Dc: Blood Of The Quincy King

Chapter 5: The Sin Of Gluttony

Chapter 5:

The tall, lobby-like hall stretched before them, its vast, open space dominated by a skeletal angel statue at its center, wings broken and arms outstretched as if pleading to the heavens. Three spiraling, partially broken walkways loomed above, casting eerie shadows on the floor below. The atmosphere was cold and desolate, the only sound being the faint echo of their footsteps. Nero wandered around the room, his eyes scanning the area, focusing on the details as he approached the lobby counter.

Nero: closing his eyes for a moment before reopening them "Yep, there it is."

The wooden door behind the lobby counter was illuminated in his vision, glowing faintly as if beckoning them forward. Highlighted footprints led straight to the door, and a key lay conspicuously on the counter, as if someone had left it there just for them.

Raven: walking up behind him "See something?"

Nero: grinning "Looks like we're headed through yet another door. Man, that's all we've been doing-door after door, huh?"

Raven: sharply "Focus."

They hopped over the lobby desk, and Nero grabbed the key. As the door creaked open, the room beyond revealed itself-a grand, dimly lit library with shelves towering high above them, filled with books that seemed ancient and untouched. The scent of old paper and dust filled the air.

For the first time since entering the tower, they encountered someone who didn't seem hostile. An elderly man with a kindly expression sat at a table, his face glued to a large tome. He looked up at them as they entered, a warm smile appearing on his weathered face. Slowly, the man stood and approached, greeting them.

Man: in a cheerful tone "Bartley Crouch, nice to meet you both. The library is free for use to all."

Nero exchanged a glance with Raven, both of them unsure what to make of the situation. The man seemed harmless, friendly even, but something felt off. Without a word, Nero heard Raven's voice in his head as they communicated telepathically.

Nero: telepathically "Weird, right? He doesn't seem to notice what's happening outside this tower."

Raven: nodding slightly "Indeed. I don't sense any magic or demonic presence, but this could be a trap. He doesn't feel like a spirit either, though."

Nero turned to the old man, deciding to probe a bit more.

Nero: "Hey, do you happen to know what's going on outside? You know, the giant tower of hell, demons running around, that sort of thing?"

The old man, Bartley, just smiled and repeated his earlier words, as if Nero's question had never been asked.

Bartley: "Bartley Crouch, nice to meet you both. The library is free for use to all."

Nero raised an eyebrow, his unease growing. He turned back to Raven, who had already begun to explore the library, her eyes scanning the shelves for anything useful.

Nero: scratching his head "Alright, that's... weird."

Raven: distractedly "Let's just look around. We might be able to find something that helps us."

They split up, each searching different corners of the library. The vast space was eerily quiet, save for the occasional creak of the floor beneath their feet or the soft rustling of pages as they skimmed through books.

As they wandered through the rows of ancient texts, the air grew colder. A feeling of unease settled over the room, but Bartley remained at his table, hunched over his book, smiling softly as he read. He didn't move or speak, his demeanor almost robotic.