Pieces of the Puzzle

Chapter 19

Evelyn's muscles ached, her body protesting every movement as she trudged down the stone corridor, Marcus beside her, equally worn out from their training session. The Council's headquarters seemed to stretch on forever—endless halls of stone, filled with shadows and relics from a time long past. The air was heavy with magic, almost suffocating in its intensity, and Evelyn couldn't shake the feeling that the walls themselves were watching her.

"They really don't believe in taking it easy," Marcus muttered, rubbing his shoulder where Kal's blade had knocked him off balance for the fifth time that morning.

"No kidding," Evelyn replied, her voice dry. Despite her exhaustion, her mind kept drifting back to the bigger picture—the reason they were here in the first place. There was too much they didn't know. The wraiths, the coin, Darius's cryptic warnings... it all felt like pieces of a puzzle, but none of them were fitting together.

They reached the central chamber, where Seraphine was waiting. She stood tall, her silver hair catching the dim light, her eyes sharp as ever. Beside her, Kal was speaking in low tones to another Council member, a scroll in his hand.

"You're making progress," Seraphine said, her voice a blend of praise and practicality as her gaze swept over them. "But combat training alone won't be enough. There's more you need to understand."

Evelyn nodded. "We know. We need information about the wraiths, the coin... all of it. What's really going on, and why are we at the center of it?"

Seraphine's expression softened, but only slightly. "The Council is working on it. There are records, old ones, that might shed light on what you're dealing with. It's not an easy task—much of our knowledge is fragmented. But we're not without leads."

Marcus glanced between them. "So, what's our next move?"

"Continue your training," Seraphine replied. "But we'll also start looking through the archives. I'll assign someone to help you—someone who knows the records well. The information we need might be hidden in the details."

Evelyn's brows furrowed, but she nodded, the tension in her chest easing slightly. It wasn't the breakthrough she was hoping for, but it was something. "Alright. But if you find anything—anything that could explain the connection between the coin and the wraiths—we need to know immediately."

Seraphine nodded. "You will."

As they turned to leave, Kal's voice cut through the room. "Evelyn. Marcus."

They turned to see the older man approaching, his expression as hard as ever. "One more thing," he said, holding up a small, intricately carved pendant. "Take this with you."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, taking the pendant from his hand. It felt cool to the touch, almost soothing in contrast to the constant hum of magic in the air. "What is it?"

"It's a ward," Kal explained. "A protective charm. It won't stop a wraith, but it'll buy you time—disrupt their form long enough for you to fight or escape."

Marcus glanced at the pendant, his eyes narrowing. "Why now? Why not give this to us earlier?"

Kal's gaze didn't waver. "Because you weren't ready. Now, you are. Keep it close. You'll need it."

Evelyn pocketed the pendant, feeling the weight of Kal's words. Every small step forward felt like a climb up a mountain, but at least now, they weren't going in blind.

---

Later that evening, Evelyn found herself back in the archives. The room was dim, lit by the same soft orbs that filled the Council's halls, and lined with towering shelves of old scrolls and books. Beside her, Marcus scanned a row of texts, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"I can't believe how much of this is in here," he muttered, pulling a dusty tome from the shelf. "Half of these look like they haven't been touched in centuries."

"That's probably because they haven't," came a familiar voice from the doorway.

Evelyn and Marcus both turned to see Darius step into the room, his tailored suit pristine as ever. There was a faint smirk on his lips as he approached, his eyes gleaming with something between amusement and calculation.

"Well, well, look who's back from their little adventure," Darius remarked, his tone carrying a hint of mockery as he crossed his arms. "I take it you've had quite the eventful trip."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes slightly but couldn't help the corner of her mouth twitching upward. "You could say that. Where were you? You vanished after we returned."

Darius gave a casual shrug, his expression unchanged. "You know how it is—Council business, secrets to keep. Not all of us have the luxury of being on training leave." His gaze flicked over Marcus briefly. "But I'm sure you both made excellent use of your time."

Marcus shot him a skeptical look. "Yeah, getting knocked around by Kal is definitely what I'd call 'making use of our time.'"

Darius chuckled softly. "Kal does have a... particular teaching style. But I imagine you're stronger for it." His expression shifted, becoming more serious. "You've been busy, but so have I. You came here for answers, and I'm guessing by now you've realized the Council isn't exactly giving you the full story."

Evelyn's eyes narrowed. "You don't say."

Darius walked over to a nearby shelf, scanning the spines of the old books and scrolls. "There's more hidden in these archives than even most Council members know. But I know what you're looking for—information on the coin, the wraiths, and how they're connected. There are restricted areas in the archives, places I can get you into."

Marcus crossed his arms. "And why would you do that? What's in it for you?"

Darius turned, meeting his gaze with that familiar, calculating look. "Let's just say our interests are aligned—for now. The more you know, the better equipped you'll be to handle what's coming. And if you succeed, it reflects well on all of us."

Evelyn exchanged a glance with Marcus. Darius was slippery, but he had a point. If the Council was keeping secrets, they needed someone who knew how to navigate those waters.

"Alright," Evelyn said. "But we're not playing games. If you know something, tell us."

Darius gave her a nod, then motioned for them to follow. "Follow me. The oldest records are stored in a different wing, restricted to only a few. That's where we'll find what you need."

As they moved deeper into the archives, the air grew colder, the magic in the walls humming faintly. Darius led them through twisting halls and staircases that seemed to spiral further into the depths of the building, finally stopping at a door marked with symbols Evelyn didn't recognize.

"This is it," Darius said quietly. "Inside, you'll find references to ancient forces. The kind that the Council likes to pretend no longer exist."

He pushed the door open, revealing a room lined with even older scrolls, their parchment yellowed with age, the smell of dust thick in the air.

Evelyn stepped inside cautiously, her fingers brushing the edge of one scroll. "What are we looking for?"

Darius's expression grew more serious, his voice lowering. "Anything that connects the coin to the wraiths—or to the forces behind them. The Council knows more than they've let on. It's time you found out what they're hiding."