The night was unnaturally silent as Mary, Lela, and Loosie traveled toward the Obsidian Library. The wind whispered through the dead trees, carrying with it a sense of foreboding.
Mary walked with her hand resting on Saber of Mist, eyes scanning the path ahead. "Loosie, what exactly is this library?"
Loosie, adjusting the straps on their pack, exhaled. "It's not just a place of knowledge—it's a vault of secrets. The kind of knowledge that powerful beings don't want others to have. If there's anything on the Forgotten Hunters, it'll be there."
Lela frowned. "And who controls it?"
Loosie hesitated before answering. "The Keepers—a neutral faction that safeguards forbidden knowledge. They don't take sides, but they don't give out information freely either."
Mary raised an eyebrow. "So, we'll have to negotiate?"
Loosie smirked. "Or steal it."
Lela sighed. "Of course."
As they neared the massive obsidian spire that loomed against the night sky, they felt a strange pressure in the air. The closer they got, the heavier it became.
Mary clenched her fists. "Magic barrier."
Loosie nodded. "Yeah. And not just any magic. This is old—ancient, even."
Lela stepped forward, gripping Gáe Bolg. "Can we break through?"
Loosie shook their head. "Not without alerting the Keepers. We need another way in."
A Dangerous Entry
They circled the perimeter, searching for a weak point. It wasn't long before they found a narrow passage along the base of the structure, hidden beneath a collapsed wall.
"This should lead inside," Loosie whispered. "But we'll need to move quietly."
Mary and Lela exchanged glances before following Loosie into the passage. Darkness swallowed them as they slipped inside, the air thick with the scent of old parchment and dust.
The interior of the Obsidian Library was vast. Towering shelves filled with tomes and scrolls stretched beyond sight, illuminated by floating orbs of cold blue light. The silence was deafening, as if the very walls were listening.
Mary tensed. "We're not alone."
Footsteps echoed in the distance.
Lela gripped Gáe Bolg, whispering, "Guards?"
Loosie shook their head, eyes darting around. "No… something else."
The temperature dropped. The floating lights flickered.
Then, a voice—low and emotionless—spoke from the shadows.
"You do not belong here.
The Keeper's Warning
From between the towering shelves, a figure emerged. Cloaked in flowing black robes, their face hidden beneath a hood, they radiated an oppressive aura. In their hand, they held a staff etched with glowing silver runes.
Loosie took a cautious step forward. "We're here for information. We mean no harm."
The Keeper tilted their head slightly. "Knowledge comes at a cost."
Mary tightened her grip on her sword. "And what price do you demand?"
The Keeper raised a hand, and instantly, shadows surged around them. Books lifted from the shelves, their pages flipping rapidly as whispers filled the air.
"You seek the truth of the Forgotten Hunters," the Keeper intoned. "But truth is a double-edged blade. Are you prepared for what it may cost you?"
Lela stepped forward. "We don't fear the truth."
The Keeper was silent for a long moment. Then, with a wave of their hand, a single book detached from the shelves and floated toward them. It landed in Loosie's hands, its cover inscribed with an ancient symbol.
"The Forgotten Hunters were once protectors, chosen by Heaven," the Keeper explained. "But they were forsaken, abandoned to corruption. Now, they hunt not for justice, but for vengeance."
Mary's eyes darkened. "So they were betrayed."
The Keeper nodded. "And now, they seek retribution. You, marked by both Heaven and Hell, have drawn their wrath."
Lela clenched her fists. "How do we stop them?"
The Keeper's gaze bore into them. "You cannot stop what has already begun."
A heavy silence followed.
Loosie exhaled sharply. "That's… not exactly helpful."
The Keeper ignored them. "Your path is set. The Forgotten Hunters will not cease their pursuit. If you wish to survive, you must seek the Eclipsed Gate—the only place where their origin, and their downfall, is written in full."
Mary and Lela exchanged glances.
"The Eclipsed Gate… where is it?" Mary asked.
The Keeper's voice grew distant. "Beyond the veil of time. Beyond mortal reach."
Then, the shadows surged again, and in an instant, the Keeper was gone.
A New Mission
Loosie turned to Mary and Lela. "So… that wasn't ominous at all."
Lela sighed. "The Eclipsed Gate… sounds like our next destination."
Mary looked down at the book in Loosie's hands. "But first, let's see what's inside."
Loosie nodded, flipping it open. As the pages turned, the air grew heavy, as if the very act of reading it carried unseen consequences. And in the depths of the library, something stirred. Something that had been watching them since they arrived.