The heavy thud of the iron door echoed through the Archive, sending a shiver down Sigrid’s spine. She glanced over her shoulder at the sealed entrance before turning back to the labyrinth of knowledge. Endless rows of shelves towered above them, each crammed with ancient tomes, scrolls, and strange objects glowing faintly in the dim light.

Kaelen ran a hand over a nearby shelf, brushing dust from the spines of several books. “Looks like we’ve got our work cut out for us. Let’s hope it’s worth it.”

Sigrid moved further in, her sharp eyes scanning the room. Her voice was steady, but there was a faint edge of unease. “Beasts like the Liorath aren’t just strong—they’re woven into the fabric of the world itself. If the hunters have records of them, they’ll be buried deep.”

Kaelen chuckled dryly, picking up a book titled Of Moonlit Terrors. “Buried deep is right. With my luck, it’s probably in some ancient script no one’s translated for a century.”

“Then you’d better hope I’m good at deciphering,” Sigrid quipped, shooting him a quick smirk before refocusing.

The two worked in silence for a time, combing through texts and scrolls. Many of the writings were indecipherable, written in languages neither of them could recognize. Others were merely fragments of records, detailing hunts gone wrong or notes on creatures long forgotten.

Kaelen finally broke the silence, his tone frustrated. “We’re looking for a needle in a haystack, and the haystack’s on fire. How does anyone find anything in this place?”

Sigrid paused, holding up a small, rune-covered stone she’d found nestled among some scrolls. “Sometimes it’s not about finding. It’s about listening.”

Kaelen raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. “And what’s that supposed to mean?”

Sigrid pressed the stone, and a soft hum resonated through the chamber. The runes began to glow faintly, casting a pale blue light across her face. A deep, melodic voice echoed from the stone, speaking in a language Kaelen didn’t understand.

Sigrid furrowed her brow, focusing intently. “It’s a record… from centuries ago. A hunter faced something similar to the Liorath, though it wasn’t the same. It says the beast was tied to a relic, a talisman that anchored it to this realm.”

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Kaelen’s eyes narrowed. “A relic? So what—you’re saying if we find this thing, we can weaken the Liorath?”

“Maybe. If the principle holds, severing its connection to the talisman could strip it of its power—or banish it entirely,” Sigrid explained, her voice thoughtful.

Kaelen leaned back against the shelf, crossing his arms. “Alright, so we’re looking for a talisman. Any idea what it looks like?”

Sigrid shook her head, holding up the stone as the voice faded. “No. The record ends there.”

Kaelen let out a sharp exhale. “Of course it does. Nothing’s ever simple, is it?”

Before Sigrid could respond, a low rumble reverberated through the Archive. Both hunters froze, their hands instinctively moving to their weapons. The torches lining the walls flickered, and the shadows seemed to grow deeper.

Kaelen’s voice was low, laced with tension. “Tell me that’s just the wind.”

Sigrid’s grip tightened on her dagger. “In a sealed room underground? Try again.”

The rumble grew louder, shifting into a guttural growl that seemed to come from everywhere at once. A chill swept through the room, and the air grew thick with the scent of decay.

Kaelen drew his sword, its golden glow illuminating the immediate area. “Guess the Archive’s got its own guard dog.”

Out of the shadows emerged a creature unlike anything they’d ever seen. Its body was a mass of sinewy black tendrils, constantly shifting and writhing as if alive. Eyes glowed faintly from its amorphous form, each one staring hungrily at the hunters.

Sigrid muttered under her breath, “What in all the hells is that?”

Kaelen stepped forward, his blade gleaming. “I don’t know, but I’m about to make it someone else’s problem.”

The creature lunged, its tendrils stretching out toward them with unnatural speed. Kaelen met the attack head-on, slicing through the appendages with a precision born of countless battles. Each strike sent shudders through the creature, but it quickly reformed, the severed tendrils regenerating almost instantly.

Sigrid raised a hand, her magic flaring to life. A pulse of energy shot from her palm, striking the creature and forcing it back. The room was bathed in a pale blue light as her magic intensified, forming a barrier between them and the beast.

“It’s not enough!” she called out. “We need a way to contain it!”

Kaelen’s mind raced. He had no idea what the creature was, let alone how to kill it. But as the golden glow of his sword reflected off the surrounding shelves, an idea began to form.

“Sigrid! Keep it busy!” he shouted, darting toward one of the pedestals.

Without hesitation, Sigrid launched another barrage of magic, her movements fluid and precise. The creature writhed in response, its attacks growing more frenzied.

Kaelen reached the pedestal, grabbing a heavy iron-bound book. Flipping through its pages, he found a set of runes etched into the parchment. They glowed faintly, similar to the ones on the Archive’s door.

He held the book aloft, shouting over the chaos. “Let’s see how you like this!”

The runes flared to life, and a beam of golden light shot from the book, striking the creature. It let out an ear-splitting screech as the light enveloped it, its form beginning to dissolve.

Sigrid lowered her hand, watching in awe as the creature was pulled into the light, its tendrils flailing helplessly. Within moments, it was gone, leaving behind only silence.

Kaelen dropped the book, breathing heavily. “Well… that was fun.”

Sigrid gave him a look that was equal parts exasperation and amusement. “Your definition of fun needs serious work.”

Kaelen smirked, sheathing his sword. “You love it.”

She shook her head, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips. “Let’s just find that talisman and get out of here before something worse shows up.”

Kaelen nodded, his expression turning serious. “Agreed. Let’s move.”

The Archive, it seemed, held more than just knowledge—and they were just beginning to uncover its secrets.