"Who are you?" Kael barked, his silver eyes glowing, veins standing out against his temples. His voice was a low growl, more beast than man.
"How rude," the woman replied, lifting a delicate brow. "You barge into my domain, and you're the one who gets angry?"
Her voice was smooth—almost mocking. She stepped closer, eyes gleaming with something ancient. "It's been a long, long time since I last saw humans."
Without warning, she leapt from the upper level and landed effortlessly on the floor beside them.
"Besides, don't you think you're being a little arrogant?"
She snapped her fingers.
In an instant, Kael's sword shifted in his hand, the steel warping and twisting until it blossomed into a white rose.
"What—" Kael stared, stunned. "What the hell did you—?!"
"No violence allowed in the library," the woman said sweetly, plucking the rose from his grip and inhaling its scent.
"Name?" she asked, pointing at Kael.
Kael snarled, "Before you demand names, shouldn't you introduce yourself—"
"His name is Kael," came Lumino's gentle voice, cutting in. "And I'm Lumino."
Kael's head whipped toward him, jaw clenched in disbelief. "Why the hell would you tell her!?"
"Eh? Was I not supposed to?" Lumino replied innocently.
The woman burst out laughing, her voice echoing off the vast stone walls. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
"You're adorable," she said, stepping toward Lumino. "My name is Alira. A pleasure to meet you, Lumino."
She held out her hand. Lumino, ever polite, accepted it.
Kael immediately stepped between them, arms spread as if to shield Lumino.
"And just what are you, exactly?"
Alira raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Relax, I am a witch, who has guarded this library for centuries."
Kael narrowed his eyes in doubt. "A Witch? Dressed like that?"
"I've never met a real witch before," Lumino said, gently moving Kael's arm aside and taking a step forward.
Kael clicked his tongue. "You believe her? She could be lying. Maybe she's the one who summoned those monsters outside."
"You mean the Drool?"
"The what now?" Kael asked, deadpan.
"The mud guardians," Alira clarified. "They're a spell-bound sentries. Been posted for over three centuries. Why assume it's my doing?"
"Then the cliff and the fog? Is that also A spell?" Lumino asked.
"An illusions spell, Clever boy." She pointed at Lumino, grinning. "Much smarter than your grumpy mutt here."
Kael bristled. "Give me back my sword or I swear—!"
"Hey, calm down, Kael," He said, placing a hand on Kael's chest. "Let's not escalate."
Alira laughed again, full of delight. "You're like an angry little rottweiler."
I'm going to kill her, Kael thought.
"Fine, fine," Alira relented. She spun the white rose in her fingers and, with a flick, it reformed into Kael's blade. "Here. I'm not interested in it anyway."
Kael snatched it back, eyeing her warily before sheathing the weapon.
Lumino sighed in relief.
"Lady Alira," he said carefully, "may I ask… are you the keeper of this library?"
Alira tilted her head. "Keeper? No. That sounds so… dull." She tapped her temple with a manicured nail. "I'm a witch."
Kael raised an eyebrow, already annoyed again. "You just said that."
"But not fully," Alira added, smiling slyly. "I'm not just a witch."
"What do you mean by that?" Kael asked, eyes narrowing.
"I mean," she said with a mischievous wink, "I don't have to answer every little question you throw at me."
"We're looking for a book," Lumino interjected quickly, sensing Kael's temper about to boil. "Something that might help us with… something."
"Help with what, exactly?" Alira asked, gaze sharpening.
Lumino hesitated. Then, without a word, he turned and sprinted deeper into the library.
He darted through aisles and columns like a madman, skimming his fingers across the spines of books, as if searching for something—anything—that would react.
Nothing… nothing's happening? Lumino thought, confused.
From behind him, Alira's voice rang out, irritated.
"What are you even doing?! Trying to distract me so you're friend can sneak attack from the behind?!"
Even Kael froze.
Because something was wrong.
They weren't being pulled together.
No recoil. No tugging thread. No magnetic snap.
Kael stared at Lumino, who stood halfway across the massive hall.
And nothing happened. They were no longer bound.
***************************************
"Why… why isn't anything happening?" Lumino muttered, his voice barely audible as he walked back toward Kael and Alira, eyes still lost in a daze. The orb… it wasn't responding. Even the red string that had bound them for days was no longer visible.
He glanced toward Kael, who was frozen in place, as if waiting for something to break the silence.
"Could it be… it's over?" Lumino whispered, eyes scanning his wrist. "Maybe the thread has vanished. We're… free?"
"So, what exactly were you trying to show us?" Alira asked, hands resting impatiently on her hips. "Come on, don't just stand there like statues!"
"It started with an orb," Kael finally spoke, voice low and firm. "It created a string that bound me to Lumino. Whenever we strayed too far—more than two meters apart—we'd get pulled back together."
Alira blinked, curiosity flickering in her golden eyes. "Hmm… interesting."
"I thought it was gone," Lumino added, laughing awkwardly. "Thank goodness, right Kael."
Alira's expression suddenly sharpened. "The orb… did it happen to be red?"
Kael and Lumino exchanged a glance. Lumino nodded slowly. "Y-yeah. Red."
Alira raised a hand to her chin. "Then that must've been an Eternum Orb."
She snapped her fingers. "Archive."
A golden holographic interface burst into existence, filling the space with faint glowing script and rotating diagrams. Alira swiped through layers of data with her hand until a virtual book slid forward.
"Let's see…" she muttered.
She tapped the book. A physical version materialized in her hand. She flipped through the brittle pages until her finger stopped.
"There it is."
She turned the book toward them.
'The Eternum Orbs are dimensional artifacts of great power. There are three known orbs: Red, Violet, and Magenta. Each orb serves a different purpose, and when united, they produce unimaginable force.'
"The red Eternum Orb," Alira said, tapping the page, "is the Orb of Ruin. Violet is the Orb of Might. Magenta is the Orb of Harmony. Nowhere in the text does it mention the red orb forming a connection thread between two people."
"So… if the red orb turned into a thread," she continued, her eyes narrowing, "that would mean… the orb was altered. Manipulated by a spell."
She smirked.
"And because this is a library, all spells couldn't be allowed here. That's why you're no longer being pulled toward each other. But that doesn't mean you're free," she raised her fingers and murmured, "Come in sense."
A subtle shimmer passed through the air.
Both Kael and Lumino instinctively looked down—
—and saw it. The red thread.
Still there.
Still glowing faintly at their wrists.
Still connecting them.
"I-It's still…" Lumino's voice cracked slightly. For a reason he couldn't explain—he looked… relieved.
Kael, on the other hand, looked utterly deflated. "Great."
"Any clue who cast the damned spell in the first place?" he snapped at Alira.
She shrugged. "No idea. That's your job."
"What? You can't help us break it?" Kael growled.
Alira raised both hands in mock innocence. "You did say I wasn't a real witch, didn't you? That I couldn't possibly understand spells? Sorry, I guess I'm just too ignorant to help~"
Shit. She's holding a grudge, Kael cursed internally.
Lumino stepped forward, his voice soft but earnest. "Please, Lady Alira… is there truly no way to remove the spell?"
Alira's smug look wavered just a bit. She looked between them, then sighed, brushing her bangs away from her eyes.
"…No. I can't remove it," she admitted. "Not this one. Whoever cast this spell—they're incredibly skilled. It's a complex manipulation of an artifact overflowing with dimensional energy. But…"
She stepped closer, eyes gleaming. "Even if I can't undo it… I can trace it. A spell this powerful always leaves a mark. And I can see that mark."
Kael's eyes widened. "Then help us. Track them down. Come with us."
But Alira's smile slowly faded. She turned her gaze away from them, her voice quiet.
"I… can't."
Kael frowned. "What do you mean you can't? Why not?"
Alira's expression turned melancholic, the usual fire in her voice softening.
She looked up at them, eyes distant.
"I'm sorry. I want to help you… but I can't walk with you."
"What the hell is wrong with this woman?" Kael grumbled internally, fists clenched at his sides. Is this what all witches are like? So damn insufferable? Though Kael had never really met a witch before, he was absolutely certain: Alira's attitude wasn't because she was a witch. This level of irritating was... factory default. Built-in.
"Would you mind telling us your real reason for not being able to come with us?" Lumino asked gently, his voice soft and sincere.
That only made Kael more annoyed. Why is he still being so polite to her? I swear I could skin this woman alive if I had the chance.
Alira huffed and began counting on her fingers. "First, you're strangers I just met. Second, the fact that you even found this place is already terrifying. And third…" her voice dipped, her eyes becoming distant as she bit her lip, "I'm cursed. I can't leave this place. My magic comes from here. My whole existence is tied to this library. I've dedicated my life to guarding it."
She straightened her back proudly. "If I were to leave… this place would crumble. And worse, it's said a being of pure destruction would awaken and raze what remains of the world."
Kael blinked. Then squinted. "That's it? That's the consequence? This world's already abandoned. You're seriously staying here for some old dusty books?"
Alira's gaze darkened. Her fingers shot up to point at Kael's throat.
"How dare you—those dusty books hold more value than your entire lifespan."
Kael didn't flinch. Instead, he smirked. "So which is it, witch? Are you protecting the books? Or just your pride?"
Alira bared her teeth, the walls trembled slightly, and the shelves rattled.
"Tch... so that's it," Kael said darkly. "You're just sacrificing yourself for a decaying ruin. Trapped here, unable to move forward. You call it duty, but all I see is fear—fear of what's outside. Look at this place, it quakes just because you're angry. Is that how fragile your illusion is?"
Alira raised her hand, magic sparking wildly—
But before anything could happen—
SMACK.
A hand struck Kael's cheek hard. So hard, it left his ears ringing. The taste of iron filled his mouth.
"What the—Lumino?!"
Kael staggered back, shocked. His eyes widened as he saw Lumino, eyes glassy with unshed tears, staring at him with a pained expression.
"You went too far, Kael."
Even Alira froze.
"What the hell, Lumino!?" Kael shouted, scrambling to his feet. "You hit me!? For her?"
But Lumino wasn't listening. He turned to Alira instead, stepping forward carefully, his voice low and heavy.
"What do you want, Miss Alira?" he asked. "Are you happy here? Or… do you want to be free?"
Alira flinched, as if the words struck her deeper than any magic could. That voice… those eyes… it was too much.
In an instant, fragmented memories surged through her mind.
"Alira, you're a good girl. Don't waste your life locked in here with me."
"What are you saying, sis? I want to be here…"
The woman's smile. Warm. Loving.
Another memory surfaced—
She was lying in her lap.
Blood staining her lips.
Eyes filled with love.
"Forgive me, Alira… now it's your turn to live. Leave before—this becomes your burden…"
"You're talking nonsense! This is my burden! So please… rest now. Let me protect this place instead."
Tears welled in Alira's eyes. She gripped her sleeve tightly and lowered her gaze.
"…I'm sorry," she whispered. "Do whatever you wish. Just… leave me be."
And then—she vanished.
"Miss Alira—wait!" Lumino reached out instinctively, but she was already gone.
Kael grumbled behind him, still rubbing his cheek. "Tch. She's got an attitude problem. I don't like her."
Lumino ignored him. Instead, he turned silently and walked toward the nearest bookcase.
"Hey! Where are you going? We should leave!" Kael called after him.
But Lumino didn't respond. He browsed the shelves, fingers trailing over spines of aged tomes, searching for something. Then he picked one and walked over to a large reading table in the center of the library. He sat down and opened the book.
Kael stormed over, scowling. "You're just gonna sit there and pretend you didn't slap me?"
Lumino turned, eyes calm but sharp. His gaze locked with Kael's. Then, without a word, he returned to reading.
"Ugh, whatever!" Kael snapped. "I don't need you either!"
He turned and stomped away, though a part of him hesitated. Even if the red thread wasn't pulling them together now, Kael didn't feel great about leaving Lumino alone.
Still… his pride told him to leave.
He climbed the stairs to the upper floor, mumbling complaints. "What the hell is wrong with him anyway? Hitting me for asking a damn question…"
Annoyed, he kicked the edge of a bookcase. A thick tome fell from the top shelf.
"Damn it…"
He bent down to pick it up, then glanced around. "Which shelf did this fall from…? Probably this one."
As he shoved the book back into place—
—a soft rumble echoed from behind the wall.
Click.
A hidden door slid open.
Kael's eyes widened. "What the…"
A secret passage?
For a moment, he debated whether to tell Lumino. But the sting on his cheek made the decision for him.
"Whatever. Screw it. I'll check it out myself."
Kael stepped into the narrow corridor. The door slid shut behind him.
The path ahead was dark.
He pulled out a lantern from his inventory, flicking it on. A soft blue light filled the stone hallway.
"Alright… let's see where this rabbit hole leads."
And then, he began walking deeper into the hidden passage.