Whispering Crystals

Chapter 3: Whispers in the Library

The weight of Cassiopeia's words settled heavily upon the reinas. Uniting the kingdoms and rediscovering lost magic were daunting tasks. Pirena, ever the pragmatist, voiced their shared concern.

"Hara," she began, her voice laced with skepticism, "rediscovering forgotten magic and lost gems is like searching for a needle in a haystack."

Cassiopeia offered a gentle smile. "There is always a starting point, Reyna Pirena," she replied, gesturing towards the vast library hidden within the Sapiro's heart. "Within these walls lie forgotten scrolls, whispers of the past waiting to be unearthed."

Fueled by a newfound purpose, the reinas entered the library. Sunlight streamed through stained-glass windows, illuminating dusty shelves overflowing with ancient tomes. The air hung heavy with the scent of aged parchment and forgotten lore.

Amihan, captivated by the sheer volume of knowledge, moved with a scholar's reverence. Pirena, however, remained unconvinced, scanning the endless rows with a critical eye.

"This will take years," she grumbled. "Even with diwata-speed reading, we'll never find what we need in this labyrinth."

Cassiopeia, her sapphire eyes gleaming with ancient knowledge, placed a hand on a seemingly ordinary book. As her fingers brushed the cover, an intricate pattern etched on its surface glowed faintly.

"Not everything is as it seems, Reyna Pirena," she said, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

Following Cassiopeia's lead, the reinas soon discovered that the library held secrets beyond their wildest imaginations. Bookshelves shifted, revealing hidden passages. Magical inscriptions responded to their touch, unlocking compartments overflowing with enchanted scrolls and shimmering artifacts.

Days turned into weeks as they delved into the library's secrets. Amihan, fueled by her thirst for knowledge, spent hours deciphering fragmented texts, piecing together the history of the haras and their legendary gems. Pirena, ever the pragmatist, tackled the more practical aspects, uncovering forgotten battle formations and lost defensive spells.

One evening, as Amihan pored over an ancient scroll, she let out a gasp of surprise. "Hara," she exclaimed, waving the scroll excitedly. "This speaks of a hidden temple, a place said to hold a fragment of the past, a... Sunstone."

A flicker of excitement lit up Cassiopeia's eyes. "The Sunstone," she murmured, her voice filled with a hint of longing. "That would be the gem wielded by your ancestor, Hara Ybrahim, the reina of fire."

Pirena, ever the skeptic, scoffed. "Another pretty rock? This is leading nowhere."

"Perhaps not, Reyna Pirena," Cassiopeia countered, a glint of steel in her gaze. "The Sunstone might not be a rock, but a key. A key that could lead us to the lost knowledge we need to defeat Ether."

Fueled by newfound hope, the reinas made their decision. They would venture out of Lireo, following the cryptic clues in the scroll, to find the hidden Sunstone Temple. It was a journey fraught with danger, but the fate of Encantadia hung in the balance.