The next morning, the group woke up with a renewed sense of determination. The previous day's confrontation with Aiden had left its mark, but they knew they had to continue their quest. Lysandra, though destroyed, still held secrets buried beneath its ruins.
«We need to find clues about the Order's plans,» Jun declared as he stretched. «And about where Aiden might be hiding now.»
«I'll search this part of the village,» Sora proposed, taking his animal form, his sharp senses allowing him to detect the smallest details. «I might spot traces we missed.»
Miranda, determined to learn more about her village's past and find answers about her family, joined Miiko to explore another section of the ruins. Calla, still shaken by her encounter with her brother, stayed with Jun to examine the remaining structures and search for clues.
The day progressed slowly, each discovery bringing its share of revelations and additional mysteries. Calla and Jun discovered an old building that seemed to have been a command center for the Güldenstern Order. The walls were covered with esoteric symbols and maps marked with various annotations.
«Look at this,» said Calla, pointing to a map of the region. «They've marked several strategic points. It looks like they were planning more attacks.»
Jun nodded. «And these annotations... they mention names we've never heard of. These could be important members of the Order.»
Meanwhile, Miranda and Miiko had found a journal hidden under the debris of a house. The pages, yellowed with time, contained detailed notes about the Order's activities in the village.
«These entries talk about rituals and sacrifices,» Miranda read aloud, her face hardening with each word. «They used the inhabitants of Lysandra to fuel their spells and enhance their powers.»
Miiko nodded, her eyes piercing the text with unusual intensity. «We need to compare this information with what Jun and Calla found. There must be a connection.»
In the center of the village, Sora had found a series of underground tunnels. Following footprints and signs of recent activity, he eventually stumbled upon a hidden room filled with documents and artifacts.
«Jun! Calla!» he called as he resurfaced. «I found something. You need to see this.»
The group quickly gathered around Sora, examining the items and scrolls he had discovered. Among them, they found detailed files outlining the hierarchy of the Güldenstern Order, as well as descriptions of the types of powers its members wielded.
«Look at these code names,» said Jun, skimming through the documents. «They refer to dark tales or legends. No real names are mentioned, only pseudonyms.»
Calla nodded as she read the descriptions. «Each member is designated by a different tale. They mention abilities like shadow manipulation, mind control, and necromancy.»
Miranda found a specific mention of a member called «The Puppeteer,» who seemed to have a notable influence within the Order. «This 'Puppeteer' could be one of the leaders,» she said. «And his mind control power matches what I saw in my village.»
Jun nodded. «With this information, we can anticipate their movements and better prepare to face them.»
Calla found a specific mention of Aiden, designated as «The Knight of Shadows,» describing his missions and role within the Order. «It seems he's one of the Order's lieutenants, responsible for the destruction of resistant villages. He's the one who orchestrated the attack on Miranda's village.»
Miranda clenched her fists upon hearing this. «I knew they were behind it, but seeing Aiden's name directly linked to this horror... We have to stop him.»
Jun placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. «And we will. Together, we've already achieved so much. We'll use this information to strike back.»
As the group continued to search the room, they stumbled upon a map showing the locations of several weapon caches and secondary bases of the Order. Among these locations, one stood out: an isolated fortress on the edge of the valley.
«That must be where they're retreating now,» said Sora. «That's where we need to go.»
With this new information, the group felt more confident. They knew the path ahead would be difficult and dangerous, but they now had a clear goal and concrete means to achieve it. As the sun set over the ruins of Lysandra, they prepared to face the next stage of their perilous quest.
Leaving Lysandra, they carried with them not only the clues they had found but also a reinforced resolve to end the Güldenstern Order and uncover the entire truth about their pasts and destinies.
YOU ARE READING
[ENG] Last Reader Standing
FantasíaDiscover "Last Reader Standing," the thrilling story of Jun Park, an ordinary librarian thrust into an extraordinary reality where fiction blends with everyday life. After a mysterious phenomenon called "Literary Awakening," each person becomes boun...
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