Forbidden Archives

Aliester was a bit happy that Holly had finally acknowledged that he had been sent by Raiha.

"So, since I am sent by the guardian, will you allow me to take the grimoire?" he asked with hope. He was somehow thinking that Holly would grant him access to the tome.

Holly's brows creased. "I can lend you the grimoire but you cannot take it with you outside the coven. Besides, there is one major problem..."

Aliester got a bad feeling but he still asked. "What?"

"The grimoire is in the coven's library. I could not take it outside since it is in the forbidden archives." She said with utmost seriousness.

"If it can't be taken outside… then will I be able to enter the forbidden archives?" he queried.

"You can try…. but I am not sure if you will be unharmed. Only casters could get inside library." She replied. "There wasn't any record that a non-caster had entered Hallows' library."

Aliester was silent. He knew that he needed to accomplish the mission, no matter the risks.

"I guess I have no choice." Aliester was quite determined.

Holly led him towards the coven's library. She had opened a secret door behind the fireplace and they had to go through several winding path.

'If I do not have a guide, for sure, I would get lost.' He muttered as he tried to memorize all the turns that they had to take.

"Some witches wanted to gain access to our archives, so we laid down traps and have this maze-like path installed towards the library." Holly explained as she led him to a stairway.

By the looks of it, it seemed like a catacomb. Aliester felt chills as they walked through the underground tunnel.

There were a number of sarcophagus housed in some of the chambers. Even without any background information, he instinctively knew that these were Hallows' ancestors.

He stiffened when he caught a few shadowy figures from the corners of his eye. He could also hear some sort of whispers from the dead.

However, since Holly did not seem to mind them, Aliester also tried to ignore the shadows and the whispers. He resolved to simply follow the caster.

After a few minutes of walking they had reached their destination. Opening a door from the passageway, another large wooden door appeared.

It had ornate designs. What caught his interest was the golden sculpture at the center.

Instead of a lion's head or something akin to that, a beautiful golden statue of woman was featured as centerpiece.

Aliester stood agape when the golden woman moved, opened her eyes and talked. "Would you like to enter Miss Hallows?"

"Yes, but I have a visitor with me." Holly replied.

The woman's eyes bore on Aliester. "He is a non-caster. I am not sure if he will be unscathed if he enters this chamber."

Aliester felt a bit unnerved at the golden statue's gaze. He has Caramel's cloak on and a simple peasant's clothes.

"I have no other choice. I have to." He said while looking at the golden woman. Despite looking like a braggard, he still tried to act cool.

The woman warned. "Just be ready, young one. This place is not meant for a non-caster like you. If you are not strong enough, it will devour your mind."

After giving him the warning, the woman waved her hand and the door was unlocked. The wooden door creaked as it opened.

Holly was the first one who stepped inside. After she had gone in, the door frame burst into flames.

"What?!" Aliester exclaimed. If he had taken a step, he would have been roasted.

"This library is alive. It seemed that it is trying to chase you out." Holly explained to the bewildered young lord. "The flame it produced was its defense mechanism designed to incinerate thieves and other casters who wishes wickedness to others. Will you still try and enter?"

'you are really cruel.' He muttered. She gave him a sliver of hope and yet the things he had to go through seemed impossible.

But he was aware that like earlier with the blood, someone or something is testing him.

"You do know that I do not have any choice." He said while drawing in a huge breath before finally taking a step.

He was nervous and scared but he could not just give up. He braced himself to be roasted but when he stepped in, nothing happened. He only felt the searing heat but for some reasons he did not get burned.

"You passed the second test. You have the conviction and bravery." Holly applauded.

"You also have to thank Caramel for giving you that cloak. It had nullified the defense spell that was put in place, so you were able to enter the library unharmed." She added.

That was when Aliester remembered about the cloak. He really have to thank Caramel.

Holly led him to the second floor. Rows and rows of books, scrolls and tomes are displayed. Then they reached a huge painting.

"This is the forbidden archives." Holly said as she motioned her hand to the painting of an old library.

Aliester was perplexed. "What do you mean forbidden archives? Where?" he asked since he can only see the painting nothing else.

"Inside this painting is the forbidden archives. You have to get inside and look for the grimoire."

[Notice: The forbidden archive is in an enclosed space. It is in another dimension with which you can enter using a special entry pass.] came Zarame's explanation.

"Say what?!" he could not help but exclaim in surprise. After he gotten over that information, he tried to focus at the task. "How would I be able to get inside?"

"Don't worry. I have the key." She said as she held out an antique looking key. "I can guide you in but you need to find the grimoire."

Though it was still hard for him to wrap the information around his head, Aliester had nodded.

"Ready?" she asked as she inserted the key to the painting. Instead of creasing the painting, the key seemed to penetrate the painting like dipping an item in water.

"open!" as Holly said the word, he felt as if he had been sucked by the painting.

Since the painting was in monochrome, the world they had gotten inside was also in monochrome.

"Young duke of Alcove." Holly said. "We have to be careful in going to the ancient library. This place plays with one's mind, so we might get lost."

And just what Holly said, as if a prediction, Aliester was separated and got lost when the mist engulfed the place.

"Holly, where would we go?" he asked but could not find Holly any more.

Aliester could feel the cold sweat when he realized that he was alone.

'Calm down. Holly had said that the archives is located at the top of the mountain. And if I remember the painting, it was in the highest peak.' He thought. 'I have to get there.'

He tried to navigate through the mist, though it was a bit dangerous due to zero visibility. And just like what the head witch said, the place seemed to play with one's mind. Aliester had seen a familiar silhouette from the woods.

"Aris… brother." Came the female voice.

Aliester's eyes widened when the visage of his twin came from the dark forest. "no way… Aria."

[warning: Master! That is an illusion!] he heard Zarame's voice but the illusion of his twin sister is pulling him.

He could not help but take a step towards her. But before he could take a few more steps further, Aliester seemed to have snapped out of it.

"This is just an illusion, there is no way, Aria would be here." He muttered as he summoned the dispel knife.

He then slit his palm. Since it was the same palm Holly had wounded, the pain he felt was doubled.

When he eventually felt the pain, he felt as if the cloud above his head had lifted. The apparition disappeared.

Unfortunately, though his mind became clear, he suddenly felt as if the mist was trying to envelop him.

"Looks like you are also strong enough to resist such enchantments." Holly caught his arm before he could be swallowed.

After he had somehow recovered, He and Hallows returned their journey to the ancient library and luckily, there were no hindrances.

By the time they entered the library, Aliester noticed the shelves of books which had chains on them. Most of the books were thick and several layers of magic had been cast on them.

"You were not kidding when you said that the books could not be taken outside." Aliester said as he eyed the chained tomes.

"How am I going to find it?" he asked. "I don't even know the title of the grimoire with that spell."

"Wish for it." Came Holly's answer. "I told you earlier, that grimoire will show itself if you seek for it."