A dune of subtle emotions—tinged with uncertainty—surged through Raiden as he stood before the wall separating him from where the book lay. Ash, however, cowered behind one of the shelves in fear, while Levi remained unseen, and two other guards stood silently behind Raiden.
He took a deep breath and raised his hand slightly above his shoulder, reaching for a surface just inches from the edge. With a gentle push, the wall sank inward, releasing a dusty breath into the air. In an instant, a powerful gust followed, forcing them to stumble slightly as it pushed against their feet.
Raiden shielded his face with his arms as the guards gripped the window frames for balance. The wind's sheer force tugged at him, threatening to sweep him off his feet.
He saw it.
This was no ordinary wind—it was dark energy, long sealed within the room, now unleashed at last. In no time, it swept through the entire library. Though only Ash could see the swirling darkness, its oppressive presence pressed heavily on them all.
Before things could spiral further, Raiden dug in his heels and began pushing forward.
Teeth clenched, he seized the room's edge and hauled himself through. The wind lashed against every part of his face—no pain, only resistance—yet each step felt like dragging himself through a storm.
Despite everything, he made it into the room. Cramped and barely fit for three, its walls were covered in enchanted stickers etched with ancient symbols—but Raiden had no interest in them.
His gaze was fixed on the black chest on the floor, thick chains wrapped tightly around it. From his back pocket, he drew three enchanted stickers and, bracing himself against the oppressive energy, placed them on the chest.
In an instant, the sensation was yanked abruptly back into the chest. They all collapsed to their knees, but before anyone could catch a breath, the stickers burst into flames. Raiden sprang to his feet and signaled the guards to retrieve the chest.
Without hesitation, they rushed forward, lifted it, and carried it out immediately.
''Follow them, Ash.'' Without a second's pause, she took off after them.
Raiden stayed behind, rolling his neck and cracking his knuckles and joints, steadying himself.
''So this is what they brought me here for?'' Levi asked, becoming visible once more.
With a sigh, Raiden walked to his desk, grabbed the notes and his sword. ''I bet it's capable of far worse…''
Raiden didn't spare him a glance as he turned and made his way to the training room. Without a sound, Levi faded from sight and followed.
As they entered the training hall, they found Ash, King Hannes, and three elders gathered around the chest. The original stickers Raiden had used were already burnt away, replaced with three new ones. Several guards stood nearby, their eyes fixed on the ominous object.
As Raiden walked in, King Hannes turned to face him. Once he was close enough, the king silently handed him a few stickers.
"Very few know the true location of the Bookkeeper's hideout… Even the ones who built it had their memories wiped clean."
He paused briefly. "That said, the Kingdom of Eldon took the same precautions, and yet their book was still stolen. So stay alert—they might find it no matter what."
Raiden gave a firm nod, watching as the three elders moved a few steps away and began chanting an incantation. A portal shimmered into existence on the wall. At that exact moment, Aeris and Leo stepped in—Leo beaming with a huge smile, his luggage slung over his shoulder.
Raiden gave him a brief smirk, then motioned for Aeris to come closer. When she did, he leaned in and whispered something in her ear.
Her eyes widened at once, but with just a subtle lift of her eyebrow, she nodded firmly and slipped out of the room without a word.
"The teleportation is ready, my lord," the elders said, backing away from the portal.
King Hannes turned to Raiden, gesturing toward the portal. "One of the rooms holds a portal that will allow you to travel across the city at will. However, this one will be dismantled after use—so whenever you need access to the city, you must return to the palace to have a new one created."
Leaning in, he whispered the exact location where Raiden was to hide the book. Then, with a faint smile, he nodded toward the portal. "You can go now."
Instead, Raiden turned to the chest and pressed three new stickers onto its surface.
"We're not leaving yet. We must wait for Aeris."
King Hannes' face darkened. "Why is that? I was under the impression you'd be traveling with your apprentice alone."
Raiden glanced at him. "She's my tutor."
The king let out a small smirk. "Fair enough."
They waited in silence, Leo's curiosity drawing him closer to examine the chest. Not even five minutes passed before Aeris returned and gave Raiden a sharp nod.
With a smirk, he motioned for her to help Leo carry the chest. As soon as they had it in hand, Raiden turned to King Hannes, gave a firm nod, and without another word, followed the others—Ash by his side—as they stepped through the portal.
Raiden appeared in the living room of a grand, two-story library. It exuded classic luxury—rich with dark wood paneling and towering bookshelves that reached from floor to ceiling across both levels. Obviously, every book on the shelves matched those from the original library.
Directly across from him, a grand curved double staircase rose gracefully, adorned with intricate wrought iron railings that led to the upper gallery.
A crystal chandelier hung from an ornate coffered ceiling, its brilliance enhanced by warm ambient lighting that filled the room.
Plush burgundy leather sofas and armchairs were arranged around a beautiful Persian rug, rich with deep red tones and intricate patterns.
To either side, curved ceiling walkways stretched outward, forming a tunnel-like passage bathed in the glow of thousands of star-like lights. Shelves were built into the walls along the walkways, holding the same familiar books as the rest of the library.
Raiden slowly turned his head, taking in the grandeur of the space. As the portal sealed shut behind him, Levi revealed himself.
"This place is… undeniably beautiful."
Leo and Aeris whipped around, their hearts leaping in their chests at the sudden sight of Levi. But before they could speak, Raiden stepped in.
"Pick up the chest. We're moving."
Raiden started up the stairs. Aeris and Leo, still stunned, stood staring at Levi, who seemed to relish the attention and struck a playful pose. But with just one sharp glance from Raiden, they scrambled after him, carrying the chest between them.
While the others stood in confusion, Raiden's thoughts were elsewhere—wondering if the rooms here would shine as brightly as the one he once called his.
At the top floor, Raiden took a moment to scan both directions. The tunnel-like walkways mirrored those below, curving out to either side.
He turned left, and after a few strides, stopped at the second door on the right.
Inside, the room looked nearly identical to the last—its surfaces adorned with enchanted stickers, repeating the familiar pattern.
The moment they placed the chest inside, Raiden locked the door. With a heavy breath, he slipped the key into his pocket and turned to Aeris.
"Did you do it?"
"Yes, I added the poison to the elders' meal… but why?" she asked, a confused expression on her face.
Raiden smirked as he began to walk away. "It was my way of saying goodbye to them…"
His smile faded. Both his expression and tone turned cold as he stopped mid-step.
"We need to talk."