So Small and Tinyyy

Looking at the spotless shelves, Var wondered how long they had been walking.

The shelves hadn't moved for some time, the distant sound of shifting shelves was the only sound Var could hear besides the God's footsteps and Nama humming to herself.

"Nama. How come the shelves haven't moved in so long?"

Stopping her humming, Nama smiled. "You really don't come here often, do you? We're currently passing through knowledge that has been written in stone. The books here are knowledge that has been proven true, and so it no longer requires being rearranged."

"The book relating to the Qliphoth, how far away is it."

"Not long, we're almost at the section containing all the demonic knowledge that we gods have accrued over our lives."

"Can we take a moment to stop?"

Nodding. "Sure thing, Var, I'll just be over there." Sticking her thumb in the direction of the shelves. Nama moved over to it.

Slouching on the opposite shelf, Var put his hands together, he pulled them apart again.

A blue system screen appeared before him. The screen displayed Iseul and those around him, spotting the Elf Queen, Var was about to call to Nama when he heard something wriggling close to his ear.

Turning his head slightly to the left, Var saw a small group of insects chewing on a half-eaten book.

Squinting, Var was about to squish the insects with his finger when Nama lightly grabbed his hand.

"I wouldn't worry about those things."

"What are they? Divine Beasts?"

Crossing her legs, Nama sat next to Var. "That they are." She lightly giggled. "I'm sure you are used to hunting Divine Beasts ten times your size, but these things also count. These… Divine Booklice, they were born in this realm, they live in it, just as you and I, their bodies have some amount of divinity within them. They even serve a purpose."

Gently putting her hand on the shelf, one of the insects crawled onto her hand. Lifting it up, she held it between them. "The reason why the library hasn't ridden itself of them. It is because they eat knowledge that the library no longer deems relevant."

"What kind of knowledge could a library such as this not need? Surely all knowledge would be of some consequence."

Contemplating his question, Nama set the insect back down. Folding her hands in her lap as she watched the insects work.

"The Divine Library is vast, but it is not unlimited. If you kept going in one direction, it might take some time, but you would reach a wall. So these Divine Booklice are allowed to be here so that this library can continue to function."

"I didn't realize there were any Divine Beasts in Denura. Do the others know about these?"

"Rigus definitely does, but I can't speak for the others. I doubt they would care much, knowing these are in the capital. Look at them." Moving closer, Nama softly smiled at the insects. "They are so small and tinyyy."

The distant sounds of moving shelves took over as the silence set in.

Var turned his gaze from the insect, watching Nama. Var couldn't help but worry.

"I'm scared Nama. We've known each other for a long time. You and I are some of the oldest Gods left in this Realm. When the others find out that you brought Savina back into the Mortal Realm after she died, bringing her back as your Champion. There will be consequences."

Hearing his question, Nama's usual optimistic expression was replaced with a deep frown.

Her voice came out as quiet, Var could easily hear it in the library's silence.

"It was a sacrifice worth making Var… If they want to exile me, then they will have to do so by force." Standing, Nama turned away from Var. "Come on, we've wasted enough time talking."

~~

"Heroes," Savina muttered. "Unlike Champions, who are bound to the will of their respective Gods. Heroes are wild cards, since the Eclipse, after the Gods were slain. Heroes popped up left and right, some put their titles to work and aided the weak. Other's…" Turning to Coraline, Savina's eyes narrowed. "Become warlords, using their power for their own needs. What are you Coraline, a Hero? Or an enemy?"

Looking away, Coraline's grip on her spear tightened. "I just want to go home…"

"Coraline isn't an enemy." Standing up, Faylea put her hands on the desk. "She's been helping protect my people from the Qliphoth. So if anyone has a problem with her, they have a problem with me." Looking at the group, Faylea glared at Savina. "Do we have a problem?"

Shaking his head, Rio sank further into his seat. Iseul simply ignored Faylea's threat as he stared up at the ceiling.

"My misgivings towards Heroes aside. When's the soonest we can deal with the Qliphoth?"

Stepping forward, Filiea rested her hand on her sister's shoulder, pushing her back into her seat.

"Savina, with you and your friend's aid. All we must do is collect the vials of holy water from Felesyn's shack, and then we will be ready to move on the Qliphoth and its defences."

"Ok then." Savina gestured to her friends. "Rio, Iseul and I will pick the vials up from Felesyn. Will he be joining us?"

"I am sure my son will want to see his work to its finish. Filiea." Faylea turned to her sister. "Take Coraline to those guarding the Qliphoth. Make sure everything we have prepared is ready to move on a moment's notice."

"Yes, my Queen." Bowing, Faylea left the room, Coraline followed a few steps behind.

"I guess we'll be taking our leave as well."

Turning to leave, Savina stopped as Filiea called her name.

"Savina, may I speak with you a moment. In private."

Hesitating for a moment, Savina nodded to the door. "Can you two just wait outside?"

"Sure thing," Rio replied, getting up. "Come on Iseul." Taking Iseul's hand, Rio pulled him to his feet.

Waiting for them to leave, Faylea let out a deep breath.

"You don't know how happy I am to see you, Savina. I would have sent Filiea to find you if I knew you were." The words caught in Filiea's throat as she spoke. "If you were alive."

"You, you really don't have any ill will towards me?" Savina couldn't look Filiea in the eyes. "I've been such a horrible queen, for so long I've tried to sway my people's opinion on Elves. Yet I hated you more than anyone. After the Beasts attacked us, I sent a message to you. When you never replied… I lost it…"

"A message?" Taken aback, Filiea narrowed her eyes. "We never received any messenger from Ruoroa. We didn't even know Rimara was attacked until long after the last fire had gone out."

"You remember its name…"

Nodding, Filiea gestured for Savina to pull up a chair. "I remember it well. Rimara was a hub for trade and the headquarters of the Wild Guard. It was on the southernmost of Olozia, built near to the border with the Wilds. All the Beasts that the Wild Guard and its agents slew were taken back to Rimara, cut up and shipped off, hundreds of thousands of pelts, fangs and bones left those docks yearly. If not more. It truly was the main hub for commerce on Olozia, yet it was such easy pickings for the Beast King."

"Nobody ever expected the Beast King himself would make such a drastic move, leading the attack himself. If my father was alive… He would have gone himself, but it took the intervention of the Demon King to force the Beast King to leave. Although that was only the King of Beasts, his minions stayed even after he left."

"I truly am sorry, Savina. If I received that message, I would have sent everything at my disposal… but I never did receive that message. What happened to the messenger?"

Shaking her head, Savina buried her face in her hands. "I don't know… I left it to my advisor."

"Your advisor? That was the spindly fellow, right?"

"Mhm, Minux. He was my father's advisor in his time, I kept him as my advisor when I became queen. When the Beasts attacked, he was the first to volunteer to send a messenger to you… Maybe the messenger got killed on the way?"

"Where is he now?"

"I imagine now he's Swen's royal advisor, but I could be wrong."

"That would make sense." Sighing, Filiea laid her open hands on the table. Taking her offer, Savina rested her hands on Filiea's.

Holding her bandaged hands, Filiea felt her heart drop. It only now dawned on Filiea that Savina's entire body up to her neck was bandaged.

"Savina, what happened?"

Dropping her head, Savina bit her lip. "I felt him."

"Felt? What did you feel?"

Balling her fists, Savina grit her teeth as she felt close to crying being reminded of her dear brother.

"I felt, him. A witch asked to deal with a dungeon that was threatening a small village."

Filiea was immediately confused as Savina explained where she had been. "A witch? Dungeon? What are you talking about?"

"When we went into the dungeon, I felt that the dungeon was manufactured. It was inside these mines. The closer we got, the more familiar it felt." Pulling her hands back, Savina held her arms close to her body. "It was Mon, the dungeon, it was filled with his mana."

"Mon? Savina that can't be possible, he died years ago. It's been decades since his death. A person's mana dissipated moments after their death. Remnants of his mana should have fizzled out so many years ago."

"I-" Starting to shake, the ring on Savina's finger began to glow with a faint violet light. Taking a deep breath, Savina steadied herself. "I know what I felt, Filiea. At first, I was suspicious, then when we reached the end of the dungeon we found a gauntlet that manipulated the surrounding earth, the gauntlet began charging up drawing all the mana in the dungeon into itself. We tried to stop it, but we failed… and then a system message popped up and told us it's name. The Hand of Mon."

"A gauntlet? But that means… no, no that's not possible."

"What isn't possible?"

"If what you're saying is true, Savina. That would mean somebody is capable of taking someone's mana and then infusing it into things. Surely if somebody of that calibre existed, we could know of them."

"Could somebody be working against us? In the shadows?"

Frowning, Faylea shook her head. "As troubling as this may be, we have bigger problems right now. The Demon King's threat to attack Ruoroa, the Qliphoth. If you want, after we have dealt with the threat of the Qliphoth. I can have Filiea see to your wounds, if you want."

Sniffing, Savina faintly smiled. "That would probably be a good idea... I guess I should be going to pick up Felesyn now." Standing up, Savina moved to leave.

"Safe travels Savina, I have some things to finish up here, but I should make it to the camp before we move on the Qliphoth."

Stopping at the door, Savina turned her head to smile at Faylea. "It really was nice seeing you after so long."

Opening the door, Savina stepped through, joining Rio and Iseul on the other side.

Seeing Savina's red eyes, Rio put a hand up. "Are you ok Savina? Did something happen?"

Wiping her eyes, Savina shook her head. "I'm fine, Rio, I actually feel better than when I woke up this morning. Come on, you two, it's time I introduce you to my brother."

~~

Careful as could be, Felesyn gently tipped a beaker of light yellow liquid into a vial of water. Setting the vial down, he pressed a cork into the top of the vial.

Slowly swirling the two liquids, Felesyn smiled as the two liquids combined, causing a faint glow. "Ah, perfect. That's another vial of holy water to add to the batch."

Opening a box filled with vials of holy water next to him, Felesyn gently stowed the vial away. As he closed the box, Felesyn flinched as somebody began pounding on his front door.

"What!" He shouted back. "I'm busy!"

With no response but more pounding, Felesyn got up from his seat.

"Alright! I'm coming, no need to hit my door so hard!"

Grabbing the door, Felesyn swung it open

"What- Wait, who are you-?"