Eclipsian Dynasty Pt 02

CHAPTER 4. LIBRARY

Cedric woke up from the noise, pressing closer to his Mother's body.

"Cedric."

Something was calling him. He opened his eyes, feeling emptiness overwhelming his entire body like cold water. What a horrible feeling.

He just realized he was by himself inside the tent. Seraphin wasn't there.

"Cedric." The voice called again. He stood up, glanced around, and grabbed his Moon sword.

"Mum?" he said, leaving the tent and pointing the blade ahead.

The camp was empty. Only the dying glow of a distant fire remained. He walked on, searching. No horses, no wagons, no signs of a fight. Nothing.

Everyone was gone.

"Mum? Elowen? Sir Blunder? Eligh? Anyone?!" He panicked, looking around, confused and desperate. Why was he alone? Why had they left him?

Just then, he saw movement on the other side of the camp.

Moose emerged from the forest—the Forest Spirit. But this time, it was much larger.

Cedric's legs weakened as the red eyes of the beast locked onto him, straight into his soul. Its horns intertwined, forming a twisted circle.

A faint voice reached Cedric's ears. "You are not ready."

A red shadow loomed over the camp. He looked up and saw the moon glowing a vivid red. In an instant, a raging fire began devouring the forest and the camp, obliterating everything in its path.

A chilling scream pierced the air - a primal, horrifying sound.

"No!" Cedric jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat.

"Sweetheart, what's it?" Seraphina knelt beside him, gently soothing his clammy forehead with her hand.

"I..." He could barely utter a word. "Nothing. Just a nightmare, Mum."

"It's okay, don't be afraid. I'm here with you." She pressed his head against her freckled neck, stroked his hair, and kissed Cedric's cheeks. "My dear. It was just a nightmare."

He placed hands on the curves of her waist, feeling her skin, bones, warmth, and the scent of her lush brown warm hair. "I feel better now, Mum. Thank you."

He wanted to drown in her, but at that moment they were interrupted.

Elowen entered the tent and, upon seeing the entire scene, smiled at the corner of her mouth. "Well, well, well."

"What do you want, Elowen?" Seraphina kept stroking Cedric's head.

"Eligh is looking for our Great 18

th

descendant, Mum."

======

"Sometimes, waiting is the key. I've heard that if you pray and meditate long enough to connect with the spirits for a long time, sooner or later, the king himself will fall at your feet." Riley sharpened his dagger, surveying the soldiers sitting nearby.

At that moment, Cedric flopped down right at his feet.

"What do you think about that, Cedric?" Riley grinned. It was as if yesterday's lake incident never happened.

The soldiers chuckled.

"Screw you, psycho. We're not friends." Cedric stood up heavily and raised his sword. There were a few new bruises on his young face.

"Fell again. You haven't learned your lesson on balance." Eligh took another bite of an apple, lowering his silver sword.

"Maybe that's because you never taught me anything! You just keep hitting me like I'm a punching bag. You're probably the worst teacher in all of Eldaria."

"If I have to teach you how to stand on your feet, then you don't deserve to wield a sword, kid," he said, pointing the blade's end at Cedric's hand and knocking the sword out, all while taking another bite of an apple.

"Damn old man." Cedric bent down to pick up the sword, but at that moment Eligh threw the apple right at his head. The prince turned away, narrowly avoiding the fruit. "Hey!"

"Well done. That was your first victory. Never take your eyes off the enemy and always be on guard, even in times of apparent peace."

The soldiers behind Cedric clapped. Elowen, sitting among them, cheered, "Bravo, Prince. Your victory is so impressive."

"No respect." Cedric sighed.

"Lift your sword. We've only just begun." Eligh stepped closer.

Cedric spotted Seraphina standing gracefully by an old oak tree. His mother, leaning casually against the trunk, had her arms crossed with a warm smile as she observed the scene with interest.

I can't afford to embarrass myself, especially when she's watching.

"Why are you standing like a stump? Scared?" Eligh took a step forward and swung the sword.

Cedric quickly moved out of the way and used his sword to stop the next move. Just then Eligh used his free hand to pull Prince down by grabbing his arm, but Cedric stood firm, spread his legs, and pointed the sword at Eligh's chest.

"Not bad." Eligh pushed the prince back.

The soldiers clapped, but not Elowen. Seraphina stood silently, smiling.

Relived, Cedric exhaled, only to be caught off guard as Eligh spat on his back. He tumbled face-first into the mud, with the thick muck invading his eyes, mouth and nose.

"But that's still not enough to defeat the real enemy. Don't get cocky, kid. See you tomorrow."

Struggling to the feet, Cedric grumbled, "He hit me in the back. I can't believe it."

Elowen clapped again, this time by herself. "I'm starting to like Eligh more and more."

Still wiping his eyes, Cedric looked towards the tree, but his mother vanished. He sighed, "I almost managed to make an impression on her."

======

The entire following day Cedric's body ached from the extensive journey and he couldn't shake off the unsettling thoughts from his nightmare. Was it merely a bad dream, or did it carry a message from the Spirit?

As he wearily continued walking, he yearned for the comfort of a warm home, his own cozy bed, and the taste of royal food. "I'm just not cut out for this kind of adventures. Funny, but at least that I no longer dream of the pretty maids from the castle. Their bodies are no comparison to Mum's beauty."

The memories of the previous evening spent by the lake and the intimate kiss they shared were the only things on his mind. It was only these thoughts that propelled him forward.

I can't let her think that I'm weak. It's all so wrong, but I can't help it.

"We'll reach the library in a few hours, Prince." Blunder walked beside him.

"I hope we'll deal with it as fast as we can, and return home. I'm so tired." Cedric adjusted the backpack, barely feeling his shoulders.

"Your mother mentioned you had a nightmare. Is it somehow related to our quest? What if spirits are trying to say something? Maybe we should ask Riley?"

"Riley?" Cedric glanced at the white-haired soldier up ahead. "No, it was just a nightmare. Can we even trust this guy, Lord Blunder?"

"Can we trust Riley?" Blunder stroked his beard, glancing at the soldier. "I found him in the woods many winters ago when he was just a kid. He couldn't explain why he was there or where his parents were. Since that time he followed me everywhere. Riley has a good understanding of supernatural things. I don't know how, but he knows stuff. He might seem a bit odd, I understand that, but I trust him as much as I trust myself."

"I see," Cedric nodded, looking around for Seraphina. "Do you mind if I ask you how's my Mother? It seems like you catch up with her more than I do. She keeps avoiding me most of the time."

Blunder smiled. "She keeps asking about you all the time. Your mother is a strong woman. She can take care of herself in a camp filled mostly with men. Like you, she finds it challenging to be away from home for so long after years of royal life. She misses your father, but you should give her some time. She'll feel better."

"Yeah, you're probably right. Thank you, Lord. For everything."

Elias smiled through the bush beard and slightly bowed the head.

Cedric moved ahead and spotted Seraphina near one of the wagons, noticing how some soldiers were giving her admiring looks. It hadn't crossed his mind that others might find his Mother attractive, besides him.

"Mum?"

"Cedric? Why are you here?" She leaned, and he felt her warm breath on his neck. "Do you want Lord Blunder's people to see you walking alongside your Mother?"

"I don't care, Mum, about what they think of me or us. Is that why you've been avoiding me again? Trying to make sure Blunder's people don't think less of me?"

"What? Me? Avoiding you? Nonsense. Of course, I'm not avoiding you!" she blushed. "I was at your training this morning, remember? You fought well."

"Not well enough. I still ended up face-down in the mud. Was Dad not good at fighting when he was young too?"

"No, he was the best fighter I ever knew." She smiled.

"Yeah, right. Of course, he was." Cedric frowned and then turned around.

He saw Elowen nearby, who was eavesdropping on their talk. She was hiding behind a wagon, and Cedric pretended not to see her.

"Are you still missing Dad, Mum?"

"No, I'm doing better now. We had a good time together yesterday; it cheered me up a bit. Thank you," she said, looking at the road, deep in thought. Red and black roses grew at the edge of the road. "But you know, it's the end of summer. When we first met around this time of year, your dad gave me Black Briars flowers. Every year since then, he's given them to me to remember the day we met. Arik said I was like them—beautiful yet hard to approach." She smiled, remembering the past fondly.

"And where do these Briars grow?"

"Hmm? Honestly, I'm not sure. It's a secret only your dad knew," she said, placing her hand on his shoulder. "You can ask him yourself when we get home. I hope that when we stop the Eclipse, we'll be together again, and he'll give me one once more."

"Yeah... I hope so." Cedric frowned again and thought. "Would it comfort her if I gave her one of these flowers?"

They left the forest and saw a big old castle-like building on a hill in a valley. The Archi-Library looked like it reached the sky with its tall, slim towers. Big columns with pictures of symbols and runes stood near the entrance. There was a long staircase from the library down to a little village at the bottom of the hill.

"Looks majestic," Cedric said.

Seraphina gently stroked her son's head. "We are finally here, dear."

"Don't celebrate too soon," Elowen chimed in, appearing out of nowhere. "What if Dad sent assassins? A few of them could have reached the library faster than our large group and camp!"

"Your daughter is right, my queen," Blunder added. "Let's be cautious and keep an eye on the prince."

"Could my father really send assassins to kill me?"

"Of course not, Cedric. How can you even say this? Your father would never give such an order." Seraphina patted his shoulder.

"We can't be sure. Come on, we should be allowed through the valley," Blunder declared.

"I hope he did send assassins." Elowen smiled.

"Not funny."

=====

When they got closer to the Library, Cedric saw lots of women talking quietly and looking at their group, especially at him. Some of the women were young, and some were older. All of them wore unique clothes with symbols he couldn't understand, and they were all really pretty, both the young and the older ones.

"Shut your mouth; bugs might fly in," Elowen teased, giving him a pat on the back.

"Very funny. Why are you so nosy, sissy? Why are you spying on me and Mum?"

"Me? Spying? You're the funny one. You see what you want to see. Bye, dummy. Also don't call me sissy!" She walked forward, going up to Sir Blunder, and hooked her arm through his. Blunder awkwardly went along, not sure how to handle the princess's teasing.

"We should have left her at the castle."

They kept walking, moving right through the village. There were more and more village women along the way.

He suddenly realized. "I don't see any men."

"That's because men aren't allowed here, as per the Library rules," Seraphina said. "Blunder sent a messenger ahead to announce the Eclipsian Prince's arrival. If he hadn't, their guards would have stopped us at the valley entrance. The last time someone of royal blood visited the Library happened 22 years ago when your father..." She stopped and coughed. "Well, It doesn't matter right now."

"So, the Library is led by women?"

"Not just any women, but the Exarchs of Wisdom. They're born in the valley; they don't marry men because they are responsible for maintaining the library's integrity and gathering new knowledge. All of them are descendants of this place's founders, Laurence and Eldoran."

"This is weird. How do new women show up here if they don't let men in? How do they have babies?" Cedric scratched his head.

"Seriously, Cedric? Out of all the wonderful things here, that's what you're curious about? Let's focus on our mission, shall we?" Seraphina sighed clearly disappointed. She pulled her hood and walked ahead, closer to Elowen and Blunder.

"What did I say wrong? I think that's a pretty important question," he mumbled, glancing at the village women. Some had tattoos on their faces, while others didn't.

The wagons and horses stopped near a village, on a big meadow by the river.

"They will settle in while we're inside. I've already entrusted Riley with making a camp for us. He knows what to do. Let's go," Blunder, Seraphina, and Cedric headed up the long staircase.

"Hey, hey, hey! What about me?" Elowen stopped at the very bottom of the stairs.

"You stay here and help others settle the camp, get to know some of the village girls. Maybe that way you'll refine your manners and present yourself more like a proper lady, Elowen." Seraphina turned gracefully and ascended the steps, delicately lifting her dress.

"What do you mean? Am I not ladylike enough for you, Mother?" Elowen retorted, kicking the grass in frustration.

"I agree, Mum. She looks and acts more like a street thief than a princess," Cedric giggled, but Seraphina shot him a disapproving glare, sniffing disdainfully.

The very moment they entered the valley, his Mum started acting odd. She visibly got more and more nervous as they got closer to the library.

"Sorry for my words. You okay, Mum?"

"Yes, I'm fine. Your sister can just be a pain in the neck sometimes. Sorry for that." Seraphina smiled, nervously rubbing the ends of the green road dress.

"So you wouldn't mind if I ask again how exactly do new women come to be here in the valley?"

Seraphina let out another sigh, her bosom subtly rising beneath the dress. "Really, you're interested in that?"

He nodded.

"Very well. Distinguished guests and important visitors often come to this valley, much like we are now. Exarchs women seize the opportunity when the guest is occupied in the library during the day - they approach him, requesting permission for a couple of girls to conceive at night. The Supreme Exarchy herself selects these girls for this specific purpose."

"Oh, wow," Cedric said and stopped, eyes widening. "So, theoretically, I could..." He turned back; from this height, there was a breathtaking view of the entire valley and village.

Seraphina grabbed his hand like a jealous girl and pulled her son along. "We're not here for that, Cedric! Don't forget about our mission!

We have to prevent the Eclipse

!"

"Okay, okay, Mum," Cedric relented, hearing a rough chuckle from Blunder, who was leading the way.

"Have you been here before, Lord?" Cedric looked at his wide back.

"Yes, I have." Cedric could tell by the voice that Blunder was smiling.

"Let's stay focused on our goal." His mother's frustration continued to mount.

"What if a boy is born in the process? " Cedric pressed on.

"Then he is sent to the outside world to father as many daughters as possible. End of discussion. I've forgotten how long these steps are. Ugh."

As they reached the summit, five women in elegant blue cloaks welcomed them. Each woman, around 30 years old, bore tattooed patterns on their faces. The cloaks, billowing in the breeze, hid their figures, though Cedric glimpsed the outline of swords hanging from their belts.

Good thing he had his own sword with him. He now always carried it, as Eligh told him.

"Welcome, Brother Blunder. Welcome, Sister Seraphina Astral Weaver. And of course, Welcome, Prince of the Eclipsian Dynasty. On behalf of the Exarchs of Wisdom - Welcome to the Archi-Library."

"Hello, Exarchs of Wisdom. We are here to enter Archi-Library to seek answers on how to stop the Cosmic Eclipse." Blunder stepped forward.

"I'm afraid that's impossible, Brother Blunder," the main one among them spoke. "A messenger from King Arik visited us a few days ago. Our ruler has forbidden the Prince from entering the library, as well as anyone accompanying him."

"Right. Why send assassins when, as a king, you can simply deny us access." Blunder turned to his companions.

Seraphina stood in contemplative silence, her hands folded as she gazed out over the picturesque valley. The breeze played with her voluminous brown hair.

She looked so gorgeous.

I wish I could kiss Mum again.

She turned around and moved toward the group of women, causing Blunder to take a step back.

"I am the sole descendant of Magister Leronse," she rolled up her sleeve to reveal a tattoo on her forearm. "Perhaps you are too young to recognize me. I, along with my companions, possess the privilege to access the library without needing the king's will."

The women examined the tattoo closely. Two of them, positioned at the library entrance, promptly opened the door and vanished inside, leaving the others in thoughtful silence.

Seraphina lowered her sleeve. "Now, we wait."

Blunder, surprised, remarked, "Lady, I had no idea you were related to the Exarchs, especially that you were a descendant of Leronse."

"Now you know, and I trust you to keep it a secret, Lord Blunder," she said.

"Who is this Leronse?" Cedric thought and then said. "So you are one of them? Didn't you say that Exarchs don't marry men but live in the valley, guarding the library?"

"Yes. And as I told you on the road, I was hard to approach. I was a very elusive woman. Very elusive."

The doors finally opened.

"Welcome to the Library, Sister Seraphina. You and your companions may enter," said one of the women. The others parted, allowing them inside.

"Well, it's about time," Blunder exclaimed as he entered first.

Inside, they encountered a vast vestibule with high ceilings and shimmering lights. Massive polished marble columns supported galleries on different levels, each adorned with shelves holding tens and hundreds of thousands of ancient scrolls, books, and manuscripts. Along the passages, glass display cases showcased artifacts, relics, and antique maps, providing a glimpse into the centuries of accumulated knowledge.

In the depths of the library, behind tall doors and arched doorways, were special areas: rooms with mirrored walls for meditation and laboratories for alchemical experiments.

In the middle of the vestibule, there was a black woman covered in tattoos on her face, arms, neck, and chest. She was sitting and writing in a book.

Seraphina whispered, "That's Supreme Exarchy. We will talk, you just listen."

"Welcome Home, Sister Seraphina. Wasn't expecting you here again so soon," said the woman with a mean smile as they got closer.

Cedric noticed that her eyes were coal black, as if tattoos had been applied directly to her eyeballs.

Blunder stepped forward.

"Greetings, Supreme Exarchy. We are here to..."

"I wasn't talking to you."

"I don't want to talk about the past. We seek answers on how to stop the Cosmic Eclipse, Sister," Seraphina said.

"I'm aware of the prophecy for we wrote it. But what assurance is there that the Eclipse can be prevented? Life and history show us that some things are meant to happen."

"With all due respect, I don't agree. Unlike you, we won't just wait around for the end of the world," Seraphina replied.

"You are as stubborn as always. Suit yourself," the Exarchy said, searching for something with ebony eyes. "And where is the 18th descendant?"