Finding through the dust

The next morning, before the sun had properly claimed the sky, Elira followed Elric down a narrow spiral staircase behind the west wing — a part of the palace no servant dared to whisper about.

He held a flickering lantern in one hand and motioned for silence.

At the bottom of the staircase stood a towering door, sealed shut with rusted silver chains and a royal crest glowing faintly.

Elric reached into his coat and pulled out a small knife.

"Wait—" Elira frowned. "Is this where you stab me and toss me into a dungeon?"

He gave her a look. "You said no marriage, not no sarcasm."

Then, with a quick slice across his palm, he pressed his bleeding hand to the crest. The glow pulsed once… then the chains slithered away like metallic snakes retreating into the stone.

Elira's jaw dropped. "Okay, creepy. But also cool."

Inside, the Royal Archive smelled of dust, cold magic, and forgotten things. Endless shelves spiraled upward into darkness. Scrolls, crumbling tomes, faded parchments and sealed glass cases filled the space.

"Some light reading?" Elira muttered, gazing at the ancient chaos.

Elric smirked. "Start on that side. Look for anything with the Aurelion seal or mentions of beasts, blood curses, or mirrorcraft."

"I'll just wave my magic nose," she muttered, brushing dust off a table. "Because clearly, I'm the trained researcher here."

"Could've fooled me," he said, already flipping through a scroll with a bored expression.

An hour passed.

Then another.

They worked in silence at first—at opposite ends of the chamber—but tension simmered like a pot about to boil.

Elira picked up a thick tome, blew dust off it, and immediately coughed. "Ugh! I think this book just aged me five years."

"You're supposed to read it, not inhale it," Elric called from the other side.

"I'm trying, genius. But everything's in old royal dialect. Half these letters look like squashed insects."

"That's because you're holding it upside down."

Elira growled and turned the book. "You're so helpful, Your Highness."

"At least I'm actually finding things," he muttered, holding up a scroll triumphantly. "Here. A list of early symptoms for beast-curse carriers. Mood swings. Animal instincts. Heightened senses. Want me to test yours?"

"Oh, I'd love to see you try," she shot back, grabbing another scroll.

"I'm just saying," he smirked, "you might be more beast than I am with the way you snore."

Her eyes widened. "Excuse me?!"

"I walk past your door at night. It's like a storm's brewing."

"You arrogant—! I should've let that cursed mirror drop on your royal head."

Elric chuckled under his breath. "Careful, Elira. Your claws are showing."

She muttered something that was definitely not royal-language-appropriate and went back to reading.

"Any luck?" he asked, voice slightly more genuine now.

She hesitated, then frowned at the parchment she'd been holding. "Actually… yes. There's a mention here. A prophecy scroll, I think. Says something about The Mirrorbound."

Elric froze.

"What did you say?"

"The Mirrorbound." She stepped closer, holding it up. "It's vague, but it says something about 'the girl beyond time who walks between reflections and awakens the beast's shadowed soul.'"

They stared at each other.

Her heart thudded.

His expression had changed.

"Elira," he said slowly. "That's you."