473 Tome Of The Forbidden Nightmare Sword
The atmosphere within the building was heavy, charged with an energy that made Asher feel as if this was definitely a place where people up to no good might enter.
As they entered the small, dimly lit hall, the only source of light came from flickering candles scattered across an old, worn desk. Behind this desk sat a scrawny lady, her skin a dark shade of orange, almost glowing in the candlelight. Her nose was pointy, giving her an almost caricature-like appearance, and her eyes, a deep, vibrant green, flickered with mischief and knowledge far beyond her seemingly frail frame.
Upon seeing Naida, a sly grin spread across the lady's face, her long fingers tapping rhythmically on the wooden surface, "Ah, if it isn't the Midnight Wanderer," she crooned, her voice a peculiar mix of rasp and velvet, "And who's this? A new apprentice, perhaps?"
Naida responded with a light chuckle, not correcting the lady on her alias, "You could say that, Grendella. We're here on specific business. We need access to the hidden chamber."
Grendella's eyes shifted to Asher, sizing him up with a glance that felt almost invasive, "You have never brought a friend before, and he seems like a new face. Do you trust him?" she mused aloud, her gaze returning to Naida. "The chamber isn't for all eyes. You know that."
"I trust him more than anything," Naida replied, her tone friendly yet firm, making Asher glance at her briefly with a hint of warmth.
Grendella leaned back in her chair, the wood creaking under her slight weight. With a dramatic flourish, she pulled out a large, ancient-looking key from beneath the desk, "Very well," she said, her voice now serious, "I shall add his name to the list. But remember, the chamber only contains things that could kill you. Your friend should be careful about getting too tempted."
Naida nodded, a gesture mirrored by Asher, though he only got more intrigued and curious about what kind of things were present in this chamber.
"Follow me, then," Grendella announced, standing up. Her movements were surprisingly graceful for her appearance, and she led them through a door hidden behind an entrance that Asher hadn't noticed before.
As they walked, the corridor twisted and turned, descending deeper into the heart of the building. The air grew cooler, and the silence was almost oppressive, broken only by the sound of their footsteps and the occasional drip of water echoing in the distance.
Finally, they reached a heavy door, its surface etched with symbols that seemed to dance in the candlelight.
Asher chuckled, shaking his head in mild exasperation. "You are really keeping me in suspense here, huh?"
Naida's knowing smile shone through,. "Not as much as you, though. You still haven't told me how things went with your queen after you told her about us. Or did you not tell her yet?"
Asher, his hands brushing over the spines of countless grimoires, sighed, the sound heavy with unspoken words, "I was about to tell you once we had a place to talk freely and comfortably. But since you asked now, well..." He paused, his voice trailing off as he recounted the moment he had revealed his relationship with Naida to Rowena. The confession had unfolded in a way that left Naida's lips to part and her brows to raise,
Naida's reaction was a mix of relief and surprise, her hand resting against her chest as if to calm her racing heart, "That went better than I expected. I didn't tell you to not bother you about it, but I was feeling quite guilty and ashamed all along. I was ready for any punishment if she didn't want me to get close to you. But it seems as if fate doesn't want us to be separate. She must really love you to give in like this."
Asher's face mirrored the complexity of his emotions, a stormy sea of guilt, love, and loyalty, "I know she is a better person than I am, and I may not deserve her, but I can't stay away from her. She is the reason I am standing here. Otherwise, I could have..." His voice faltered, lost in the unsaid, as his gaze turned distant, wondering how he would have ended up if only hate and anger existed within him.
Naida, observing the conflict within him, offered a warm smile, "I know. She is your world, just like you are already becoming mine."
"Naida..." Asher's voice was a whisper, laden with emotions too complex to unravel, the name a confession and a plea all at once.
He felt bad that he couldn't call her his own before everyone else yet.
The search for the Tome of the Forbidden Nightmare Sword continued, a task that seemed to anchor Asher to the present, despite the doubts in his heart.
And then, amidst the silence and the secrets, he found it, "Hey. Here it is. Tome of the Forbidden Nightmare Sword," he announced, a spark of triumph in his voice that quickly turned to astonishment as he opened the tome, "What the..." The words died in his throat as his eyes widened in disbelief, staring at the contents that lay before him.
What did he see?