Even in the basement, the sound of bells could be heard calling the faithful to pray. For the priesthood, today was a day of prayers and thanksgiving. Olrich though had other plans.

Today would be the day he learned the name of the goddess of will, the day he redeemed himself. As the bells rang he did a final inventory of his preparations. Satisfied that he had done everything he could, he took a deep breath and began.

Placing his shoulder against the bookshelf, he pushed. He felt his foot sliding against the stone floor as he strained. After what felt like an impossible distance, the sole of his shoe caught on the mortar between the stones. With this new purchase he felt the bookshelf begin to slide.

The sound of wood squealing against stone made his hair stand on end, but he kept moving. The bells will cover the sound. I just need to finish before they do.

…

The bells had long since stopped ringing, but he was done. He stepped back to appraise his work one last time. The bookshelf completely covered the opening to the stairwell. The bookshelf was in turn braced with tables and chairs from around the basement. It is as good as I can make it. I can now only hope that it will be enough.

Turning his back to the stairs, he picked up a small lantern from the floor. The faint glow fit emitted caused the shadows to stretch and dance in the dark basement. He turned his back on the blocked entryway, and walked into the maze of shelves he created. Even knowing every turn, he had to backtrack more than once, as the lantern’s failing light caused him to miss a turn in the dark.

He wandered through the maze of bookshelves he had created, as the lantern sputtered with the last of the mana in its stone. Squeezing through a small gap he slid a small empty shelve into the gap behind him. Grabbing a book from a prepared pile he began filling it with books. Praise be to the goddesses! This would not be possible if the head librarian had kept sending his juniors down here to reshelve books.

Olrich began to hum an old hymn as he placed the books. When one follows the path, all is made easy…

…

Despite his backtracking and hiding of entrances, it was not long before Olrich reached his destination. The lantern died as he approached the door that held the prophets’ words, but the glow of holy light emanating from it was enough for him to see by.

Laying the lantern on the ground he knelt beside a blanket holding his tools. Mana stones and burglar’s tools lay on the blanket in a pile. Glancing up at the door he could see the holy light flickering through the layers of spells placed on the door. As if staring at the sun, small threads of holy light slowly traced out the spells, burning their shapes into his eyes.

Closing his eyes he saw the dark afterimages, as if he had gazed upon the sun. These black and purple patterns, were not simple blobs but intricate models of the spells. He could make out alarm spells and a curse to electrocute any who touched the door without the key. This will be painful.

Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

He shook his head and turned back to the tools. I have a task. The consequences are irrelevant, I need only succeed and find their favor. He gently moved the hammer and other tools to the side as they would only be needed once the spells were disabled. A foot from the door he placed a small pry bar. Then he began to place the exhausted mana stones on the side of the bar closer to the door. The string of mana-less stones softly reflected the holy light from the door.

I almost forgot, he thought to himself grabbing the lantern. I have one more.

With practiced ease he opened the lantern and pulled out the small mana stone placing it with the others. Gently placing his finger on the bar, he aligned it so the stones would touch the door together. It is time.

Muttering a quick prayer, Olrich slowly began sliding the bar forward. As the stones approached the door they began to glow. Olrich could see from the light reflected on the stone’s fading, as the stones themselves began to shine. Just before the stones touched the door, the area was bathed a dozen colors form the glowing stones. Then the stones touched the door.

The stones glow became blinding and Olrich clenched his eye closed against the light. Popping sounds followed as the mana in the door overloaded the stones causing them to shatter. Olrich felt sharp pains in his hands as the shards of the stones cut into his fingers.

Olrich gritted his teach and began to pray for the goddesses' mercy when the last stones gave and the bar slid home against the door. Waves of pain instantly struck him, as the spells on the door activated with all their remaining power. The spells struck him one after another, each bigger than the last, until eventually his consciousness fell away.

[at the loom]

“It is time. I should be there when he wakes,” Lac said holding out the basket to Atr.

“You do not need to rush. The spells have knocked him unconscious, and it will take some time before he wakes.” Atr sighed as her sister responded by shoving the basket into her arms, and running for the door.

Turning to Clo she muttered, “Lac is becoming almost as bad as Kao.”

Clo snorted and ran her finger across the fabric. “She always has been. We should feel lucky that she is willing to work with us at all. If her nature was stronger, like ours or Kao’s, she would not have sided with your plan.”

“My plan?” Atr asked raising an eyebrow. “I do not recall you objecting to it.”

“I also did not create it,” Clo countered calmly, “I have only one goal as you know.”

“Yes, I know,” Atr replied, sighing. “You only care about the fabric. As long as it is solid and smooth, it does not matter. But as I keep telling you, this is the best way to do that.”

Clo’s fingers felt the small ridges from her recent shifting of threads and scowled.