Adrenaline pulsed through Zym's veins as they scurried through the labyrinthine corridors of the Grand Archives. The invisibility spell hummed faintly around them, a comforting shield against the watchful eyes of the Naga warriors. Mieza, her celestial senses on high alert, led the way, her movements a blur of practiced grace.
"We need to find a way out of here," Mieza said, her voice barely a whisper. "Those guards will raise the alarm soon."
"There," Zym murmured, pointing towards a narrow side passage concealed by a heavy tapestry depicting a forgotten Naga victory. "That leads to a network of tunnels used by the archivists. It might be our quickest escape."
Mieza nodded, brushing aside the tapestry. A stale, dusty scent emanated from the passage, a stark contrast to the scent of aged parchment within the Archives. They squeezed through the narrow opening, the rough stone walls scraping against their cloaks. The tunnel was dark and silent, the only sound their own hurried breaths.
"Where does this lead?" Kael asked, his voice barely audible.
"Hopefully," Zym replied, "out of the Grand Archives and somewhere less Naga-infested."
They navigated the twisting tunnels, their pace quickened by the sense of urgency. Each creak of the stone walls, each rustle of unseen creatures in the darkness echoed like a siren in their ears.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they emerged into a dimly lit chamber. Moonlight filtered through a narrow opening in the ceiling, casting an ethereal glow on the dusty tomes and forgotten artifacts scattered around them.
Zym peered through the opening. It led to a secluded courtyard within the Grand Archives complex. Relief washed over him. They were safe, for now.
"Where do we go from here?" Zym asked, his gaze scanning the chamber.
Mieza knelt by a weathered chest nestled amongst the piles of books. "The scroll mentioned dark magic," she said, her voice thoughtful. "Maybe there's something in here that can help us identify the source."
She carefully pried open the chest, revealing a collection of ancient scrolls and grimoires bound in leather and adorned with arcane symbols. Zym approached, his celestial senses tingling with a newfound awareness as his gaze fell upon one particular scroll. It pulsed faintly with an energy unlike anything he'd encountered before – an energy steeped in darkness.
"This one," he said, his voice taut with apprehension. "It feels...wrong."
Kael reached out, his celestial and demon heritage granting him a keen understanding of such energies. He unfurled the scroll, revealing a detailed diagram of a ritual, its center inscribed with a symbol that sent chills down Zym's spine.
"This is definitely dark magic," Kael confirmed, his voice grim. "And a powerful ritual at that. The symbol in the center…it belongs to the Naja."
Zym's brows furrowed. "The Naja? the splinter faction within the Nagas themselves, of course they dabble in forbidden arts."
Kael nodded. "Exactly. This scroll details a ritual capable of manipulating elements and inciting chaos – a perfect tool to frame the Garudas and spark a war."
Mieza studied the diagram, her brow furrowed in concentration. "The ritual seems incomplete," she said. "There are missing components, but the purpose is clear."
"This confirms our suspicions," Zym said, a new surge of determination coursing through him. "The Naja are behind this. They're trying to frame the Garudas and ignite a war between the Nagas and Garudas."
"We need to find out why," Kael said, his gaze hardening with resolve. "And more importantly, we need to stop them before they plunge Vaul into a devastating war."
Mieza looked at Kael and Zym, her eyes blazing with demonic fire. "We can't let them win. This war would not only devastate Kragnir and Oephidia, but could potentially destabilize the entire realm. We need to warn the Naga council about the dark magic and expose the true culprit."
"We agree," Zym said, his voice ringing with conviction. "But how do we do that without revealing our presence here? The Nagas wouldn't look kindly on us being in the Grand Archives."
Suddenly, a flicker of movement in the courtyard outside caught Mieza's eye. She placed a finger to her lips, signaling for silence. They crouched behind the chest, their eyes fixed on the entrance. A cloaked figure materialized in the moonlight, its serpentine features slowly revealed as it stepped into the silver glow.
Blue scales glistened like polished obsidian on its arms and neck, and its eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intensity. A hood cast a shadow over its face, but the curve of its cheekbones and the sharp angle of its jawline hinted at a deadly beauty. The figure moved with a practiced grace, its steps silent on the flagstones. It approached a shadowed corner of the courtyard, stopping just out of sight from Zym, Kael, and Mieza's hiding place. The figure remained still for a moment, then a low, guttural voice echoed through the chamber.
"Report," the voice rasped, a hint of power lacing the words.
Another figure emerged from the shadows, their form slimmer and less imposing. This individual bowed low, their head obscured by the hood of their cloak.
"The ritual components are acquired, My Lord," they hissed. "The ritual is almost complete."
A cold thrill ran down Zym's spine. These were Naja, no doubt about it. He exchanged a worried glance with Kael and Mieza. They needed to hear more, to understand the full scope of the Naja's plot.
"Excellent," the leader replied. "See that the final preparations are complete. The blame for the Eye's theft will fall squarely on the Garudas as the war begins. The poisoned Garuda envoy has provoked the Garuda king and he has declared war. It's only a matter of time now."
"But what about the celestial guardians?" the smaller figure asked, their voice laced with a hint of unease. "They are already meddling."
The leader let out a harsh laugh. "Fools! Their interference will only solidify the Naga council's suspicions towards the Garudas."
A wave of relief washed over Zym, quickly replaced by a surge of anger. So the Naja had planned for this all along. They were pawns in a larger scheme, designed to further incriminate the Garudas.
But not if they could help it.
Kael, his eyes turned blue gleaming with celestial resolve. He whispered, "We need to disrupt their plan. If we can expose them, the blame won't be on the Garudas."
Mieza nodded sharply. " Yes, but We need to find a way to expose the Naja and warn the council before it's too late. But how do we do that without revealing our own presence?"
Suddenly, a new, deeper voice boomed from the shadows within the courtyard. It was a voice laden with age and authority, sending shivers down the Naja's spine.
"You dare plot such treachery within the very halls of knowledge?"
The Naja leader whirled around, curiosity filling his eyes as he saw a cloaked figure emerge from the darkness. The figure's face remained hidden.
"Who are you?" the Naja leader asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
Zym, Kael, and Mieza exchanged surprised glances. An unexpected figure had appeared, but who was it? Could it be Veridian?