnel to the surface.”

I pick out a book with a faded title that looks like I can read it. Distractedly, I say. “Scout out the rest of the library for us. I want to know if anything is in here that shouldn’t be.” After a moment, I look up from the book and add, “if you don’t mind.”

Shar’s eyes shine with something I can’t define as she nods her beak. “Of course, Leo.” She flies up over the jellyfish, deftly dodging their slow tentacles as she looks ahead.

I open the book, happy to discover I can read it. On the very first page is the image of one of the ancient dragons. “Keve, don’t use any fire in here.” I tell him as I slowly flip through the pages detailing ancient monsters and powerful beings. “If we do see any monsters, try to draw them into the other room.”

I carefully close the old book, tucking it under my arm as I look over the shelves. The next book I pull out is in a language similar to the one I speak, but is in a dialect I can’t decipher. I put it back, moving onto the next one.

Keve laughs slightly, mumbling so I can barely hear him. “Now you talk like a leader.” he doesn’t say it with any ill intent, so I don’t respond as I continue to search the shelves.

In the end, I know I can’t take too many books from here in my backpack. But I do grab the first book I looked at, a book on the Oathsworn as a gift for the monks at the temple in Onder and a guide to the local plantlife.

I carefully wrap the books in cloth before placing them in my backpack. The enchantments that kept them in good condition are still active, but it doesn’t hurt to add the extra protection.

I then mark down the location of the library in my map, designating it as one of the first places to clear when I return for the next delve.

Shar returns as I finish with my map, landing on my pack. “Nothing too large is in the library. I did see some tunnels leading into another room, but nothing living was in them.”

I nod, strapping my pack back on. “Let’s keep going. These books have stayed safe for hundreds of years. I doubt anything is going to bother them before we can come back.” I take one last glance at the shelf I’d spent most of my time at, my eyes staying on the jellyfish. “Keve, you’ve seen these creatures before?” I ask as I move forward through the shelves.

Keve nods, following two steps behind me. “They will not harm you unless you harm them. If you see them turn red, run.”

“Good to know.” I say as we reach the next door. I open it to reveal a hallway leading to a staircase. The smell of mildew hits me almost immediately as I step through. I wrinkle my nose, while Keve immediately raises his cloth over his mouth and nose.

The floor is damp, the water stopping right at the door to the library, strangely avoiding the entryway. There must be some kind of enchantment or runic script that I missed on the entrance.

Shar immediately takes off to scout ahead for us.

Our steps cause small splashes as we walk towards the stairway. I pull my gloves off of the clip at my waist, pulling them on tight as a chill breeze blows down from above.

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Algae and moss cover the steps and railing of the stairway, so I keep my hands off the railing and step carefully.

We reach the top of the stairs, reaching a door. I put my hand on the knob when Shar shoots out of a shadow in the upper corner flipping over and barreling into me.

I almost slip on the wet stone as I catch her, Keve’s hand on my back steadying me enough to prevent me from falling.

Metal feathers are missing on her left wing, slowly growing back. “I hate plants!” She says as she shifts into her humanoid form in my arms. The missing feathers turn into a scar along the metal of her arm.

“Are you alright?” I ask worriedly, setting her down to examine the gash in her arm.

“I’ll be fine.” She responds with a frown, focusing mana into the damaged area. Her metal-skin reforms at a speed visible to the eye. “That angel-damned thorny vine came out of nowhere.” She shakes her arm slightly. “Some of the plants have escaped the gardens. This one must’ve thought I was a tasty snack.”

I share a glance with Keve. “Are we safe to go through the door?”

Shar nods. “Have your weapons ready and don’t trust the vines. Also, don’t hit the lizards, they won’t bother you if you don’t bother them.”

“The lizards?” I ask.