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Condemned To Death
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12th September, 1507
As the students pressed forward, with their resolve strengthened by Aldric's words, they soon arrived at a separate building standing apart from the main academy. Its imposing presence was marked by four towering spires rising from each corner, casting ominous shadows in the fading light.
Approaching the entrance, they beheld a grand archway adorned with intricate carvings, a craftsmanship of a bygone era. Just beyond, a pair of double wooden doors stood, their surfaces etched with mysterious symbols that seemed to pulse with energy.
Aldric halted before the doors as he produced a silver coin from his pocket. With a practiced motion, he inserted the coin into a small hole in the door.
The coin’s surface shimmered briefly before vanishing into nothingness.
In an instant, the atmosphere shifted, a faint hum filling the air as the wooden doors swung open of their own accord. The students exchanged glances; their anticipation mingled with a sense of trepidation as they prepared themselves.
As Aldric led the students into the building, they were greeted by the sight of a wooden desk positioned a few meters ahead. Seated behind it was a man in a white gown, his attention focused intently on a book before him as he diligently wrote with a black quill.
The building was filled with the scent of aged parchment and ink, the shelves lining the walls adorned with hundreds of books, each bound in a different hue. The interesting thing about this library was that behind the man in the white gown, the library seemed to stretch on infinitely with no end in sight. The students were very much shocked by this since this was the first time they had seen such an amazing place.
But it was the ceiling that truly captured their attention which was a magnificent display of stained glass that bathed the space in a multicolor of hues. Rays of sunlight filtered through the stained glass, casting vibrant patterns across the room and imbuing it with an ethereal glow.
The atmosphere in the library was tranquil as a thin fog enveloped the floor, lending an otherworldly ambiance to the space.
"What the hell are you doing here?!"
Suddenly, a voice boomed through the library, which caused the air to thicken and made it difficult for the students to draw breath. The voice echoed, carrying a weight that seemed to press down on the visitors. The fog seemed to quiver in response, and the air around the librarian began to vibrate with tension.
Aldric's expression remained unperturbed as he strode confidently into the room, his companions trailing behind him with anxiety written on their faces.
"Oh? Did our Orion forget that I was to bring a class here today?" Aldric retorted, a smug grin playing on his lips as he met the librarian's glare head-on.
Orion's response was a silent one, his gaze piercing and filled with unmistakable displeasure at Aldric's unexpected intrusion.
Aldric came to a stop right in front of Orion, who remained seated with his black quill in hand, the dim light of the library casting long shadows around them.
"Where do you want to go?" Orion asked with a sigh, as he calmed himself down.
"Class 1 relic vault," Aldric replied, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes as he watched Orion's reaction.
Orion nodded thoughtfully and rose from his chair, the old wood creaking softly beneath him as he stood. Without a word, he then began to navigate the labyrinth of corridors in the library, his footsteps echoed faintly in the stillness as Orion occasionally took turns and twists around the library that seemed to be infinite. Aldric followed closely behind him with the students trailing after them.
As they continued to walk, one of the students couldn't contain their curiosity any longer and asked Aldric, "Is this a different dimension?"
Aldric paused for a moment, considering his response. Memories of his own youth flooded back as he spoke. "In a way, yes," he answered, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
"This place is not quite a dimension, but rather a sub-space connected to our reality."
The students exchanged bewildered glances, trying to wrap their minds around the concept. Aldric continued, "Though it's said to be infinite, only Orion truly understands its depths. He's the one who created this library."
This revelation left the students in awe, prompting Aldric to offer further explanation. "Orion isn't a human," he explained gently, "but rather a concept belonging to the Law of the Archivist."
Aldric's expression shifted, a flicker of apprehension crossing his features. After a few moments of tense silence, he spoke again. "His conceptual name is The Bibliotheca Mandate."
The students exchanged puzzled glances, their minds grappling with the weight of Aldric's words.
What did it mean to belong to the Law of the Archivist and what does The Bibliotheca Mandate mean?
Meanwhile, Orion maintained his steady pace, leading the group through the seemingly endless expanse of the library without uttering a single word. The students followed in silence, their footsteps echoing softly against the marble floor.
Time seemed to stretch as they walked, the library unfurling before them in an endless procession of shelves and books. 100s of books were on the floor with the fog silently covering them.
After what felt like an eternity, Orion finally came to a halt in a seemingly random spot.
After a few moments, the air started quivering, the fog swirling around them took on a life of its own as it undulated and shifted with unseen energy.
Orion stood at the center of the spectacle, his form warping and distorting. His lower body dissolved into his robe and his hands contorted into strange alien-like shapes as he raised them skyward.
Suddenly, tiny flames flickered to life amidst the scattered books, dancing in the air with an ethereal glow. The fog now pulsated with even more energy as it transformed into a flock of spectral birds, their featureless forms twisting and turning in a mesmerizing dance around Orion.
The students watched in awe, their hearts pounding with excitement at the sight of a Lexarch unleashing their powers in such a dramatic fashion.
The flames grew brighter and brighter as they swirled and converged into a single point in the air.
With a final flourish, the spectral birds dove into the flames and vanished into the darkness that ensued. The flames turned inky black, before turning into a void that hung silently in the air.
After the dramatic display, Orion returned to his original form, stepping aside to allow Aldric and the students to venture into the void. With a sense of anticipation, the students crossed into the void and entered into a simple yet mysterious room.
The room was unassuming, with only a plain wooden table at the forefront and a solitary candle casting a flickering glow from above. Along one wall stood a single shelf with its compartments filled with an array of peculiar objects. Some appeared as white spikes, others resembled tangled masses of hair, and a few were translucent, their forms shifting and shimmering in the dim light.
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Aldric, positioned at the head of the group, turned to address the 21 students who had accompanied him. "Allow me to congratulate you once more for reaching this point," he began, his voice tinged with a smile. "The objects you see behind me are known as Syzygy Relics. They serve as the source of a Lexarch's power."
The students listened intently, their excitement visible as they were finally learning the secrets of a Lexarch's abilities. Aldric continued, "Each of these relics gives its wielder unique abilities. They are, in essence, miniature manifestations of the laws and concepts."
"This relic is known as Osteothorn," he explained, as he grabbed a ball that had spikes coming out of it. The spike ball then which was in Aldric’s hand, mysteriously vanished before the skin on his hand disintegrated, revealing his bones that had turned sharp like spikes.
"It grants the wielder the ability to manifest these white spikes from any part of their body." Aldric demonstrated.
One students’ then raised his hand and asked, "But where did the relic you were holding disappear to?"
Aldric smiled knowingly as the spikes receded and his hand returned to its normal state, the Osteothorn relic reappearing in his hand. "To harness the power of a relic, it must be integrated into your Mind Core—a reservoir of energy unique to those who have undergone the Realms Rite."
He gestured toward the Osteothorn and said, "Simply touch the relic and command it to enter your Mind Core," he explained. "Once done, you will be able to access its powers at will."
Aldric then gave explanations about the different relics that were available for the students’ choosing with a steady voice as he introduced each relic.
"The Whisper stone relic," he began, "gives the user the ability to absorb sounds and release them as potent sonic waves."
Next, he turned his attention to the Glimmer amulet relic. "This relic, grants the user the ability to project holographic illusions from the amulet, creating lifelike images that can deceive enemies or provide tactical distractions."
Aldric's gaze shifted to the Guard talisman relic. "This relic gives a user a shimmering energy shield and lets them absorb and reflect incoming attacks while enhancing physical strength and endurance."
He then proceeded to describe the Swift cloak relic, detailing how it makes the user’s body untouchable as it enables them to phase through obstacles effortlessly.
With each explanation, Aldric painted a vivid picture of the powers bestowed by each relic, from the Lumina crystal relic's manipulation of light to the Reson staff relic's control over vibrations.
The Sentry pendant relic, Flicker blade relic, and Calmorb relic were each described in turn, each offering unique abilities that could turn the tide of battle or bring solace and healing in times of need.
As Aldric concluded his explanations, the students gazed upon the array of relics before them, their minds buzzing with possibilities.
As the students approached the array of relics with their eyes alight with anticipation, they made their selections with careful consideration.
First to step forward was Finn, his gaze bright with determination as he reached for the Reson staff relic. With a firm grasp, he imagined the possibilities that mastering vibrations could unlock, his mind already racing with visions of the power he could wield.
‘He’s definitely not thinking of anything good if he chose that relic’ Lorien knew Finn’s true intentions behind choosing that relic.
Others then followed suit, with some drawn to the allure of protection and destruction offered by the Guard talisman and Osteothorn relics. Their choices reflected a pragmatic approach, seeking both offensive and defensive capabilities in their relics.
The Sentry pendant and Glimmer amulet Relics proved popular among those with a strategic mindset, recognizing the tactical advantages they offered in battle.
Yet, for some, the allure of the lesser-known relics proved too tempting to resist. While the Lumina crystal, Flicker blade, Whisper stone, Swift cloak, and Calmorb relics may have been the least popular choices, they held a unique appeal for those willing to explore their untapped potential.
As the majority of students made their choices based on strategic considerations and the desire for both offensive and defensive capabilities, Kai's decision to select the Flicker blade relic came as a surprise to few.
Known among his peers as a ‘muscle head,’ Kai's preference for raw power and direct confrontation was no secret. While most students threw away traditional weapons in favor of relics with broader utility, Kai's affinity for the Flicker blade reflected his straightforward approach to combat.
Despite its limitations in defensive capabilities and reliance on close-quarters combat, the Flicker blade relic offered Kai the opportunity to bypass most physical defenses and deliver devastating blows with a sword—a prospect that appealed to his straightforward fighting style.
As Kai claimed the Flicker blade relic as his own, the murmurs of surprise among his classmates were accompanied by a knowing nod of understanding. For Kai, the path to power lay not in subtlety or strategy, but in raw strength and unwavering determination.
Amidst the diverse choices of the students, Lorien's decision to select the Guard talisman relic was a conventionally straightforward approach to combat.
The two bald brothers, Ethan and Noah, each made their choices, reflecting their individual personalities and preferences. While Ethan followed in Lorien's footsteps, opting for the Guard talisman relic for its straightforward battle style, Noah on the other hand chose the unconventional Whisper stone relic.
As the students observed their classmates' choices with varying degrees of curiosity and interest, their attention turned to Elise, one of the smartest students in their class. Anticipation hung in the air as Elise approached the array of relics.
Ignoring the expectations and speculation of her classmates, Elise's gaze settled on a relic that appeared as a grey piece of cloth flickering in and out of existence. With a graceful motion, she claimed the Swift cloak relic as her own.
To the disappointment of those around her, the Swift cloak was known primarily for its defensive capabilities, lacking the offensive potential of other relics. However, Elise seemed unperturbed by the opinions of her peers, her mind seemed to be focused on other matters.
As the attention of the students remained fixed on Elise's choice, Seren opted to remain silent as he slipped away from the crowd to make his selection away from prying eyes.
Meanwhile, Susie sat off to the side, her eyes closed in deep concentration as she observed a relic floating within the depths of her Mind Core. The relic resembled a small gravestone fashioned into a pendant, its significance hidden from the outside world.
Suddenly, Susie felt a gentle tap on her shoulder, breaking her concentration. Opening her eyes, she was met with the sight of Seren standing before her.
"So, what relic did you choose?" Seren inquired, his tone casual yet curious.
Susie smiled softly with her gaze meeting his. "The Sentry Pendant," she replied, her voice tinged with a hint of excitement.
Seren's eyebrows were raised in surprise. "I didn't expect you to be the tactical or reconnaissance type," he remarked, a note of doubt coloring his words.
Chuckling softly, Susie shook her head. "Hehe, it's because I wanted to combine it with the scythe, I received from the Luminar Tree," she explained, a sense of pride evident in her voice.
Susie then turned the conversation back to Seren, her gaze alight with curiosity. "And what about you? What did you choose for your relic?"
"The Luminar crystal," Seren replied flatly.
"Huh?" Susie's confusion rippled through the air as her brow furrowed in genuine perplexity. The Luminar crystal was known for its ability to bend light, at most you could try to blind your enemies or distort light to mess with the opponent’s spatial awareness. It offered no defense, no offense, no healing, nor reconnaissance.
Seren, already expecting Susie's reaction, simply shrugged his shoulders, "If I tell you why I chose this, then you might switch your pendant in a heartbeat,"
"Aeee, why? Just tell me the reason. Aren't we friends?" Susie pleaded with her eyes wide like a puppy as she sought to coax Seren into revealing his secret.
Seren chuckled lightly at Susie's playful attempt to sway him. Meanwhile, Aldric, overseeing the proceedings, made sure that each student received their relics.
Clap
With a single clap, he gathered the students’ attention and instructed them to return through the black hole to the library. One by one, they complied, disappearing into the void.
Orion, observing quietly, remained outside until the last student had passed through. Without exchanging words, Aldric and Orion closed the gate and proceeded to the front.
Upon reaching the front gate, Aldric issued a command to the students, directing them to return to the main academy and head to class 9 on the second floor. His voice carried the weight of authority, leaving no room for question or hesitation.
As the last student departed, Aldric's smile faded into a solemn expression, his gaze turning towards Orion's weathered figure settled in his chair.
"...'The end is near' What does that mean?" Aldric inquired, his voice tinged with urgency.
Previously Orion had secretly transmitted this to Aldric when he had come out of the vault.
Orion remained silent for a moment, his aged features betraying a depth of contemplation. Finally, he spoke, his tone nostalgic yet enigmatic. "Exactly as it means," he replied, offering no further explanation.
Aldric's gaze bore into Orion, searching for answers that seemed just out of reach. Frustration flickered briefly across his features before he redirected his inquiry. "Why did you tell me this? The three families have treated you poorly for centuries, and I am no different”.
Orion scoffed softly in response. "I am not heartless like you humans," he retorted, his words carrying the weight of centuries-old grievances.
Aldric remained stoic as he watched Orion, then with a silent nod, he turned to leave. The weight of Orion's words lingered in his mind. Just before Aldric left, Orion's voice pierced the silence as he said his final advice. "Do not be attached to any of your students for this year”.
Aldric body shook when he heard this, he didn’t know what to think of this anymore. In the end, he just stayed silent as he closed the door shut.
Alone once more, Orion's gaze fell upon the black quill resting on his desk. His expression softened and a pang of longing echoed in his voice as he spoke softly to the empty room.
"Maybe I will get to see you soon, Freya."
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Condemned To Death
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