The Secret Plains

17

Narrator's POV

It was the middle of the night.

She hadn't told anyone where she was going.

She stayed up till past midnight, and quietly slipped out of the house, dressed warmly, headed straight to the school.

When she got there, she went straight to the library, and was staring face-to-face with the winding mist barrier covering the seemingly empty room and slowly put her fingers into it.

There was no noise, no obstruction. It slid right through. Little stinging, yes, but other than that, nothing.

She slowly took a step closer to the arch, and another, and another, until–

Her entire body went straight through, and her eyes gazed around the room.

It was like stepping into a whole other world.

Bookshelves and pillars and staircases winding from top to bottom, filled with books and scrolls holding valuable information. There were several desks and couches and seats everywhere, for studying, and a large desk in the middle, probably for the librarian.

But everything was spik and span. This room didn't look like a place left abandoned for over a month. Unless someone was cleaning. And why would they be cleaning if no one was using it? Unless...

She heard a sound from the back of the library and froze, turning her head to the direction of the sound. It sounded like footsteps, and an echoing voice–no, not voice, voices–coming straight towards her, or, more specifically, the arch.

She ran to one of the bookshelves on her left, squeezing between the back and the wall, before the footsteps emerged from the maze of bookshelves, and the voices were clearer.

"They're looking for her?"

"Yes, they are. They've been looking for her since she was a baby."

"Where was she?"

"In the human realm, they say. I wonder why she's back."

The voices faded away as the footsteps walked out of the library, and she let out a sigh of relief before coming out of her hiding spot. She started to go deeper into the library, coughing a bit as the books got older and older.

She smirked. This was going to be a lot of fun.

Kay's POV

Turns out a night in a restricted area can teach someone a lot.

Il-Homan

Il-Homan is a cave situated between Kobolde and Elvia, known for its unique and perilouslocation, flooded with water from the adjacent sea. Historically significant, this cave once served as a refuge for four Mageians following their banishment from Mageia.

The Banishment and Refuge

After their exile, these Mageians sought sanctuary in the secluded Il-Homan Cave. In their isolation, they practised their arcane arts, which ultimately led to the creation of madness—a malevolent force that not only consumed them but also instilled fear in the local populace.

The Legacy of Madness

Fearing the very madness they had unleashed, the Mageians fled from the cave, abandoning it to the elements and the dark reputation it had earned. The legacy of their ill-fated refuge persists to this day, with local inhabitants avoiding the cave out of a well-founded fear of the madness that resides within its depths.

Modern Perception

Il-Homan remains a place shrouded in mystery and caution. The tale of the Mageians' madness serves as a stern warning, ensuring that no one ventures near the cave, preserving its eerie tranquillity and historical significance. Little information is known about Il-Homan, and any other information is held in confidentiality with the Council of Velvimr.

Well, that was a lot.

I thought Seers were the only people capable of inflicting madness. And this is telling me that witches and wizards created madness?

This doesn't add up.

Unless Mageians are the people inflicting madness to humans, it would seem like a very ridiculous explanation.

Then again, madness only exists in Il-Homan, right?

Who told me to go to Il-Homan? Is it as bad as they say?

I have a lot of questions, and something tells me I have to go to great lengths to answer them.

As I sit on one of the couches in the library, another thought comes to my head.

How did I pass the barrier?

Maybe it was all a hoax? The officials tricked everyone into thinking that if they touched it, they would be knocked back harshly?

I don't know, and that's the anyone part. I don't know anything right now. I hate being ignorant to these things. And I know Il-Homan has something to do with my "death" in the human realm, as well as humans coming back from Velvimr crazy.

Well, this is nothing short of chaos.

Narrator's POV

The waves crashed against stone as water spilled more and more into the cave.

"Rowan, everyone knows this cave is flooded!" an elf whispered to his companion.

"The Collector told me to meet them here," the companion, a half-wizard, replied, clutching a tiny vial in his hand.

"Here? This cave, we can't go near! We'll become mad!"

"I know that!" the half-wizard snapped. "We are not going near the cave. He's meeting us here."

The 2 creatures stayed there for what seemed like an eternity, until a crunch of leaves broke the silence. Both of them turned, meeting still green eyes.

"Do you have it?" the Collector seemed to whisper. The 2 creatures glanced at each other before the half-wizard brought his hand up, showing the person the tiny vial with swirling purple and green mist. The Collector looked at it, his hand reaching to grab it. The half-wizard snatched his hand away.

"Where is my payment?" he asked harshly.

The Collector chuckled as he brought out a small bag that looked heavy with coins. He tossed it to the elf.

"All yours. Now, give me the vial."

The half-wizard glared at the Collector before handing over the vial. "Use it well. It is unstable, it is dark magic and it is deadly. It is bottled up Tal-Homan on a larger, way larger scale."

The Collector chuckled darkly, "I have great plans for this. Pleasure doing business with you."