Chapter 30: The Grand Archives

He breathed a sigh of relief as they entered the door together. Belial smiled at him, and offered her Grimoire to him. He took it and looked at her with wide eyes before he began to read it. She moved through what seemed like a large library.

"This is the Grand Archives, also known as the Domain of Knowledge. Time is of the essence, unfortunately so I can't introduce you to everyone in depth, aside from myself and Vaaz. Vaaz, the Sage of History and I, the Grand Witch. You will learn from us both to overtake and eclipse the snake, Ouroboros."

As she walked through the Grand Archives, her wooden staff clicked along the ground before they reached a room. Well, it seemed to be more like a chamber of sorts. She smiled as she offered for him to sit down.

"I will be teaching you more than anything. It's to my understanding that you'd awakened as a Sovereign? The King is quite peculiar, I'm afraid. Normally it'd take thousands, and thousands of years, but due to a mixture between her carefully guiding you, and an amalgamation of your gifts, given at birth, you were able to breeze through the process. I hate to say it, but this is where the process will slow to a crawl for you. No more ascensions to be had here. Maybe if your mother were to step in, that could change?"

She'd wink as she said this before placing a book in front of Iskatl. The book opened on its own and flipped to a page before she pressed her staff against his forehead.

"Demonic Awakening forced. Hellfire Resonance unlocked. Hell Serpent genes seem to be clinging to this awakening. Proceed? Magma Resonance unlocked. Grace: Obsidian Chains awakened."

The Reliquary did as it tended to do, yapping directly in his ear, as he felt his horn throb, and his scales follow in turn as his body was swathed in fire. Belial walked around the table, and the book turned to a separate page, and she pressed her staff against his forehead yet again.

"Worldly Aspect: Core of the World enhanced. Free use enabled. Equalizer Trait awakened."

The Reliquary continued, as Belial smiled softly.

"Reliquary, hon. You need not speak so often. He already knows what is happening, though I appreciate the help."

He tilted his head.

"Wait, you can -?"

"It is magic, and it exists within my domain so of course I can hear it, and it me."

The Reliquary fell silent as Belial waved her hand, three more books in front of the table before him.

"Read these whilst I fetch Vaaz, Lord Iskatl."

At that, the Witch disappeared and Iskatl sighed softly. A book on Singularities, one on the Draco War, and one on World Serpents. He flipped through the World Serpent book first. It felt like his body was absorbing the knowledge before he could even read what was on the page. It felt odd.

World Serpents. There were 7, and they all came from the Destruction God, Ouroboros. A snake born from the Abyss which created the Abyss. There was Vyarra the Hell Serpent, Vala the Forest Serpent, the Abyss Serpent with no name, and the Oceanic Serpent. There was surprisingly no information on the other three. No specific information on the four mentioned. World Serpents existed to devour parts of the world when Ouroboros awakened, and then be devoured by Ouroboros in turn. They had potent magical eyes, and scales which adapted to make life more comfortable for them.

He'd nod as he turned a few more pages, his body absorbing the knowledge.

Velika was said to be a reawakening of Ouroboros; an amalgamation of draconic traits, and Serpentine ones weaved together to create the perfect hybrid born from the Abyss. All of this information and they seemed to not be villainous, and based on what he himself knows and what he's learned here, they were more forces of nature than anything. His mother was the Hell Serpent, and she used Magma Resonance. Why did she have him? The book had no answers for that question, if she's so powerful then what need did she have for kids?

Maybe she was trying to rebel, from Velika, from Ouroboros and having a child was some way she'd accomplish that. He pondered on this answer for quite a time, and he saw the pale woman with black hair from before, adjusting her ragged robes as her staff clinked against the wooden floor. Another man followed in toe, wearing indigo robes, and with a long bushy white beard. An older looking man - he didn't need the Reliquary to know this was Vaaz.

Iskatl stood up and knelt before Vaaz, and Belial before Vaaz let out a hearty laugh.

"Please stand, Descender. I am the Great Sage, but there's no need for that. I have come bearing a gift for you and I expect nothing in return."

He held out a charm, and smiled softly.

"Amanai Yuichiro. From my place within the library, I had watched your entire life. The former one and the current one. I, the Reader of your story - and a loyal fan would like to give you a key to my Archives. You may return whenever you wish, just think of the library and this will take you to it. Think of a question, and it'll be answered by the Reliquary, facilitated by this charm."

Iskatl shakily held his hands out, and Vaaz placed it inside his hands softly before closing them around it, and patting Iskatl's clasped hands.

"Amanai Yuichiro, now Iskatl of the Tribe Alkutha. Save Morkuhl - you are amongst the few who can accomplish such. I put my faith within you."

Iskatl nodded softly as he smiled up at the Great Sage. Belial stood beside Vaaz and both of them smiled back at Iskatl.

"I think it best if you leave for now. Velika is making moves, and you need to prepare outside of this place. Return within the day."