“I remember that book,” Larkin says, pointing at it as I set it on the table. “Fucked up is what that book is.”
“I’m surprised that book is even in this castle,” Silas adds. “My father hated that book.”
As I flip through the pages, terrifying drawings of someone clawing their way from the depths of darkness fill the pages. I can’t help but think of the similarities between myself and this book. As I move toward the back of the book, the images become increasingly disturbing and haunting, but I keep my eyes fixed on the pages.
The book comes to an end, and that’s when I spot it and gasp. A thin piece of paper is wedged into the fold of the book, and had I not been looking, I would have never noticed anything else within the thickness of the spine.
Larkin and Silas’s eyes widen as I carefully remove the folded page from the book. I set the book down and allow my mind a moment to grasp what’s happening. The paper is worn—yellowed and so thin—that I fear a strong gust of wind could rip it in half.
I slowly unfold the paper. Silas and Larkin remain on my sides, hovering over me and watching intensely. I try to steady my trembling hands and take my time making sure I’m as careful as possible.
With the document fully open, I pause for a moment to look at the paper. It’s blank—no words, no Rigils, and nothing that can help us. I hear Silas sigh from behind me, and Larkin places his hand on my shoulder in defeat.
“Maybe she was just speaking out of panic, Briar. Maybe it didn’t mean anything.” Larkin says.
I stare at the paper, hoping something will appear, that something will change, and that this entire thing wasn’t a waste.
“She wouldn’t have said that if she didn’t intend for us to find something, Larkin. I’m not making this up,” I bite back.
Larkin withdraws his hand, allowing me some space. “I don’t believe you are fabricating anything, but perhaps it simply isn’t what we expected.”
Silas moves to the large window and opens the curtains more, allowing more light to shine into the room. I stand with my back to the light and focus on the shadow of my body on the page, unwilling to accept defeat right now.
Think, Briar.
I scan the room with the page still in my hand, but I can’t think. Nothing comes to mind, leaving me back at square one. With a slight shift in my stance, a corner of the paper catches the sun, revealing a subtle change. I squint my eyes, unable to process what I’m seeing. The page starts to glimmer where thesun hits it, so subtly that if you weren’t looking, you would miss it.
Yup, I’ve gone insane.
Silas walks back across the room and comes to my side. He towers over my shoulder and looks down at the slight shimmer in the corner of the paper.
“What the fuck?” he whispers. “Move it into the sun.”
I slowly turn, moving the page completely into the sun spilling into the room. The entire sheet begins to shimmer like thousands of diamonds dancing on water.
My jaw drops open, and the page turns the brightest, glowing gold. I grab it with both hands and slowly lift it toward the window, giving the sun a chance to fully drench it in its golden rays.
Before my eyes, the shape begins to darken in the middle, and small words develop with the help of the sun.
“Gods,” I hear Larkin mumble. “It was warded.”
The words become clearer the longer they’re placed in the sun, and I wait impatiently for everything to develop before reading what it says. An ancient Rigil forms at the center of the page, and excitement floods me. I can’t help but squeal when I see we’ve found it. Yara got the page from the book. I don’t know how, and I probably never will, but she managed to do it.
“That’s the Rigil,” Silas rasps, coming to the same conclusion. “Yara ripped it from the book.”
A large circle accompanied by two others fills the page. Lines and markings fill the space, creating a Rigil unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s a work of art, and I’m in awe of its beauty. There are words written within the largest circle, but it’s nothing I can read. We will need Oak for that.
A few other words begin to appear, and they're in a language I can read—our language. I quickly realize that it’s from Yara. Written on the glowing page is:
Briar,
This symbol is essential for entering the Archives with care. However, the Rigil can only be used once on a single person. Utilize it to acquire the information you seek. If you are reading this, I apologize that things did not go as planned. I look forward to seeing you again one day, my friend.
Yara.
My chest aches, but a sense of calm washes over me. It wasn’t for nothing; this wasn’t all a waste. She did it; she left this world a hero, and I’ll do everything I can to ensure that she is honored once this is over.
“We need Oak to translate what this text says.” I turn to Silas and Larkin.
