**Chapter 6: Secrets of the Archive**
218 Words
After their icy alleyway skirmish, Arlo led Eira, Vale, and Talos through Glacius’ underworld network of glowing caves and tunnels towards the scholars’ archives. As she brushed aside glinting cobalt mineral clusters, Eira felt her breath catch entering the vast glacial cavern housing floor after floor of shelf-lined knowledge.
“Stay vigilant,” Talos murmured, hand resting readily on his sword hilt. Their attackers likely hunted still for their group specifically. After questioning wary archivists, they uncovered myths of an Order of Windwalkers who allegedly created an enchanted map leading towards Silva before the Cataclysm sunk their home island.
“Up there!” Vale called out, pointing upwards. Squinting through the dim light, Eira glimpsed a symbol matching her people’s air emblem etched into an icy balcony railing. As she channeled air currents beneath herself to leap upwards, apprehension and hope dueled within her.
Landing atop the carved overlook, she swept dust off a heavy rune-etched chest. With bated breath, Eira lifted the heavy lid, a surge of magic energy palpable...only to find it completely empty inside.
“No...how...?” Eira stammered in dismay. Had they come all this way for nothing?
“Eira, watch out!!” Arlo’s voice suddenly yelled from below. She turned just in time to see a massive ice javelin careening straight towards her!
- Writer
