Ruins of Chrysallia

We had successfully passed through the Dark Mana barrier that sealed the Darkling ruins of Chrysallia. I could feel it. Heartbeats. Life. There was life inside the ruins. We were not alone.

“What the Hell is going on?” Kanae asked.

“We have arrived inside the ruins of the Darkling city. I can't sense outside the barrier. I can't teleport us out of here,” I said.

“What the Hell did you do with all that shit you just did? It feels super, mega weird. I feel violated if that makes sense,” Kiera said.

“We just bonded. It was the only thing I could think of to try. I'm sorry,” I said.

“Bonded? Like master-servant bonded? Or master-familiar bonded?” Kiera asked?

“No. Like mates bonded. Our souls joined and became one. It's both spiritual and physical. And, umm, a little bit, well, sexual,” I said.

“What!? Why would you do that? Eww! I do not consent!” Kiera asked.

“Well, Dragons and Darklings were on friendly terms way back in time. Sometimes, very friendly. So, I masked your mana to look like a darkling, joined our mana together and fed it to the doorway. We looked like a darkling-dragon couple to the door, and it let us in. But, it seems the door didn't like being tricked like that. But it should still work to get us out. And now we're inside, so Yay! And, I'm really sorry. I was out of ideas. I know I should have asked first,” I said.

“Eww! You should definitely have asked first. So we are like married now?” Kiera said.

“Sort of yes, and sort of no. More like a one night stand. But there are other benefits,” I said.

“Oh, benefits? Like what? I thought dragons mated for life?” Kiera said.

“Well we'll be able to sense each other better. You'll get stronger, and stronger faster. You'll probably age slower, and maybe live longer. Maybe a lot longer. Well if you don't do something stupid and die. Maybe some other things or new skills. Some of my mana is inside you now. I don't know if that will be permanent, or not. As for the mating thing we didn't actually mate, obviously,” I said.

“Sick. Alright, I forgive you for sexually assaulting me. It got us in, but after we get out, this is not going to be a thing!” Kiera said.

“Of course!” I said.

“Oh, and umm. You should all know, we are not alone. I can sense life inside the ruins. I don't know what that means yet. Now, some dark sight spells for Aoi and Darby. Kanae can you help with this? Dark sight, should work as a shortened spell. If not I can give the long spell,” I said.

“Dark sight!” Kanae cast.

“Wow! Oh, this is so creepy, but I can see now,” Aoi said.

“Dark sight!”

“Shit! This is wicked weird. But at least I can see now. This must be what night vision goggles are like,” Darby said.

“Heat sense!” I cast.

“WTF!?” Darby said.

“Is that better or worse?” I asked.

“Oh, I get it. Night vision and infrared. Sick! I like it,” Darby said.

“What kind of red is infrared?” I asked.

“Oh, no. It's not a color, per se. A word from our world. Light has both a visible range and invisible ranges, by human standards. Heat gives off light also, but in different ranges. Humans can't see it but many predators can. Probably what you think of when thinking of night vision, although for you, it's probably not just night vision. I don't know if that makes sense,” Darby said.

“It does, actually. Thank you, that's good to know. It also explains some things about myself, being half-human,” I said.

“So you say we are not alone? Are we being watched, and do you see any of these other lifeforms?” Kiera asked.

“No, whatever it is, it's not close. But I also don't know if it can, or has detected us. So stay alert. If we sleep here we need to rotate a watch,” I said.

“So where to fearless leader?” Kanae asked.

“We should head in the direction of the library, but I don't see a problem with checking out a few of the closest buildings. We should also investigate the first, second and third temples. We might get lucky, and they are close to the path on the way to the library,” I said.

“Sounds good! I vote for that big building right there!” Aoi said.

So, we began exploring the ruins. Some buildings had clear indications of protections on them, and some where the protections were failing, and some where they had been, but were now long dead. We managed to collect various artifacts, and a few weapons still in a decent state. Very few. Mostly they would be good display pieces, but not much for actual use. Most of the books and scrolls in the temple had turned to dust long ago. A few metal tablets survived, and we took a few of them. We came across a weapons cache, but the trap triggered and destroyed them all. We luckily had no injuries.

“Well, given the results so far, the library is likely to be a big bust, but we are close now,” Kiera said.

“There it is! Over there,” I said.

“Yes! Time to go to the library!” Kanae said.

We found no wards, traps, or defenses on the library, so we cautiously entered.

“Ashes, and dust. Just as we expected,” Darby said.

“Mostly,” Kiera said.

We explored the library. It was large.

“Do you feel that Kanae, Kiera?” I asked.

“I feel mana,” Kanae said.

“Me too, from that direction,” Kiera said.

“Me too, but I wasn't sure if it was anything. Let's explore,” I said.

“It's below us,” Kiera said after about fifteen minutes of wandering around. We went down to the next level.

“It's still lower,” Kanae said.

We wound up going down three more levels.

“It's here, on the other side of this door. But the door is sealed,” Kanae said.

“There's a lock here,” I said.

“A lock?” Kanae asked. Kiera came over.

“Did you say a lock?” Kiera asked.

“Yes, watch. Do you see it, now?” I said after sliding some mana strands.

“Oh, I see. Wow, that's cool. Let me play with it,” Kiera said.

More than fifteen minutes later the door flashed and shimmered.

“Got it!” Kiera should victoriously.

“Wow! Books!” Kanae said heading for the shelves.

“Don't touch anything!” I shouted, and Kanae froze.

“Some of those are protected,” I said.

“Oh! Oh, yes, I see now. Wow, that was careless of me,” Kanae said.

“This must be a special section. Looks like we hit the jackpot!” Kiera said.

“Or it may just be records of the realm and worthless junk,” I said.

“True. What the Darklings felt was important may be worthless to us now,” Kanae said.

“These look like grimoires,” Kanae said.

“Let me look,” Kiera said.

“Hmm, Dee, what do you think? Is that a trap, or is it safe?” Kiera asked me.

“Hmm, yeah, that's fascinating. Let me try,” I said.

“Yep, just what you thought. A catalog entry. Totally safe. This is a grimoire alright,” I said.

“So is this one. And this one. And this one,” Kiera said as we thumbed down the line to open the catalog entry.

“These are all grimoires, but none of them are what we want,” Kiera said.

“Can we take one down from the shelf?” Kanae asked.

“Maybe. I think this might activate it,” Kiera said fiddling with the catalog and the book. It floated over to the closest reading platform and settled down on it.

“Looks like a reference copy only. Let me try something,” I said. I pulled out a blank sheet, a quill, and some ink. I opened the book and cast,

“Zerxio!” and sure enough the spell was copied from the book to my blank sheet.

Taken from NovelPhoenix, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“We can copy, but not check out,” Kiera said.

“Well that could be useful, but I'd like to try to find a way to release the seals, but not yet. Let's keep looking,” I said.

After covering more of the library, we didn't find what we were looking for.

“Alright, so we didn't find it, but that's a lot of ancient knowledge down there. What next?” Kanae said.

“We found one book on healing. Let's copy it. Then we move on. We can come back here, and try to take all the books later. Hopefully,” I said.

“What about the life you detected?” Darby asked.

“It's still far away, but a lot closer also, still no reaction,” I said.

“Next stop the Noble quarter,” Kanae said.

We headed for the next section of the ruins.

“Another barrier,” Kiera said.

“Let's look for a lock. Everyone else look for any other clues that might open the section,” I said.

After more than an hour of attempts and searching we found nothing.

“I'm exhausted. I need to rest,” Kiera said.

“Yes, it's been a long day. Let's call a day. Have something to eat, and bed down for the night. These buildings look like residences, and they aren't sealed. Let's pick one to rest in,” I said.

“Sounds like a good plan,” Aoi said.

We entered the nearest building and it was indeed a home. We ate and talked, and set up a rotating watch. I took the first watch. Two hours after everyone settled down, a boom happened, and the ground shook. Everyone jumped up!

“What's happening!?” Aoi exclaimed.

“I think our shadow tried to get into the ruins. I don't think they succeeded. I had no sense of a door, or anything opening. I should have at least felt beyond the barrier if it opened, for even an instant. If they survived that, they may be waiting for us on the other side, when we leave,” I said.

“Not looking forward to that,” Aoi said.

“Nor I. But for now, you can all go back to sleep. It's only been about two hours,” I said.

“Then it should be my shift,” Kiera said.

“I'll go another two. I'm not ready for sleep yet.”

With that they all laid back down, and I continued to monitor, and think. I couldn't unwind just yet. There were too many troubling thoughts. I could feel those life sources strongly now. They hadn't moved, but they still felt wrong. The night continued on, and I came no closer to answers to any of my questions.

“Kiera, wake up,” I said.

“Dee, it is time already?”

“Yes, I'm going to rest for two hours now. Wake Kanae in two and swap out,” I said.

The last of the night went peacefully, and Kanae woke us up. We let Kiera sleep some more as we prepared breakfast, and Kanae and Darby did some scouting. Aoi and I did some magik sparring outside, so as not to disturb Kiera. After we regrouped, we woke Kiera and let her eat.

“We found a barracks. It was not sealed. There are weapons in there in excellent shape, they don't appear to be protected. Or at least some don't,” Kanae said.

“We'll check them out. Could be a lucky break,” I said.

“I'm ready. Let's go check out those barracks!” Kiera said.

So off we went.

“Yes, some of these are definitely not protected. Some are. That room over there is sealed,” I said.

“Hey check this out! I think I found something really important!” Darby said.

“Oh, wow! Dee!” Kiera said.

“Is that? Do you think those are...” I began to say.

“Key sequences!” Kiera said.

“Let's try them! First let's try this door,” I said.

Click!

“It worked! The door is unlocked!” Kiera said.

We cautiously opened the door and peered in.

“The squad leaders quarters. Let's investigate,” I said.

Laying on a stand was a truly magnificent sword. It was not rigged or protected. In the drawer of the desk was a notebook, with more codes. The room had been sealed and protected for millennia, and it was as if time had stood still in here. There were coins and chrystals, and mana stones. There was also a locker that was sealed, but none of the codes worked on it.

“What a find! Too bad about the locker, but let's not be greedy. All this is itself a great haul,” Kiera said.

“Look! A grimoire!” Kanae said.

“It's intact, and unprotected,” I said as I opened it up.

“That's a nice bonus,” Kiera said.

“This is for Dark Mana users,” I said.

“Not surprising, I guess,” Aoi said.

“Let's try to get into the Noble section now,” Darby said.

After trying several of the codes we finally found one that opened the Noble section.

“We're in!” Kiera said.

Three hours in the Noble section and we gained nothing. The library was much smaller and also had a protected section. There were far fewer grimoires and still didn't have the Dreadnought one. The cathedral was as useless as the others, but had some pretty priceless statues. I considered taking one, but they were all protected as well.

“Well that was a bust,” Kiera said.

“Let's try those codes on the royal quarter,” I said.

An hour later and we were at the Royal library. There were two sealed rooms. The first was like the others, but with many more grimoires.

“This is a different Healing grimoire. Let's copy it,” I said.

“Sounds good. Can never have too many healing spells,” Aoi said.

“Now let's check the other sealed room,” Kanae said.

“None of the codes work. I've tried them all,”

“There is writing above this door, Has anyone translated it? It's written in Dark mana,” I said.

“Oh, I hadn't noticed it. I can sense it, but I don't know this script,” Kiera said.

“I think I can read it,” Kanae said.

“Grand mage sanctuary. Death comes to fools,” Kanae said.

“If the Dreadnought is here in these ruins, it will be in here. Looks like the protection for this door is the real thing,” I said.

“So then this is it. We found what we are looking for, but can't get it?” Kiera said.

“It may be some other priceless artifact, and not the grimoire we need. Well, I was hoping to not have to do this. But it looks like there is no other choice. It has come to this. I'm pretty sure I came break the seal, and not destroy the contents,” I said.

“You can? How?” Kanae said.

“First off, all of you back away, all the way away. Throw up all the shields you can. Be prepared, because when this breaks, all Hell is probably coming for us. I'm fairly certain, that whatever the lifeforms are below us, they are standing guard over this place. I'm nearly positive they'll blink in when I smash this seal. Be ready for a massive fight. But, even that is not risk-free. The entire ruins may consider us the enemy, and not let us out. So do we risk it, or leave?,” I said.

“I think we all want to risk it. So, what exactly are you going to do?” Kiera asked.

“I'm going to chant,” I said.

“Oh shit!” Kanae said.

“Max Eå's Shield!” Kanae cast.

“Here I go,” I said.

“Goddess of the primordial singularity

She who slumbers beneath the fractured Sky

Root of the Hidden worlds, hear my plea!

Awaken and stir and fill me with your power.

By thine will alone of the first born

With the blood that birthed the hidden stars,

Strip away the veil of the lost and forgotten times!

By the Seven Foundations of the Everlasting Night,

Shatter the chains of the unbroken ward!

Let the heavy darkness retreat,

let the ancient curse return to dust,

let the sealed be unsealed and the unseen be seen

take back the power and cast it into the void!

From the Darkness deep of this ancient keep

open the gates of which we seek.

By my will alone I command the barrier to cease!

Open the hidden dark, I am the Key

that came from Secret Gates of the Nether,

Yield and unseal!”

Crack!

Whump!

The ground shook like a powerful earthquake, and a great rent ran up the far wall of the library. Lightning flashed all over the room!

Click!

“It worked!” Kanae shouted.

Then the floor erupted with Darkness mana flames, and magik circles. Then winged, stone Behemoths began materializing in the room, and one attacked me. Others flew at Kanae and the others.

“Behemoth Golems!” Kiera yelled.

“Not golems! They are alive.” I said as I fought off the Behemoth.

“They are Constructs. Vine Crush!” I said.

“Abominations. Vine Bind and crush!” I said.

“They have Living... Ice blades!”

“Souls in them! Ice Vine Crush!”

CRACK! KABOOM!

The Behemoth exploded.

“Ice Spear!”

The Ice spear shattered the mana stone with the trapped spirit.

“What the Actual Fuck!?” Darby said while blocking an attack with his shield.

“What kind of monster puts a soul in a golem!?” Kiera said.

“How do we kill these fuckers! They keep healing!”

“Light spear! Light Spear! Light Spear!” Kanae cast

“Turn Undead!” Darby cast.

Crack! CRUMBLE! FSH!

A golem turned to dust, and its mana core flashed a bright light, and dissolved.

“Turn Undead!” Kanae Cast.

“Ice Vine Crush!” I cast.

“Turn Undead!”

“Turn Undead!”

“Turn Undead!”

“Ice Vine Crush!”

“Turn Undead!”

“Turn Undead!”

“Ice Vine Crush!”

“Ice Vine Crush!”

The remaining constructs were destroyed.

“Whew! Holy shit that was something!” Darby said.

“Well, that was really something,” I said.

“Are there more? Do you still sense life?” Kiera asked.

“I do still sense life. I couldn't sense the details before, because of all the constructs. There is a single Darkling in here. Far below us. An old spirit. Very old. Ancient. I can feel it. Sadness. Pain. Loneliness,” I said.

“Will it attack us next?” Kanae said.

“I don't know. Let's take a look in the sanctuary,” I said.

I opened the door carefully. I reached out with my senses.

“Let me go in alone. I detect no danger, but it may react differently if more than one enters. I am the obvious candidate for entry. Although Kanae is another possibility,” I said.

“Go ahead. I trust you,” Kanae said.

I walked in. There was a single book on a reading stand. It was closed. It was sealed in Dark mana. I reached out to it, but I could feel it begin to burn me, so I retracted my hand.

“We have found the book. I can't take it, it's encased in Dark Mana, let me exit the room,” I said.

“Ok, Kanae, you try. Go slowly and gently. Try to pick it up reverently, if it begins to burn leave it alone, and come back out,” I said.

Kanae went in.

“I can't pick it up either. Now what?”

“Come back. We'll try the sacrifice,” I said.

“Ok, where are we going to do the sacrifice?” Kanae asked when she came back out.

“There's a stone bowl in the room. Here's the blade. Here's the wyrm. Hold the wyrm over the stone and prick the wyrm. Careful he won't appreciate that, so be prepared for a bit of complaining. I'd suggest healing him, once you get your drops. It might be a bit of a struggle. You'll need three drops of blood on the knife. When you have them, take the knife to the grimoire and let the three drops fall on it. Three drops not more, nor less. Then open the grimoire, and place your hand on a page. Feed a little dark mana into it. You should be able to pick the book up then,” I said.

“So, just like that, eh? Easy-peasy, right?” Kanae said. Then she walked back into the room.

“Hey! Don't bite me! Ow! Hold Still! Ow! Hey! Watch it! Heal!” Kanae said.

We are all doing our best to not laugh.

“I got it! I've got the book!” Kanae said triumphantly.

Kanae came back out with the book in her hands.

“You owe me! Big time for this!” Kanae said pouting and looking very much like an elven chipmunk.

“Better put that book in your storage. You are now the owner. Now one else can touch it, and it could burn or kill anyone it touches or who tries to touch it,” I said.

“Me! It belongs to me now!? Why?” Kanae said

“Because of the sacrifice ritual. Wasn't that obvious?” I said.

“Oh. Well we did it! Now we can leave right? This place is really creepy,” Kiera said.

At that moment a magik circle form on the floor, and an ancient Darkling appeared. We all turned to face it, ready to fight.

“Be at peace. I am not here to fight you. That is a dangerous grimoire. Why do you seek it?” the Darkling said.

“There is a young girl slowly being consumed by a Darkling curse. We have reason to believe this grimoire has the necessary spell to break the curse,” Kiera said.

“The Dreadnought curse?” the Darkling said.

“That is what we are told it is,” I said. Her skin is turning to darkness. Most of her leg was covered in it when I saw it last.

“Why then take the book, rather than the one spell?” The Darkling asked.

“We don't know which spell, and it may turn out to be something else? Having the entire tome give us a better chance of saving her life,” I said.

The Darkling reached out his hand and the grimoire flew into it. She opened the book and it floated to Kanae.

“This is the spell you seek. If it doesn't work, you will have to read more of the healing section. Take care with this grimoire. It is a dangerous book. Keep it hidden. Keep it safe. Do not let its curse take hold of you. It is a cursed grimoire. May you fare better than its last owner,” the Darkling said and blinked out.

“Well he's all cheery and sparkly isn't he?” Kiera said.

Kanae put the book away in her storage as if it was a virus that would infect her if she held it for too long.

“So, now I'm the proud owner of a cursed grimoire that will curse me if I'm not careful. Isn't that just lovely?”

“Let's get out of here,” Aoi said.

“Should we try to take a different exit? Do you think our shadow has back up?” I asked.

“I hadn't thought about that. If they do have the place surrounded, it won't matter. If not, do we have to trek through all those unknown traps on other routes? Can we teleport from the other side of the barrier?” Kanae asked.

“I think teleportation is our best bet once we exit. Alright we'll go back the same way. Then blink all at once, and then blast a blinding light and teleport away. Sounds good,” I said.

“Works for me,” Darby said, and everyone nodded.

It took us two days to get back to the first gate. We decided not to try to loot anymore. We had plenty already.

“Here we go. Kiera funnel your dark mana again,” I said.

“This is the last time! Promise!” Kiera said.

“I promise,” I said.

The door opened.

“Blink!” I cast, and we landed outside the barrier.

Max Luxos! Teleport!

“Here we are, back at the base camp! Don't let your guard down. We don't know if the camp is intact, or if some members of our shadow are part of the quest party,” I said.