"Say boy" Vince began "How exactly did you injure your right eye?
Leo placed his right hand against the eye before replying "It happened during my fight with Wulfe". The rest of the elders also used the opportunity to ask Leo questions that had been bugging them.
The elders and Leo after all the questions moved deeper into the tunnel with Alicia stopping every once in a while as she picked up any ancient scroll that could seem useful before storing them in a space that only her had access to.
Eventually the group came to a part that had not a single ray of light, thankfully the staff Leo had found from earlier, once placed into Alicia's hands illuminated the darkness with a calm green light.
"This staff is pretty old" Alicia said while observing its carving.
"Centuries? Vince asked as he brushed a cobweb from his face.
"No, more like millennia". Alicia replied. "Staffs in general were magical items from the early ages; that is the time before Elhyr's arrival"
"Wands being more versatile and portable eventually replaced staffs , not to talk of the recent spells that allow us Supremes and high rank mages to change our appearances which ultimately made staffs to be seen as accessories for ancient mages with their long flowing beards, deep wrinkles and pointed hats".
Some minutes eventually passed and with it all of them had finally arrived at what seemed to be the end of this ancient tunnel.
The place was still dark but the light from the staff revealed a beautifully organized room that bared no resemblance whatsoever to tunnel's entrance.
A small reading chair and table stood at the right hand side of the room along with an intricate golden lamp.
One massive chest laid right in the middle of the room while to the left were dwarvenstone shelves that had numerous books on them.
Alicia was already on her way to the shelves but stopped in her tracks for she could sense the new violent surge of mana that seemed to be emanating from Leo's now glowing right eye.
"The azure eye?
"But only one race of people is supposed to possess it" Alicia frowned. "Impossible" she eventually concluded though it didn't stop her from monitoring Leo every now and then .
"Not bad" Leo smiled inwardly, for he could make out the shape of a staff and several scrolls that seemed to be hidden beneath the chest.
In order to not arouse suspicion, he kept this information to himself and instead joined Midnight Vince at a shelf.
To his surprise Vince seemed to be in quite a sour mood and he kept on mumbling something about 'age is just a number',
Leo not understanding what could possibly be on the Midnight's mind, focused his superb hearing elsewhere and concentrated on the tiny vibrations that seemed to be coming from below.
As though reading his mind, Alicia said in a flat tone: "The vibrations your hearing should be because of the mana source beneath us"
"Beneath us? Leo asked himself and decided to confirm with the azure eye which revealed a huge surge of swirling yellow energy that seemed like the complete opposite of the Demon's.
"I think I've found something" Alexandre said, waving a large leather covered book with a diamond shaped engraving on its crimson front.
"By the scribbles inside I think it should be ancient elvish" He added. "And I don't think I understand a word in here".
Walking forward with an excited look Alicia collected the book and immediately started to flip through it like an excited child that had received a new present.
"it's a diary of the mage that built this place"
Alicia cleared her throat and continued "Her name was apparently Kay Locksworth and this is the record of her research on how to summon beasts from other realms.
"This might even give us some insight on how Draghyr returned to this realm" Alicia beamed. "And possibly a key to travel to other realms and back".
Rubbing his chin Alexandre said what had been bothering him since Alicia mentioned the ancient mage's work "If she was actually involved in research of summons, was this where she worked? cause here seems more like a personal library than a summon labs.
Alicia momentarily stopped reading before answering the question.
"I do believe this is where she must have done her research, though the absence of chains, cells and objects of restraint, makes me wonder how she had contained the creatures she summoned.
However, the blood runes in front of the tunnel could have been used for summoning and maybe chains wouldn't have been needed if a contract was used like how the brotherhood relate with forsaken creatures.
After all, there has been much mystery surrounding the identity of the person who brought up the idea of forsaken contracts".
"So this might be the library and diary of the one who gave rise to this gigantic mess"
"Maybe that's why the entrance was scattered and the torches here removed, perhaps someone or something came down here to destroy any evidence of her work" Cassandra mused.
"Meaning someone or something stopped that from completely happening, But what? Alicia sighed pacing around with the book behind her back.
"I really need to study the family tree of the Magnitian royal family" Alicia said before she slapped her forehead in frustration "And just to make things difficult the chronological history of this kingdom just went up in flames".
"There is a possibility that this Locksworth could have been the royal mage at the time" Alexandre pointed out.
"Meaning the king at the time must have known about her 'research'" Alicia said, nodding in agreement as she saw where the Midnight was heading.
"I know what I must do" she finally said, stretching out two fingers that began to form a circle of ethereal light.
" I am sorry for this sudden parting but I really must be on my way to the Sun, for this book could change everything about the war against Draghyr".
And with a few steps Alicia disappeared through the portal.
"Do we go home? Cassandra asked still shocked on the mage's sudden departure.
"Not when we have a little investigation of our own to do" Alexander smiled "For it was very obvious to me that Alicia wasn't telling us everything about that book".
"What makes you say that? Vince asked.
Alexander gave a short chuckle before he replied with a smirk "I can read and write ancient elvish pretty well".
"That wasn't a diary" the 'Hunter's cheerful face then took on a serious tone
"It's a spell book".
"Why didn't you say so? Cassandra asked in horror. "You just placed a book containing forsaken spells into the hands of a lying mage".
"The book would still end up in their hands regardless of me stating the obvious but on the bright side at least I just made their work a little harder" was Alexandre's reply as he removed a dark diamond shaped purple gem from a bright blue pouch hidden deep inside his cloak.
"I knew that Antium pouch would come in handy and all that's left for us to do is wait and see how much the Sun can be trusted".
Alexandre began the walk out of the tunnel followed by three confused assassins that marveled at the wisdom and scheming he had just displayed.