"I have not learned the things I wished to know,

the things I wished to say remain unsaid."

- James Mcauley, "The Inception of the poem"

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Soundtrack of the chapter: Call to Arms by Two Steps From Hell

Media: The Ancient

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Chapter Forty-One: Raid

One day ago in Emareth...

Not for the first time, Day nodded off during work. He caught himself before he fell off his high chair by grabbing the sides of the smooth mahogany table. He gave himself a hard pinch on the arm, chiding himself for laying off on his job again.

It's not your fault, his subconscious hissed. Amueh has been giving you the most tedious job among his apprentices. No one would be willing to patrol the Library of All after dark.

The young Stellium shook his head. His beautiful pale hair came to rest like a halo around his shoulders which he gathered and braided them neatly with his trained fingers. He ran his eyes over the many unorganized scrolls shipped from the Hall of Games and the number of unchecked book lists he had to put back into the shelves by dawn. He groaned, a sound which would have earned him a look of disapproval from his master-Amueh.

"Focus Daeguar!" he said out loud, his crisp voice ringing through the vast, labyrinthine corridors of the Library of All. A cold wind tilted in from the open windows, whisking the curtains aside. He shivered, drawing his cloak tighter around his body. Another reason he did not like taking night shift was partly because of his vivid imagination. A single creak would scare the daylights out of him and the slight howl of the wind was enough to make him cower, prayers spilling from his lips.

Nevertheless, he steeled his nerves and went over to shut the great windows. It was a heavy task, for the windows were gigantic. When it was done, Day returned to his seat by the table, picking up his quill and continued filling up the log books with his neat, swirly handwriting.

A loud thud jerked him out of his momentum, causing a large ink blot to spread through the parchment. He cursed. Another crash sounded, the cacophony ricocheting like thunder through the entire library.

His hands flew automatically to the Celestial Blade he always had ready by the table (to prevent any form of possible attacks, for he was beyond paranoid).

His sharp ears perked, scanning the silence. A low guttural moan sounded, followed by harsh whispers in another language Day had never heard.

Day had studied over twenty languages in his years as an apprentice. No other language was foreign to him, not even the ancient Decanate dialects. Curious and scared at the same time, he debated whether he should venture down those dark corridors, twisting in the maze of towering bookracks and lightless corners.

The voice whispered again. Curiosity triumphed and he grabbed a Celeslight lamp by his table. He eased himself off his seat, planting his bare feet onto the cold polished wooden floors of the Library of All. Sword in one hand and the flickering lamp in the other, he took small cautious steps toward the sound.

Amueh had told him moans in the library were completely normal, for the restricted parts of the library held ancient creatures prisoner.

But this voice, this voice speaking in another beautiful language made his blood sing in eagerness. He banished whatever warning Amueh once gave him and continued moving forward.

His Celeslight lamp cast a weak green glow to his surroundings. Shadows bounced off the spines of thick old books and crystal balls. He almost jumped out of his skin when his lamp glided across a hideous statue made from real bones of an Ancient Decanate, showing four rows of lethal fangs.

The old wood creaked under his advancing footsteps. The whispers came again, this time from his left. Day wandered through the dark bookracks, his memory counting the number of aisles he had just passed.

Aisle two hundred and thirty-four, aisle two hundred and thirty-five, aisle two hundred and thirty-six...

His feet soon lead him to the great frilled gates of the restricted section. The iron wrought gate had already gone a shade of rusty green from the years of dilapidation, its frills no longer complete but missing at several places. But the gate still served its purpose with its huge "RESTRICTED" sign painted in the Ancient Tongue, proclaiming a severe punishment to trespassers.

The voice purred, as though tempting Day-don't you want to know what language this is? Don't you want to know who am I?

You should turn and run, ask for Amueh, his common sense warned.

But this is a once in a million chance! The little devil within argued. Haven't you always wanted to see what the Stelliums kept secret in the restricted section? Hadn't Amueh always denied your questions? He isn't around, go!

Day pressed his palms against the groove in the door. He had spied the password to the restricted section when one of his seniors had discarded the password carelessly on the library counter before he realized his mistake a minute too late. Day had already seen and memorized everything.

He had always pestered Amueh regarding the restricted section. Too often had his seniors bragged about the sights of the Ancients behind those gates, and the knowledge they had gained from interrogating them. But him, being only an apprentice of the lowest ranks, had to wait for at least fifty years before he could be promoted to the senior ranks.

The words rolled off his tongue slowly before it picked up the pace. It tasted wrong...like burning metal. He quickly spat out the remains of the spell. There was an audible click as the gates swung inward.

Too late to turn back now. He took in a deep breath and lifted his lamp. Unlike the front parts of the library, the restricted section was devoid of books. Instead, rows upon rows of dusty glass vials in different shapes and sizes sat neatly on the many racks. Day squinted in the lamp light. There were thousands of those little bottles, their multiple shades of colors coming to view when he shone his lamp at them.

Upon closer inspection, Day noticed that all were labeled according to date rather than alphabetical order. The names, date of capture and minor details were cramped into a small piece of parchment attached to the enchanted brass corks holding them in place. Somehow, they reminded him of Yana's prison he had seen in book illustrations.

The Vault of the Ancients. The name sent chills shooting down his spine. He was here, he was finally here.

His ears pricked up when the voice called out to him again, softly.

Daeguar, Daeguar, I am here.

He approached the second rack which extended all the way across the room. He scanned the bottles standing before him. One of them, a green glass bottle with a rounded base was glowing. He peered at it, picking it up with two tentative fingers and giving it a little shake.

Something was stirring inside, something small and bean-like. Day couldn't tell its real shape as it kept on changing. One second it was a bean, the next second it was a blob and the next, a sphere.

It crooned again, still using its mesmerizing language. Day felt frustration stir within him. What language was this Ancient using? Why did to sound so beautiful and powerful at the same time? He imagined himself reciting the language before Amueh, the stunned and surprised look in his mentor's eyes. For the first time, he could actually win the love of his mentor and not to be tossed to the sidelines by his seniors.

I can teach you all the secrets to the world if you want to, the voice said, as if listening to Day's thoughts. You will become even wiser than Amueh himself. Isn't that what you've always wanted? Think of how glorious it is, to become a fully-fledged Stellium, the youngest in history.

"But Amueh will be furious. I am not supposed to even talk to you."

Ah, the voice was smug. Still cowering in his shadows I see? No wonder he thought you as incompetent. You can't even stand up for yourself.

The Ancient's voice struck a sensitive chord within Day. Agitated, he rattled the bottle hard, trying to make the Ancient within pay for his words.

You're furious, you're mad at your mentor for not seeing the potential within you, the Ancient continued. But I can see that talent bubbling inside, waiting to be freed. I was trapped in this vessel because people fear my great knowledge and my prophecies. But if you liberate me, I will heap you with abundant information. So much, even Amueh himself would be jealous.

Day stared at the shifting form of the Ancient. True, he had always vied for Amueh's attention. Being invited to go to the Hall of Spirits with Amueh was considered an honor, but that was because the Stellium who was supposed to go fell ill. He had always been side-lined.

He stared at the ever-changing form of the Ancient. "If I let you go, will you promise not to run rampant?"

I promise, the Ancient replied. I give you my word.

Day curled his fingers around the cold stopper and gave it a massive yank. Almost at once, a wicked laugh emitted from the bottle before green smoke billowed out, shaking itself loose from its thousand year long prison. It took the form of a dragon, green vestigial wings flapping and a barbed tail which lashed out at Day, forcing him to drop the bottle and roll for cover.

Silly Stellium, you really are foolish for your kind, the Ancient laughed, a high pitched evil sound that clawed at Day's eardrums. Do you really think the words of an Ancient could be trusted? I am Beeduz, the Consort of the great Yana himself, trapped in this cursed bottle when my Ascendant was caught. Now, you've set me free.

The Ancient circled the room thrice, still cawing in its terrible voice before it barged free from the gates. Day shook the stars out of his sight and scrambled after the Ancient. He hurled his Celestial Blade at the Ancient, a hopeless gesture. It flicked away the blade with its tail with a bored expression.

It would take more than that to wound me, child, it sniggered.

It cawed and breathed fire, burning the large rack before Day, toppling it over with one of its massive claws. Day dropped to a crouch and rolled out of the way as the rack came crashing down with a heart-stopping boom, knocking into another rack which went down, sending torn and burning volumes flying everywhere. One after another, the great racks fell like a pile of dominoes, burning and turning black.

Ashes congested the air, forcing its way into Day's lungs. He coughed violently, his lungs begging for fresh air.

Through lightheadedness and a blurring vision, he saw the Ancient destroy a Celestite cabinet situated at the top of the library-a trove containing the most valuable contents of the entire Library. It set off a wailing alarm, designed by the Detriments; so loud, it could be heard even miles away. It grabbed a gilt scroll case with its left claw and took a massive leap, his other three legs finding support in the Library's tough walls.

Fire exploded from its maw, melting the Celestite as though it was butter. Day could only swim from the rising pile of burning papers and ashes as fast as he could before the fire could consume him. The front doors of the Library burst open. A stream of horrified Stelliums rushed in just in time to see the Ancient barrel through the melted Celestite and make the final lunge for freedom.

Amueh the wise, still garbed in the white clothing of the Stelliums even at night, twirled two Celestial Blade in his hands and leaped up the stairs. But the Ancient was too swift, he was gone before Amueh made his way to the top of the Library.

The ashes in Day's mouth and lungs were too much. He tried to take other step, but his brain shut down, cutting off his every sense as he toppled over, landing in a burning pile of wood. Before his consciousness slipped away, Day found himself wondering what the Underlands looked like. His eyes slammed shut and he drifted away.

There was only darkness.

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A/N

Anyone remember Daeguar? He was there with Amueh before Jasper and Cady set out for the Hall of Shadows. Apparently he's a little gullible. Look at the trouble he had caused!

I know plenty of you are demanding answers about Cady's real heritage, the lady in the dungeons and also about their new quest. Most of your answers will be answered in the Epilogue. ;)

And so we've reached the end of all 41 chapters. Epilogue will be out on Friday as well as a big fat Author's Note so watch out for it! 

Gummy bears,

Stef