The Prodigies: The Return of Equinox

Chapter Sixty-Four: The Library

Tora, Seilan, and Alegna, who were in Resources found themselves lost in a huge Library with near endless floors going up and entrances to separate chambers throughout each floor. Every categorial distinction that could be made was on display. From an entire section to the phases of the moon and the various things about them to a section about footwear design for various scenarios and everything in between. Some books had the strong scents of the various materials that they were made from, and some had horrid unusual materials for their leaves and binding. 

"What manner of athenaeum is this? Under no event should the architecture of an infinite scope be possible."

"It's not infinite!" Declared a voice from every direction. "That is just your lack of understanding speaking to you." All the Prodigies threw their backs towards each other

An woman had appeared before them. She had the tell-tale signs she was of middle age. Her growing stray hairs, soft wrinkles on the edges of her eyes, and hands that told the story of how her fingers ran through nearly every page in this library.

"Would you be able to help us?" squeaked Tora

"I'm sure I can, but what are you even doing here? I haven't seen an outsider in years and you are far enough from being initiated to even be allowed within Resources."

"We're trying to find information on Equinox. Can you lead us to that?" Seilan made sure to pronounce authority in every syllable.

"Oh, He said that you would come here soon." The older lady faced her palms to the group, kept her hands near her hips and went down into one knee.

"Who told you?" asked Seilan.

"The master of this tower." In one motion she stomped one pace forward, pushed her hands towards the group and shouted. A wave of energy flung them down the near infinite rows of books. "I would prefer if you surrender now so I have less to clean!"

"By the Mother." Groaned Tora. "I didn't even feel the slightest hint of magic."

"I know the mechanism by which she altercates." Alegna was the first of the three to ready themselves. "She is Chosen. Specifically, she is Fara of the Highlands."

"How do you know that?" Seilan hadn't the foggiest idea of what Alegna was talking about.

"She died at least a century ago!"

"My death was assumed, but it might as well have happened." She moved closer as she spoke. "In the moments before my final breath I woke up in this tower. He, the master of the tower, personally saved me out of the kindness of his heart. His only request was that I stay in the tower for the remainder of my existence."

The group readied their selves for the fight. "How could you turn your back on your people when they needed you most?" yelled Tora.

"What does it matter to you?" The Librarian yelled back. "You think I don't know that my people died and that my clan is no more? Was that some poor ploy to get me on your side? I had finally been able to find the one in my life that could give me what I could not get or give. A second chance at life. I never wanted the responsibility of being Chosen. This library suits me perfectly."

She raised one hand high above her head and brought it straight down. "Shield!" The dim barrier that appeared above the party cracked from a force that would have killed them were it a direct hit.

The aftershock of the impact blew some of the books, loose papers, and pamphlets away from them. Seilan hadn't realized what sort of power they were dealing with until just now. He was glad that he ended up with Tora on his team. They would have died and been no more than a splat on the smooth stone beneath them.

"We need to move, now!" yelled Seilan. Tora threw the barrier towards the librarian before taking off. Her mind was racing with the various facts about the Librarian. Where she hailed from, her Chooser, the gift she blessed with and anything else that could help them in this fight. 

"I have a plan!" panted Tora. "We just need to focus on hitting her from at least two different directions."

"What will I do? I don't have many ranged options."

"You'll fight her up close."

"What!"

"Alegna, I'll need you to do what you can about harassing her from opposing directions."

"I'm growing fonder of the setup as you continue."

"I'll be joining you in close combat. But first we need to ambush her."

"I'm starting to feel a little better about this. At least I'll have some magic on my side."

"We need to split up, lets do that now and then go for the plan once I signal."

"Copy that."

The Librarian had been warned that the opponents would be fierce fighters. She had faced powerful opponents before, but none that could withstand a blow like she sent down to them. She was now infinitely more curious now about who they were and why they fighting to reach her master. She had also never seen someone as fast as they were. She made her way down the direction they fled but couldn't find them.

After running for what seemed like a few minutes she slowed down to catch her breath. The bookcase she leaned on contained books regarding the native druidic species of the eastern part of the kingdom. There might be information on the tree thing, she thought. Before she could reach for it, an arrow found itself lodged in her shoulder.

The Librarian heard footsteps behind her and she quickly twisted her body and arms to meet the foe with incredible force to find Tora had already set up a shield. The Librarian couldn't react fast enough and followed through with her attack. The force of the blow cracked Tora's defenses, but the barrier was so strong that the Librarian was knocked back from what got sent back to her. Before she could get up Seilan was on top of her and put his sword to her throat.

"You may be strong, but you don't stand a chance." Seilan said through his teeth. "Tell us what we want to know."

The Librarian didn't want to go into that final sleep just yet.