Kael's hands trembled slightly as he turned the pages of the massive tome resting on the pedestal. The glow of the floating orbs above cast flickering shadows across the ancient text, each rune etched into the pages pulsing faintly with power.
Alyssa stepped closer, her dark cloak brushing against the polished obsidian floor. "What does it say? Can you decipher it?"
Kael glanced at her, his golden eyes glowing faintly. "I can, but it's not a pleasant read." He pointed to a section of the text. "These markings describe the source of the corruption. It's not a natural phenomenon. Someone—or something—is deliberately spreading it."
Rynn leaned in, his expression skeptical. "What kind of 'someone'? Are we talking another god, or just a really ambitious lunatic?"
Kael didn't look up, his attention fixed on the text. "The tome refers to a name: Zarathus Primus."
The room fell silent at the mention of the name. Lyra furrowed her brow, her voice cautious. "Zarathus… the first creation? The one who rebelled against the Author?"
"Precisely," Kael said, his tone grim.
Alyssa crossed her arms, her usual smirk absent. "I've heard stories about Zarathus. They say he was stripped of his power and cast into the void for defying the Author's will. How could he be behind this?"
Kael closed the book with a heavy thud. "That's what we need to find out. But if Zarathus has returned, it means he's found a way to escape his imprisonment—and regain some of his power."
As the group pondered the implications, a faint rustling sound echoed through the library. Rynn's ears perked up, and his hands instinctively went to his daggers. "Did anyone else hear that?"
Lyra notched an arrow, her gaze scanning the endless rows of shelves. "We're not alone."
Kael turned, his staff glowing with a faint golden light. "The library is reacting to our presence. The Shadow Warden was just the beginning."
Alyssa smirked, though there was a hint of nervousness in her eyes. "Well, if they want us gone, they'll have to try harder than that."
The rustling grew louder, accompanied by the sound of heavy footsteps. From the shadows between the shelves emerged a group of figures—humanoid, but clearly not human. Their bodies were made of twisted, blackened wood, their faces featureless except for glowing red eyes.
"Sentinels," Kael said, his tone sharp. "They're constructs designed to protect the library."
Rynn twirled his daggers, a grin spreading across his face. "Protect it from what? Knowledge thieves?"
"Or anyone who gets too close to the truth," Kael replied. "Defend yourselves!"
The Sentinels moved with unnatural speed, their wooden limbs creaking as they lunged toward the group.
Lyra loosed an arrow, striking one in the chest. The creature stumbled but didn't fall, the arrow barely splintering its body. "They're tougher than they look!" she called out.
Rynn dashed forward, his daggers flashing as he targeted another Sentinel. His blades sliced through the creature's arm, severing it at the joint. "Not invincible, though!"
Kael raised his staff, chanting quickly. "Radiant Barrage!" A flurry of golden projectiles shot from his staff, striking several Sentinels and reducing them to smoldering piles of ash.
Alyssa stepped forward, her hands crackling with dark energy. "Let's see how they handle this." She thrust her palms forward. "Eclipse Surge!" A wave of shadowy tendrils erupted from the ground, ensnaring the Sentinels and crushing them under their weight.
Despite their combined efforts, more Sentinels emerged from the shadows, their numbers seemingly endless.
"There's too many!" Lyra shouted, her arrows running low.
Kael's eyes narrowed. "They're bound to the library's magic. If we disrupt the source, we can stop them."
"And where's the source?" Rynn asked, dodging a Sentinel's swipe.
Kael pointed to the pedestal. "The tome. It's anchoring their energy. We need to sever the connection."
Kael moved quickly to the pedestal, dodging attacks as he chanted under his breath. His staff glowed brighter, the light forming intricate symbols in the air.
"Cover him!" Alyssa shouted, releasing another wave of dark magic at the advancing Sentinels.
Rynn and Lyra moved to Kael's sides, fending off the creatures as he worked. Lyra's arrows flew with precision, each one finding its mark, while Rynn's daggers danced in the dim light, striking with lethal accuracy.
Kael's voice rose, the magic in his words resonating through the library. "Sealbreaker's Judgement!"
A burst of golden light erupted from the pedestal, spreading outward in a shockwave that disintegrated the remaining Sentinels. The library fell silent once more, the oppressive energy lifting slightly.
The group stood in the aftermath, their breathing heavy.
"Is it over?" Rynn asked, his voice cautious.
"For now," Kael said, lowering his staff. "The tome's connection to the library has been severed, but we've only delayed the inevitable. Zarathus's influence is spreading, and he won't stop until he's achieved his goal."
Lyra frowned. "What's his goal, exactly? Why corrupt the realms?"
"To overthrow the Author," Kael said simply. "And claim creation for himself."
Alyssa raised an eyebrow. "And you think we can stop him?"
Kael's gaze hardened. "We have to. If Zarathus succeeds, everything—the heavens, the earth, all of existence—will be plunged into chaos."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of their mission settling heavily on their shoulders.
"Then we'd better get moving," Rynn said, forcing a grin. "I don't plan on letting some ancient wannabe god ruin my retirement plans."
Kael allowed a faint smile. "Agreed. Let's go. Our next destination is the Temple of Starlight. If we're going to fight Zarathus, we'll need all the power we can gather."
With that, the group turned and left the library, their resolve stronger than ever. The battle against Zarathus had only just begun.
End of Chapter 11