"Do you feel that, Vex?" she whispered. The air was different here, thicker, almost alive. She couldn't explain it, but something called to her, drawing her deeper into the castle's heart.
Vex's four eyes gleamed in the dim light as he nodded. "Magic... strong here," he responded. "Castle... has many secrets. This way."
He leaped off her shoulder, landing gracefully on the cold stone floor, then skittered ahead, his small form almost swallowed by the shadows. Irynefer followed, her curiosity piqued. They moved through another corridor, past heavy wooden doors, until Vex stopped before a large door carved with intricate runes. The wood was dark and ancient and the symbols etched into it glowed faintly.
"Behind here... old magic," Vex said, his voice almost reverent.
Irynefer reached out, running her fingers over the runes. A tingling sensation spread through her hand, as if the door was alive, responding to her touch. She hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open. It swung wide with a groan, revealing a vast room bathed in a strange, ethereal light.
The chamber was filled with shelves upon shelves of ancient books and scrolls, much like the study she had found earlier, but on a grander scale. The ceiling arched high above, disappearing into darkness, and the walls were lined with tapestries depicting scenes of battle, magic, and creatures she couldn't name. At the center of the room stood a large table, its surface covered with maps and scattered papers.
"This must be the largest library here," Irynefer breathed, stepping inside. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight, the sheer volume of knowledge stored here overwhelming. "All these books... what do they contain?"
"Histories... spells... secrets," Vex said, leaping onto a nearby table. He picked up a scroll, his claws delicately unrolling it. "Many truths hidden. Castle... guardian of knowledge."
Irynefer moved to the table, her eyes drawn to a large, ornate book lying open in the center. Its pages were filled with elegant script and illustrations of mythical creatures and powerful symbols. As she flipped through the pages, a particular illustration caught her eye—a detailed drawing of the void, swirling darkness consuming everything in its path.
"The void collapse," she murmured, recognizing the image from the journal she had found earlier.
Vex hopped over, peering at the book with a thoughtful expression. "Userkaf knows. He watches," he said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But not only him. Others... watching too."
"Others?" Irynefer frowned, looking up at Vex. "What do you mean?"
Vex's eyes darted around as if checking for eavesdroppers. "Shadows... have eyes. Ears. Power attracts power. You... are not alone." He picked up a small, round object from the table—a glass orb. "This... shows truth. Look."
He held the orb out to her, and Irynefer took it hesitantly. As she gazed into its depths, the glass seemed to clear, revealing a swirling mist. Shapes formed within the mist, and she saw herself standing in the library, Vex beside her. The image shifted, and she saw the castle with its walls glowing with runes. Then, the scene changed again, and she saw a figure standing in the shadows, watching her. The figure's eyes glowed with an eerie light, but she couldn't see the face clearly.
"Who is that?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. "Is she... watching me?"
Vex nodded. "Guardian. Seeker. She knows you... feels your presence. Not all bad, but... must be careful. Power... attracts power."
Irynefer placed the orb back on the table, her mind racing. If others were aware of her, if they were watching, then her role in this world was more significant than she had realized.
"Come on, Vex," she said, moving deeper into the library. "We've got a lot of reading to do."
Together, they studied into the ancient texts, searching for clues, for anything that would help Irynefer understand her role in this strange, eternal night.
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Irynefer trudged back to her room, her mind whirling with the secrets of the castle. The journal she found had been intriguing, but it left her with more questions than answers. The mention of the "void collapse" echoed in her mind, like a ghost she couldn't shake. What was it? And how was she involved in all of this? She had hoped exploring the castle would offer clarity, but instead, she felt even more lost. She entered her room and let the heavy door fall shut behind her.
With a frustrated sigh, she collapsed onto the bed. Irynefer rolled onto her back, staring at the dark ceiling, her thoughts churning. Sleep eluded her, and the more she thought about the void and Userkaf's the more anxious she became. Maybe she should confront him, force the answers out of him. But a small voice inside her held her back. If Userkaf hadn't brought it up, maybe there was a reason. Perhaps she wasn't ready to know, or maybe knowing too soon would change things in a way she couldn't foresee.
She let out a sigh, feeling the tension ease out of her muscles. Turning on her side, she spotted the small spell book she had taken from the library. As her fingers grazed the textured leather, Vex's words came to mind – he had told her it was written in old Egyptian and that, with practice, she could read it. Her fingers traced the ancient symbols on the cover.
"Alright, let's see if this works," she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She visualized the power inside her, the invisible thread that had connected her to the void. Slowly, she felt it stir, warming her from the inside out. Her heart beat steadily, and her mind quieted. She opened her eyes and focused on the pages.
This time, the symbols didn't look like mere scribbles. They danced before her eyes, rearranging themselves into phrases she could almost understand. Words flickered in her mind protection, light, darkness. Yet the full sentences eluded her and the meaning slipped away just as she thought she grasped it.
"Ugh, why is this so hard?" she groaned, flopping back onto the bed. She was close, she could feel it, but not close enough. She made a mental note to ask Userkaf for help. For now, though, she felt too drained to do more. Her eyes grew heavy, and she drifted off to sleep.