After successfully closing the fissure, the group split up, each heading toward their next mission. The weight of their recent encounters hung heavily in the air, but there was no time to rest. Amara needed to return to the palace to inform her father, the king, of the growing threat posed by the Sovereign and the fissures. Before parting ways, she gave Lumumba access to a crucial asset: the royal library—a place where he hoped to find answers about how to return home.
Amara, always pragmatic, reminded him of the bigger picture. "We may have won today, but Raven isn't done. Keep your guard up."
Lumumba, ever casual, offered his trademark grin, though a more serious gleam flashed in his eyes. "Don't worry, Princess. I've got a knack for sniffing out trouble... and running straight into it."
On their way to the library, Lumumba and Jon, still traveling together, stumbled across a familiar sight: the meat vendor who had fed Lumumba on their first day in Valarys. The large, jovial merchant waved at them, recognizing Lumumba instantly.
"Ah! You! The hungry traveler!" he called, offering a freshly roasted chunk of meat as if he'd expected them.
Lumumba glanced at Jon, amused. "Looks like we're regulars now." He grabbed the meat and took a hearty bite. "Still good."
Jon, still a little shaken from their earlier encounters, gave him a confused look. "We just barely survived, and you're focused on food?"
Lumumba winked between bites. "Jon, if you start worrying after every fight, you'll never have an appetite. Me? I prefer problems with a full stomach."
Jon sighed, though a small smile tugged at his lips. "I suppose that's... your version of wisdom."
With bellies full and spirits slightly lifted, they continued toward the towering gates of the royal library. The massive structure loomed over them, filled with forgotten scrolls, ancient tomes, and knowledge long buried by time. But before Lumumba could even step inside, he felt a familiar chill creep into the air, a presence both calculating and unwelcome. Raven.
The royal library was a grand, quiet place. Every step echoed through the rows of towering bookshelves, each crammed with ancient manuscripts and dust-covered volumes. As Lumumba wandered through, searching for answers on how to return to his world, he felt that unmistakable sensation of someone watching him.
There, standing between the rows of books, was Raven Blackthorn, calmly examining an ancient tome. His posture was poised, controlled, and his fingers traced the pages with deliberate precision. He didn't look up immediately, but Lumumba knew Raven was fully aware of his presence.
"Lumumba, isn't it?" Raven's voice was smooth, almost serene. "You are... exactly as I anticipated. A fascinating blend of chaos and arrogance. The kind of man who never considers the consequences of his actions, but acts purely on instinct."
Leaning casually against one of the shelves, Lumumba flashed a wry grin, hands in his pockets. "'By instinct,' huh? Oh, is that 'cause I'm brown? You a racist, Raven? C'mon, you know it's not cool to be racist. And wow, another guy who thinks he's got me all figured out after skimming a few pages of the script. Seriously, it's getting old. Don't you have anything better than the 'chaos and instinct' cliché?"
Raven barely raised an eyebrow, his face remaining a calm, collected mask. "No, no. I'm not racist. My physician's an elf, actually." A cold, calculating smile played at the corners of his lips. "But it's fascinating how much you revel in absurdity. Every action you take seems to defy logic... and yet, you keep moving forward. Like a puppet dancing randomly, unaware it's still attached to invisible strings."
Lumumba laughed, pushing off the shelf and walking closer with a deliberate swagger. "Wow, impressive. You sure it's not you who's imagining things? 'Cause from where I'm standing, I haven't seen any strings yet. And between us? Anyone trying to pull them is gonna get cut—by a katana, or maybe a punch. Depends on my mood."
Raven remained unphased, watching Lumumba with those piercing gray eyes. "Humor. The last refuge of men who refuse to face reality. You joke, you flail, believing your wit can somehow escape the laws of this world... but everything has a cost, Lumumba. Every action, every word. I learned that a long time ago."
Lumumba's grin only widened as he glanced around the towering shelves of the library, pretending to be bored. "Yeah, well, I learned not to care about that stuff. See, you're the type who locks himself up in a manor, pulling strings in the dark, counting every step. Me? I like to improvise, break everything, and see what's still standing afterward."
A flicker of contempt crossed Raven's eyes, though he remained calm and in control. "It's exactly that approach that will be your undoing. Chaos, madness, unpredictability—these are the toys of weak minds. In the end, the only thing that matters in this world is control. And I, Lumumba, have control. Over everything. Even you, if you were smart enough to realize it."
Lumumba stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with defiance. "Oh yeah? You really think you've got me all figured out, that you've already set your trap? Cute. But here's the thing: I've never followed the rules, and I'm pretty good at breaking them. You can't predict what even I don't know I'm gonna do yet."
Raven's smile remained cold, but there was a hint of something darker beneath it. "Keep believing that unpredictability is a weapon. It will lead you straight into my hands. You and I may walk different paths... but in the end, there is only one victor. And it will always be the one who sees beyond the chaos."
Lumumba laughed loudly, almost mockingly, as if Raven's words were the punchline of a joke only he could understand. "You know what? I kinda like your confidence. Reminds me of the other bad guys I've buried six feet under after they finished their monologues. So here's the plan: you keep playing the chess master, and I'll be the guy who flips the board. Deal?"
Raven stared at him for a long moment, unflinching, before turning away, his voice as cold as ever. "Enjoy the freedom you think you have, Lumumba. Because soon, you'll discover that even chaos has limits... and I'm the one who decides when you reach them."
Lumumba shrugged, turning to leave, hands back in his pockets. "Wow, this is gonna be fun. See you in the next scene, man. And don't worry—I'll make sure to break a few things along the way, just to keep you on your toes."