As night descended upon Helmhold Academy, the once bustling library now lay empty. The thrilling events of the magical games had left most students and staff either celebrating or resting, leaving only a few part-time student librarians awake and about. Valicar made their way stealthily through the shadows.
Sophia's keen mind and magical prowess scanned their surroundings, ensuring no one was following or spying on them. With a subtle wave of her hand, she cast a detection spell, confirming their solitude. They proceeded with caution, knowing the forbidden knowledge they sought was both potent and dangerous.
As they ascended the library stairs, Mike's eyes darted around, vigilant for any hidden observers. The twins' unity allowed them to move like a well-coordinated dance, each supporting the other seamlessly.
"Sneaking around like this kinda reminds me of Drisco," Mike said reminiscing.
"Please don't ruin the library for me," Sophia added at the poor memory.
The library shelves bore a collection of protective spells, guarding the tomes. Spells like mold and fire resistance were carefully placed to safeguard the invaluable texts.
At last, they reached their destination: the hidden bookshelf. With precision, they executed the minor spell required to access the concealed compartment. To Mike's delight and Sophia's lingering dread, the coveted forbidden books lay within – three volumes of immense magical secrets and history.
Swiftly and cautiously, they stowed their newfound treasures within their interdimensional pouch. Securing the books away, they carefully returned the shelf to its original state, concealing their crime once more.
In their room, they finally allowed themselves to breathe a sigh of relief. Valicar sat cross-legged on the floor across from a mirror, the three forbidden books laid out before them. Sophia pulled the books out with Valicar's one good hand, and the twins began to discuss their approach to the dangerous knowledge that lay within.
Sophia spoke first, her voice firm but concerned, "Okay, before we delve into these books, I need you to promise me something, Mike. Promise me that you won't be rash dumbass. Don't make any pacts or deals without consulting me first. I know we need more power to fight the Pillars, but we should be cautious and rely on my magic for now. Making pacts with unknown entities is just an unnecessary risk."
Mike's bitterness was evident in his response, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. "Well, of course, you'd say that. You have powers beyond a sword," he said, a hint of resentment in his voice. He couldn't help but feel overshadowed by Sophia's supernatural abilities. In their past life, he had always been the protector, but now, in this magical world, he knew he was unable to keep up with her no matter his skill.
He continued, "I used to be the one who protected us, but now you have these incredible powers that I can't match. I appreciate your support, sis, but when we fight, it's your power, not mine. I can't protect us like this, Soph."
"Mike, you still protect us," Sophia said softly, her gaze locking onto his in the nearby mirror, with her red and blue eyes staring back at him. Even though they shared the same body, this connection felt as close to face-to-face as they could get. She longed to reach out and touch him, but their physical limitations reminded her of their unique bond.
"It may be my power, but without you, I would have died years ago, half a dozen times over," Sophia continued, her voice filled with genuine appreciation. She understood the weight of his past role as their protector on earth, and she wanted him to know how important he still was.
At that moment, the gravity of their situation sank in, and Sophia hesitated. "But going and forming a pact with a literal demon, that can place us in danger," she voiced her concern, her expression etched with worry. "We need to be cautious, Mike. We need to think things through and make decisions together like the team we are."
Sophia's plea touched Mike's heart in a way only she could, and he agreed to her request. "Okay, I promise," he replied earnestly. "This was always about gathering information on how pacts worked anyway, Maybe we can even find a lead on necromancy, finally."
"Let's open these books and find out," Sophia said, her curiosity getting the better of her once again. She knew that was the best she was going to get from Mike. The twins carefully opened the first book, and immediately, an ominous aura seemed to emanate from its pages, reminiscent of the books James had given them years ago.
For hours, they delved into the forbidden knowledge, encountering various spells and stories of powerful mages who had made pacts with demonic entities. One tale spoke of a mage who grew stronger the longer he stayed in water but found himself unable to swim, creating a fascinating balance of power and limitation.
Another recounted the classic tale of werewolves, a cursed state that granted incredible strength and abilities at the cost of control and an insatiable need for bloodshed.
Intrigued by the tales of power and consequences, Sophia couldn't help but notice the striking similarities between these stories and those from her past life. The man who craved extreme wealth, turning everything he touched to gold, reminded her of the tragic tale of King Midas, a cautionary fable she had heard long ago.
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"It's fascinating how these stories have echoes of our previous world," Sophia mused, her eyes scanning the text as she shared her observations with Mike.
As the night wore on, they closed the first book, deciding to take a break and process what they had learned. Sophia's concern grew as she saw a deadly pattern emerging from the tales. "These stories are incredible, but they also show how power comes with a price in every single one," she said, the weight of the consequences evident in her voice.
Mike, however, was still captivated by the potential the stories held. "Yeah, but if even half of these are true, I can't believe more people don't pursue them. This guy could control a tsunami!" he exclaimed, amazed at the mage's power over water.
Sophia nodded, acknowledging the allure of such immense power. "True, but he drowned in his bathtub," she pointed out, highlighting the tragic and pathetic end to the seemingly all-powerful mage.
"Well, he should have just stood up." Mike joked as they fell asleep.
Banging at the door startled the groggy twins awake early the next morning. With a flick of their wrist, they swung the door open to find Altheack standing there, holding a magical letter in hand. This was the only means to communicate with Easton and Elinor, who were halfway around the world.
"I was down at the mail room dealing with... my matters when I noticed the urgent message coming through for you, Val," Altheack explained. "That one orc student manning the desk suggested that I should bring it to you."
Taking the letter from Altheack's hand, Valicar quickly tore it open, their heart pounding with worry. The news was grim. The Inquisition had discovered the vault, and GG was dead, along with most of the mountain being destroyed in some kind of self-destructive event. It seemed to be GG's final attempt to stop the Templars from obtaining the map. They could only hope that the rubble would delay the Templars for years.
But beyond that tragedy, the situation in the empire had worsened. Elinor was called to the capital to answer the rumors surrounding him. The protection offered by Blue Dawn, deal or not, only went so far, especially when it came to rebellion against the empire.
The troubling news they received from Easton and Elinor made it clear that Valicar needed to remain at Helmhold with the gathered keys. The keys were a vital safeguard against the church and the Pillars. The twins understood the logic behind this decision; the vault was designed to keep a dragon out and could even challenge the Pillars' power.
As the twins discussed the urgent message they received and the need to guard the keys they had gathered, Sophia's curiosity only grew stronger. Despite the troubling news, her thirst for knowledge compelled her to continue reading the forbidden books. They decided that, to face the challenges before them and face the church and Northern Pillar it was essential to keep reading. With a shared determination, they opened the first book once again, its ominous aura still present.
"Are those the books?" Altheack tried to ask but was hushed by her strange friend, annoyed but used to the treatment she found a set near by.
As the morning turned to afternoon, they stumbled upon a story that spoke of the Northern Pillar's exploits, recounting his battle with a dragon over a thousand years ago. The details of dragons, the pinnacle of magical beings, fascinated them. Dragons were not only incredibly powerful but also highly intelligent, surpassing all other creatures in raw strength and magical might. They were instrumental in the Creation War, able to challenge both gods and demons alike.
The tale struck a deeply personal chord within Sophia. It recounted her past life's insatiable ambition, where she relentlessly sought god-like power by stealing the souls of an entire country, bringing death to millions. To fulfill this desire, she made a treacherous pact, though the details remained vague, hinting at the surrender of her love life, happiness, and every ounce of joy in exchange for the forbidden knowledge bestowed by a malevolent demon. It left her with an insatiable hunger for more power.
The unholy might she gained allowed her to command life and death on an unprecedented scale, giving rise to the dreaded cult known as the Death Tooth. With her dark power, she plunged the once-prosperous Northern Continent into an undead-infested realm of darkness, turning it into a land of nightmares.
Her ultimate goal was believed to be making the veil between worlds permanent, cutting off all contact with gods and demons alike, to become the undead empress, an entity of unparalleled power and malevolence.
Yet, her grand plan faced an unforeseen nemesis in the form of the enigmatic Northern Pillar. Some tales whispered that he descended from the veil, willingly sacrificing part of his divinity to embrace humanity fully. Others spoke of him as the love child between a god and a human. Nonetheless, he emerged as a force to reckon with, wielding the legendary sword Blue Dawn, and clashed with Sophia in a cataclysmic battle.
The Northern Pillar proved to be an unstoppable force against her dark might, ultimately prevailing and extinguishing Sophia's wicked existence, forever preventing her soul from returning as a lich. Yet, before her soul could find another vessel or fade into oblivion, a mysterious savior intervened, whisking her away from the mortal realm. The circumstances surrounding this enigmatic figure remained shrouded in secrecy, adding another layer of intrigue to the already astounding tale.
The legend of the Pillar of the North was born that day, his name whispered in awe and fear throughout the lands. With Blue Dawn in hand, he became a symbol of hope to the empire of man, an unyielding guardian against the darkness that threatened to engulf the world. Songs and stories celebrated his heroics, weaving him into the fabric of history as the defender of humanity.
However, it wasn't until centuries later that the Pillar of the North would take a dark turn. Betrayed by his own brother, he lost the Legendary sword Blue Dawn in an epic battle with Ignial, stripping him of his symbolic power. Yet, he still retained the power of the gods, and in his rage and despair, he began a genocide against all mages and non-humans. A crusade was then led, spreading fear and persecution in the name of eradicating anything considered a threat to humanity. The once-celebrated hero had become a tyrant, enforcing a reign of terror that would echo through the ages.
The knowledge they acquired from these ancient texts left the twins reeling in awe and fear.
"I think I need a drink," Sophia said, rubbing her temples as her head throbbed with overwhelming thoughts.
"I think I'll take a few," Mike added, gently placing the book down with Valicar's remaining hand.
"Altheack, wanna go to the tavern?" Sophia asked their friend.
"Right now?" Altheack responded quizzically.
"Yeah, I need to get fucked up," Mike chimed back.