The entrance to the Library of Telmaris was hidden within a narrow alley, its stone façade weathered by centuries of rain and salt from the sea. Kael, Tess, and Aro approached cautiously, the weight of their mission hanging heavily over them. The library itself was a vast structure, its walls rising like the cliffs of an ancient mountain, covered in intricate carvings and arcane symbols that shimmered faintly in the dim light.
Tess led the way, her eyes darting from shadow to shadow as if expecting to be ambushed at any moment. Despite the city's bustling atmosphere, she seemed on edge—perhaps, Kael thought, it was the weight of their secret mission, or maybe it was the shadow of the Council hanging over them.
"Stay close," Tess muttered as she pulled the hood of her cloak lower. "I don't trust this place. Too many eyes. Too many whispers."
Aro, walking a few paces ahead, nodded but didn't say anything. His usual calm had shifted into something more guarded, his face tense as he surveyed the surroundings. Kael, for his part, felt the pull of the shard again—its presence vibrating like a soft hum in the back of his mind. It was faint, but it was there, always there.
They reached the grand doors of the library, two massive oaken slabs carved with symbols that seemed to pulse with life. The doorways were guarded by two stone statues of winged figures—angels, perhaps, or something older. Aro stepped forward, producing a small sigil carved into a stone tablet. It glowed briefly before the doors groaned open, revealing a dimly lit interior.
The inside of the library was a labyrinth of towering shelves stacked with scrolls, books, and tomes that seemed to stretch endlessly in every direction. The scent of old parchment and ink filled the air, mixed with the faint tang of saltwater drifting in through the open windows. The library was quiet, but Kael couldn't shake the feeling that it was a quiet that hid something—something dangerous.
"This way," Aro said, leading them deeper into the heart of the library, where rows of shelves gave way to a vast central chamber. The floor was covered in intricate mosaics, the tiles depicting scenes of ancient battles, celestial bodies, and strange creatures that Kael couldn't identify. A massive stone column stood at the center of the room, its surface covered in more runes, and behind it, a large archway led into what appeared to be a private chamber.
"You're sure the answers are here?" Kael asked, his voice barely a whisper.
"I'm sure," Aro replied, his gaze fixed on the stone column. "This is the Hall of Shards—the heart of the library. If the records are anywhere, it's here."
Tess paused, glancing around. "It's too quiet," she muttered. "I don't like it."
Kael's heart skipped a beat. She was right. There was something unsettling about the stillness in the air. It was too perfect, too calculated. The deeper they moved into the library, the more Kael could sense the weight of ancient knowledge pressing down on him, as if the very walls were alive, watching them.
"Look," Aro said suddenly, pointing toward a set of old stone tablets lying on a raised platform. "These—these are the records we need."
Kael and Tess followed him toward the platform. The tablets were ancient, their surfaces covered in worn inscriptions. The language was archaic, but Kael could make out some of the symbols. Shards. Elements. Powers.
But there was one thing that caught his eye immediately: a symbol unlike any he had seen before. It was a twisted spiral, its edges jagged, and at its center was a glowing, ever-moving point—just like the shard Kael carried.
"This is it," Kael murmured, his voice tight. "This is what I saw when I touched the shard. This symbol."
Aro stepped forward, his hand trembling as he carefully ran his fingers along the edges of the tablets. "This is no ordinary shard," he said, his voice low. "This is a record of the True Shards—the ones that can transcend the elements. The ones that change everything."
Tess's gaze flickered toward the door. "We need to hurry. Something's wrong here. I can feel it."
But Kael was transfixed by the tablets, his eyes scanning the inscriptions feverishly. The more he read, the more he understood. The True Shards weren't just artifacts—they were anchors for the fabric of reality itself. They were tied to the world's very creation, and their power was both a gift and a curse.
"The shards," Kael murmured aloud, his finger tracing the lines of ancient text. "They were created by a race of beings—beings who sought to stabilize a dying world."
Aro's brow furrowed. "The Shardborn were created from the fragments of those ancient beings. The shards were their legacy, their hope for survival."
"But they failed," Kael said, his voice thick with realization. "They created the shards to hold reality together, but over time, the shards grew more unstable. And now—"
"Now, the world is coming undone," Aro finished, his voice grim. "The True Shards are the key. If they fall into the wrong hands, they'll unravel everything."
Kael stepped back, his mind spinning. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, and the shard pulsed violently inside him, as if reacting to the knowledge he was uncovering. He could feel the power of the True Shard rising within him, calling out to the other shards—calling out to the rift.
But before Kael could process everything, a cold voice rang out from the doorway.
"Did you really think you could hide here, Kael Ardan?"
Kael froze. He knew that voice.
Turning slowly, he saw them—three figures standing in the archway. Cloaked in shadow, their faces obscured by hoods, but their presence unmistakable.
The Council.
"You've come for us," Tess whispered, stepping into a defensive stance. "We should've known."
Kael's heart pounded in his chest. The True Shard—his only weapon—was pulsing with energy, but he wasn't sure he could control it in his current state. He glanced at Aro, who looked as alarmed as he was, and then back at Tess.
"We can't fight them here," Kael said, his voice low. "We need to get out."
Tess didn't hesitate. She was already moving, her eyes scanning the room for an escape route. "Follow me."
But before they could react, the Council members stepped forward. One of them, tall and imposing, stepped into the center of the room, his voice rich with authority.
"You have no choice but to come with us, Kael. The Shard Council has already decided your fate."