The Eternal Library

"This knowledge belongs to everyone! You can't just hoard it for yourself!", Donella argued at the woman's back, whose red locks swayed behind her, "Why shouldn't we share this??"

She walked after the freckled woman, trying to talk to her as she poured over the countless ink covered pages.

"Isn't the point of finding the Eternal Library to finally open it up into the world Ulla after centuries of civilization being left in the dark? Wasn't that the whole reason for this journey?", she questioned.

The library they stood in was cavernous and radiated magic and wonder. It was breathtaking. Special. Something to be shared. And Donella didn't understand how her friend just casually brought up keeping it hidden from the rest of the world.

"Because Donnie.., if it fell into the wrong hands it'd be the downfall of humankind.", Ulla answered her tone sharpening, "And no one had earned it like we have. This belongs to us. And only us."

Donella shook her head frustrated, "You can't really expect everyone who ever wants to come to the library to go through the seven trials do you?"

"I do."

"Why would you want that?? We almost died trying to get the pieces in order to build the key for this place!!", her green eyes flashed with anger. "Demanitus' way of safeguarding this place was extreme and uncouth! And we can finally change that!"

Ulla then whirled around, staring up at the taller silver haired woman, "His way was a test of the worthy.", she said testily, "So only, and I mean ONLY, the ones who deserved to have the secrets of the universe could hold them would reach them."

Donella watched as her friend took an ancient tome in her hands off the carved pedestal in her slim hands, "Don't you see that, that's us Donnie? Just us alone in the whole world are worthy of this information. These secrets.", she gushed.

Her heart leapt at those words her research partner spoke.

The us that could and should never be because the freckled and stubborn alchemist was already married and had a child she had left behind to make one last trip.

The trip that now had seemed to be a mistake, as Donella's feelings grew for her along with them now disagreeing on the fate of the library.

She didn't want to argue or disagree with the library only belonging to them... not when Ulla had spoken it the way she did; but she knew her friend was wrong.
The Eternal Library was meant to be for everyone.

Donella reached over and took the book from her, "No. Anyone should be able to come here Ulla, and... they will. No one should have to be worthy by nearly dying in order to get here. We're keeping it open.", she said firmly. "I understand your concern for these books going into evil, but we can guard against that.", she reasoned, "Security is better and things are so much more put together then they used to be centuries ago. Something like this shouldn't be locked away and you know it."

Ulla's bright blue eyes darkened as she looked back at her, "I was foolish to finish this quest with you, you have no idea how much power lies in these books. And you clearly aren't worthy of it yourself or you'd agree with me on this!", she laughed incredulous. "I know you're smarter then this Donnie!"

"Where is this possessiveness coming from?? Why are you so determined to keep this from people?!", she asked angrily.

Her research partner didn't answer as she snatched back the book, quickly flipping it open.

Bright white light immediately shone off of it, words popping into the air around her as power radiated off the weathered manuscripts.

"SEE THIS?? THIS IS WHY!", Ulla shouted her eyes gleaming with a hungry look.

Donella watched in horrible fascination as the glowing letters flew into Ulla as she read, it forming into a spell of some kind. Into a magic craft long lost to the world since Demanitus left.

Reading the word backwards as they flew by, her eyes widened as she realized what she was doing.

"ULLA DON'T YOU DARE!!", she yelled coming forward, trying to rip the book away.

The redhead then slapped her away as she neared, her hands growing into magic claws as she drove her back painfully.

Donella cried out, her head snapping back as she was struck in the face. Cheek bleeding as she kneeled on the ground, she looked back up at Ulla, whose eyes now glowed white.

Donella couldn't believe her lifelong friendship with her research partner Ulla has come to such a disastrous close.
And that's when something hardened inside her.

Something cold and unfeeling, of betrayal and deep spite.

Grabbing her dagger from her sheath, she stood and threw it at the chanting figure's book. The dagger struck it, sending it flying out of her hands as Ulla yelled in outrage.

Breathing fast, Donella snatched the book, magic words immediately flying around her matching the plan she had in her head.

"You like having this place to yourself so much then??", she seethed, "FINE. YOU'LL STAY FOREVER THEN.", she shouted as she chanted her spell as Ulla continued hers, both of them at a standoff in magic.

Then all at once, blinding and harsh ringing light spilled around them, washing over the library and forcefully throwing Donella out with it.

Head throbbing as she stood up, she looked at the vanished library, knowing even if it were still there... she'd never be able to enter.

Hate coursed through her veins as she stared at the empty space.

She then smiled, it wasn't all that bad. She had gotten her say in it too after all.

Ulla was cursed forever, meanwhile Donella would find someone else to get in there and get the powerful Infinity Book she had just witnessed.

And she would do whatever it took. No matter what.