Adrian's disappearance

Emilie let out a sigh, accepting the sudden turn of events. "Well, things had been going a bit too smoothly," she mused, as if acknowledging that a twist in their journey was almost inevitable in the dream realm.

While she remained concerned about Adrian's whereabouts, Emilie was determined to focus on the task at hand. The idea struck her that solving the riddle earlier had resulted in an increase in her energy. 

This revelation gave her a clear objective, and she made up her mind to tackle another riddle to further confirm her newfound energy source.

Emilie embarked on her quest to find another riddle, scouring the extensive library shelves for the elusive clues she sought. The irony of life's unpredictability weighed on her as she struggled to locate what she needed. 

However, as she reached the final row of the first shelf, her persistence paid off. She discovered something intriguing hidden within the pages of one of the books.

Kneeling down, Emilie retrieved the book and noticed a piece of paper protruding from its pages. As she unfolded the paper, her eyes fell on a new riddle. However, upon reading it, Emilie couldn't help but feel a sense of bewilderment about what she was expected to do next. The enigmatic nature of the riddle left her pondering her next move.

"In the library's quiet, I'm concealed so well,

Yet in your grasp, I'll make your heart swell.

My presence, though subtle, can kindle desire,

What am I, a secret within this place of mire?"

Emilie couldn't help but voice her confusion, muttering to herself, "Why does this riddle sound so strange?" As she re-read the riddle, it became evident that this was no ordinary riddle.

It appeared that the author had taken an unconventional and somewhat peculiar approach to the task. Emilie shook her head in mild disgust, as she found the departure from a more straightforward riddle format to be less than desirable in a place she believed should be characterized by peace. 

The riddler's choice to inject some unconventional elements into the game of riddles was not to her liking, though she could imagine Adrian finding it more amusing.

Emilie enthusiastically blurted out her guess, "A book!" Yet, as she waited for the usual clicks and clangs that had accompanied previous riddles, she was met with silence. Realizing that something was amiss, she cast her gaze around the library, searching for any clues or hints that could help her unlock the next stage of the challenge. However, the room offered no immediate answers.

Just as she contemplated seeking out Adrian on her own, Emilie's attention was drawn back to the book in which the paper containing the riddle had been hidden. 

She picked it up and noticed the book's title, and as her mind connected the title with the riddle, she realized what the correct answer should be. 

With the correct answer to the riddle in mind, Emilie heard a nearby clank, signaling that she had solved the riddle. She followed the sound and arrived at a shelf where a particular book protruded slightly from the others, as if it were beckoning to be taken out.

Knowing she was too short to reach it, Emilie gathered some books and created a makeshift step, allowing her to climb up and retrieve the book. 

Emilie carefully examined the book she had retrieved, sensing that there was something unique about it. When she attempted to open the book conventionally and found it resistant, she was puzzled. 

However, trusting her instincts, she decided to infuse the book with some of her own energy. To her delight, the book responded to her efforts and opened, revealing its secrets within.

Emilie's mind was flooded with a vast amount of knowledge when the book revealed itself as a relic, initially overwhelming her. After recovering from the initial shock, she realized that her priority was to find Adrian, and she couldn't afford to delve deeper into the relic's secrets at the moment.

Uncertain if there were more riddles hidden in the library, she decided to continue her search for clues and answers to the mysteries that lay ahead.

While she continued her search for answers and clues, Emilie took a moment to reflect on the progress she had made so far. Her conjure had been right about solving the riddles to gain energy, and she could feel her core gaining more energy with each solved riddle. 

This development brought her a sense of contentment, as she realized that solving a few more relics would likely fill up her first core, a significant step forward in her journey.

Emilie acknowledged that while her growing energy was a promising step, it wasn't sufficient to guarantee her and Adrian's escape from the dream realm. 

To ensure they could return to a specific location and not just teleport back to the initial entry point, both of her cores needed to be fully charged. This realization fueled her determination to continue searching for more riddles and relics within the library.

Unable to locate any more riddles in the library, Emilie decided to temporarily halt her search and settled into a chair. She began to contemplate the mystery of Adrian's whereabouts, still perplexed by his sudden disappearance.

......

Adrian found himself in a conversation with an entity that appeared to be the custodian of the place. 

Around half an hour earlier, as Adrian was examining the shelves and pulling out a book, the floor unexpectedly opened up and engulfed him. This unexpected turn of events didn't alarm him much, perhaps due to the calming influence of the Mother's gaze, and also because his instincts didn't raise any red flags. So he proceeded calmly and engaged in dialogue with the entity. 

He inquired, "So you're telling me that I can become the owner of this place if I agree to your terms?"

The old man, who appeared as a beggar with tattered clothes and a hunched back, emphasized,

"That's precisely what I'm saying. This mansion is brimming with treasures, and all of them can be yours. While you may not regard this relic as highly as other 6-core ones, allow me to clarify that it is the only relic at this level that possesses human-like traits."

Adrian considered the old man's proposition, intrigued by the potential rewards offered by the mansion and the unique attributes of the relic.

Adrian, adopting a mischievous tone, inquired, "I'm still not quite clear on why you'd be willing to part with such a precious relic, given how highly you speak of it."