The Prodigies: The Return of Equinox

Chapter Sixty-Eight: The Library's Prohibitum

Fara, the Librarian led the party to what they wanted. After having spent so much time in the Library she learned a few secrets about the mechanisms of its existence. Like much of The Tower, it reacted and changed according to the thoughts of whomever was inside it. After walking for less than a minute they came upon a door that had a sign hanging from the knob.

The sign read, "Must get key from LIbrarian. Access is granted to 5 or less living members at a time." The Librarian pulled out the key from a hidden pocket near her hip. It was simple in nature and unassuming in the extreme. Had they needed to find it, they probably would have never found it. 

She handed it to Tora and motioned to the door. Tora looked at the door and her mind immediately went to any number of curses the door could have it the very fibers of its make. She noted the signage on the door and considered the many ways that it could be interpreted. 

"In this room will be the answers you're looking for." Fara had a hint of smugness and knowing in her voice.

"How do we know this isn't a trap?" Asked Tora.

"I'll enter with you." Assured the Librarian.

"That doesn't mean anything. What else could you guarantee?"

"I have nothing else I could offer."

"Alegna, do you have a way to tie her up?"

"It'll take but a moment." The Librarian freely allowed herself to be restrained and have her movements limited. Tora turned toward the door and nearly put the key into the lock.

"Make sure to turn the key thrice in the lock clockwise, and once counter clockwise." Tora turned away from the door and presented the key to the Librarian.

"Open it." Fara grabbed the key with both hands and shuffled over to the door. She did exactly as she described and the door opened to a single chamber that had a large desk, one small bookshelf, and another door opposite of where they were standing. The Librarian entered the chamber, turned towards the party, and stood in front of them to assure them that they were safe.

After a moment of suspense, the party followed into the chamber one by one. They eyed the room and made their way to the bookshelf. The books had no titles to speak of left on their spine and the material looked far more ancient than anything the group had seen before. Tora grabbed one at random and found the book was the third volume of a series of books. It was the research that Equinox had done that lead to him discovering the means to become a god.

"What sort of madness took over Equinox?"

Seilan had found a book detailing known strengths and proposed weakness of the various demigods along with notes on the various territories they lived in.

"All the Blood of War are in here. Their strengths, their weaknesses, the places they lived and fought. Gorund, Danian, Trava, Xeri, Maror, and Fiore, they're all here."

"The Blood of Magic, and Blood of Tora are inscribed in this book as well. Equinox was a man possessed by an analytical fever. Assuredly it benefitted his course of action in assassinating the other godly kin."

While the group was fixated on learning about what the contents of the books were about, they didn't notice Fara going to the door opposite of the direction they entered. Once she got her hands on the door she swung it open with all the force she could muster with the limited movement available to her. As the door opened up, the room morphed into an open field with only a single sparring dummy in view.

"What is this?" Asked Tora as she drew her sword again.

"The Master's training area." The dummy began to move and attack at the group. At first, the attacks were of such low power and speed that the dummy proved to be of no threat to them. However, as the dummy kept coming at them, the strength, speed, durability, and size of the dummy grew with each defeat it suffered. It wasn't until the dummy was two feet taller than the group did it start to pose a threat.

"We need to get out of here guys." Called out Seilan. "And take the Librarian with us."

"What about the dummy?" Asked Tora and she and Seilan double teamed the dummy.

"Leave that to me. It'll take a little bit of effort, but I think I have all of it's movements and patterns recognized. Now's just keeping up with its speed."

As Tora grabbed the Librarian Seilan pushed and pushed further into the recesses of his combat skill and prowess. Yet, as the fight went on, the dummy began to command a retreat from Seilan. As Alegna and Tora struggled to figure how to get out of what was going on, Seilan began to suffer grazing blows.

"Could you hurry up?" shouted Seilan.

"I'm doing my best!" Tora was trying to find the origin point of the spell.

"All of you and I will die here." Fara said with a shit eating grin. "The Master will be pleased to know that you could not waste his efforts."

Alegna turned away from helping Tora find an exit to helping Seilan fight off the training dummy. The help went a long way as the dummy tried to compensate two combatants. Seilan stopped taking hits of any kind as he and Alegna worked together. The upper hand was gained again as Tora continued her search for a way to end the spell that was going on.

"How do I end this?" screamed Tora.

"I've never seen beyond the door myself. I was never permitted to enter it. We will die here."

"We'll beat this room, leave, learn more of your master, and bring an end to what is being done here." Tora dropped Fara onto the ground and went to join Seilan and Alegna in their fight.