Chapter Nineteen

Confused, Leila licked her red lips and immediately her eyes turned white. While her body stood still, she spiritually escaped the presence of everybody around to check how close the bad guys were to their shores. Actually, witches like her were wolves and could transform at any point they deem appropriate. But in this case, Leila had transformed her soul instead of her whole body. Wolfing her way out of her body, she sped toward the wizard collectors who were coming to fetch Walain. They were floating calmly probably in a bid not to arouse suspicion. Of course, they sure knew Walain would defend himself with the help of friends he might have made. And they weren’t prepared to go back to Jergeg defeated. Filled with shock at their numbers, she scooted back to reality and heaved a heavy sigh that drew the attention of Delaney and the others.

“Jergeg, they are about 200 and armed to the teeth. We’ve got to make positions and be made up.”

Leila breathed. Delaney ousted his fears and cast a final glance at Paige Granger who was by the way, at extreme ease as if nothing had ensued. Undoubtedly the most boisterous hour of the day was about to make manifest and nobody but Paige Granger was indifferent at that. Berkoff was already watching to the security cameras he had earlier set to spot how they breach the parameter.

            But one thing bothered Berkoff; he had been cogitating on that particular thought for eons and seemed unable to realize a comprehensible conclusion. Jergeg was a wizarding world and all fellows in that world obviously should have immense magical powers with which to execute whatsoever their respective wishes may spell out. But what Berkoff could not make out was why the Amassers of Jergeg would request a hand from the agency, Blarders in order to take them. Where were their powers? Couldn’t they do it all on their own. And instead of coming on the attack with the use of magic, why should they use a physical transport system when they could just land at Delaney’s apartment with a single cast of a spell. One may never know what they may be up to.

            Delaney conjured a gnome with a spell and an associated gesture of his right hand. A small figure appeared; he was very old in terms of age and he had a long white beard. Above all he was hunchbacked and wore a cursory smile on his face that made Delaney sneeze affectionately. He handed over a bunch of magic wands to Delaney, took silent bow and vanished into the ground. Actually such gnomes, as they are called, are normally assigned to guard great volumes of treasure underground and evidently, Delaney had got a story of enormous wealth to tell.

            Delaney gave out the wands to Martheu who further spread them out the others who did not have magic. Delaney had a distinct mechanism of helping some Lermils apply the powers of the wand though there were not wizards. And that was exactly what he was doing.

            A few enchanted weapons were at hand and some potions that were prepared were also going to be used as weapons just in case the fight turns out to be incredibly terrible. Walain was unmistakably aware of the mode of Jergeg’s skills in fighting and he had taken the brilliant opportunity to educate all of them gathered; of course, except Paige Granger.

            Erhan had a strange feeling that she was responsible for all that was happening and all that were to happen. Had she not sent Walain on that operation to make away with the Azkamort goblet for the spell book, Delaney would have had nothing to do with him and the fight would also not have been necessary. By the time Erhan could tell why Paige was wearing a smirk on her face, she was casting a spell. The whole hall transformed into something one cannot easily apprehend, something weird, something unruly, something Drakeizar oftentimes do…

Most unexpectedly everything made of glass in the building exploded into bits. While everyone scorched for escape, Mrs. Granger floated above ground still maintaining her cursed spell. Erhan had earrings with glass holdings on them and undoubtedly they were not spared from the horrid aftermath of the stinging spell Paige cast. For a moment Leila Hagridar arrived at a precipitate conclusion assuming Paige have already been able to access the Azkamort spell book. She believed such an advanced spell could only be found in the book. And even at that time she still had the goblet with her in an enchanted vault. Founded on a wise counsel Delaney offered, she opted to have eleven goblins guard the vault so as not to allow any indiscriminate entrances to the goblet. Those goblins were actually from the Chamber of Worlg. It was a sacred chamber intended to be handled by the capable; besides it was also stationed in the Penson Sea. Such a sorcerous Sea huh?

Mrs. Granger continued with her sorcery, causing great obliteration in the house of Delaney. At that point there was nowhere they could run to because the most expected thing had happened. The amassers of Jergeg were already breaching their parameter, making their way to vantage points to attack and retrieve their fugitive as effectively as possible. Jergeg, with its 200 demons started to morph into Hurfs. Hurfs in the sorcery world of Deruthe in Zaccrota were unruly creatures that bore the features of both owls and crows. Sordidly telling, they had three eyes; two at the usual designated points and the last on their forehead, just sitting above the two.

Leila Hagridar figured they were changing forms so as to grant them the ease of accessing very small passages leading to the inside of the house. And now that Paige had destroyed the glass windows, they had a brighter chance of invading the parameter. Funny enough, she was still progressing with her chants and this time she was trying to set fire onto the doors of the house. She never stopped gibbering various invocations and the effects were incredible to say the least.

There was a long moment of silence after the clutters of broken glasses came to a cease. The whole place looked dead and even the Hurfs of Jergeg were silent which meant they were on a patient wait for the improprieties to fall dead too into non-existence. By the time all was quite cool, Paige had already succeeded with her spell. The doors were burning away with not even an inch of affection for Delaney’s crew.   

Walain, whose eyes had been shut under the aegis of fear, opened his eyes and saw that Delaney was just kneeling by his side waiting for the right time to strike. Walain tugged hard on his sleeve.

“Delaney! Does Paige know what she is doing to us? If she continues to make spells against us I bet we are bound to lose.”

“I don’t know, Walain. But if she can continue to cast these spells, we’ll know she has got an affiliation with Drakeizar. Paige was never thought these things for all I know.”

Delaney replied.

“From the center of the seven pointed stars, comes the Hurf of Worlg and the wrath Vol Hox! Rabidus Sanctumex!”

Leila decided that keeping still was only causing a climb of Paige’s supposed superiority. She in consequence cast a horrid spell on her to if possible, keep her bound and incapacitated for a long time. As Leila finished with her spell, a purple fire flared and arced to her direction where she remained oblivious to what was actually coming her way. She was so engrossed in making spells to extirpate the whole of the crew in the building in a bid to enact her revenge on Delaney for refusing her the chance of grabbing the goblet of Azkamort.

By virtue of the power of the spell, Paige fell to the ground halting her chants and malice.

“You, as challenged, have the privilege to make a last wish for the love I have for your son, Caulin, before I draw away your last breath.”

Leila said, floating to her side and glaring at her with all the hatred and abhorrence she as in store. Her eyes widened a bit when Paige Granger feigned painlessness in the fall and declined the privilege of a last wish. But perhaps, Paige had actually imagined such a move from Leila knowing undoubtedly well that she had had access into the Azkamort spell book while she hadn’t. For a moment Paige said nothing but kept her facial expression of pretense.

            Leila nodded acceptance without a single utter of a word and stretched out her graceful hands before her, palms clasped. Murmuring some unintelligible syllables she then drew her hands apart, and a square of purple flames could be seen hovering delightedly in mid-air.

            Leila’s dream of terminating the life of Paige was almost a reality when the Hurfs of Jergeg made their way into the large hall. Birds flying in all directions and immediately their feet touched the ground they were transformed back into the wizards they really were. Without having to contemplate twice it was evident Walain was wallowing in great fear and introspection; knowing the purpose of the presence of Jergeg’s versatile amassers.

            At this time almost all the Hurfs had landed on the ground and and the entire team of Delaney’s were trying to do the best they thought was best with their wands.

“Let this white silly amasser turn into a cat!”

Delaney was sure he heard one of his men say expectantly, waving the wand in the direction of an amasser. He smiled and gestured with a finger and the dude of Delaney’s was already hanging aloft; his voice terribly shaky and undetermined. With eyes cast pleadingly on the amasser, he could hear his veins raging under the strong influence of his fear. And then suddenly, just as expected, Delaney heard the man’s bones break within him. He breathed and drew his already ruined concentration to Mrs. Granger who was evidently was on the side Blarders and Jergeg.

            About to pursue the amasser of Jergeg, Delaney felt almost an uncontrollable urge to yawn – and even winced in the middle of it, as the horrid amasser continued with his annoying work with the man having the broken bones. Before Del could undo the yawn, the amasser had left the lifeless body onto the ground. Walain’s heart leaped. He was almost getting afraid to death but could not perform any magic due to the fact that Del had made him powerless at Leila’s apartment, in his bid to grab the goblet of Azkamort. Delaney, fortunately being close to Walain read the message on his piteous face and took a quick action to counteract any possible capture of Walain.

“Hey young wizard, don’t try to mess up at all. Close your eyes and imagine yourself somewhere else in a better place. Detach yourself from your discomfort and fears.”

Delaney admonished.

“Think about something else, feel like you’ve already won the battle and all will be well.”

Delaney said softly, brushing a few broken glasses off his dark long hair. Those incredibly silvery eyes he had gently caught hold of Walain’s and seemed to instill some strength in him. Breathing hugely, Walain obeyed his word and found that the discomfort did diminish. When he came back to his senses again the amasser who just killed one of theirs was gone from his sight.

The morning was quite tender and the Gore Trio was still on their seemingly never ending treadmill of having to grab a hold of Lord Stag’s book on Gnome Thrones. Ariadne, figuring the boys hadn’t yet been successful with the search, felt inclined on still persisting with her strategy of delaying Professor Grave’s presence in the seemingly haunted Library. She cast around the area thoughtfully trying to arrive at the most convincing factor that will thrive in keeping Lord Grave away from the Library at least for a few more minutes.

“It seems you’ve got a lot to do with me don’t ya?”

Lord Grave, as he is mostly called when away from Gramway School, said. The old man nodded almost as if he had been aware of Ariadne’s inner dialogue pertaining to the two boys engrossed with their adventurous expedition for the gnome throngs. But his blue eyes were kindly unthreatening as they gazed across the long distance between them and the Library. When Ariadne did not speak, Lord Grave raised a white eyebrow and made mild clucking sounds with his old tongue.

“So young lady Ariadne, now that I do think of it, I’ve not seen you in or around this Library in many months. Did you just come to tell me of the mysterious things you saw? I should have thought you would try to discover the truth about all this on your own to feel like a heroine. I suppose that’s what you youngsters of today do.”

Ariadne hung her head. It was obvious the old man was starting to be inquisitive. And the thought of risking Lord Grave’s awareness of Caulin and Jess’ perilous expedition made her stomach queasy.

“Not all young people love to win glories and crowns. Most like me are more into curing injustice with justice than the aforementioned.”

She whispered.

“Ah, I see,”

The old man said, after a slight pause.

“And I bet you would do anything to prevent any misfortunes on this wizarding world than to let parochial interests manifest in it. Are you already feeling the weight of your coming responsibility?”

Ariadne said nothing. If only it were that simple. With two good hands Ariadne analyzed how bad it will be to reveal their plans to the old man. He quite sounded trustworthy to her and his earlier mention of protecting the realm of Deruthe aggravated her want to spill it all. But a distinct recollection of how Caulin had been emphatic on keeping their feat discreet dawned on her. She punked out of the thought as simple as she could afford.

            Caulin threw books apart and by the time he commenced to think about it, the whole office was in ruins especially the desk of Lord Grave. For a moment he wanted to fetch the gnome throngs with magic but the rumors of the Library been haunted kept him incapacitated. He believed that should he apply magic, Professor Grave would come to know about it and that will collapse their bid to stop the menace of Professor Shade Quist who allegedly dined sporadically with the deathly wizard, The Escapee Magrid, also Drakeizar.

            Jess managed to wipe some sweat off his face but brimmed with exuberance when his calm eyes rested on the book for which he had to risk his ass to come to the Library at a forbidden hour.

“Caulin, Caulin…Look Caulin look, I found the book!”

Jesi announced elatedly.

“Have you?”

Caulin requested.

“Let’s take a look.”

Jess said. Caulin made his steps quickly to Jesi’s end and breathed anxiously…Swallowing with a measure of difficulty, a resultant of the strenuous search, he turned his gaze to the pile of mess he with Jesi had created and saturated with exasperation, gibbered,

“You are unbelievable! What you have there is not Gnome Thrones, but Game of Thrones! Anyway, put it safe it might be of help.”

He had said. Jesi heeded and resigned to a valiant continuation of the search. Ariadne and Lord Grave were closer to the Library now and her uneasiness was astronomically heightening.

“What if I told you I was a witch, would you believe me, Lord Grave?”

Ariadne raised, trying to cause a considerable delay.

“And are you?”

He stopped and asked.

“I request you to answer to my demand first.”

She added.

“I believe a man’s beliefs is only valid on his wits so trust me, after hearing all you told me about your find outs, I wouldn’t in my right senses be quick to believe you are.”

He said and continued to move.

“But wait a minute,”

Adne called out.

“What about you, are you part of the league of Wizards of the realm? Are a Wizard?”

She opted.

“My lady, I have been many things. But now, I am what you see.”

He said without stopping or looking at her.

“And have you ever been a prisoner Magridinol?”

She asked after him. Stopping to look back at her he said,

“You know what, my lady? Sometimes I worry you are too smart for your own good.”

Having said that, he entered headfirst into the Library. Strangely he noticed a slight change in there. Undoubtedly he knew every bit of the Library better than he knew any part of Zaccrota. He had been the owner of that Library since he was eleven, and now that he had assumed ninety and one, it was no amazement to realize that his road of specialization would certainly be in the Library.

            Unfortunately this time around the wits of Ariadne couldn’t plot any other plan to pin the old master down. It already seemed that he was tired of talking and earnestly yearned for rest. But not having to rack brains, it could be arrived at that he wouldn’t be able to afford a restful entrance into the Library telling by the uncanny intrusion of two of the Gore Trio.

            The two boys, entirely oblivious to the fact that the grand master of the Library was already in the main section, progressed to relentlessly search for the gnome throngs. However, Caulin kept safe the Game of Thrones with the fore-knowledge of its possible usefulness. Now Lord Grave was starting to believe what Ariadne had said about men maneuvering their asses into the Library for the stone of Rumvolt. But quite contradictorily, it was still day time and no one in his right measure of wits would risk trying to unravel the whodunits of the stone of Rumvolt at day time. Lord Grave suddenly became fearfully self-centered at the main Library and just at the time, Ariadne made her way in with an expression that exuded a bunch of untold innocence.

            Well, the game had to be over any moment and Ariadne wanted to tell the grand master all about why she came and why the Library looked invaded. But only when she was up to speak was when the kids; Elaina the good, Kareem the naughty, Greyworm the unworthy and Baelor the Blessed. They had been on a frantic search of whatsoever Bruno the fat black cat had run away from. A few weeks ago, Lord Grave could distinctly recall commanding the four tender ones to stay their tight asses away from the Library and was surprised to see them evidently going against his word.

            Despite the fact that he was starting to share his good vision with old age he could still tell when the kids were peering around the Library. Feeling perturbed about their divine rowdiness, he cast a gaze at them that asked them out.

“Grand master you don’t understand. There is someone around here, you really need to believe me sire.”

Elaina said, quite certain about the source of her words.

“For now I would not dare deny your little hypothesis young princess. I shall see what to make of it. Nevertheless, I had commanded you not to come in here in my absence, Baelor. Why did you of all disobey my word?”

He asked, turning to a young boy of about Caulin’s age.

“I never willed to do contrary to your word Lord Grave. I only could draw a great deal of truthfulness and fear from little Elaina’s many grunting. I could do less to resist, forgive me and the others grand master.”

Baelor the blessed said apologetically.

“Aye-how respectful of you to say that.”

Professor Grave uttered and gestured a hand signaling them to vacate the Library. Baelor and the other two boys; Greyworm and Kareem took a gently exit except of Elaina whom everyone called the princess, owing to her distinct affinity for acting like one. She looked disappointed and disillusioned at the same time. Ariadne could read that from her six year old eyes that she suspected a rowdy invasion from only the gods knew who.

“Lord Grave, I swear by the gods that there has been someone sneaking around the store today, this morning. I remember my Uncle, Sir Axel telling me never to ignore anything suspicious otherwise it might come to haunt me later. So you should believe me.”

She said calmly.

“What do you know about the gods?”

Lord Grave demanded casually, still with old eyes surveying the Library. And of course, Ariadne had every single right in the realm of Deruthe to be nervous, and so was she. She never could cease drawing deep profound breaths and sighs. Elaina blinked.

“I read about the eleven pointed star with the black eye and the birthmark on it in the center.”

She said faintly. Ariadne recalled spotting such a star with its distinct descriptions on Caulin’s body when he was once changing his shirts. Not so sure about it, she dismissed the thought of Caulin possibly being a god.

“Lies and fables you read about little Princess Elaina. There are but two gods. And it’s a pity you are too young and tame to know about them. Go to your mom, I bet she requests your presence.”

“How about the Shadow Leviathans destroyed by the gods behind the Screaming Fallow of ash and bone?”

Elaina asked.

“You sure have a lot of questions don’t you? So did me when I was child. I was much like you, only I wasn’t a girl and a princess.”

“And you didn’t have to toil for the attention of adults.”

She said.

“No, but I suffered a great deal in many other ways. Sweet girl, believe me.”

“You adjure me to believe you but you hardly ever believe me, grand master.”

“Elaina the good, you may excuse me now for I just realized you are been to too outspoken for your age. That is good but it may put you in danger that Mrs. Gilrae, you mom cannot extricate you.”

Lord Grave said and looked to Ariadne who was closely observing the spectacle. She only feared Professor Grave would find difficulty sharing in her trust once again after he realized she was part of the grand plan to steal the gnome throngs from his office in his absence. Anyway, the boys hadn’t yet gotten the hint of Lord Grave’s presence yet and they had taken no counter measure to at least escape his sight with magic. For that reason they still ignorantly ravaged the office in a great desperation. Miss Rooney was by this time prepared for the worse and a huge deduction made from the Division. She could imagine the other students in her Division yelling and barking at her even as she stood near Lord who was still taking all notices of the changes in the Library.

She also knew that should Professor Dunotdare come to be aware of their outrageous act it could even lead to their expulsion from Gramway. Not wanting to risk losing admission at such and early time, she had to do something to assuage the incoming rage of Lord Grave things got outta hand.

“Lord Grave, do you sometimes allow your emotions to overrule your thinking? I ask to find out if you will accord punishment to a fellow who has the good of all at heart but will have to break a few rules to allow that good prevail.”

“You amaze me indeed, my lady. You teenagers have an awesome scope of imagination. What are you thinking, is there something you feel I should know?”

He demanded awkwardly. Adne cast a sideways glance at him and for a moment could not even know what to say.

“You may proceed, my Lord,”

“Many do call me Lord Grave but hardly do they address me as My Lord. You are nervous of something right. Be free to let go of it in my name.”

He admonished.

“Yes, Sir Grave,”

She said.

“Very well, I will listen to you in my office. Come with me will you?”

He said, and this time Adne was certain the game was over. She could swear they were in a big shit, but…