CHAPTER 16

As we reached the outskirts of town, Lucian gestured for me to stay back as he crept forward to scout the area. I watched nervously as he disappeared from sight, my mind racing with all the possible dangers that could be lurking in the shadows.

After what felt like an eternity, Lucian reappeared, signaling for me to follow him. We moved stealthily through the dense foliage, trying to remain as quiet as possible. As we approached a small cabin nestled in the heart of the woods, Lucian held up a hand, motioning for me to stay back.

He crept forward silently, peering through the windows of the cabin. After a few moments, he motioned for me to come closer, gesturing for me to look inside.

I peered through the window, my heart pounding in my chest. Inside, I saw an elderly man hunched over a large book, his face obscured by the shadows.

"That's him," Lucian whispered, his voice barely audible. "That's the person we've been looking for."

I nodded, my eyes fixed on the mysterious figure inside the cabin. He looked ancient, his skin weathered and wrinkled from years of living in solitude.

"Ok, let's do this," Lucian said, his voice firm and determined.

We approached the cabin cautiously, our hands poised to defend ourselves if necessary. As we reached the door, Lucian knocked loudly, his voice echoing through the stillness of the woods.

After a few moments, the door creaked open, revealing the old man inside. His eyes flickered over us briefly, before settling on Lucian.

"I've been expecting you," he said, his voice raspy and thin.

Lucian stepped forward, his eyes locked on the old man's face. "We need your help," he said simply.

The old man nodded slowly, beckoning us inside. Come in, I, Helium, welcome you both," he said. "But be warned, what you seek may come at a great cost."

Lucian and I exchanged a glance before stepping cautiously into the cabin. As we entered, a musty scent filled our nostrils, and I noticed the countless shelves that lined the walls, each filled with ancient tomes and artifacts.

Helium beckoned us to a table in the center of the room and motioned for us to take a seat. He remained standing, watching us with sharp, piercing eyes.

"What is it that you seek?" he asked, his voice echoing in the small space.

Lucian took a deep breath before speaking. "We are looking for a stolen artifact," he said, his voice steady. "The Book of Shadows."

The old man's eyes widened slightly, and I saw a flicker of recognition cross his face. "The Book of Shadows," he repeated softly. "A powerful tome, indeed."

"We need to find it and return it to its rightful owner," Lucian said, his voice firm. "And we were told that you might be able to help us."

Helium nodded slowly, his eyes flickering between us. "I may be able to assist you," he said slowly. "But as I said before, it may come at a great cost."

"What kind of cost?" I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.

The old man fixed his gaze on me, and I saw a deep sadness in his eyes. "The knowledge contained within the Book of Shadows is not to be taken lightly," he said. "It is a dangerous thing, and those who seek it often do so at their own peril."

"We understand the risks," Lucian said firmly. "But we need to find the book."

Helium nodded slowly, his eyes narrowing.

A sudden noise made me wince.

As I was lost in thought, suddenly I felt a cold, scaly sensation on my leg. I looked down to see a long, slender snake wrapping itself around my ankle and up my leg. My heart racing, I froze in terror as I watched it move with a smooth and sinuous motion, its muscular body coiling around me like a living rope.

As it continued to wind its way up my leg, I could feel the sharpness of its scales against my skin, and the coldness of its touch sent shivers down my spine. I could see its eyes fixed on me, unblinking and unrelenting, as it continued its slow and methodical ascent.

Despite my fear, I couldn't help but marvel at the snake's beauty. Its scales were a deep, iridescent green, with a subtle pattern of darker markings running along its back. Its movements were graceful and fluid, like a dancer performing a slow and hypnotic routine.

But my admiration was quickly replaced by panic.

Helium watched calmly as the snake coiled itself tightly around me, its eyes locked on mine. "Do not fear, young one," he said softly. "The snake is a sign of protection, a symbol of the knowledge and power."

I tried to remain calm, my heart racing as the snake continued to wind its way around me. Its grip was tight, but not painful, and I began to realize that it was not trying to harm me.

"You should feel safe ," the old man said, his voice soft and soothing. "Trust me."

I nodded, my heart still pounding in my chest as the snake wound its way higher up my legs.

Suddenly, the snake's body stiffened, and its head jerked upwards, pointing directly at the old man. Its eyes flared brightly for a moment, and then it slithered away, disappearing into the shadows of the room.

I listened intently as the snake slithered from my view, listening for any sounds of movement or alarm. But there was nothing.

I took a deep breath, my heart still pounding in my chest. The old man watched me quietly, his face impassive.

"Is everything alright?" he asked gently.

I nodded weakly, unable to speak.

"Don't worry," he said kindly. "It's gone."

I stared at him for a moment, before realizing that he was right. There was no longer a snake coiled around my leg.

"Sorry," I muttered, feeling foolish. "I was just startlee."

The old man smiled warmly. "There is nothing to apologize for, child. I am used to dealing with such things."

"So what can you tell us about the Book of Shadows?" Lucian asked, breaking the silence.

Helium paused for a moment, his eyes wandering aimlessly across the bookshelves. He seemed lost in thought for a moment, before shaking himself out of his reverie.

"The Book of Shadows is an ancient relic," he said, his voice growing more animated. "Its origins are shrouded in myth and legend, but it is believed to contain knowledge from an age long past. It is said to hold the secrets of the old gods and its origin lies in the heavens."

"It's a very rare book," Lucian added. "And we need it back as soon as possible."

The old man nodded slowly, his eyes lingering on Lucian for a moment. "I'll do my best to help you," he said. "But I'm afraid that my assistance will come at a price."

I glanced at Lucian, my nerves prickling at the thought of what we might have to pay for his help.

Lucian didn't seem surprised by the price, and he nodded gravely. "Of course," he said. "We can manage."

Helium nodded slowly. "Then come with me," he said. "Let me show you something extraordinary."

***

We followed Helium into the attic. As we passed through the hallway, I spotted several drawings and paintings hanging on the wall. All of them depicted scenes from another time, depicting a world that seemed far removed from our own.

"They're beautiful," I whispered, gazing at a painting of a large castle surrounded by lush forests.

"Yes," the old man replied, nodding in agreement. "They are masterpieces."

I turned to Lucian, feeling a surge of excitement. He smiled slightly and I turned back to the mysterious man.

"Can I see all of them?" I asked, my voice eager.

The old man chuckled, a smile lighting up his face. "You are like a child, aren't you?" he said. "But yes, they are yours to see. Just remember that these artifacts belong to someone else, and their acquisition cannot be allowed."

I nodded, feeling both excited and nervous as I gazed at the paintings. They were all so beautifully rendered and detailed, and yet, they seemed so familiar.

As we climbed the stairs, I stole glances at the paintings, fascinated by the images. Each one was different, showing a different aspect of life during that era. Some of the paintings showed people dressed in extravagant clothing, while others portrayed landscapes filled with rolling hills and majestic mountains. One even showed a group of warriors fighting alongside knights, battling against what appeared to be a dragon.

My curiosity was piqued. What could all this mean? How does all this fit into this little house!?

"This way," the old man said softly.

He led us deeper into the attic, turning left as we neared the end of the hall. The old man paused for a moment, his hand resting on the door. He reached out and pressed the handle, his expression hardening as he pulled it open.

A wave of heat washed over me, my body shuddering as my eyes darted from side to side. I could feel sweat trickling down my back as I struggled to breathe.

"What's happening?" I gasped, my heart pounding in my chest. Lucian also seemed to feel the same way as I did.

Helium laughed softly, reaching out and touching my arm. "Don't be afraid, young one," he said. "It's just a bit of divine power."

"Divine power?" I repeated, confused. "Why are we here?"

The old man smiled, taking my hand in his. "I want you to experience something extraordinary," he said. "Take a look."

He pushed me and Lucian forward, leading me towards the door. As we approached, I could hear a low murmur coming from inside the room. II couldn't make sense of it.

Helium pushed the door open further, and we stepped inside.

For a moment, I stood motionless, overwhelmed by the sight before me.

The room was large and circular, with tall ceilings and enormous chandeliers illuminating the entire area. Centered around the ceiling was a large statue that depicted a woman holding a scepter in one hand. She held her other hand toward the ground, and below it was a large stone table, covered in a sheet of clear crystal.

There were rows upon rows of bookshelves lining the walls, each shelf bearing hundreds of books, which were illuminated by golden light. Each book seemed to float in mid-air, suspended by a thin film of shimmering energy.

But my attention was immediately drawn to the center of the room.

A huge glass case sat at the foot of the table, surrounded by two massive, white pillars that supported the roof. Inside the case, I could see dozens of small objects floating in the air, their shapes distorted and indistinct. But the most peculiar thing about them wasn't their appearance; it was the fact that they were moving.

Beneath the glass, I could see a strange, dark fluid swirling around, rising and falling with the rhythm of a heartbeat. It reminded me of blood, but it was unlike anything I had ever seen before. There were tiny figures swimming in the fluid, their shapes blurred and indistinct. They seemed to be alive, but they moved with unnatural grace, like dancers performing a mesmerizing routine.

My gaze was drawn to the object nearest to me. It was almost half the size of a person, and it had a long, narrow shape. I could see parts of it glistening in the light, but the rest was hidden beneath a thick layer of black mist.

As I stared at it, I could feel an overwhelming urge to reach out and touch it, but I forced myself to remain still.

"Come closer, children," the old man said softly. "Take a look."

Lucian and I stepped forward, our footsteps echoing throughout the room. I glanced nervously at the old man, but he gave me a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry," he said. "Everything is perfectly safe. You won't get hurt."

I glanced at him curiously, wondering why he would say such a thing. But I nodded silently in response, trying to appear fearless.

I stepped forward tentatively, my eyes fixed on the object near to where I stood. As I drew closer, I saw that it was a small ball of light, glowing brightly in the darkness. My eyes widened as I realized that it was moving, swirling around in the air. I felt an odd sense of calm as I stared at it, my mind beginning to wander, until I suddenly snapped back to reality.

My eyes traveled along the line of objects, passing through the misty haze and finally arriving at what I assumed must be the object of the old man's interest. It was a sphere of liquid, shimmering with a faint blue glow.

I stopped, staring at the object in awe. It looked almost identical to the one in the glass case, except that this one was much larger and far more transparent. The blue substance within it swirled around rapidly, leaving ripples in its wake as it rose and fell with the rhythm of a beating heart.

"Have you seen this before?" I heard the old man ask, his voice quiet.

I glanced over at him. His voice seemed distant to me, almost like he was speaking underwater. And yet, I could hear every word clearly.

"No," I replied, my voice shaking slightly. "I've never seen anything like this."

The old man nodded slowly. "It's incredible, isn't it? A masterpiece created by the Creator himself."

I glanced at him again, my eyes wide with surprise.

"You're not human," I whispered.

The old man smiled, turning his head slightly to look at me. "I'm sorry?" he asked, his tone curious.

"Nothing," I replied quickly, forcing a strained laugh. "Just thinking aloud."

Lucian, who was standing beside me, cleared his throat awkwardly. "This is incredible," he said softly. "How did you manage to find it?"

"The Creator brought it here," he said softly. "That's all you need to know."

Lucian frowned slightly, looking at the old man with narrowed eyes. He seemed puzzled by the comment.

"I'm sorry," he said quickly. "I didn't mean to offend you."

Helium shook his head, smiling sadly. "No harm done, child," he replied. "But please don't say such things. This is a sacred place, and its secrets are meant only for those who truly deserve them."

He nodded, and seemed feeling embarrassed.

"Now then, let's move on," the old man said gently. "You are here to know where the Book of Shadows is and to recover it from the thieves who stole it. You also want to know who wanted to sacrifice Adelaide... so many questions... so many problems."

I glanced at Lucian, my eyes narrowing as I studied his face. It was clear that he was intrigued by what the old man had just told us.

"So, you want to help us?" he asked.

The old man smiled. "I have no desire to help anyone," he replied. "But I am willing to help you because I have to."

Lucian and I looked confused for a moment, but then he nodded. "Okay," he said. "Maybe you can tell us how to find the Book of Shadows now?"

The old man grinned, his eyes flashing with amusement.

"Very well," he said. "Let's start with something simple. Do you know Testios?"

Lucian's gaze darkened abruptly. "Theocracists. It was them, wasn't it?" The old man smiled slightly.