Whispers in the Ancient Kingdom

Chapter 4: The Story of the Library

The sun set low in the sky, casting long shadows, as Tomas and I walked toward the imposing stone-and-ivy affair that was the Aranya Library. Amid the towering shelves packed with knowledges, it seemed that whispers of old history would emerge from the labyrinthine walls of books lining the shelves. My heart pounded with anticipation and apprehension; after our encounter with the artifact, I had a feeling that we were standing at the threshold of something truly monumental.

Inside, it reeked of age, of parchment and leather, all embracing. The library was silent except for the soft rustling of pages and faraway scritch of a quill moving against paper. I caught Tomas's eye, and he was as astonished by the air.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked, fidgeting with the strap of his satchel. "What if she doesn't have any answers?"

I shrugged, my mind swirling with doubts and curiosity. "We have to try. Ines is our best hope right now."

So we entered the library, and the towering shelves mesh into a maze that shifts as you walk. Finally, we reached to the rear and found a cozy nook awaiting us—a large oak table surrounded by old tomes. Ines Mendez, the librarian, was bent over a book, and her silver hair cascaded like a waterfall over her shoulders.

"Ines?" I said softly, not wanting to break her concentration.

She looked up, her sharp green eyes shining with wisdom and warmth. "Ah, Lira! Tomas! What brings you to my sanctuary?" Her voice was melodic, a gentle breeze among the musty pages.
"We need your help," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's about an artifact I found at the crab market." I pulled the object from my satchel, holding it out for her to see.

Ines shifted her view to the artifact; her face cleared to become serious. "Ah, the artifact. It pulses with energy, doesn't it? It's tied to something ancient."

Tomas leaned in closer, out of curiosity. "What do you mean? What's its significance?

Ines rested her fingers flat on the table, tracing the grains of wood. "They say legend has it that there is a lost kingdom called Eldoria, one that was full of magic and old wisdom. And this. Maybe it's really from that world.".

I felt a shiver run down my spine. "But how do we know? There are thousands of stories. How do we know that this one is really true?

Ines smiled knowingly at me. "Skepticism is healthy, Lira. But the connection is strong. There's a prophecy tied to Eldoria and its artifacts—an alignment of destinies, if you will. It says that one who holds the artifact can either restore the kingdom or unleash its forgotten horrors."

"Restore? Or unleash?" Tomas repeated, his voice a mix of awe and fear. "That's quite a responsibility."

"Yes," Ines said, narrowing her eyes as she leaned closer. "And with great power comes great peril. The history of Eldoria is filled with tales of triumph and tragedy. You must tread carefully."

"Do you have any proof of this prophecy?" I asked, trying to keep my skepticism going, while part of me was desperately wanting to believe.

Ines nodded and waved for us to follow her to a section of the library that I had yet to visit. The shelves were scrolled and ancient texts bound in leather and tied together simply with twine. She took out a scroll and laid it upon a table, opening it flat. "This," she said, tracing over the intricately written lines with her finger, "is the prophecy.".

Tomas drew closer, trying to have a clearer view of what had been written. "What's it say?"

Ines cleared her throat before she was able to continue.
"In twilight's despair, when shadows fall and hope doth wane, the elect shall rise, guiding key to light. A crystal lost to the years, unswayed power will keep him free to lead the intrepid in storm. But be wary, for within its glory hews a darkness that can gobble all.".