Rewrite The Star

CHAPTER 73 : THREAD OF CONNECTIONS

CHAPTER 73: THREAD OF CONNECTIONS

The sun hung low in the sky, casting its amber glow over the guildhall. Atlas sat amidst the books, the weight of the three ancient tomes heavy in his hands. The Manuscript, Stellaria Coetus, and the Demon Book—three seemingly unrelated items, yet Atlas could feel an undeniable pull connecting them.

He sat at the wooden table, each book spread out before him, their secrets whispering. "One's about magic, another about stars, and the last… demons," he muttered to himself, tracing the spines of each one.

"They feel like they were written together," Darren commented from across the room. His eyes scanned the books curiously.

"Yeah," Atlas agreed, frowning. "But none of this makes sense. The symbols... they're all so cryptic."

His fingers brushed against the mark on his palm, the one that had once burned brightly with power. He tried again, pressing it against the pages of the Demon Book, hoping for a response. But nothing came. The mark remained cold.

“Maybe your magic is still recovering,” Darren offered, his voice gentle.

“Maybe,” Atlas replied, though doubt lingered in his mind. The weight of the books felt heavier now, like they held more than just knowledge.

A voice called out from the hallway, interrupting their thoughts. “Atlas! We need you here!”

"Coming," Atlas responded, standing up and turning to Darren. "Can you keep an eye on the books for me?"
Darren nodded, and Atlas headed out, following the voice. He quickly found his father, Gildarts, standing in the guildhall, his expression a mix of amusement and concern.

“Dad? What are you doing here?” Atlas asked.

“I wanted to check on you. How did the quest go?” Gildarts asked, his smile warm but cautious.

“It was fine,” Atlas replied. “But come with me to the library. I need to show you something.”

Gildarts followed his son to the library, where Atlas laid out the three books. His father’s face shifted as he stood before them, the playful expression from moments before fading into something darker.

“These books... they carry an ancient magic,” Gildarts said, his voice low, reverberating with an authority Atlas had rarely heard.

“What do you mean?” Darren asked, his curiosity piqued.

“This magic... it’s older than anything we’ve ever encountered. The First Wizard, the one who crafted the original seals, used this kind of power,” Gildarts explained. “I thought it was a myth.”

Atlas listened intently, absorbing the gravity of his father’s words.

“This kind of magic is unstable and dangerous,” Gildarts continued. “Many wizards who tried to harness it were consumed by it. The power, when uncontrolled, can be catastrophic.”

“Then why is it here?” Darren asked, his voice a mix of awe and fear.

“We need to protect these books,” Gildarts said, his gaze unwavering. “If the wrong hands get hold of them, it could lead to unimaginable destruction.”

The weight of his father’s words settled over Atlas and Darren like a storm. Atlas’s mind flashed back to the cryptic warning he'd received from his future self. "Protect it."

“We will,” Atlas said quietly, the promise in his voice as resolute as it was uncertain.

Gildarts nodded, a somber expression crossing his face. “Good. Now, let's set this aside for now. The Moon Festival is coming, and we have much to prepare for.”