Kael trailed behind Elyra through the archive's winding aisles, the Inking still flitting around his head like an overly curious moth. The air grew warmer and damper as they walked, the scent of earth and greenery replacing the sweet, papery smell of the main halls. Ahead, the shelves gave way to a vast, open space filled with towering plants, glowing fungi, and vines that seemed to pulse with life. It was unlike anything Kael had ever seen—part garden, part jungle, part something entirely otherworldly.
"What is this place?" Kael asked, his voice hushed with awe.
"The Herbarium," Elyra replied, "It's where the archive grows its rarest plants and fungi. Thorne takes care of it."
As if on cue, a gruff voice called out from behind a particularly large fern. "Who's there?"
A dwarf stepped into view, rolling up his sleeves. His hands were dusted with flour, and a sturdy apron covered his usual attire. Behind him, a stone oven crackled, sending the scent of fresh bread into the air."Thorne," Elyra greeted. "Baking again?"Thorne shrugged. "Even a gruff old dwarf needs a hobby." His sharp eyes landed on Kael. "You're a newcomer."Kael nodded. "Kael. And, uh, do you just… bake in the middle of a magical library?"Thorne smirked. "When the library lets me."Kael turned to Elyra, lowering his voice. "Are we here for a cooking lesson or something?""Not exactly," Elyra said.
"Thorne," Elyra said, gesturing to Kael. "He's… helping me with something."
Thorne raised an eyebrow. "Helping you? With what?"
Elyra walking toward a large wooden podium. Upon it, she lay the aged parchment that shimmered faintly inside a glass case. "We're here for this."
Elyra hesitated, glancing at Kael. "We're looking for the pages of the Celestial Codex."
From afar coming, a voice interrupted from behind them.. "Elyra, please tell me you didn't seek the page again."They turned to see a woman approaching, her glasses perched precariously on her nose and a large tome tucked under her arm. Her half-elven features were sharp, her expression cautious but curious."This is Lira," Elyra said, introducing the newcomer. "She's been studying the archive for years."
Lira nodded, her gaze flicking to Kael. "And you are?"
"Kael," he said, offering a smile. "I, uh, found my way here by accident."
Lira's lips twitched, though whether it was a smile or a smirk, Kael couldn't tell.
"Accident or not, you're here now. And if you're helping Elyra, you'll need to know what you're dealing with."
Elyra held up her hands. "And, Lira, I didn't seek it. It's The Archive, it led me to it."
Thorne groaned. "You always say that, and it always means trouble."
"And this time, I've found it," Elyra added with excitement.Thorne's expression darkened. "The Codex? That's a dangerous path, Elyra. You know what happened the last time someone tried to piece it together." Worries heard in his words "We're here only to maintain the Archive"
Kael frowned. "What happened?"
"It's a long story." Lira says, as she scrap the memories away.
Lira continue "The Codex is more than just a book. It's a key to something… ancient. And dangerous."
Lira stepped closer to the podium, adjusting her glasses as she studied the page. "This script... it looks ancient, but distorted. Is this really from the Celestial Codex?""Yes," Elyra confirmed. "But there's a problem. I can't decode."
Lira leaned in, frowning. The words on the page shimmered, rearranging themselves the longer they were stared at. "It's magically sealed. We'll need more context before it'll reveal anything."
"So, what do we do?" Kael asked.
The half-dwarf, half-human, Zara, who had been leaning against a table, finally spoke up, "You're suggesting we hunt down more pages, aren't you?"
Elyra introduce Zara to Kael, "That's Zara" Elyra continue, hesitated before nodding. "And yes, Zara, I think it's the only way to understand what's going on. The Archive has been behaving strangely. If the text on this page is a warning, we need to decipher it."
Thorne folded his arms. "Our job is to maintain the Archive, not chase down old legends."
"And what if the Archive is trying to tell us something?" Elyra countered. "What if, ignoring it causes more damage?"
A silence settled over the group. Lira adjusted her glasses, looking torn. Zara studied Elyra with narrowed eyes, while Thorne let out a slow breath.
Kael finally spoke. "Look, I don't know much about magical books or talking libraries, but if there's even a chance this page is important, shouldn't we at least try?"
Thorne sighed, rubbing his beard. "I hate to say it, but the kid has a point."
Lira exhaled, resigned. "Fine. But if we're doing this, we do it properly. No reckless decisions."
Zara rolled her eyes. "That rules Elyra out."
Elyra smirked. "I'll try to behave."
Thorne let out a low grumble but turned toward a long wooden table nearby. "If we're going to do this, let's at least have some tea first." He pulled out a kettle and began preparing a pot. "It's not every day I get company in my kitchen."
As the tea brewed, the group settled in. The warmth of the room, the gentle crackling of the oven, and the scent of herbs steeping in hot water created an unexpected moment of peace.
Kael took a careful sip, his eyes widening. "This is actually really good. What kind of tea is this?"
Thorne smirked, "Of course it is." setting his mug down. "and it's Moonglow Fern, mixed with Emberleaf bark. Grows only in the deepest parts of the Herbarium. Has a way of clearing the mind."
Kael leaned forward, intrigued. "This whole place... it's more than just plants, isn't it?"
Thorne nodded. "It's alive. The vines shift when no one's looking, the mushrooms glow brighter when there's danger nearby. Every plant here has a purpose. Some heal, some poison, and some… well, let's just say you don't want to touch them unless you know what you're doing."
Lira sipped her tea thoughtfully. "That explains why the Herbarium isn't just open to anyone. Too many things in here could be misused."
Thorne grunted. "That's why we're here, THAT is why I'm here—to keep it balanced. If something throws the Archive out of order, the Herbarium is the first to react."
Zara raised an eyebrow. "So, does this make us official treasure hunters now?"
Lira sighed. "Let's just say… we're researchers with an unfortunate tendency for adventure."
Kael leaned back, swirling the remnants of his tea in his cup. "So, if the Herbarium reacts to the Archive's balance, does that mean something's already wrong?"
Thorne sighed, staring into his own mug. "Maybe. The plants have been shifting more than usual, and some of the rarer ones are wilting too fast. It's not natural."
Elyra set her cup down, her brows furrowed. "That could be another sign that the Archive is trying to warn us. The imbalance isn't just theoretical anymore."
Lira ran a finger along the rim of her cup, deep in thought. "Then finding the rest of the pages isn't just about curiosity—it might be necessary to prevent whatever's coming."
A long silence stretched between them. The weight of their unspoken agreement settled heavily.
Thorne let out a low grunt. "Well, if we're going to be chasing legends, we'll need more than just tea to keep us going. I suppose I should start making preparations."
Elyra smirked. "See? You're already invested."
Thorne rolled his eyes but didn't deny it.
Elyra lifted her cup with a knowing smile. "Then here's to the quest—and to keeping this place standing."
The lanterns flickered as if in response, and for the first time, the Archive felt like it was listening.