The walls shook, sediment falling around them from more than just the force of their blows.
Her storm was building.
They charged, rushing through the water, and fell straight onto the dry library floor with a heavy thump.
Tharen groaned, his arm caught under the demon’s hulking size. "Get off me, beast." He pushed at Azgorath, who rolled off of him with a hiss.
Tharen pushed himself up to a stand, scanning the darkened library. Outside the glass dome above, there was nothing but thick, raging clouds. Rain fell in sheets against the enchanted glass, slicing down the rounded dome and falling off the side of the castle.
"Will it hold?" Azgorath followed his stare to the glass dome.
"Yes," said Tharen—he hoped. "You know where Nyxila resides?" At the demon’s nod, Tharen continued, "Then go get her. I have something else to pick up before we leave. Hurry."
The demon gave a jerky nod, and he was off, rushing to the dark maze of shelves that the sprite loved to call home.
Tharen shivered from the way his wet clothes stuck to him as he jogged to the falls set into the wall. The rushing water fell in a perfect loop into the thin pool wrapping around the circumference of the library floor. He reached straight through the stream of water. The mellow temperature warmed him slightly as he pressed his flattened palm to the stone behind it.
Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to slip partially into the Spirit realm. It was disconcerting, having every part of his body normal, save his arm.
His palm phased through the stone wall, and his phantom fingers grasped weakly at the small leather-bound book. With effort, he pulled his hand back through the wall, allowing his Spirit mage to dissipate as his arm returned to normal.
A cloud-like bubble crafted with his Aer magic protected the book as he pulled it through the water.
In Tharen’s hands, the purple leather cover of the book, no title etched onto the pristine cover. But he knew what it was.
Compendium of Fates.
He sighed.
Noise from behind him made him jolt, hurriedly stuffing the book into his cloak. He kept a small bubble of air wrapped around it, just in case. It was supposed to be protected against harm, but he did not want to take any chances.
Tharen turned away from the small trickling stream of water just at the right moment, catching the demon’s eyes as he barreled through to the center of the library.
Fluttering around his shoulders in waves of green and dark brown, Nyxila.
When the tiny sprite saw Tharen, she squealed, speeding toward him. The sprite hit his chest in a small flurry of leaves and happy sounds.
"Master Tharen! You’re here for me. You saved me again. Thank you so, so much!"
Tharen raised his hands by his side, unused to such overt displays of gratitude.
Azgorath grumbled lowly.
"Yes"—Tharen cleared his throat—"you’re welcome, Nyxila."
Torrents of rain fell upon the glass dome overhead, and the sprite jumped, flitting over to the demon and tucking herself atop his mop of unruly, dark brown curls.
Leaves drifted around Nyxila as she shivered. "Are we going to die?"
"No," Azgorath said gently, "we’re here to rescue you."
The sprite patted Azgorath’s head. "Thank you, Az." She gasped. "Did you rescue Lu, too? I don’t want her to die, even though she lied to me. I forgive her."
Something in Tharen’s chest cracked at the mention of death andLuin the same sentence.
The demon seemed well-equipped to handle the impish creature. "We got her out. Lu’s far away and safe. Now, it’s your turn. We need you to help us with this, Nyx. We’re going to leave the library. It will be wet and scary out there, but no matter what, I need you to stay on me. Can you do that?"
The demon spoke to Nyxila while she sat atop his head, yet he stared at Tharen. His voice was calm and soothing.
