Once inside the Archive, I could see how not only the outside was of massive proportions, but the inside as well. The core room that we managed to reach had a ceiling so high up that I stopped trying to see it.
Endless shelves where books should have been, filled up the entire room. Metallic passages that led deeper into the structure. Boxes, doors, desks, etc… It looked like the inside of one of those rich clans, that enjoyed decorating their houses with objects from the times bygone.
At the center of this library stood the core of the Archive, or actually, what remained of it. Even if the scavengers that passed through these chambers were unable to steal most of it, the core of an Archive was immeasurable, a treasure that big could not be left behind.
What we found was the support for what must be a core bigger than an adult human. There were thick wires that led from the support to the rest of the body. And, oblivious to everyone else except me, thick veins covered up the whole place.
Outside the body, these veins and arteries might be the width of a finger, but the longer we walked on, the bigger it got. Growing quickly in size, to the point that here in this library of sorts, some of them were as wide as a human.
When I looked back in the direction of the Hearth, I could see it still pulsing, the light becoming more vibrant the closer I was to it. A feeling of unsettlement still lingered in me, but seeing as how we reached this far without any issue, maybe the Goddess really favored our survival. To reach our homes and families, wives and kids. Not that I had anyone waiting for me back there.
After a quick inspection of the place, some maps were drawn and plans started to be drafted. Soon enough, a somewhat important Officer stood at the center of the group and brought attention to everyone.
“The Watchers have decreed this place to be safe for exploration. Do not be careless, there must be traps set in place that could annihilate you. Smaller groups will be formed and guards will maintain you secure.”
Great, separation and isolation, just like I wanted. With caution in mind, and not wanting to be forcibly relocated into a group leading to the danger I have been ignoring, I brought Ofar with me and chose a random group that was planned to take charge of exploring the east part of the library. A total opposite direction from where the Hearth stood.
“You might be right, boy.” Ofar broke the silence, surprising me with his statement.
“What do you mean?”
“This place is tinted with green, slightly at first, but the more you notice, the more the effect starts to look off-putting.” Ofar pointed out a detail that I could not observe.
“With you claiming that everything looked green since when we were in the passage, I bet that it didn’t look too much different to you. hahaha” Ofar laughed as if He had just told the best joke of his life.
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“What more can you see? Are there any more discrepancies?” I asked him, anxious to know that my craziness was actually real and that others had started to realize it.
“Welp, you see. I thought nothing of how you desperately went out of your way to choose this worthless sub-group of explores, but after I discovered the greenness that started to prevail in this place, I noticed that the opposite direction of here had the most tint in the tunnels and passage, a very noticeable difference from outside. Guess that’s what has been weighing more in your mind.”
Ofar correctly predicted my predicament. And if he could, why would the others not be able to notice it too? Now that others could see the same as me, albeit not to the same effect, they must be warned, and surely now they would believe my theories.
“I know what you must be thinking boy, but do not let that carry you into foolishness. If you did not talk to me about the mysterious green back there, I might have thought that the lights in this place depicted it in green. Others would surely think the same, and not gather any wariness from it. Even now I am still debating if it’s just the regular lights in this place.” Ofar explained to me, and my hopes vanished like they were never there in the first place.
“Boy, maybe this weirdness is just there after all. Something that ignores us and continues living its own life. If there was any danger, it might have struck ages ago. Something as disturbing as you make it out to be can easily wipe us out.”
Ofar was right, and it was something I was thinking of as well. My anxiety was consuming my logical mind, leaving me with only a baseless hypothesis that might not come true at all.
Everything down here wanted to exterminate you and use your corpse as its warming bed.
I silently hoped that everything would remain all right. And that no hidden danger would come to us, or those around us. We only wanted to find the exit, and whatever the leaders decided to do next in this place, I would make sure to never participate in.
The plans of our group were drafted, although it seemed like we were one of the last ones. I looked around, and the place started to become more deserted, with not that much vibrant humanity roaming around.
Some guards stayed behind, as a way to safeguard the gap, and to help anyone that decided to come back to the gathering spot.
I was to take the vanguard of the group. Ofar remained at the center, with his crossbow drawn out. Once his position was secured, he was like a turret, able to get his shots where he wanted.
I once asked him about his past, a person who was that close to Father must surely be one of importance. But Ofar never decided to divulge his past to me. Seeing his achievements every time I had the chance to observe, let me be assured that He was anything, but ordinary.
Maybe once we made it past this place, He would open up more and let me peek into his past, surely I would learn something more from my father as well.
We continued our journey through the passage, passing through cubicles that must resemble offices of the past. Strangely, some objects were well preserved, like books that fill up some of the shelves in these offices. I usually had an interest in these vain objects that no others would like to glance at more than one. But the dread made my curiosity nonexistent.
There was a comforting thought, at least. The further up we were into the path, the thinner the veins became. Likely, the Hearth did not have the same reach as it had in the main center.
Further, the walk led us into a closed door with a panel attached next to it.
“Damn it, it’s held very tight.” A member of our group commented, a scavenger of some sort. Upon closing inspection, it was clear that the door was used to hold an important room. Luckily for us, the materials inside the Archive were not as resistant as the shell that covered its outside.
Ofar approached the door, and a quick fooling around with the panel revealed that there was no other possible way than blasting our way through.
Something I quite excelled at.
“Let me through,” I demanded, looking confident, betraying the existential dread that prevailed in my soul.
I unpacked a handful of bombs that were stored in my backpack. At least know I could alleviate some of the weight that has been pressing me down over and over since starting this whole journey.
4 mk3 bombs should do the dirty work for me. All piled up in the center of the gate, so as to concentrate more of the damage.
The rest of the group quickly dispersed, looking for cover in the adjacent cubicles or passages that lead to dead ends. Nobody wanted to be in the way of a full-blown-up explosion.
*BOOM*
A great resounding roar later, the smoke filled up every inch of space here. We were coughing the whole way through, but it seemed like my efforts bore fruit. Thankfully the holes and vents everywhere dispersed the smoke.
“It’s breached, good work boy.” Ofar praised me with a thumbs up on the side.
“Now, let’s look ahead. Careful, there must be something important in this room, unlike the others.” The leader of this group quickly announced, reminding everyone to watch their steps in this place.
I could see now why the place was more guarded than the adjacent rooms.