The Archivist of Forgotten Realms

Chapter 2

The silence of the cavern felt heavy in Mikasa's ears, weighing down on her with an oppressive stillness. The glow from the Key of Light still flickered faintly in her hand, casting long, eerie shadows on the rocky walls around her. Mikasa stared at the delicate artifact, its intricate silver design glinting in the soft, ethereal light. Her heart was still racing from her encounter with the faceless creature, the memory of its otherworldly presence sending a shiver down her spine. Mikasa's mind struggled to process everything that had just happened, the reality of her newfound role as the Archivist colliding with the fantastical nature of the task before her. She tightened her grip on the Key, its warmth a reassuring reminder that she held the power to unlock the secrets of the lost worlds hidden within the Grand Archive.

What was that thing? she wondered, still shaken by the creature’s sudden appearance and the way it had reacted to the key’s power. It hadn’t attacked her, but the moment the key had touched it, something had changed. The energy of the Key of Light had flowed into the creature, sealing its wounds, and restoring some of the magic it had lost.

Mikasa held up the key, watching its silver light pulse faintly. It was more than just a key. It was a conduit for the magic of Azura, a magic she was still trying to understand. She had been chosen as the Archivist, but the weight of that role was starting to sink in. She wasn’t just someone who could travel between realms—she had the power to restore them. But how?

The book she had found in Old Pages was still tucked into her bag, a comforting weight against her side. It had been with her since the Grand Archive had first called to her, beckoning her into its infinite shelves, but she hadn't yet understood its full purpose. Now, after her encounter with the strange, wounded creature, she felt a growing suspicion that the book held more than just the stories of forgotten realms.

Mikasa's fingers traced the worn leather cover, her mind racing with questions. What secrets did this ancient tome contain? Was it somehow connected to the Key of Light, the powerful artifact she had discovered in the ruins of Azura? She knew the book was more than just a random find—it had drawn her in for a reason, and she was determined to uncover its true meaning.

As she walked, Mikasa couldn't shake the feeling that the book was guiding her, leading her deeper into the mysteries of the Archive and the lost worlds it contained. She trusted her instincts, knowing that the Archive had chosen her for a reason. Whatever lay ahead, she was ready to face it, armed with the knowledge contained within the pages of this enigmatic volume.

A sudden chill swept through the air, and Mikasa shivered. The cavern was deathly quiet now, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she wasn’t alone. Something about this place—Azura itself—felt alive, though not in a comforting way. There was a presence here, something ancient and forgotten, and it was watching her.

Mikasa decided to look around the cavern, her gaze sweeping across the crumbling ruins. In her shock, all she could find were the skeletal remains of long-forgotten souls, their bones scattered amidst the debris that blocked her exit. A sense of unease settled in the pit of her stomach as she realized the true magnitude of the destruction that had befallen this place. Whatever had happened here, it had been catastrophic, leaving only death and decay in its wake. Mikasa couldn't help but wonder what had caused such devastation, and whether the same fate awaited the worlds she had sworn to protect within the Grand Archive.

You’re the Archivist now, she reminded herself, trying to summon some courage. You can do this.

She took a cautious step forward, her eyes scanning the darkened corners of the cavern for any sign of movement. The exit was somewhere ahead, but the darkness seemed to swallow everything beyond a few feet in front of her. Every sound—every shift in the air—felt amplified in the oppressive quiet.

Focus, Mikasa. Focus.

As she made her way out of the chasm and back into the ruins of Azura, Mikasa couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. The air was colder now, and the sky above was a deeper, more ominous shade of purple. The ruins felt even more desolate as if the world itself had inched closer to its final death.

The Grand Archive had brought her here to restore the realm, but how was she supposed to do that when the very world seemed intent on collapsing around her?

The answer, she suspected, lay in the book.

She stopped in the middle of the crumbling ruins, pulling the leather-bound tome from her bag. It was worn, old, and faintly glowing, much like the books in the Archive. For some reason, the Archive had given it to her, and until now, she had treated it like a simple guidebook. But after everything she had experienced, she was beginning to understand that it was much more.

Taking a deep breath, Mikasa opened the book. The pages were still blank, just as they had been before. But now, as she stared down at the empty parchment, something stirred inside her. A whisper, like a memory flickering at the edges of her mind.

Unlock it.

The thought came unbidden, but it felt right. Mikasa raised the Key of Light and hovered it over the book. The key pulsed in her hand, responding to the presence of the book, and for a moment, nothing happened.

Then, with a soft hum, the pages of the book began to shift.

Glowing lines of text appeared, swirling across the parchment as if the book itself were coming to life. The words formed in a language Mikasa couldn’t quite understand, but somehow, she could feel their meaning. The book was teaching her, guiding her, showing her how to harness the magic of the forgotten realms.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Her breath caught in her throat as the text resolved into something she could read:

The Archivist’s Power: To remember is to restore. To forget is to erase. In your hands lies the balance of worlds. Wield the magic of what has been lost, and bring light to the forgotten.

The pages continued to glow, and Mikasa felt a rush of energy flow through her, connecting her to something vast and ancient—something older than Azura itself. The power of the Archivist wasn’t just the ability to move between worlds; it was the ability to control the magic of those realms. Each world had its magic, its history, and as the Archivist, she could access that power through the memories stored in the books.

The realization hit Mikasa hard. The Grand Archive wasn't just a library; it was a repository of magic, an inter-dimensional vault that held the histories and essences of forgotten realms. The books weren't just stories—they were living, breathing embodiments of the worlds they contained. By unlocking this particular tome, Mikasa had tapped into the very heart of Azura. She felt a surge of power coursing through her, a connection to something vast and ancient that transcended the boundaries of her world. With this discovery came a profound sense of responsibility—the weight of preserving Azura's legacy now rested squarely on her shoulders.

Her grip on the Key of Light tightened as the words on the page began to shift once more.

Beware the Wraithborn. They are the remnants of what once was—those who were forgotten but refused to disappear. Their souls are twisted by the darkness, and they hunger for the light you carry.

A chill ran down her spine. The Wraithborn. The book had mentioned them in passing before, but now she understood. They weren’t just creatures of the darkness—they were the people of Azura, corrupted by the very force that had destroyed their world. They had once been like her, living, breathing beings with hopes and dreams. But now, they were little more than shadows, trapped in a twisted existence, bound to the ruins of their world.

And they were coming for her.

The distant sound of scraping stones pulled her out of her thoughts. Mikasa snapped the book shut, her heart pounding in her chest. The air had grown colder, the shadows around her lengthening as the sky above darkened further. She could feel them now—the Wraithborn. They were near, and they knew she was here.

Her pulse quickened as the sound grew louder. Shuffling footsteps. A faint, raspy breath. Mikasa turned slowly, her grip tightening around the key. In the distance, just beyond the edge of the ruined city, she saw them.

The Wraithborn.

There were three of them, their twisted forms barely human in shape. Their bodies were shrouded in darkness, flickering like dying embers, and their hollow, glowing eyes were fixed on Mikasa. She could feel their gaze piercing through her as if they could see into the very depths of her soul. They moved slowly, but with purpose, their skeletal fingers reaching out toward the faint light emanating from the key in Mikasa's hand.

Mikasa's heart pounded in her chest, the sound echoing in her ears. She gripped the key tighter, her knuckles turning white. These creatures, the Wraithborn, were unlike anything she had ever encountered. They were the remnants of a forgotten world, twisted and corrupted by the very darkness they were sworn to protect. And now, they had set their sights on her, drawn to the power she held in her hands.

Mikasa knew she couldn't outrun them. The Wraithborn were bound to the shadows, able to traverse the ruined city with ease. Her only hope was to find a way to evade them, to slip past their grasp and make her way back to the safety of the Grand Archive. But as she stared into their haunting, empty eyes, she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over her. These creatures were relentless, driven by an ancient instinct to guard the secrets of their lost world. And she had stumbled right into their domain.

They hunger for the light, she remembered from the book.

Her heart raced. She had to act. She had to use the magic she had unlocked, but how? The words from the book swirled in her mind, fragments of instructions and spells she barely understood. The Wraithborn were getting closer, their ragged breaths filling the air as they closed in.

“Come on, Mikasa,” she muttered under her breath, backing away from the advancing Wraithborn. “Think.”

The book. The key. The magic.

Wield the magic of what has been lost, and bring light to the forgotten.

Mikasa's eyes widened as the words clicked into place. The light. She could use the light of the key. That was what the Wraithborn feared—and what they sought to devour. If she could channel the light into the key, she might be able to push them back, to drive them away from the ruins of Azura. She had already used the key's magic to heal the faceless creature in the chasm. Now, she would have to wield that power again, this time as a weapon against the encroaching darkness.

Mikasa gripped the key tightly, feeling its warmth against her palm. She closed her eyes, focusing all of her energy on the light that pulsed within the artifact. The words from the ancient tome swirled in her mind, fragments of instructions and spells that she barely understood. But she knew she had to try. The Wraithborn were closing in, their ragged breaths filling the air as they drew nearer.

Taking a deep breath, Mikasa held up the Key of Light, focusing on the soft glow emanating from its surface. The Wraithborn were almost upon her, their skeletal forms reaching out toward her. She closed her eyes, reaching deep inside herself for the magic she had unlocked, feeling it swirl through her like a river of energy.

“Please,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Let this work.”

The key pulsed in her hand, the glow intensifying as the magic responded to her will. The light grew brighter, brighter than before, casting the Wraithborn in stark relief against the darkness. They recoiled, hissing and writhing as the light burned against their shadowy forms.

Mikasa's heart raced as she pushed the magic outward, focusing on the light, and letting it spread through the air around her. The Wraithborn screamed, their bodies flickering and fading as the light consumed them. She watched with a mix of fascination and horror as the spectral creatures dissolved, their shadowy forms dissipating into the void. Within moments, they were gone, leaving only silence in their wake.

Mikasa felt a wave of relief wash over her, but it was tempered by the weight of what she had just done. She had wielded the power of the Key of Light, banishing the Wraithborn with a force she barely understood. The responsibility of her role as Archivist settled heavily on her shoulders, reminding her that the fate of forgotten realms now rested in her hands. She knew she would have to confront more of these dark, otherworldly beings as she delved deeper into the mysteries of the Grand Archive, and the thought filled her with a sense of trepidation.

She had done it. She had fought back the Wraithborn.

But as the adrenaline began to fade, Mikasa felt a new weight settle on her shoulders. This was just the beginning. The Wraithborn weren’t the only danger she would face in Azura, and the magic she had unlocked was still new, still unfamiliar.

She looked down at the Key of Light, its silver glow soft and reassuring in the dim light. The Grand Archive had chosen her for a reason. She was the Archivist now, and she had the power to save this world.

But at what cost?