A ghoul or specter

As Kael and Espona entered the spacious hall, they were met with a sight that took their breath away. The room was filled with rows of ancient, dusty bookshelves that stretched all the way to the vaulted ceiling, their intricate carvings and gilded edges glinting in the flickering torchlight. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and forgotten knowledge, the musty smell of decay and neglect. But what caught their attention was the massive, ornate door at the far end of the hall, its intricate carvings and symbols pulsing with a strange, otherworldly energy that seemed to reverberate through the air.

Espona's eyes were fixed on the door, her expression a mix of fascination and trepidation. "This is it," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart. "The entrance to the Book of Spells. But something feels off. The energy here is... wrong."

Kael's gaze was drawn to the door as well, his mind racing with the possibilities. What secrets lay beyond that door? And what kind of danger were they walking into? The door seemed to loom over them, its carvings appearing to shift and writhe like living serpents.

Suddenly, the door creaked open by itself, as if beckoning them to enter. Espona's grip on her staff tightened, her eyes locked on the darkness beyond the threshold. "Let's proceed with caution," she warned Kael, her voice low and steady. "We don't know what we're up against."

"Wouldn't it be better if we go through this ancient knowledge and antiques?" Kael suggested, his eyes scanning the shelves. "We can even pick a weapon from here. The energy they give off is huge."

"The Book of Spells is more important," Espona said, her voice firm as she started walking towards the door.

"You still haven't told me why this Book of Spells is more important," Kael narrowed his eyes, his footsteps echoing off the walls as he followed her. "You're not going to bewitch me, are you?"

Espona seems to have jolted awake when Kael screamed at her, her eyes snapping back to his face as if she'd been in a trance. "I was almost bewitched," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Lol, funny coming from a witch," Kael joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"Hmph, I am being serious here," Espona snorted, her expression stern.

"Okay, okay, now will you explain to me how the Book beyond that door is so special?" Kael asked, his hand gesturing towards the door.

"I was bewitched because I knew about it. Are you sure you want me to tell you what it is now or after we get it?" Espona asked, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief.

Kael hesitated, weighing his options. "Let's get the Book first, then explain later," he decided, his mind made up.

As they entered the door, Kael and Espona felt a force like gravity press down on them, the air thickening with malevolent energy. The walls were lined with swords, spears, and other weapons, each one embedded in a skeleton. "Whatever must have happened here?" Espona breathed, her eyes wide with shock.

"How many passages are here? We just walked through one," Kael whispered, his voice barely audible over the pounding of his heart.

"This one seems to lead straight to a single room, like a hidden lair," Espona replied, her staff crackling with energy as she scanned their surroundings.

"I really do not want to get involved in a fight again," Kael admitted, his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger.

"Neither do I," Espona agreed, her voice low and steady. "And if there is a fight, I will just be a support."

Shrill! The sound of metal scraping against metal echoed through the passage, making Kael's skin crawl.

"Don't tell me..." he trailed off, his heart sinking as he recognized the energy signature.

"A specter or ghoul?" Espona cast a protection spell around them, her eyes locked on the darkness ahead.

"Get ready," she warned, her voice steady as she floated behind Kael.

"Seems I will be the one taking the bearing then," Kael sighed, shrouding his body in flames as the creature emerged from the shadows.

Shrill! The ghoul's claws swiped at Kael with deadly precision, its eyes blazing with an otherworldly fury.

"I really wished it was a specter," Kael lamented, as he shrouded his own body inflames.

"Atleast we get to face something that doesn't phase through an attack" Espona said. Spectres could make their body phase through anything, even attacks. You only get a hit at them when they attack and not defend

The ghoul lunged at Kael, its claws swiping through the air with a deadly whoosh. Kael dodged to the side, his flames dancing across the creature's body as it stumbled past. Espona seized the moment, her staff crackling with energy as she unleashed a blast of magic. The ghoul howled in pain as the spell struck, its claws faltering for a moment.

Kael took advantage of the opening, his flames erupting into a blazing inferno as he charged forward. The ghoul's eyes widened in terror as Kael's flames engulfed its body, the creature's claws swiping wildly as it stumbled backward. Espona joined the fray, her staff weaving intricate patterns in the air as she cast a spell of binding. The ghoul's claws slowed, its movements becoming sluggish as the magic took hold.

But the creature refused to yield, its eyes blazing with a malevolent fury. It lunged at Kael, its jaws open wide in a snarling snout. Kael leapt back, his flames dancing across the ghoul's face as it snapped its teeth mere inches from his skin. Espona's staff crackled with energy, her magic reinforcing Kael's flames as they scoured the ghoul's body.

The battle raged on, the three of them locked in a deadly dance. Kael's flames scorched the air, Espona's spells crackled with energy, and the ghoul's claws swiped at them with relentless fury. The room echoed with the sounds of their struggle, the air thick with the smell of smoke and sweat.

As the fight wore on, Kael began to feel a strange sensation. The ghoul's attacks seemed to be slowing, its claws swiping at him with less precision. He glanced at Espona, who nodded almost imperceptibly. She had cast a spell to weaken the creature, to give them an edge in the battle.

With renewed hope, Kael launched himself at the ghoul, his flames engulfing its body. The creature let out a deafening screech, its claws swiping wildly as it stumbled backward. Espona took advantage of the opening, her staff crackling with energy as she struck the final blow. The ghoul collapsed, its body dissolving into nothingness as the magic binding it was released.

Kael and Espona stood panting, their chests heaving with exhaustion. But they knew they couldn't rest yet. The Book of Spells was still within their grasp, and they had to claim it before it fell into the wrong hands.