Chapter 59: The Fragment

The libraries of Anteris' mansion were amongst the strangest and most convoluted that Kothar had seen. He had seen many magical and enchanted places during his time on Eclat, but the mansion was by far the strangest.

There were haphazard runes places on every corner, and when Kothar looked for flows of mana, there were ridiculous flows of mana in every corner he looked, seeming to serve no function at all, but then suddenly swirling and shifting, and a cool breeze would flow through the corridor, or a tinkle of ethereal music.

The books were organized in order of how recently the Dukes of Newport had pilfered them from whichever ship was unfortunate enough to sail their waters without paying the toll, and amongst them strange treasures were scattered, which Duke Anteris had permitted Kothar the use of.

Kothar continued on, deep into the library, going up ladders that looked as if they led to attics, but opened up into vast galleries. Whoever the architect was of the mansion, he must have been somewhat mad, as the building didn't follow any reasonable order/

If there was any consistency in the structure of the mansion, it would be that wherever one went, they would inevitably be surprised by what they found next. It reminded Kothar of the puzzle houses that some of the wealthy residents of Garden would build, to puzzle their friends and entertain their children.

The depths, or more accurately the heights of the library, as Kothar had climbed various ladders, staircases and even a column made of rock to get there, were lit by an eerie green light,

The crystal set at regular intervals on the wall seemed to be the predecessors of the mana crystal lamps that were commonplace around the world, and the tarnish on the brass housings indicated their age.

Many strange books lined the shelves, every single one covered in different kinds of old scripts.

[How long has Newport existed? I know the Phintus federation was established during the war with the Southern Tribes, but some of these things seems ancient.] Kothar asked Silane, as he picked up a vase that held a dried up flower, which crumbled into dust as soon as it was disturbed.

[There wasn't much information in the history books you read with Simon, only that Newport was established after a great war with the beasts of the Fidour mountains, and the Duke was rewarded with this territory.] Silane answered Kothar, superimposing copies of the texts he had read.

[What would I do without you?] Kothar responded as he summoned a buzzing ball of lightning, to better illuminate the shelves.

A thin red book caught Kothar's attention, the red leather exuded a faint warmth, and when kothar removed it from the shelf, it seemed to hum with energy.

Strange glyphs were on the cover, inlaid in gold leaf.

[Think you can translate that Silane?] Kothar asked, running his fingers along the bumpy leather of the cover.

[Already on it. 'A Tentative History of the Fragment. By Artus.'] Silane paused.

[Kothar. This could give us some more clues about the world. This is big.] She added.

[Yeah, let's read it then.] Kothar moved under one of the sickly green lamps, and took a seat on a crate underneath.

'Chapter One- The Fragment'

'After my many travels, I have reason to believe that the world we live on is merely the fragment of one that is much larger, separated by a thin veil, that one with sufficient power or magic may pierce and find oneself in an entirely new realm.

However, I was not always such a capable individual, amongst my early travels on this great isle, home to many kingdoms, I found a strange item, it allowed me to gain this great insight and only further kindled my great urge to explore.

My horizons were broadened, and I learned of the mighty beings that truly decide the fates of entire worlds like our own, seeking them out like grains of gold amongst a mountain of sand, looking for those which hold life with some sentience, and then claiming them as their own.

One must take great care when exploring the various fragments, for most of these beings are ancient, and the life of a man such as myself was as the life of an ant was to me.

Only my quick wit and knowledge of myriad things on 'Eclat' (Tis the name for our fragment.) kept me alive…' The book continued on, but Kothar paused, he felt the same kind of resonance that he had felt before, with the Skysteel but this resonance was with his spatial mana.

He found the resonance emanating from a small alcove nestled next to the shelf he had found the book in. In it lay a small ebony box, engraved with the same glyphs on the cover of the red book.

'The Storage Artifact' The box read. Kothar reached out and flicked it open, it opened with a soft 'click'.

Within, lay a diamond shaped stone, with a deepbalck color, that cucked the light away from all around it.

[I don't like this Kotrhar, this seems too convenient, first the book and then the articicat is right next to it.]

[Come on, what's the worst thing that he could have stored inside.] Kothar scoffed at Silane and channeled his spatial mana into the stone.

"Oh ****" Kothar said out loud, as his mana began to flow uncontrollably into the stone, and he watched in horror as a large purple portal opened beneath him.

[Oh **** indeed, nice one Kothar.] Silane said dryly, as they fell into the portal.