Saphielle exhaled softly, the serene quiet of the Apeiro Vivliothiki enveloping her like a familiar cloak. The grand library stretched endlessly in all directions, towering bookshelves spiraling into infinity, their ancient tomes whispering secrets of time long past. Wisps of golden light drifted between the shelves, illuminating the dust motes that hung in the air like suspended stars. The scent of parchment, ink, and something older, something timeless, filled her lungs as she sat at a long central table, surrounded by towering stacks of scrolls and scriptures.
She pushed a stray lock of golden hair behind her ear, her sapphire gaze scanning the delicate etchings of an aged manuscript. She had returned here with purpose: to continue her investigation on Kai. The last battle had been successful, the double breach was successfully cleared, but something about him still left unanswered questions gnawing at the edges of her mind. Across from her, Zyren leaned against a bookshelf, arms crossed, his ever-present smirk playing on his silver lips. "You work too hard, Saphielle," he drawled, the ember-like glow in his scarlet eyes flickering with amusement. She didn't bother looking up. "And you don't work.....at all."
Zyren chuckled. "Oh boy, harsh as ever eh? But I'm not here just to annoy you, I've got stuff to do myself." He pushed off from the shelf, stretching lazily. "Try not to drown in those books while I'm gone, yeah?" Saphielle merely waved a dismissive hand, already tuning him out as he strolled away. His boots clicked softly against the pristine marble floor, the sound fading as he disappeared into one of the far corridors of the library. Out of sight, out of mind. She preferred it that way. Solitude is what allowed her to work with her full potential. With practiced precision, she pulled a fresh tome from the stack, her fingers gliding over its thick purple cover. Records of Ancient Techniques. She had not seen this skill being used before, but Kai decided to surprise everyone and successfully execute it, specifically on Zyren during their last battle.
The technique wasn't just rare, it was dangerous. The ability to transfer one's temporal energy into another was something only the most skilled Time-Keepers had ever achieved. And yet, Kai had seemingly done it instinctively, as if it were second nature. That alone was quite concerning. Her fingers brushed over the scripture's faded title before flipping it open. The pages crackled softly, inked in elegant, flowing script that shimmered faintly under the library's golden light. She flipped through the pages till she found the necessary section. She began to read, carefully with undisturbed attention. "Temporal Transfusion: A technique requiring absolute precision. To share one's energy is to share one's existence: a tether that, if wielded improperly, can consume both giver and receiver."
Saphielle's brows furrowed slightly. That much she already knew. She continued reading, eyes narrowing as she came across the next passage. "Of the recorded wielders of this technique, most succumbed to its toll. Only a select few mastered it, among them legendary figures whose names are now lost to time. However, one anomaly stands above all others...." She leaned in, intrigued. A warrior who could wield the Transfusion as effortlessly as breathing. One whose lineage defied the natural order. He could not only give his energy to other, but also drain energy from external sources into himself. His name-" The ink was smudged, the next words blurred beyond recognition.
Saphielle frowned. That wasn't normal. The Apeiro Vivliothiki preserved all knowledge, untouchable by time's decay. Information didn't just disappear here. The only explanation was that this segment had suffered the same fate as the lost texts, erased and locked away by something unnaturally powerful. A quiet sense of unease settled in her gut. Something was lurking out there.....harboring power beyond their imagination.....
On a different section of the library, Zyren strolled through the seemingly endless corridors, his fingers skimming across the ancient spines of countless tomes. The dim golden light drifting through the shelves cast elongated shadows on the pristine marble floors, giving the library an almost ethereal stillness. His scarlet eyes flickered as he read the carved titles in a lazy murmur. "Temporal Variations of Combat." "Chrono-Entropy: The Cost of Power." "Fates Unwritten: Theories on Destined Paradoxes." he read, under his breath. "Ugh. Too academic," he muttered, shifting his gaze down the rows of books and scrolls. He wasn't here for history lessons. He wanted something useful. Something dangerous. His pace slowed as he turned a corner, stepping into a secluded aisle lined with thick, aged tomes. A single sign, written in an elegant but almost foreboding script, hung above the section: "Coveted Techniques"
Zyren grinned. "Jackpot." He ran a hand along the spines of the books, feeling the centuries of knowledge packed within them. These weren't just techniques, they were the forbidden, the legendary, the kind of skills Time-Keepers whispered about but never dared to seek out. His fingers halted on a book bound in deep, worn leather, its cover marked only by a single crimson insignia a design he recognized immediately. "Oh-ho....now this looks promising." Plucking the tome from the shelf, he flipped it open, the pages stiff from age yet perfectly preserved. His eyes danced across the words as he scanned through them, flipping past the unnecessary forewords until.....there! The technique he was looking for. Zyren's smirk faded, replaced by something more calculating as he traced the inked symbols with his fingertips. "So this is how it's done, huh?" He leaned against the shelf, absorbing the knowledge, the flickering golden light above casting a sharp contrast against the shadow curling along the book's spine.
Back at the central table, Saphielle exhaled softly, her fingers resting against the Chronolink on her wrist. The crystalline centerpiece of the device shimmered as she channeled a precise thread of temporal energy, initiating the connection. A faint pulse of power rippled outward as the link engaged. A moment later, a soft, radiant holographic projection materialized above the device: Selara's composed face flickered into view, amber eyes focused and attentive. "Saphielle," Selara greeted. "Something you need?" she asked. "Yes." Saphielle kept her voice level, masking the thoughts still swirling in her mind. "I'm requesting that I be the next one to train with Kai." Selara arched a delicate brow. "That's quite sudden. Any particular reason?"
Saphielle hesitated for only a second. She could have told Selara about the blurred records, the anomaly that didn't quite make sense....but not yet. Not until she was certain. "I have something I wish to clarify," she said simply. Selara studied her for a moment, then gave a short nod. "Understood. I trust that you will be able to handle it." Before Selara could inquire further, Saphielle severed the connection, the Chronolink dimming to silence once more. She glanced back down at the worn pages before her, the smudged ink where a name should have been. Saphielle folded her arms, her sapphire-blue eyes flickering with thought as she stood amidst the towering shelves of the Apeiro Vivliothiki. The faint hum of ancient energy pulsed through the air, resonating within the tomes stacked around her.
She needed more records, documents untouched by whatever had obscured the existing files on the records of the Temporal Transfusion technique. If there was even the faintest hint of missing history, she would find it. With a single fluid motion, she unfurled her majestic white wings, their vast span catching the dim golden light filtering through the high-vaulted ceilings. Then, with a powerful beat, she soared upward, gliding effortlessly toward the upper shelves where older, less frequently accessed texts were stored. The scent of aged parchment and faint arcane residue filled her senses as she scanned the rows. Her fingers traced over the delicate spines, selecting tomes with titles that hinted at lost knowledge.
"Temporal Divergence and Unrecorded Manifestations.", "Theories of Energy Transference and the Forbidden Arts.", "Legacies of the Unseen: Vanished Time-Keepers and Their Feats." With practiced ease, she gathered the books in her arms and descended, her wings barely making a sound as she landed back at the table. She laid the tomes down gently, dust drifting into the air as she opened the first volume. But before she could start reading, she had another matter to address. Saphielle tapped her Chronolink, letting her temporal energy pulse through the device. It only took a second before the connection established, and a soft, flickering holographic projection of Kai appeared above the crystalline surface.
He looked slightly disoriented, as if she had interrupted him mid-thought. His azure eyes blinked once before narrowing slightly. "Saphielle?" His voice carried a mix of confusion and caution. "Something wrong?" "Not quite," she replied smoothly. "But I need you to come to the Apeiro Vivliothiki. Do you know how to use your Chronolink to find directions?" Kai's expression shifted into mild reluctance. "Uh...yeah I do, but....why do you need me there right now?" Kai asked. "It's time you started training in something besides combat," she said, arms crossed. "Your understanding of this world is still.....lacking." Kai exhaled, rubbing the back of his head. "I mean, I guess that's not wrong, but-"
"No excuses," Saphielle interrupted, her sapphire eyes piercing. "This is important, Kai. You cannot afford ignorance, especially as a Time-Keeper." Kai made a face, clearly debating whether to argue. Finally, after a pause, he let out a small sigh. "Fine," he muttered. "I'll be there soon." Satisfied, Saphielle severed the connection, the Chronolink's glow fading as she turned back to her stack of books.
Now then, she thought, let's see what else they tried to erase.