Just as their eyes met—
Typhon's body tensed. A sharp breath escaped him as the vivid dream unraveled like mist in the morning sun. He blinked against the ancient air of the Forgotten Library, the ceiling high above, where glowing books drifted weightlessly near the enchanted arches. The scent of aged parchment and old stone replaced the mountain winds of his memory.
"He's awake..." Nara whispered, her voice trembling with a strange mix of relief and fear. She knelt beside him, brushing a few strands of silver-white hair from his face.
At that moment, the heavy doors creaked open with a deep hum of mana. The priest stepped in, his robes darker than ever, trailing the scent of incense and cold wind. His eyes, however, softened when they fell on Typhon.
"So... the seal begins to stir," he murmured.
Typhon, still dazed, looked between the two. His lips parted, but no words came out. The mark on his hand shimmered faintly, glowing with a power that hadn't awakened in centuries.
His POV
Wait… where am I? I asked Nara, my voice barely rising above a whisper, as my eyes adjusted to the dim yet mystical glow of the library around me.
The moment my gaze settled, I was struck speechless. Towering shelves surrounded us, brimming with ancient books—some so old their spines looked like they would crumble under a breath. Several volumes floated mid-air near the arched ceiling, spinning lazily or flipping open as if whispering their stories to one another. A golden ray of sunlight pierced through a crack in the far wall, illuminating one side of the hall, while the rest remained wrapped in velvet shadows.
Even in my dazed state, I could tell—this place was alive. Every book here seemed to hum with its own tale, pulsing with forgotten mana. How did they even build something this massive… this timeless? I should've been panicking, but instead, I felt oddly at home. Maybe because I've always loved antiques, lost places, things that carry stories no one remembers.
"We're in the Forgotten Library," Nara answered, her voice calm yet heavy with meaning. "It was built thousands of centuries ago… by your people."
Before I could ask more, the priest moved quickly past me, his robes sweeping over the aged floor. He reached a shelf, yanked out a pile of thick books, and began flipping through the pages with hurried hands. His eyes scanned every word like he was racing against time. He didn't even bother to sit.
Whatever he was looking for—he was desperate to find it.
And judging by his expression... things were far worse than I'd imagined.
I rose slowly, leaning on Nara's shoulder for support. My legs still trembled from whatever power had just stirred inside me, but I managed to walk with her help toward the old wooden table where the priest sat, hunched over a mountain of crumbling tomes.
Without fully realizing it, I sat in the chair beside him. The moment I did, he stopped flipping the pages.
He froze.
His hand hovered over a faded parchment, breath caught like he had just unearthed something he wasn't ready to face. A long, silent second passed before he finally spoke—his voice low but urgent.
"Go," he said to Nara, still not lifting his eyes from the book. "Build the Blood Domain Shield around the library. Now. Before the Shadow Knights sense the aura."
He looked up at her then, his eyes burning with rare seriousness.
"Just go—hurry!"
Without hesitation, Nara turned and headed toward the heavy doors, her steps swift and purposeful.
"We only have three days until the Summer Solstice," the priest called after her, his tone growing more grave. "We must seal this place before they come."
She gave a sharp nod before disappearing beyond the doors, her expression hard and focused
"Summer Solstice?" I frowned, my voice laced with confusion.
"Yes," he said, his tone sharp with urgency. "During the Solstice, we must awaken and release Teresina—your first sword. She's one of the most powerful weapons we have for this war. The Shadow Knights have already sensed our presence. We need to act before they reach us."
He stepped closer and grabbed both of my shoulders, his grip firm, his eyes burning with a fire I hadn't seen before.
"You don't understand how strong their high-rank knights are. You haven't faced them yet. I had planned to release Teresina only after you fully regained your powers… but we no longer have the luxury of time. I cannot allow us to suffer another defeat."
A bitter weight pressed against my chest.
"I wish I could help," I whispered. "But I feel so useless. All of you are fighting for me, doing everything, and I'm just sitting here—watching, unable to lift a hand."
He shook his head, voice low but resolute. "No. We're not doing this for you—we're doing it with you. The Dragon Realm wasn't just yours. It was ours, a land where everyone once lived in harmony. Until the betrayal… until we lost everything to the Shadow Realm."
His eyes glistened with memories, old and painful.
"But my Lord taught me something," he continued, voice growing stronger, more determined. "You taught me to stay strong no matter how hopeless the battle felt. You taught me that we do not give up—not until the enemy carves the final flesh from our bones."
I stared at him, speechless. He tightened his grip slightly.
"It's okay to feel lost. It's okay to feel broken. But you are still our Lord—even in this century, even in this body, some part of you remembers. And I promise you this: you will get your powers back. And when you do, I will teach you to wield them. I'll help you reclaim the sword from the very beginning."
He held my gaze, unwavering.
"And my Lord… don't you ever think of giving up."
My breath caught. I had been wrong about him. He wasn't just some priest wandering through prophecies and war. He was loyal. Fierce. And still believed in me—more than I did.
He began explaining quickly, his voice tight with urgency."We have to reach the location before dawn. There's no time to waste."
"Where are we going?" I asked, standing up straighter.
"To the Capitoline Museum," he said without pause. "Inside it, there's a statue—ancient, cursed, and hidden from the world's eyes. When the first ray of sunlight touches that statue, you must shatter it."
I blinked. "Just like that?"
"No," he corrected sharply. "Not just you. Listen carefully—after the statue is broken, a pendant will emerge, just like the one Nara had. But unlike hers, only you can destroy this one. And you must do it right there, at that exact moment."
His expression hardened. "You'll need to break the pendant using Nara's sword—but not just the blade. Your blood must be mixed with it. Only then will the seal unlock."
I felt a chill crawl down my spine. "My blood?"
He nodded. "The sword was once a part of you. Without your essence, the seal won't recognize you as its rightful wielder. This is the cost of reclaiming your strength."
"When I woke up, I wanted to tell you something, but I forgot… I had a dream. It was strange," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "There was a girl in it… Do you know if, in my past life, I ever met someone with white hair and piercing blue eyes?"
Before I could finish, the ground suddenly trembled beneath us. It wasn't a normal quake—no, this was different. The floor shuddered as though something ancient had stirred, then stopped just as suddenly.
"Don't worry," the priest said calmly, standing up. "It's just Nara. She's building the Blood Dragon Shield around the library—it will keep us hidden for now. Just stay here. I'll check on it and return shortly."
He walked toward a tall bookshelf, gesturing for me to follow. Then he stopped at the corner and touched the wall.
"If something goes wrong, and you feel threatened—go here," he said, pressing his fingers against the stone. "Touch the wall and say the words: You are my creation. The chamber will open. Hide inside, and don't come out until it's safe."
I nodded slowly as he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing in the vast silence.
As he disappeared through the doorway, I whispered to myself,"I hope… I won't become their weakness."