"This is one weird library." The man commented, sitting on top of a nearby table.
The rest of the group either sat on the tables or on the ground, contemplating to themselves what just happened. Calliope though finished her reading, closing the book and placing it on the side before jumping off the desk.
"Since we are all here. I suppose it is time we begin gaining information." Her hand began to glow blue, placing her hands near each other, a stack of paper with a few quills and ink blocks spawned from seemingly nowhere.
Calliope had studied before on storage spells, ones that could hold a chosen object somewhere like a personal storage for a long period of time, then return it to them when the spell is cast again. Though, nobody knows where the objects are stored.
She placed the stack on an empty table and looked back at everyone.
"Grab a piece of paper, we'll start with that bookshelf ahead of us and maybe translate it."
"Ms Royal guardswoman?" The aristocratic girl asked. Her hands were holding onto a book from a table.
"What is it?"
"I don't think this is any language from our world."
"I went to a bunch of different places and had to learn different languages. But she's right, I don't know what kind of bizarre language this thing is written in." The rugged man joined in, holding a book open with a single hand.
Colton grabbed a book from a table next to him, inside, the text was all in a language he had not even heard of.
"Wait, so only I could read this?" Calliope grabbed the book from the desk and immediately walked to one of the twins, trying to see if they could even translate.
After looking at the page, the twin nodded her head.
Calliope did the same to the other healer, who also nodded. Soon she understood the issue.
"Perhaps I overestimated you all." She muttered under her breath, still audible enough to faintly hear.
"What was that?" The man was agitated by the comment, but did not speak further.
"Well, it seems we hit a problem. All that could be done now is you can all rest while I and the clerics try to plan what to do next." She explained.
Soon, the clerics and Calliope began discussing with each other near the librarian's desk. Leaving the rest of the group on their own to rest or do other tasks.
"Are you, by chance, the dungeon head of the kingdom?" Colton was startled upon hearing the voice so close to him. The aristocratic girl who stood shorter than him managed to walk close without him noticing.
"Yes, yes I am. My name is Colton." He answered, after regaining his cool.
"Apologies for the sudden startle. My name is Celestine, heir of the Blumilia family, I was not expecting to meet high ranking members from this nation." She briefly introduced herself, speaking in the same soft tone.
The Blumilia family was a well known family that lived in the kingdom of the northern mountains, rich from its bustling mining business, the population quickly became more aristocratic, with the Blumilia family being one of the richest of them.
"I hope we can all work together as a good team for this. I always wanted to go on a daring adventure. Always heard from my friends who used to do mercenary work that adventures were fun."
"They are, if you manage to survive enough that you can smile in the next fight." The gruff man looked at the two with a smirk.
"You're a mercenary as well?"
"Yup, experienced one. The name's Marcus. I did many jobs in different kingdoms or realms for a long time." Celestine was mesmerized as he spoke.
"Another mercenary, the ones I talked to in the kingdom normally worked near the kingdom for private clients or merchants."
"Those ones are probably low risk hunters. Seeking some quick gold. Can't blame them though, we all need to find money somehow. Oh, a word of advice." Marcus hopped off the table, and walked a few steps closer to the two.
"You came from the Blumilia family right? Mercenaries normally prefer money or a better life. It would be safer and better if you stayed away from mercenary work." Celestine was taken aback by the advice.
"Oh leave her alone, let someone dream a little. What would be the point of life if we can't have fun for once in our lives." The woman with a feather stuck to her head spoke, she sounded more mature than the girl and slightly more than the man.
"You also do mercenary work?" Celestine turned to the woman, she was now very curious about the other people of the group.
"Me? No, but I do prefer living outdoors. My name is Quill, used to be a hunter outside the kingdom walls." Soon, the entire group began talking to one another, despite being strangers a minute ago, they were now becoming closer.
Minutes passed, and their conversations were silenced by a sudden shut of a book.
Calliope slowly approached the 4, holding a book in her hand.
"Judging from the books we found in the desk, it seems this place has more than expected. Apparently, this library was made to store the technology of an old civilization to prevent it being stolen from the other kingdoms. But nothing other than that." Calliope walked past the group and stepped closer to a row of shelves.
"Follow." All followed behind Calliope, now curious on what else the library contained.
She pulled out a book from a shelf, opening it she began reading.
"Interesting, it's mainly about combat techniques, swords mostly. But they seem to be just basic drills." Calliope returned it just to take another one out, more interested.
The clerics followed suit, grabbing books and whispering to Calliope what they could understand.
"Since you can't read the pages, your new task now is simply bringing books to us, and maybe find anything of value from these shelves."
"Well, boring but I can't complain with easy work and great pay." The mercenary replied.
Without saying another word, she walked back with the twin clerics, leaving the group.
Colton started grabbing a few books from the shelf, stacking as much as he could. All had different colors of their covers but only a few actually had titles stuck on them.
Soon, the others joined in, grabbing what books they could find, emptying small portions of the massive library shelf.
They continued as tables were being piled with books, stopping to take a breath before returning to the shelves.
After going back and forth for minutes, Calliope ordered them to stop.
"I think that's enough. We'll see what we could get from this, sit down for now while we translate." She ordered. Colton sat down on a chair of a vacant table, trying to catch a breath while attempting to make sense of the place.
"So you're the head of the dungeon?" Marcus asked, Colton realized that he was just sitting across from him.
"Yeah, I am."
"Tell me, have you arrested any mercenaries?" Colton was unsure on how to answer, is this a trick? Or is he actually curious?
"A few, but only because they entered inside the kingdom walls." He unexpectedly laughed.
"Those ones must be some fools then. Rest assured, warden, I am not like them. So you won't have any issues." Colton does not know if he should be relieved, satisfied, or still nervous. Marcus seemed to have experienced far more fights than Colton, with scars on his arms to prove it and probably more underneath his armor.
Before another word could leave his mouth, Calliope suddenly yelled out. And stacks of books began falling off the tables. One book on the ground though was glowing red and opened.
Everyone in the group began surrounding the single book, Colton and the few others with weapons prepared to fight while some stayed behind.
In a few seconds, something in the shape of a person began forming above the book. In moments, the light disappeared. A man wearing a cloth mask that covered the bottom half of his face, with a leather tunic and pants stood in front of them.
He held a short blade, partially chipped but still sharp. Colton could only see his back, as the man was staring straight at Calliope, who was leaning on the librarian desk.
"That's what they call a monster? I killed people like him for less than a handful." Marcus mocked, he took out his short sword. Within moments, he dashed at the man and raised his arm up to slash at him.
As the blade landed on the man, it shattered. Like glass, bits of metal were sent flying on the floor, only leaving the wooden handle.
"What the?!" He moved back in shock.
Colton raised his hammer up, with all the strength in him, he sent the hammer crashing down on the man's head.
But just like Marcus, his weapon shattered. His large hammer was reduced to small shards of metal, only leaving half of the pole intact.
"Is this thing invincible!?" Marcus continued moving back.
"Empty all of your pockets…" A low breathy voice came out of the man's covered mouth as he began to turn towards the 4 behind him.
They could only move back, terrified.
"No? Then drown in your blood!" He dashed towards Marcus with great speed. Marcus dodged the attack but continued moving away.
Soon the entire group was being chased, everyone tried their best to move away from him as he relentlessly rushed at each of them. Even Calliope and the Clerics. Swinging his blade recklessly.
After a few minutes, the man finally landed a hit on Marcus, stabbing him through a section of unarmored flesh.