Blake flinched, startled by my protest. I could see a brief flash of surprise in her eyes, wide and searching, but then, something far more sinister came to claim our attention.
The fluttering of giant wings.
At first, it was soft, almost delicate, like the rustling of silk on a breeze, but the sound grew heavier, weighted by something darker, more threatening. My heart seized, cold dread settling deep in my gut, making the hairs on my neck rise. I had been relieved just moments ago, desperate to escape the heat of Blake's advances, but now that feeling was gone, replaced by something far worse—something primal. We weren’t alone.
The Protector of the Realm descended from the shadows like an omen. His immense wings unfurled with a grace that sent shivers down my spine, golden feathers shimmering ominously in the flickering candlelight. For a moment, I couldn’t move, my breath caught in my throat as I stared up at him. He was magnificent—terrifying. His owl-like face bore the regal detachment of a king, but there was something predatory in his eyes, something that made my stomach churn. Those large, intelligent eyes swept the room, piercing through the darkness and landing on us like a weight I couldn’t shrug off.
I wanted to move, to pull Blake away, but I felt rooted to the spot, the sheer enormity of the creature’s presence pinning me in place. He towered over us, an ethereal being of raw power, and the fear I felt in that moment was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.
“Scan!” I yelled, the word tearing from my throat in a panicked rush. My heart pounded in my ears as I grabbed Blake, yanking her aside, as if that alone would keep us safe. The notification appeared before me, bright against the oppressive gloom.
[The Protector: 2,500 HP. Level 35 Mini-Boss. This mob protects the Library of Forbidden Knowledge. It is a jealous creature and hoards its knowledge for itself. ~ Knows more than 10,000 things!]
I swallowed hard, the weight of that knowledge hitting me like a punch to the gut. 10,000 things... How could we even stand a chance against something like that?
The Protector cocked his head, the sharp, unnatural twist of his neck making my stomach lurch. His eyes narrowed, focusing on us with unnerving precision. “Humans... And not from the firedrinking brigade,” he said, his voice low, resonating with a quiet menace that chilled my bones. He scratched himself with one of his wings, as though we were nothing more than a mild annoyance. “I will spare you if you leave now.”
His wings flared, and the room seemed to shrink under the weight of his presence. The air thickened, pressing down on me, suffocating. I wiped the cold sweat from my brow, my hands trembling as I struggled to steady my breathing. This was bad. Really bad.
Blake stepped forward, her arm stretching out in front of me, her voice firm despite the tension I could hear underneath. “We can’t do that,” she said, her words filled with resolve. “We are here for what is due. The pact demands all creatures bow to the whims of the Great Library.”
I winced. Her words were bold, but they felt like a challenge—one I wasn’t sure we could back up. My pulse quickened, and I fought the urge to grab her, to pull her back before things escalated further.
A low growl rumbled from the Protector’s chest, his eyes narrowing into thin, fiery slits. “Do not speak of the pact to me. I was there when it was written,” he hissed, his voice dripping with disdain. “Those fickle gods think they know power. They know nothing.”
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His neck twisted again, unnervingly slow, and I felt a cold shiver crawl down my spine. His gaze locked onto mine, and for a moment, I thought I’d be sick. It was like he was staring through me—no, deeper than that—past my thoughts, my skin, my very being. My breath caught, and I gulped down the rising dread that threatened to consume me. This was a mistake.
“Very well,” the Protector said, his voice cold, unyielding. “You may each take two books. No more.”
Before I could fully comprehend his words, he spread his wings wide. A powerful gust blew through the room, extinguishing the torches and plunging us into an overpowering darkness. His parting words rang loudly through the gloom, sending a fresh wave of dread coursing through me.
“Do not take more. I will know, and it will not end well for the four of you.”
Four? My mind raced, trying to piece together his cryptic message. Four of us? What did he mean? Were we being watched? Did he mean our Crystals?
Before I could voice my confusion, the Protector vanished, retreating into the shadows as silently as he had appeared. The air in his absence was even colder, the silence heavier, and the doors ahead loomed like the mouth of some great beast, waiting to devour us.
Blake moved first, her footsteps breaking the quiet. I opened my mouth to say something—anything—but instead, I blurted out, “So... that kiss, huh?”
It wasn’t casual—nothing about it was casual. The kiss had rattled me more than I wanted to admit, stirring feelings I hadn’t expected—feelings I didn’t understand. It had felt good—too good—and with that realization came guilt.
Jamie’s face flashed in my mind, a sudden and painful reminder. What about Jamie? My heart twisted, but I pushed the thought down, locked it away. I barely remembered her anymore, and I wasn’t even sure if the memories were real. They were just fragments now, ghosts that haunted me, pulling at something deeper. But Blake was here, real, tangible, and I couldn’t deny the pull she had on me.
Blake stepped closer, her blonde hair catching the faint light that remained, framing her face in a way that made my chest tighten. Her green eyes locked onto mine, and I felt like I was being drawn into something I couldn’t control, like a moth to a flame.
She leaned in, her voice soft, teasing. “Liked it, didn’t you?” She winked, her lips curling into a smirk. “There’ll be more of that in store for you later.”
I froze, the heat rising in my chest, but before I could even think of a response, she pulled back, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “But first, we need to find those books. The order specifically wants five titles.”
My mind spun. “But the Protector said two each.”
Blake shrugged, her expression nonchalant. “I know,” she said, flashing me a grin. “But I have my ways.”
She turned, her footsteps echoing in the stillness as she walked confidently down the hall. I stared after her, my mind swirling with a thousand thoughts, none of them making sense. Blake was different—wild, unpredictable, and full of life in a way that left me reeling. But why was I so drawn to her? I didn't wanna feel this way, but I couldn’t shake the feelings, the memory of her kiss still lingering on my lips like a phantom touch.
I reached out mentally, searching for the familiar comfort of Elizabeth, desperate for clarity. Elizabeth, what’s happening to me?
There was a long pause, too long, before her voice came through, clinical and detached as always. [I’m sorry, but I cannot answer that question. Please try again later.]
“What?” My voice came out louder than I intended, shattering the silence. Blake turned, giving me that knowing grin again, the dimple in her cheek deepening, and my heart skipped a beat.
“Something on your mind?” she asked, her tone light, playful, not waiting for an answer before she turned away again, her hips swaying with an unsettling grace that made my pulse quicken.
I swallowed hard, my feet moving to follow her, even as my mind screamed for me to stop. Why is she doing this to me? I thought, the fear and confusion twisting together. It had only been a day that I'd been on this floor, and yet...