Kade sat in the oversized chair, tapping his fingers on the armrest. The faint echo of the pale man's footsteps had disappeared into the castle's endless corridors, leaving him alone with his thoughts once again.
"Archives. Useful, he says. Sure, because I totally know how to handle ancient evil books that probably want to eat my soul."
He sighed, standing up and brushing off his coat. The outfit still felt foreign, like he was wearing someone else's skin. He glanced around the room, his eyes landing on the balcony. The crimson moon hung low over the jagged cliffs, bathing the land in an eerie glow.
"Look at that. Evil world, evil castle, evil moon. Who designs a place like this? Did Evil Me have an interior decorator?"
The quiet knock at the door startled him. He straightened, quickly pulling himself into what he hoped was a commanding posture.
'Enter,'
he said, his voice cracking slightly at the end.
The door creaked open, and a young servant stepped inside, carrying a tray with a pitcher of dark liquid and a single goblet. The boy couldn't have been older than sixteen, his nervous eyes darting around the room before settling on Kade.
'Your refreshment, my lord,'
the boy stammered, bowing so deeply it looked painful.
Kade stared at the tray, then back at the boy.
'Uh, thanks,'
he said, awkwardly taking the goblet.
'You, uh, you can go now.'
The boy blinked, clearly caught off guard by the dismissal.
'But my lord… should I not…'
'No, no, it's fine,'
Kade said, waving him off.
'I'll call if I need anything.'
The boy hesitated, then bowed again and hurried out of the room, leaving Kade alone with the mysterious liquid.
"Great. Probably poisoned. Or enchanted. Or both. Cheers to me."
He sniffed it cautiously. It smelled faintly of berries, with an undertone of something metallic. Deciding against drinking it, he set the goblet down and walked to the door.
"Archives. Let's see what horrors await."
He stepped into the hallway, retracing his path with the vague memory of the pale man's instructions. The castle seemed impossibly vast, every hallway identical to the last, with walls of black stone and the ever-present crimson glow of enchanted sconces.
"How does anyone get anywhere in this place? Do they just teleport? I need a GPS."
After several wrong turns and a brief panic when he passed the same statue three times, Kade finally found himself standing in front of an arched doorway engraved with runes that pulsed faintly with light.
"Of course. Glowy runes. That doesn't scream ominous at all."
The door creaked open as he pushed it, revealing a cavernous chamber filled with towering shelves. Books of every shape and size lined the walls, their spines decorated with symbols Kade couldn't begin to decipher. Scrolls and strange artifacts were scattered across tables, and in the center of the room sat an enormous black tome on a pedestal.
Kade approached cautiously, his footsteps echoing on the stone floor.
"Okay. So this is where the evil library keeps its most evil stuff. Good to know."
He reached out to touch the tome, then quickly pulled his hand back.
"Wait. What if it's cursed? Or it bites? Do books bite?"
The sound of movement behind him made him whirl around, his heart leaping into his throat. A figure emerged from the shadows, dressed in robes similar to the pale man's, though their face was obscured by a hood.
'Master Kaedus,'
the figure said, bowing deeply.
'It is an honor to see you in the archive. How may I assist you?'
Kade hesitated, unsure how to respond.
"I don't even know what I'm looking for. Do I ask about the heroes? Do I pretend I know what I'm doing?"
He cleared his throat, deciding to bluff his way through.
'I require… information,'
he said, pausing dramatically.
'About the invaders.'
The hooded figure straightened, their head tilting slightly.
'Of course, my lord. Would you like a detailed history of their leader? Or perhaps a strategy to exploit their weaknesses?'
Kade's brain scrambled to keep up.
'Uh… both. Yes. Both would be good,'
he said, nodding as if that had been his plan all along.
The figure bowed again and moved toward a nearby shelf, their robes sweeping the floor as they searched for the appropriate materials. Kade exhaled slowly, trying to shake off the growing tension in his chest.
"Okay, so far so good. No one's figured out I have no idea what I'm doing. Yet."
The figure returned moments later, carrying two books and a scroll. They set them carefully on a table, gesturing for Kade to sit.
'These should provide what you seek, my lord,'
they said.
'Shall I remain to assist you?'
'No,'
Kade said quickly.
'That won't be necessary. I prefer… to study alone.'
The figure bowed deeply and retreated into the shadows, leaving Kade alone once more. He stared at the books in front of him, the ancient symbols on their covers seeming to glare back.
"Great. Just great. Evil homework. What's next, a pop quiz on how to lead an army?"
He sighed, opening the first book. Whatever mess he had landed in, he needed to learn fast. If he wanted to survive, he had to start thinking like the villain everyone believed he was.