The Archivist of Forgotten Realms

Chapter 3

Mikasa stood at the edge of the ruined city, the wind carrying with it the whispers of a forgotten past. The faint glow of the Key of Light in her hand was a reminder of her role as the Archivist, but also a symbol of the immense responsibility that came with it. The vast, broken landscape of Azura stretched out before her, and although she had vanquished the Wraithborn, she felt the weight of more dangers lurking in the shadows.

She took a deep breath, feeling the cool air fill her lungs. The encounter with the Wraithborn had rattled her, but she couldn’t afford to stop now. She needed to understand her power and, more importantly, learn how to control it. The book, tucked under her arm, was still a mystery. It had revealed some of its secrets, but Mikasa knew it held more answers—answers she needed if she was going to survive this realm and restore its magic.

"Think, Mikasa. There’s always a way," she muttered to herself, starting to walk deeper into the ruins.

Her mind raced with ideas. The book was a conduit for forgotten magic, a tool to help her channel the powers of the realms. But it wasn’t like any textbook she’d ever studied. The words shifted and moved, revealing only fragments of information at a time. She needed a way to access more of it—more of her magic.

Training, she thought, her lips pressing into a thin line. If she was going to fight off the darkness and the relentless Wraithborn, she had to train herself to be stronger, faster, and more disciplined. She couldn't just react in panic like she did during her previous encounter with the spectral creatures. The problem was, how do you practice magic from an ancient book that only reveals fragments of information at a time, like pieces of a puzzle that refuse to fit together?

Mikasa knew she needed to find a way to unlock the full power of the book, to decipher its cryptic words and uncover the true extent of the magic it contained. But the book was unlike anything she had ever studied before, its pages shifting and changing, resisting her attempts to grasp its secrets. She would have to be patient, methodical, and above all, persistent if she hoped to master the forgotten arts of Azura and use them to protect the realm from the encroaching darkness.

Mikasa devoted the next several hours to delving deeper into the ancient tome, painstakingly deciphering the cryptic words and testing small spells in a controlled, systematic manner. Her fingers danced over the glowing runes, her mind intently fixated on the arcane knowledge that filled the pages. With each word she traced, she felt the magic pulsating beneath her touch, beckoning her to unlock its full potential.

Her first breakthrough came when she managed to summon a tiny sphere of light, a radiant orb that floated effortlessly above her outstretched hand. The room was bathed in its ethereal glow, illuminating the shadows that lurked in the corners. The feeling of power coursing through her was intoxicating, and she couldn't help but smile as she realized that she was finally making progress. This was just the beginning, she knew; there were countless other spells to master, and the true extent of the book's power remained elusive. But for now, Mikasa was content to revel in her small victory, savoring the sensation of magic coursing through her veins.

It wasn’t much, but it was progress.

Mikasa continued to work on her magical abilities, focusing now on summoning energy barriers. By tracing intricate patterns in the air with the Key of Light, she was able to create shimmering shields of translucent magic. The barriers flickered weakly, like a candle fighting against a strong gust of wind, and Mikasa knew that they weren't yet strong enough to withstand significant force. However, she could sense the raw potential within her, just waiting to be harnessed.

With practice and determination, she was confident that she would be able to strengthen her barriers and wield the full power of the Key of Light. As she traced the final pattern, a burst of energy surged through her, and the barrier stabilized, growing stronger with each passing moment. The room was filled with a soft, pulsing glow, and Mikasa couldn't help but smile as she realized that she was making progress.

The true extent of her power remained a mystery, but she knew that she was on the right path. The darkness that had once threatened to consume her was fading, replaced by a newfound sense of purpose and confidence. As she stood there, bathed in the light of her magic, Mikasa felt a deep connection to the world around her. She was no longer just a student of history; she was a guardian of the light, responsible for protecting the balance between the forces of darkness and light.

It was a daunting responsibility, but one that Mikasa was willing to embrace, knowing that she had the power within her to make a difference. As she closed her eyes, letting the magic flow through her veins, Mikasa could feel the weight of the Key of Light growing lighter, as if it were recognizing the strength that she was beginning to cultivate.

She knew that there were still countless challenges ahead, but for now, she was content to revel in her small victories, savoring the sensation of magic coursing through her veins. And with a final burst of energy, Mikasa dismissed her barrier, allowing the room to return to its normal state.

The ethereal glow faded, and the shadows retreated once more, leaving Mikasa alone in the silence of the room.

"It’s not enough," she muttered, wiping sweat from her brow. "I need more control."

She turned her attention back to the book, which floated in front of her like a patient teacher, its pages still filled with cryptic, shifting text. She read slowly, analyzing every word, every symbol. She was smart—she knew how to solve puzzles, how to connect dots that didn’t seem obvious at first. That was what history had taught her, after all.

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

The Grand Archive had chosen her for a reason, and Mikasa was determined to live up to that.

"Think logically," she whispered, pacing in a circle. "If the magic is tied to the history of the realm, then maybe it draws on the memories of this place. The power is linked to what happened here."

She glanced around at the crumbling buildings and toppled statues, wondering what kind of world Azura had been in before it fell into ruin. If she could understand that, maybe the magic would reveal itself more fully.

As Mikasa continued her training, she suddenly felt a familiar chill creep through the air. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, and she instinctively turned, her eyes scanning the shadows. The faint rustling of decaying leaves alerted her to the presence of the Wraithborn once more. Three of them again, their twisted forms emerging from the darkness, their hollow eyes fixed on the glow of the Key of Light.

This time, however, Mikasa was ready.

She raised the key, focusing her energy as she channeled the light from the orb into the book. The book flared to life, its pages glowing as the magic surged through her. She traced a symbol in the air—a spell she had just learned. A blast of light shot forward, striking the nearest Wraithborn. The creature hissed, its body flickering as it was consumed by the magic.

The second Wraithborn lunged toward her, but Mikasa quickly raised a barrier, the shimmering shield appearing just in time to block the attack. The creature clawed at the barrier, its shadowy fingers scraping against the magic, but it couldn’t break through.

With a determined look, Mikasa spun the Key of Light in her hand and conjured a blast of wind, sweeping the second Wraithborn off its feet. Before it could recover, she unleashed a second blast of light, vanquishing the creature in a burst of glowing embers.

The third Wraithborn backed away, its movements slow and hesitant. Mikasa stared at it, her heart still pounding from the fight. She was starting to understand her power. She could feel the magic flowing through her now, guided by logic, reason, and the knowledge stored within the book.

But the Wraithborn wasn’t her only problem.

As Mikasa caught her breath, a deep, rumbling sound shook the ground beneath her feet. The Wraithborn scattered into the shadows, but a new threat emerged from the ruins—a towering Stone Giant, its massive body carved from the very rocks and earth of Azura. Its eyes glowed with a dull, angry red light, and with each step, the ground trembled beneath its weight.

Mikasa’s stomach twisted in fear. The giant was unlike anything she had seen before—far more powerful, far more dangerous. She raised the Key of Light and summoned another blast of magic, but the light merely glanced off the creature’s stone body, leaving nothing but a faint scorch mark.

Her heart pounded in her chest as the giant roared, its massive arm swinging down toward her. Mikasa barely dodged the attack, the force of the blow sending a shockwave through the air.

"Magic’s not working," she whispered to herself, backing away. "What do I do now?"

She tried another spell—this time summoning a windstorm—but the Stone Giant seemed unaffected, its heavy feet rooted to the ground. It was immune to the magic she had learned so far, and her heart raced with the realization that she was outmatched.

Retreating, she darted into the ruins, her mind racing. She needed time. Time to think, time to plan. The giant wasn’t fast, but she could feel its presence, and hear its footsteps getting closer. She ducked behind a broken pillar, panting heavily.

As she crouched behind the rubble, Mikasa pulled out the book once more, desperately flipping through its pages. The words swirled and shifted, as cryptic as ever, and she felt frustration bubbling up inside her.

"This doesn’t make any sense!" she snapped, her voice echoing off the stone walls. She slammed the book shut, her hand shaking with anger. "I can’t figure it out! What’s the point of all this magic if I can’t use it when I need it?"

In a moment of frustration, she threw the book against the stone wall. The pages fluttered as it hit the ground, and for a brief, horrible moment, Mikasa regretted it. Books had always been her escape, her sanctuary. She loved them. Throwing one felt like a betrayal of who she was.

She sighed and stood up, dusting herself off. "I’m sorry," she muttered, walking over to where the book had fallen.

But before she could reach it, a Wraithborn appeared from the shadows, its hollow eyes glowing with malice. Panic surged through Mikasa as the creature lunged toward her, its fingers outstretched.

She didn’t have the book. She didn’t have time to cast a spell.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she stumbled back, the Wraithborn closing in on her. She raised the Key of Light, but without the book, she didn’t know how to channel the magic.

Fear clawed at her throat. "Help," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Please… someone help me."

And then, like a soft breeze on her skin, she heard it—a whisper, faint but clear.

Call for me.

The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Mikasa’s eyes widened as the realization hit her. The book—it had been guiding her all along.

Without thinking, she whispered, "Come back to me."

The book stirred, lifting from the ground as if carried by an unseen force. It floated toward her, pages fluttering gently in the air. The Wraithborn paused, its head tilting in confusion as the book hovered between them.

The whisper came again, this time stronger.

Unleash your magic.

Mikasa took a deep breath, her fear fading as she reached out for the book. The moment her fingers touched its pages, the magic surged through her like a river of light. She raised the Key of Light once more, but this time, she felt the book guiding her, directing the magic.

With a flick of her wrist, she unleashed a blast of energy far more powerful than anything she had conjured before. The light shot forward, striking the Wraithborn with a searing flash, and the creature dissolved into nothingness, its shadowy form consumed by the magic.

Breathing hard, Mikasa lowered the key, her heart still pounding from the adrenaline. The book floated beside her, its pages glowing softly as if it were waiting for her next move.

She smiled, a mixture of relief and gratitude swelling in her chest. "Thank you," she whispered, reaching out to gently pat the cover of the book.

It felt alive now, more than just a tool. It had been helping her, guiding her, and it had even come to her aid when she was in danger. A strange thought crossed her mind, and she couldn’t help but smile.

"You need a name," she said softly. "I can’t just keep calling you ‘the book.’"

She thought for a moment, then a name came to her, light and cute—just the way she liked it.

"I’ll call you Lumi."

The book seemed to shimmer in response, its pages fluttering as if in approval.

Mikasa smiled again, her heart a little lighter now. She had a friend, even if that friend was a magical book.

And with Lumi by her side, she felt a little more ready to face whatever came next.