Selara moved through the vast corridors of the Primarium Castrum, her footsteps echoing against the smooth marble, softened only by the distant hum of temporal energy pulsing through the very walls of the fortress. This place, the heart of the Time-Keepers' domain, had always felt like a bastion of order amidst the chaos of unraveling realities. And yet, lately, it felt like something was shifting beneath the surface....something unseen but undeniably present. The ancient architecture around her, with its towering archways and intricate engravings, had been built to withstand the erosion of time itself, yet Selara felt an odd sense of unease settling in her chest. Something was wrong.
The thought followed her as she reached the entrance of the Apeiro Vivliothiki, the Infinite Library within the castle. The towering double doors loomed before her, carved from obsidian-hued wood that shimmered with faint temporal sigils. These doors were older than most of the Time-Keepers themselves, infused with enchantments that allowed only those deemed worthy to enter. As Selara placed her palm against the surface, a deep, resonant thrum vibrated beneath her fingers, and the sigils pulsed with recognition before the doors parted soundlessly. She stepped inside.
The library was immense, a labyrinth of knowledge stretching far beyond mortal comprehension. Shelves spiraled in elegant formations, some anchored to the ground, others floating in defiance of gravity. Golden threads of energy wove through the air, connecting tomes that should have long crumbled into dust. Every volume here was a testament to the Time-Keepers' endless pursuit of knowledge, their desperate attempt to catalog and understand the very fabric of existence. And yet, even within this treasury of wisdom, there were still things they did not know.
At the center of the grand library, resting atop a towering obsidian pedestal, stood the Aionios Monolith: a massive, irregularly shaped crystal, its surface fractured with streaks of multi-colored light, as if barely containing the vast ocean of time within. This artifact was one of the greatest tools of the Time-Keepers, allowing them to peer into the past and even experience moments as they had once happened. However, despite its power, there were barriers, segments of history that refused to be unveiled, timelines that simply ceased to exist within its vision. No matter how much energy one poured into the Monolith, certain moments remained forever sealed, their truths lost to an unseen force. Selara's gaze lingered on the artifact for a brief moment before she turned toward the main chamber.
In front of the monolith, amidst a sea of open books and scattered parchments, stood Saphielle. Her presence was like a still current of air: serene, yet carrying the weight of something deeper, something unreadable. Her snow-white wings were folded neatly behind her back, their pristine feathers catching the warm glow of the floating orbs above. Her golden hair, shimmering like molten sunlight, framed her face in soft waves, and her sapphire-blue eyes, piercing and calculating, scanned the open pages before her with unwavering focus. Even without looking up, she spoke. "I sensed you approaching the moment you stepped into the hall outside." Saphielle said calmly.
Selara's lips twitched slightly. "I would be concerned if you hadn't." At that, Saphielle lifted her gaze, meeting Selara's with quiet intensity. There was something almost predatory in the way her eyes assessed her, though not in hostility, simply in the way one who sees too much tends to watch others. "You're here about Kai, aren't you?" Selara inclined her head. "Have you found anything?" Saphielle exhaled, a quiet but measured sound, and reached for a nearby tome, flipping it closed with a soft thud. "No. Not yet." Selara arched a brow, waiting for her to elaborate. Saphielle's fingers traced absent patterns along the book's ancient binding as she continued, "He has not displayed any definitive signs that confirm our suspicions. No anomalies, no manifestations beyond what would be expected of someone newly Awakened." Her gaze flickered with something unreadable. "Without concrete proof, all we have are theories."
Selara exhaled slowly, the tension in her shoulders easing ever so slightly. "That is rather concerning to hear." Saphielle, ever perceptive, studied her. "You almost sound disappointed." Selara shook her head. "Not disappointed. Just....cautious. You understand as well as I do what it would mean if our concerns were validated." Saphielle dipped her chin slightly in acknowledgment. "Which is why I am being meticulous." Selara's gaze shifted toward the scattered tomes around them, all of which lay sealed, their covers bearing intricate temporal locks, awaiting activation. Unlike ordinary books, the scriptures stored within the Apeiro Vivliothiki could only be accessed by those who channeled their temporal energy into them. Once activated, the records would reveal their contents, unfolding as though history itself were being rewritten before the reader's eyes.
It was an elegant system, one that ensured that only those attuned to the flow of time could access its knowledge. However.... Selara's expression darkened as she ran a finger across a section of shelving that stood eerily empty. Some of those records had been lost. Her expression hardened. "What about the lost scriptures? Have you recovered any of them?" Saphielle's wings shifted slightly, a subtle movement, but one that spoke of her frustration more than her composed face ever would. "I have tried. Tirelessly. But something is preventing me from reconstructing the lost archives." Selara frowned, stepping closer. "Preventing you?" Saphielle's sapphire eyes darkened ever so slightly, her fingers tightening against the parchment. "It is as if an invisible barrier has been placed over that knowledge. I can sense that the information exists, but I cannot access it. It is not simply lost, it has been locked away. Deliberately."
Selara's jaw tightened. "That would require a level of interference far beyond any of us." Saphielle nodded gravely. "Indeed. Which begs the question.....who has the power to erase knowledge even from the Apeiro Vivliothíki?" A heavy silence stretched between them. The implications were disturbing. The library was bound to the very fabric of existence...if something had been sealed, then it meant that someone had deemed that knowledge too dangerous to be known. And whatever force had done so...was beyond even them. Selara's mind raced through possibilities, weighing risks against uncertain truths. "Do you believe this is tied to Kai?" Saphielle's expression remained unreadable. "I cannot say for certain. But it is a strange coincidence, wouldn't you agree?"
Selara exhaled, crossing her arms as her gaze flickered toward the towering shelves around them. "I do not like coincidences." Saphielle's lips curled into something resembling a ghost of a smirk. "Neither do I." For a long moment, the only sound was the quiet hum of the library's magic, the faint rustling of unseen pages turning themselves in the distance. Finally, Saphielle spoke again. "If I may offer a suggestion?" Selara glanced at her. "Go on." "For now it's best we can do is wait." Saphielle replied Selara's brows furrowed slightly. "You are echoing my own words from earlier." Saphielle gave a small, knowing nod. "Then you already know it is the wisest course of action. Until we uncover something concrete, acting in haste would be reckless. For now, we observe. We continue our research. And we remain prepared.....for whatever truth we may uncover."
Selara let the silence stretch between them before nodding slowly. "Very well." Saphielle dipped her head slightly, her gaze returning to the scattered records before her. "I will keep searching. But until then, Selara....." Her sapphire eyes flickered with something almost like warning. "Be careful." Selara held her gaze for a moment longer before turning toward the exit. As she stepped away, her mind remained restless, turning over every possibility, every consequence. And despite Saphielle's reassurances.....the weight of the unknown pressed heavier than ever. "Very well then, let me know immediately if you notice any unusual occurrences around Kai." Selara instructed. Saphielle gave her a nod before returning to her scriptures, as Selara proceeded to exit the library.
The towering doors of the Apeiro Vivliothiki whispered shut behind Selara, their obsidian surface dimming as if swallowing her presence entirely. The hush of the Infinite Library still clung to her like a phantom, its lingering weight pressing against her thoughts. As she stepped into the corridor, the ever-present pulse of the fortress thrummed beneath her feet....a slow, rhythmic vibration, like the deep breath of something ancient and watchful. Selara exhaled, rolling her shoulders slightly to shake off the tension. "Saphielle will keep watch, it will be alright." Selara assured herself. That was enough for now. She moved with purpose through the vast halls of the Primarium Castrum, her stride unwavering.
The walls, engraved with intricate depictions of time's flow: spiraling galaxies, fragmented clocks, figures dissolving into mist, seemed almost alive under the shifting light. Despite the fortress's grandeur, an unease nestled deep in her thoughts. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing something. That some unseen force was keeping them blind to a truth just beyond their reach. She pushed the thought aside. There was no use in speculation without proof. As she neared the atrium, a voice.....smooth yet edged with unmistakable amusement that cut through the stillness.
"Leaving so soon?" Selara slowed, her expression unreadable as she turned. Leaning casually against one of the carved stone pillars, arms crossed in deceptive ease, was Zyren. The ever-present flicker of ember-like light in his scarlet eyes caught the glow of the lanterns, making them seem almost molten. His wild, mercury-like hair reflected the dim lighting, strands shifting as though stirred by an unseen wind. He pushed off the pillar with lazy grace, stepping toward her. "I assume you didn't find any proof for your suspicions?" Selara regarded him coldly. "No, sadly I haven't yet." Zyren tilted his head, studying her. His usual smirk remained, but there was something else beneath it now, something sharper. The air between them shifted, the weight of his presence subtly intensifying.
"Then tell me," he said, voice lowering slightly. "Are we doing the right thing by keeping him in the dark?" Selara didn't blink. "That is exactly what we shall do." Zyren's smirk faded. His ember-like eyes flickered with something unreadable before narrowing slightly. "You sound so sure." Zyren remarked. "That is because I am." Selara replied. Zyren's expression hardened. "Confidence is one thing, Selara. Overconfidence is another. If we're wrong, if we wait too long-" He paused, then exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly. "It could backfire on us in ways we can't afford." Selara met his gaze without hesitation. "And if that happens, we will handle it." A flicker of something....frustration, perhaps?....crossed Zyren's face, gone as quickly as it appeared. His jaw tensed briefly before he scoffed, running a hand through his silver hair. "You're as stubborn as ever."
Selara allowed a faint smirk. "I am perfectly aware of what I am capable of." Zyren studied her for a long moment, then sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine. Have it your way." he said in a dejected tone. "Unless you have anything else to say, our conversation is over," Selara said, already turning away. Zyren clicked his tongue, clearly irritated but unwilling to argue further. He watched her retreating figure before glancing toward the direction of the library. His annoyance lingered, but something in the back of his mind nagged at him.
With a quiet exhale, he pivoted on his heel and strode toward the archives. If Selara wasn't going to question things further, he would.