Omega's Rebirth-Chapter 655: Hidden Archive 2 ()
"Do you think she sensed your presence?" Adrienne asked.
"Lady Neveah is a wolf shifter, it would be more unusual if she did not. Why? What does it matter if she did?" Keila asked with a raised brow, placing down the brush she had been running through her hair.
"Nothing...it is just that, Imagor and Kirgan arranged for the Keep dragons and their riders to be away at this time. I do not think anyone expected you would be here, since Lodenworth is away on patrol to the Fodder Grooves." Adrienne responded uncertainly.
"Is it unheard for me to return alone to see my elusive sister? You have been away from Dragon Keep for so long, Lodenworth is not opposed to executing a patrol without me just this once." Keila replied.
"Besides, it is her unannounced presence in Dragon Keep that is more questionable, would you not agree?" Keila asked Adrienne.
Adrienne sighed quietly, she took a seat on Menarx’s bed.
"Neveah has her reasons. Menarx says it is imperative she retrieves a record belonging to the previous Dragon King from the Hidden Archives." Adrienne replied.
"Oh?" Keila asked with a raised brow.
"You know the Council cannot find out about this, right? I am attempting to stay as uninvolved as possible, everyone still distrusts me."
"Menarx was reluctant to even share it with me...you know how cautious he still is with affairs pertaining to Neveah." Adrienne murmured
"And that does not displease you?" Keila asked Adrienne.
"I do not dwell on such thoughts, we all know how we got here... I trust that Menarx cherishes me and I am grateful for what I have already." Adrienne said with a casual shrug.
"Who are you and what did you do with my vindictive sister?" Keila said with a gasp of mock horror.
Adrienne rolled her eyes at Keila’s jest, she got off the bed and walked over to her sister.
"How does the child fare? Have you told aunt yet?" Adrienne asked curiously.
Keila tilted her head to the side, rubbing her lower abdomen that was still yet to show why signs of protrusion.
"She has learned of it." Keila assured with a small smile.
Keila got up to her feet and Adrienne raised a brow.
"Are you leaving already?" Adrienne asked.
"I should let the Keep be as desolate as it was intended to be, it would be disloyal of me to act otherwise to the plans of the King’s guard. And I have other business to attend to." Keila said to Adrienne.
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Neveah stepped into the dimly lit Archives, her gaze roamed around the dark and dreary halls for a moment.
On the surface, it was just a dark hall filled with books and a musty stench that had accumulated over centuries of limited ventilation till it was now nearly suffocating.
However, a deeper observation revealed an intense, ominous aura hung heavily in the air, seeming to originate from everywhere and nowhere, all at once.
And somehow, Neveah could see it as clearly as she could sense it. See the traces of dark magic that clung to the walls.
The more Neveah encountered dark magic, the more she came to understand what it meant when they said ’magic always left behind an imprint.’
There was always a trail, it just was not one that would be visible to all eyes. Whether one could see this trail or not would depend on just how sensitive one was, and since Demevirld, Neveah senses had never been sharper.
The atmosphere in the Archives was undeniably unsettling, but Neveah did not mind it.
She had not come to feel at ease, only to get what she needed and leave. Neveah ventured further in, following the lead of Kirgan who navigated his way between the shelves, guiding Neveah to where she would find what she needed.
They arrived at a shelf that was far removed from the rest and Kirgan hesitated for a moment before he reached for a chest on the shelf.
"Asrig’s writings, journals and records are stored here. They are said to contain his private thoughts and aspirations, as well as details on his exploration of sorcery." Kirgan said to Neveah.
"It is locked." Neveah pointed out to Kirgan.
Kirgan nodded as he retrieved the chest and placed it on a table, his brows furrowed slightly.
"Jian might be the only one who knows the passcode. I can attempt to unlock it, but I do not think force will do any good and we do not have that much time at our disposal." Kirgan related to Neveah.
The chest was not so big in size, but still big enough to contain a few volumes. Neveah was not sure how centuries worth of journaling and writings could be contained in the chest, but nothing in the Stronghold was usually ordinary. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
"I will take it back with me and have Conrad attempt it. If a mage is needed, I will fetch one from Fort Rudder." Neveah decided.
Kirgan stared warily at the shelf for a moment before he nodded his head.
Neveah reached for it but Kirgan placed a hand on the chest.
"Remember Neveah, whatever you find within this chest are records of milestones that led Asrig further and further down the path of self destruction...do not be curious to them, do not peruse more than you need to, only take the information you need and relay it to Jian." Kirgan warned in a serious tone.
"As for the chest, no other hand or eyes must see it. Hide it away and send it back to me once you have found the information you need... I have witnessed dark magic blacken even the purest of hearts and change even the simplest of men," Kirgan said to Neveah meaningfully.
Neveah passed a look to Kirgan, she nodded once.
"I will be cautious." Neveah assured.
Kirgan then stepped aside, letting Neveah take the chest. Everon stretched out a satchel and Neveah placed the chest into it.
Everon pulled the satchel over his shoulder and nodded to Neveah.
"Imagor has prepared a portal, we are to meet him on the landing platform of the second level. Tara is already there, we should leave now." Everon said to Neveah.
