The following morning, they joined the flow of people heading toward the city center. The streets were even more crowded than the previous day, with citizens and visitors alike eager to witness the historic succession ceremony. Royal guards in ceremonial armor stood at major intersections, maintaining order while displays made using karma present itself in the sky periodically announced the ceremony''s schedule.
"The Library first," Ennet reminded Luma as they navigated the throngs. "Before the main ceremony begins."
The Jade Library''s massive complex came into view as they entered the northern quadrant of the inner ring. Despite its name, the Library was primarily constructed of white marble, with jade elements incorporated strategically throughout its structure. The Central Dome rose majestically above the surrounding structures, while eight wings extended from the central structure like petals of an enormous flower.
But something was different from Ennet''s previous visits. A perimeter of guards surrounded the complex, and floating orbs—each about the size of a human head—hovered at regular intervals along the boundary.
"Orbs," Luma breathed. "I thought they were only used for chaos rift detection."
"They are," Ennet confirmed grimly. "Which means the Library is concerned about more than just conventional security breaches."
As they approached the main entrance, Luma noticed three figures standing apart from the others near the entrance. Unlike the colorful attire of most Ver citizens, they wore austere white robes with silver emblems embroidered at the collar—a stylized tree with seven branches.
"Who are they?" he whispered to Ennet.
Ennet glanced over, then quickly looked away. "The Church of Creation. The emblem is their symbol—the Silver Tree that supposedly represents life itself."
"What are they doing here? They don''t look like they''re waiting to enter."
"They''re not. The Church rarely involves itself in secular matters, especially outside their territory. Their presence at a royal succession is... unusual."
Luma studied the three figures more carefully. The central figure was elderly, with a long white beard and an ornate silver staff—clearly a bishop or high-ranking official. To his right stood a younger man, perhaps Ennet''s age, with a serene expression that somehow seemed at odds with his powerful build. On the left was a tall, imposing woman whose white robes were accented with silver metal pauldrons and gauntlets, marking her as a warrior rather than a priest.
As if sensing Luma''s scrutiny, the younger man turned his head slightly, his gaze meeting Luma''s across the distance. Immediately, Luma felt an extraordinary pressure—as if an invisible weight pressed down on him from all sides, making it difficult to breathe. It wasn''t hostile, exactly, but overwhelming in its intensity.
Luma broke eye contact, gasping slightly. "Did you feel that?"
Ennet nodded, his expression troubled. "His karma signature. It''s unlike anything I''ve encountered before—like a mountain compressed into human form."
"Who is he?"
"I don''t know. But the woman beside the bishop—the one in battle suit—I''ve heard of her. Captain Sera Inclaws of the Iron Fall, the Church''s elite fighting force. They say she once entered and cleared a chaos rift single-handedly."
They joined the line of visitors waiting to enter the Library. Karma Regulators moved among them, checking credentials and scanning karma signatures with their jade wands. When they finally reached the checkpoint, Ennet presented the Master Archivist key with confidence.
The Regulator held the key in his palm, closing his eyes briefly. "The key recognizes you, which is... interesting. Master Jax must have linked your karma signature to it." He opened his eyes, studying Ennet more carefully. "You know he''s among the missing, I presume?"
Ennet''s composed expression faltered for a moment. "Missing?"
"Master Jax was the High Archivist leading thesubjugation group in Noi Forest. He and two Junior Archivists failed to return 3 weeks ago." The Regulator''s gaze was penetrating. "Curious that you possess his key yet claim ignorance of his status."
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"He gave it to me before his departure," Ennet said, recovering quickly. "I''ve been in the field myself, conducting research in the eastern provinces. News travels slowly outside the city."
" Oh so you''re a member of his informant group, the I forgot, something about wanderer "
" Fool''s wanderer"
After a tense moment, the Regulator returned the key. "You may enter, but your access is restricted to the Crimson and Azure Wings only. The Obsidian Wing and Archival Depths are sealed to all but the High and Supreme Archivists until further notice."
The reception hall was a vast circular space beneath the Central Dome, its ceiling rising nearly a hundred feet above the marble floor. Jade lanterns hung from delicate chains, casting a soft green light over the space. Scholars and visitors moved purposefully across the polished floor, their footsteps creating a gentle background murmur that seemed to emphasize the library''s atmosphere of quiet study.
"Where do we start?" Luma asked, momentarily overwhelmed by the scale and grandeur.
"The Crimson Wing," Ennet decided. "It houses historical records and personnel archives. If there''s information about what happened in Noi Forest, we''ll find it there."
As they crossed the reception hall, Luma noticed the Church representatives entering the Library, escorted by what appeared to be a High Archivist in formal robes. Unlike the scrutiny he and Ennet had faced, the Church members were admitted with deferential bows and minimal security checks.
The young Church member with the overwhelming karma signature paused as they passed, his gaze once again meeting Luma''s. This time, instead of the crushing pressure, Luma felt something different—a subtle probing, as if the man were trying to see beyond his physical form.
The moment passed quickly as the Church delegation continued on their way, but Luma was left with an unsettling certainty: the man had recognized something in him.
"He knows," Luma whispered as they entered the corridor leading to the Crimson Wing.
"Knows what?"
Luma''s hand moved unconsciously to the dagger at his hip. "He saw something."
Ennet''s expression darkened. "Then we need to be even more careful. The Church of Creation has ancient texts that date at the same time with the Jade Library. If anyone would have records about your anomaly, it would be them."
As they approached the entrance to the Crimson Wing, a soft chime echoed through the Library, followed by an announcement: "All citizens are reminded that the Royal Succession Ceremony will commence in one hour. The Library will remain open with reduced services during this historic event."
The Crimson Wing opened before them—a vast hall lined with towering bookshelves that seemed to extend endlessly in all directions. Archivists and scholars moved among the stacks, some floating on karma-enhanced platforms to reach the highest shelves.
Ennet said quietly as they moved deeper into the wing. " We need the Records of the Noi Forest subjugation"
They approached a circular desk where a Junior Archivist was organizing scrolls. After some persuasion and the presentation of Ennet''s key, she reluctantly provided them with a sealed scroll case containing the preliminary report on the Noi Forest incident.
The report was so concise to the point that it lacked details. Jax and two Junior Archivists had traveled to Noi Forest to investigate reports of unusual karma fluctuations. According to their last communication, they had discovered evidence of a Chaos rift forming in the deepest part of the forest. Then, silence. A rescue team found signs of a violent confrontation—blood, karmic disruption, and traces of Chaos energy—but no bodies.
Most concerning was the final paragraph: Analysis of residual karma signatures suggests [redacted]. Traces of organic material recovered from the scene contain [redacted] consistent with [redacted]. [redacted]
Ennet nodded , as if this were expected. "Then perhaps you can help us with one more thing. We''re looking for information on rare manuscripts—specifically those dealing with body recomposition- karma techniques."
As they left the desk, Luma murmured, "The man in suit. Could it be...?"
"Possibly. But we have another problem." Ennet guided them toward a quieter corner of the wing. "it could also be experimental karma manipulation. That aligns too closely with what we saw in the alley—the bodies being delivered for ''experiments.''"
"You think there''s a connection between those bodies, with something like that?"
As they debated their next move, a commotion near the wing''s entrance caught their attention. Several Senior Archivists were hurriedly crossing the hall, their expressions grave. Behind them walked the Church delegation they''d seen earlier, now accompanied by Director of the Azure Wings herself, Supreme Archivist Ynez Blanc—a small, austere woman whose robes bore the emblem of the Library''s highest office with a floating white mark.
"Something''s happening," Ennet whispered, pulling Luma behind a tall bookshelf.
They watched as the group disappeared through a door marked with the symbol of the Obsidian Wing—one of the restricted section of the Library, currently sealed to all but the highest-ranking officials.
"They''re going to the restricted wing," Luma noted. "Why would the Church be granted access when even most Archivists are forbidden?"
"I don''t know " Ennet''s expression was determined. "Change of plans. We''re going to find a person I know and ask him personally."
As they made their way through the Library''s vast corridors toward the next Wing, neither noticed the shadow that detached itself from an alcove and followed at a discreet distance—a figure moving with practiced stealth, watching their every move with calculated interest.