William brushed Irene's brown hair from her face.
She wasn't talking..
Elaris said, "She used all her limits to save us.. Thankfully, she's still alive.."
William said, "You all go to find the assistant.. I will be here with her.. I am taking her out of this school.."
William's eyes trembled and got watery..
Larrith said, "That's better.."
William said, "Scott, could you please take my sword and give it to me outside?"
Scott said, "Sure"
He gently lifted Irene on his hands and started moving back to the path.
Scott lifted the sword that stood straight on the ground.
He discovered that the sword was as long as his height.
He carried it by his both hands and he followed William.
Larrith said, "We will be waiting for you, Scott. Don't worry!"
Larrith and Elaris stayed there waiting..
None exchanged any word.
William exited the practice ground and reached the grassy path.
He gently laid Irene on the grass and sat on the ground..
He took the sword from Scott. He thanked him.
Scott came running back.
The school was silent again.
As Scott came, they began moving forward.
Scott said, "I think the assistant might be in the library guarding the remaining books.."
Larrith said, "Then I think we should move to the school library."
The doors of the rooms inside the school were covered with moss.
They almost came to the end of the school building.
Then they looked left where the library used to be there in their time.
Larrith raised his hand and the door opened.
The library wasn't huge.
Many shelves were broken. They entered the room. They saw that the floor was wet and water dripped from the broken roof.
Diffused sunrays entered the library.
They stepped on ashes of pages.
They found some books to be intact.
A white spirit appeared at their back.
It whispered, "Larrith?"
Larrith, Scott and Elaris looked back.
The found a white spirit.
It advanced forward. It touched Larrith's shoulders with its hands that went through him.
It said with a trembled voice, "Larrith, Elaris and Scott… I thought I wouldn't be able to see anyone else.."
Larrith, Elaris and Scott recognised him. He was the same assistant who used to be there during their time.
Larrith said with a broken voice and watery eyes, "You.. I… I thought a different assistant died during that night" and burst in tears.
Larrith continued, "I can't believe it's you.."
Elaris and Scott also burst in tears.
The spirit said, "Fate is inevitable.. Who knew everything would end in just one night..
So, why are you all here?"
Larrith said with a broken voice, "We.. We want to know about the books that the dark queen stole on that day.."
No response came from the spirit for a minute.
It said, "Has she attacked again?"
Larrith replied, "No. But we apprehend that she will very soon.."
The spirit disappeared. It then reappeared between two shelves of books.
It said, "Come here.."
They went near it.
It said, "She's way too clever.. She burnt many books and stole a few..
It's impossible to tell you all what are the books that she actually stole..
But before my death.. I saw her taking one book vividly.. I have no clue about the others.."
Scott asked, "What is that book about? "
It replied, " It was about a talisman which can control the other planets..
None ever visited the place for this information..
I tried to tell the Royal guards about the stolen books but they fled.."
"That would make her too powerful" said Elaris.
It replied, "Not at all. The talisman absorbs most of the possessor's magic and besides that the talisman can only be used by someone who has a balance of darkness and holiness in their magic.. But she's the dark queen.. She has no holiness in her magic power.."
Scott said, "But she could manipulate someone who has this balance to use it.."
It replied, "Fortunately, no.. The talisman is powerful and it only gives it's powers to those who are strong and powerful.. It won't give it's powers to a manipulated puppet…"
Elaris asked, "Then, is it even possible for someone to use it?"
The spirit replied, "Yes.. It's possible if someone absorbs the power of a sorcerer .."
Larrith asked, "Gates?"
It said, "Yes.. Might not be a literal gate.."
They looked at each other..
Elaris said, "Do you know the location of the crystal?"
It replied, "No.. It's only known to the ocean rulers.."
Larrith looked at Elaris but she didn't look back..
The spirit said, "Oh.. I forgot to tell you all that she also stole the record of the students.."
Larrith asked, "Records? Why will she steal it? And today is the selection ceremony.. She stole it last year.. So she stole the current year's new members' records?"
The spirit said, "yes.. The great sorcerer is a sharp person.. Probably he remembered the records.. So he doesn't need it anymore.."
Larrith, Scott and Elaris thanked the spirit and exited the library.
Irene's eyelids trembled .. She opened her eyes.
William had kept her head on his lap.
William asked, "Are you alright now?"
The sunlight forced her eyes to close.
She sat on the path with the support of her hands.
William helped her.
Irene said, "Yes.. I am alright.."
Irene smiled.. William smiled back.
William asked, "Why are you smiling?"
Irene said, "Nothing.. Jus remembering how hopeless you were when it was absorbing your magic.. Where are Scott, Elaris and Larrith?"
William replied, "They are inside the school."
Irene said, "And you didn't go?"
William said, "Because of you.. You fainted mid air.. And I had to catch you before you fell.. And this is how this hopeless warrior saved you.."
Irene smiled again and said, "I think we should go inside."
They spotted a woman in a golden dress coming towards them.. She advanced forward.
The woman asked them, "Why are you both sitting on the ground?"
William said, "No special reason.. Actually."
The woman asked, "Why are you both even here before this place?"
Irene and William looked at each other..
Irene said, "We lost our way.. And why are you here?"
The woman said in a trembled voice, "My son passed away due to the attack and I come here everyday to meet his soul.. And don't tell lame lies from the next time.."
The woman entered the practice ground..
William whispered to Irene "she must be an experienced sorcerer.."
Irene nodded in shock.
She went further towards the school.
Larrith raised his hand and opened another door left to the library..
They looked inside the room.
The room was full of colourful wands.. Most of them were broken."
Elaris said, "Remember when we used to make a queue to get the wand of our favourite colour.."
Scott said, "Yes.. At that time, we used to think wands are the worst.. But it really helped all of us to control our energy and magic when we were inexperienced.."
Larrith nodded.
Larrith looked at Elaris. Elaris's eyes rested on his eyes. Within a second, she withdrew her eyes.
Larrith felt embarrassed.
The woman appeared in front of them and passed by them..
Elaris asked the woman, "May I know why are you here?"
The woman replied while walking, "You better ask yourself friends.. I don't want to repeat."
They all looked at each other.
Elaris and William stood up meanwhile and spotted that Larrith, Scott and Elaris already exited the school.
They reached to them.
A golden crow sat on a branch on one of the bare trees.
They noticed it.
William asked, "Is it a dark messenger?"
Larrith replied, "I don't think so.. Do you know anything about that woman?"
Irene said, "oh yes, she must be an experienced sorceress. She understood our lie oe losing our way in a moment.. And she comes here regularly.. Her son died due to the attack.. Now she comes to meet his soul.."
Elaris said, "That's pathetic.."
Scott asked, "How are you now, Irene?"
Irene replied, "Now, I am alright."
Elaris said, "You went beyond your limits.. That's great.."
Larrith remarked, "Thanks for saving us.. But now your doubt about your powers is gone."
Irene replied, "Yes.. Hopefully.. Now, I don't doubt. I just need more confidence."
William asked, "Did you come to know about the stolen books?"
Scott replied, "We did.. But it's still vague.. The assistant saw her taking a few books but he only saw one book.. Which is about an enchanted talisman…it can open gates to another planets.."
William and Irene looked at each other with their eye brows raised.
The bird flew behind the school.
Larrith said, "I think we should return now.."
Everyone nodded.
They started their journey back to the castle..
On their journey, Irene asked, " so, what.. I mean.. I don't know how to explain.."
Irene then whispered to William, "Ask Larrith and Elaris about their love.."
William exclaimed, "Why don't you ask?"
Irene raised her eye brows and said, "What.. What happened to.. It's like.. Did you both accept each other.."
Larrith got embarrassed.. He looked down.
Elaris said, "No.. It's not possible. We can't.."
William said, "But, why? We all have been expecting it for a long time.."
Elaris said, "Expecting? Are you serious.. I just lost Tirian due to Rafael's sister and you think I am in a mood of romance.. I want to avenge Elise.. And that's the only thing I can think now.."
Everyone except Elaris looked down.
Scott held Larrith's hands.
They continued without exchanging further words..
On their way, they found other people bowing to them.
They reached the castle..
They found the Royal guards decorating in front of the castle.
They entered the castle.
Rafael saw them.
He asked, "Did you all get to know about the books?"
Elaris replied, "Yes, we did."
Rafael remarked, "Great.. I will hear everything after the ceremony.. Larrith, be ready within an hour for the ceremony. You will have to honour the new member."
They all went to their own rooms.
Irene went to William's room.
Irene asked William, "Do you also feel bad for Larrith?"
William replied, "Elaris is being hard and cruel to Larrith.
He actually cares a lot about her."
Irene said, "Yes.. We know that she lost her brother.. But she should have at least told Larrith that she will accept after the condition gets to normal.."
William said, "Yes.. But she didn't say anything properly..
Did you look at Larrith's face after she told that?
His face was hiding the tears.. And to be honest I thought that they already are in a relationship secretly.."
Irene said, "I also thought the same.. When the spirit revealed his love.. I thought she would accept it immediately.. But she raged out. And now she's also ignoring him.
I just noticed that she isn't even looking at him now.."
William's voice cracked. "yes, I also noticed the same. He doesn't deserve it. I noticed him going to her room very often after she lost Tirian."
Irene nodded , "Let's hope for a better future of them. I want them to be together."
William said, "I also want the same.
And what about us?"
Irene smiled wile looking down.
Her voice softened. "Us? Yeah, we will be mocking each other."
She opened the door and exited his room.
William also went out.
His voice softened. "Mocking each other? Wow, That's unexpected reply from you."
They spotted Larrith entering his room with a drooping face.
He smiled at them and entered his room.