Everyone was soon brought away from the rubble and fully healed. Calliope allowed the twins to sleep as the other members of the group stood up and looked at their situation, with clear minds and unwounded bodies.
Marcus and Celestine looked around at the different artifacts, holding them up or simply looking at them. Quill, although healed, continued to sit down and lean against a part of the wall, next to the treasures of the vault. Catching her breath from what happened earlier.
Looking around, Colton realized that there was no visible exit in sight. No door, no mechanisms, no ropes, no pulleys. They seemed to be stuck in a closed box.
Despite the silence and being healed, everyone was still weary. Soon, a new question popped up into Colton's mind.
"How do we get out of here?" Calliope looked at him, unsure as well. She started to examine each book, taking a few.
Colton stayed on the ground, tired from helping and from the fight earlier but now healed. His hammer rested on his lap, too heavy for him to handle at the moment.
"Is this our reward for surviving?" Marcus sarcastically remarked, trying to cause some laughs. But nobody responded. Even after the close battle earlier, the amount of money that surrounded him seemed to make him forget about it or regain some joy.
Celestine though was more focused on what the artifacts were, examining each of them like a merchant who knows her wares well. Marcus spent the time trying to pocket any gold and small artifact he could find.
Myo joined in with them, staring at the piles of gold and artifacts that the vault contained.
The room felt cold and was cleaner than the halls and rooms outside.
After a while, Calliope spoke, having gathered enough information to make a theory on their situation.
"Judging from the turns, upward movement, and position of where we started, along with the fact we may have circled around repeatedly. We are most likely in the artifact room." She spoke. Colton felt surprised, but remembered her skill in these types of situations.
"You got a good mind, judging from the looks of it, yeah. The other door we passed by when you were getting weapons." Myo added.
"Thus, we must find a way out of this place." After speaking, she immediately returned to checking the books scattered around.
With nothing else to do, coupled with the fear that they may get stuck or caught, Colton stood up and investigated the vault's contents. Checking the artifacts that lay scattered near him.
Time passed by as they continued searching the large vault. Colton helped in searching for any books that Calliope may use.
Quill joined in with Colton and Calliope, rummaging through messy piles of gold and artifacts to find any books buried in them.
Marcus and Celestine continued searching for valuables. Celestine was fascinated by each artifact. From metal emblems to small statues and even a few smooth stone tablets with inscriptions on them.
While they searched, Calliope looked at Marcus and Celestine.
"You two, search your positions for any books or possible exits." She ordered. The two immediately stopped what they were doing and went searching.
Time passed, Colton was unsure how long it had been. But the team continued their hunt for books.
Colton continued pulling away piles of gold in a bid to hopefully find books beneath the piles, only managing to find a few.
In the middle of their search, Celestine stopped, looking at a part of a gold pile she was on.
"Guys, I think I found a possible way out." The group instantly stopped their search, running to Celestine.
Through the hole in the pile, Colton saw a small metal door. But it was locked. Marcus sighed in annoyance.
"Great, another locked door." He groaned in frustration.
In their irritation, Myo walked forward, holding something.
He stepped through the gold heap and reached the door, crouching down. It only took a few seconds before they heard a noticeable click. Myo turned, removed the lock and pushed the door open.
With the door unlocked, Myo turned around to look at the team.
"This one I do not recall seeing." He spoke, just as confused as the others with the door that was buried beneath a gold pile.
With a new path, Calliope quickly walked towards the twins to wake them up.
After a few seconds, she returned. Oliver looked more tired than Clarissa, but the two were eager for a new task holding their staff straight and joining the team.
With everyone now present, they cautiously entered inside, with Myo at the front.
The door led them to a thin and slightly cramped pathway that only led forward.
At the end, Colton could see a blue light. Are they entering that altar room again? Is there another statue?
On the move, they reached the end of the pathway, another locked door blocked them from what was on the other side. Blue light pierced through the gaps of the door.
After hearing a click, they emerged from the pathway. What lay in front of them only brought more confusion.
They were in a small square shaped room. In the center was a statue similar to the statue they saw at the altar room. Stacked to the sides, surrounding the statue were a multitude of large shields, books, engraved swords, and large paintings were placed neatly around the statue. Far more organized than the vault behind them.
The team stepped forward, looking in shock at the new room they entered.
Torches and Lanterns hung on the walls above them, emitting a bright blue light. Calliope and the twins quickly started checking the books, storing what they found was suitable for the team. The rest simply walked around the room, looking at the many valuables stored neatly.
"A far cry from the other room. This place reminds me of my money room." Celestine commented.
"A money room?" Marcus asked, looking at Celestine, waiting for an answer.
"Just a room with money, that simple. Though its better to make it more organized, more appealing to the eyes."
The crackling of fire filled their ears as the team silently went about their tasks. Searching around.
While they were searching, a noise from the pathway alerted them. They stopped instantly, looking at the open door.
After a few seconds, the voice of a man echoed through.
"They must be around here, searching the heaps." Colton's eyes widened. They found where they were hiding.
Myo suddenly rushed out the door and shut it, hastily pushing books and other valuables, forming a makeshift barricade.
"Start finding a way out. I can deal with em if they get through, just find an exit." Myo ordered them.
Heeding his order, they began searching the place. Destroying the stacks of books and neatly placed shields, trying to find a hatch or an exit out.
As Colton neared the statue, he noticed something at the base of it. A small hatch. Locked as well.
In desperation he called the others to see it.
Everyone quickly ran to him, seeing the hatch. With little time left, Calliope broke the lock in a few strikes from the handle. She threw it open, and inside. A purple book lay inside.
"A bloody book!?" Marcus spoke, enraged.
Behind them, Myo placed his arms on the door, the worshipers found them and were now trying to break down the door.
Calliope quickly opened the book, skimming through the lines with great speed, desperate to find something in it that could help them.
After a few seconds, her eyes widened.
"We can make a portal out of this place." She stepped away from the statue and began reading the book again with her arm pointed forward.
After a few incantations, a purple portal began to form in front of them. To everyone's relief.
"Get in there already! I can hold them here." He yelled at them.
Once the portal fully formed, everyone rushed into it, disappearing.
"Thank you for aiding me. Our pact has gone well, till we meet again." Myo spoke to Calliope and Colton, who were still in the room.
Myo placed his entire body on the door as the banging continued.
"Let us move out now." Soon, the two stepped through the portal.
Colton could only see purple, with the loud noises of earlier now replaced by silence.
He felt a familiar sense of relaxation and bliss.
The feeling stayed longer than before, Colton savored each second.
After a few minutes, the feeling instantly went away, and Colton's body fell to a hard ground.
Before he could move or see where he was, the smell of old paper and wood hit his nose. Colton was back in the library.
He opened his eyes, and was greeted by the massive book in front of him. His group lay on the ground next to him.
Colton and the rest soon managed to get up, looking at their surroundings, and the massive book in front of them. Now closed shut.