A bolt of lightning struck Lendus in the back, smashing the apprentice to the ground. The magical weapon aimed at Darien faded from existence as Lendus' concentration was broken. It was all the diversion Darien needed to jump back to his feet.

As Lendus staggered in his attempts to stand, his muscles still twitching from residual electric shock, three serpents attacked him. Lightning, flame, and ice were hurled at him from different directions, and it was all the apprentice could do to block, dodge, or deflect them.

Darien lunged into the fray, adding his own power to the battle, ripping stones from the ground and throwing them at Lendus.

Overwhelmed, the apprentice fought back as well as he could, but Lendus' defenses were limited to the enchantments he spoke, and the attacks were falling upon him with greater speed. No matter how many shields he raised or deflections he summoned, something always managed to get through and strike at the man himself.

The three serpents reared up and called down a massive lightning strike. Darien stepped forward and threw his own lighting from his hands. Lendus was caught in the middle of the blinding intensity of the lightning. When the energy faded, the murderous apprentice was no more, a scorched patch of ground left behind where he'd previously been.

"I'm glad you decided to help me," Darien told the serpents.

The massive reptiles turned to face him.

"Never before has an outsider risked death for our people," one of the serpents answered.

Darien couldn't tell which spoke as none of their mouths moved; the voice, powerful and deep, seemed to come from all directions at once. He realized they must be using a form of magical telepathy.

"Another of your people still needs help," Darien reminded. "She said she was from an important family, so I assumed you would be willing to assist."

"What is her name?" a serpent asked in the powerful, surrounding voice.

"Naja," Darien answered.

"She spoke true," the voice confirmed. "Her family is important."

"Will you come with me to help free Naja?" Darien asked.

"We will follow," the voice agreed.

"You may have to be in human form as your size may make travel through the anchor difficult," Darien advised.

The serpents transformed before his eyes. Reducing in size, they took on the form of humans from the waist up, covered in bronze colored scales. From the shoulder, the scales grew less distinct until they became a resemblance of a tattoo on darkly tanned skin near the wrist. No scales or markings were present on their faces or hands. They trio of serpents stayed reptilian from the waist down, and their copper colored eyes maintained a vertical slit.

Of the three serpents, Darien could see two were men and the third was a woman. He gestured toward the anchor, and they slithered along on either side and behind him. Darien partially wondered if he was being accompanied or guarded.

When they reached the anchor, Darien activated the magical threshold and transported them to the former domain of Cordin Oakstaff.

"This way," Darien said, leading down into the basement. Tearing away the floor, he realigned the stones into steps and went down into the prison. The serpents followed.

"My Queen," the trio of voices said together as the serpents bowed low before Naja.

"Queen?" Darien said in surprise. He looked to Naja who simply shrugged.

"I told you my family was important," she reminded him with a knowing smile. "I just never said how important."

Darien smiled in return, lowering himself to one knee in respect.

"You may rise," Naja commanded.

Darien stood and concentrated on the magical lock. Lit by glowing lines of red, the lock appeared before them. As before, fissures of bright light spread across its surface but refused to crack the device apart. The serpents closed their eyes as they focused their own power. The fissures abruptly widened, shattering the lock into hundreds of luminous fragments that faded away to nothing.

Without the magic holding her cell closed, Naja pushed the door open and slithered out. The other serpents backed away to grant her room.

Darien removed the amulet from around his neck and offered it to Naja.

"This belongs to you, Queen Naja," he said respectfully.

"You've put it to good use," Naja pointed out. "Why don't you hang on to it for awhile?"

"Without the amulet, you can't change form," Darien reminded.

"This form suits me for the time being," she responded. "Besides, there is another amulet back home I can use if needed."

"Thank you," Darien accepted, putting the magic item back around his neck.

Naja hugged him firmly, whispering in his ear. "It is I who owe you thanks."

She placed a gentle kiss upon his cheek.

"What are your plans now?" Naja asked as they left the prison and basement, returning to the main floor.

"You pose a proper question," agreed the Librarian, standing in the middle of the room between the bookshelves. His crimson trimmed robes of purple seemed brighter and more vivid than before.

"How did you know when to come back?" Darien asked.

"I'm the Librarian," the wizard answered, casually brushing his waist length beard with a hand. "Having knowledge of the book you entered, I read along as you progressed in this tale. You've made many changes."

"It couldn't be helped," Darien said. "I couldn't allow Lendus to enslave or kill the serpents."

"Nor I," the Librarian stated.

Darien paused a moment as the statement struck him. His mind raced with an impossible idea, but it seemed more plausible the longer he thought about it.

"The wizard tower at Balocen," Darien said at length. "It has a shield around it to prevent unauthorized people from entering. If such power exists to protect a building, you could've protected the Book of Passages in a similar manner."

"This is true," the Librarian agreed.

"You left it unprotected because you knew I'd take it and end up here," Darien concluded.

"Many books reside upon my shelves," the Librarian answered. "Some, like King of Serpents, were in the most desperate need of revision. Evil must not endure. It must be challenged, thwarted, and brought low, never to rise again. For that great and noble purpose, a hero, a champion of right, must be brought forth."

"I'm no hero," Darien denied. "I'm a thief."

"Former thief," the Librarian corrected. "No one is born a hero. He or she becomes a hero by a valorous attitude and noble deeds. You were forced into this tale, and you could've followed the path of Cordin Oakstaff, conquering the serpents and making yourself king. Instead, you risked your own life to aid a people you didn't know. You restored the city of Balocen and gave help to the children therein who have not the means by which to repay you."

The Librarian walked over and rested his hands on Darien's shoulders. "You've become the hero and never realized it."

"Did you know things would turn out this way?" Darien asked.

"As I said, many books reside upon on my shelves," the Librarian reminded. "Your story is among them, and you wouldn't have liked the former ending. You've changed two stories at the same time."

"Thank you," Darien said. "I'd never thought much about my life and what I was doing with it. Thank you for showing me a better way."

"I put you on this path, but you are the one who made the hard choices," the Librarian reminded. "And, you are most welcome. If you so desire, I can take you back to your own world."

"No," Darien denied. "There's nothing for me in that life. I can do more here. If it's alright, I'll stay."

"Of course," the Librarian agreed.

"You'll probably have to rename the book," Darien said. "King of Serpents no longer applies."

"Doesn't it?" the Librarian asked with a slight smile behind his long beard. "You rescued Queen Naja from captivity and saved her people from enslavement and death. The path to become a king has been done with less."

Naja's fingers interlaced with Darien's and she smiled warmly at him.

"You're right," Darien agreed with the Librarian while smiling at Naja. "It's a good start."

"Great wealth and powerful magic lie within the tower of Balocen," the Librarian said. "Employ it wisely and it shall be of immense benefit to this world and its people."

"I will," Darien promised.

The Librarian handed Darien a head high pole of polished wood. A clear crystal of striking brilliance was perched atop the staff where it caught the light in sparkling reflections. "You are now Darien Oakstaff, wizard of the castle at Blacklake and the tower of Balocen."

Darien took the staff reverently, knowing the great responsibilities that came with his new title.

"Keep reading," Darien told the Librarian. "Many adventures still lie ahead. My story isn't done."

"Of that, I'm most certain," the Librarian agreed before raising a hand to the ceiling and vanishing from the room in a bolt of lightning, leaving Darien, Naja, and the serpents to continue their story in the countless years still ahead.

Note from the Librarian: Take care what stories you choose to read for you never know into which one you may be pulled should you encounter the Book of Passages.