Countess Cavendish Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland
Little by little the pairs finish their exploration in each corner of the Countess' castle, getting each of the pieces so that they can open the puzzle of the castle's main door, in a short time they were already to get it, to get to the next step, the first of the groups to get it was Amanda's, Jasminka and Constanze who suffered a bit at the end of that journey when they had to face the Ghost Piper that was a bit complicated to deal with due to the fact that it was a spiritual creature, needing to be sealed in a box to be defeated, using special arrows so that some damage could be done, in this Amanda ended up being rewarded by an improvement in the crossbow that makes it possible that the shots affect precisely these more spiritual creatures.
But it won't be about the three who have already finished the journey that will be the subject of the moment in this part, as the second ones who have finished the journey also spent some moments at the castle when arriving at the door of the library of the same.
As soon as they entered the door the duo went through the corridor, taking a look and also picking up some candles, Sucy took the chance to collect one of the sub-items, in this case the bible one, for which she still didn't know what it was used for since that corridor before the real place was always very peaceful.
When they open the door they are already facing the huge open hall that was the library, with several staircases, besides corridors, shelves and everything else, containing some creatures there, like skeletons that were with rapiers, holding their own skull with the left hand, flying books very similar to the ones they faced when they passed by Annabel Crème's castle, besides creatures that were bushes that came out of the ground, the two started to walk discretely, but they couldn't be that discreet since some skeletons started to go up to both of them and with that Sucy shot arrows at them and they went on their way.
Lotte: Woah, this library is huge, it's immense, I even remembered when we were still at the beginning of our journey.
Sucy: Only it's much more immense and dangerous here.
The two continue down the corridor, deciding to go underneath since there were multiple paths, by following this lower path they notice that it's very quiet, there are no creatures of the night, it's just another normal corridor, they pass through another room and another corridor again empty, until they open a door and in it they find a very familiar face.
Lotte: Annabel? What are you doing here?
Annabel: It's been a while since I've seen them.
Lotte: What shocks me is knowing that you are here in this castle.
Annabel: I went diggingdeeper into things on your journey, I was wondering why so many creatures of the night come to us, to know the origin, I got here, it's been practically a couple of weeks, so I'm kind of enjoying it, I got the trust of the Countess by passing myself off as a sorceress who manipulates books and with that she allowed me to let her be the librarian here, but of course I couldn't hide it for long, she soon came here on her own and she knows I'm with you, so she kind of let me stay here anyway, you're lucky to have someone like me in this place.
Sucy: And will you help us?
Annabel: And was there a time I didn't help? I have some things from that castle that will be very useful.
Annabel soon opens a chest, in it there was a map of the castle that was soon given to the girls, but others they tried to take, but the chest kind of almost devoured Lotte and Sucy's hand that got a bit angry and with that Annabel gives a rub on the back of her head in shame.
Annabel: I forgot to mention it, but for you to get other things you will need to give gold, that chest is a bit greedy.
Lotte: Just having the map is good enough.
Sucy makes sure to leave a bag of coins in the chest, the same gives a crossbow that Manbavaran touches, causing her crossbow to start glowing, a note even appears saying about the magic weapon "Almost infinite shots, just put an arrow and you will have 15 shots with a single arrow, being valid for all possible arrows", with that the two leave that part of the castle waving to Annabel, and Lotte takes a look at the map.
Lotte: Wonderful here it has everything, the paths to all the forks, also the relics and magic items, now let's go, from what the map indicates the shard is on the upper path, but we can also pick up an improvement in my book.
The two pass in the corridor, then they climb the stairs to the opposite way, a little for the improvement that Lotte wanted for the book of invocations and spells, but the way was already being hindered by cursed books, which started flying towards the duo, that didn't waste time, attacking the creatures that hindered the route, besides some skeletons that also wanted to hit the girls, but ended up taking fireballs from Yanson.
Besides that both were impressed with the ambiance of the library, much for being such a beautiful and huge place, besides not looking so intimidating, except for the size, soon the two arrived in the corridor where went to the item Lotte wanted so much, but had to deal with skeletal dragons all over the walls, these ones going from one side to the other, in that corridor that was also dark.
Sucy: They've blown out the candles here.
The dragons were trying to shoot some fireballs, but Lotte used a magic barrier spell, protecting both of them, Sucy prepares an arrow and uses the 15 shots in each of the dragons, noticing the change in how she was able to shoot more easily and without needing a whole movement to arm each arrow.
Then the two continue through the corridor, still missing some dragons, with that Manbavaran decides to test the bible sub item, when she ends up using it she notices that a book goes around her, hitting everything around, including the remaining dragons, and this way they arrived where the relic was, Lotte touches the book.
She feels the power increasing, but the other books around that room are starting to go up to the two, they were much bigger than the others from the library, as well as they were agile, Yanson was soon trying to use fireballs, she noticed that they came out more easily.
Lotte: How wonderful, I am able to shoot more easily!
Sucy: Good, because those things also attack us easily.
The books were going up to the duo, also opening up to try and give a blow to the girls, but Yanson and Manbavaran were little by little managing to handle the situation, the blonde with the spells, the pink haired one with the arrows, making little of those creatures of the night that kept attacking them so much, but nothing they could do against both, the duo was managing with ease.
Wiping out the rest of the books in that room, there were only five that came to attack, but they were somewhat powerful books, but nothing Lotte hadn't already faced and even used the old version of the book to get the creatures soul.
Sucy: That was easy, this improved crossbow really is a wonder, I can shoot several times with a single shot, that's very good, it helps me save arrows and I can still quickly shoot more than one shot.
The duo goes back in the path with that they go down the stairs, jump to the staircase ahead, to the more linear path where would be the room through which they would face something, but getting the fragment, right in this part they come across more books and also some goblins that were using spells, Yanson was fighting them and they were shooting against both of them, the Manbavaran was shooting the arrows against the books that were getting close and also other flying creatures, that were other books, only that they were flying like birds and they were shooting some word that was becoming an object that was making it rain on both of them.
One of them makes a spear fall on the ground and almost didn't get Lotte and ended up getting Lotte in one of the creatures that was protecting the place, but little by little they were getting through those stairs and corridors, Sucy used the bible's sub-item sometimes when they were surrounded making the way easier.
Lotte: Okay, this is more complicated than Annabel's castle, there are more creatures here, some of them much more dangerous.
The two continued to pass through the way of the staircases, they arrive in a corridor, in it was full of creatures again, this time the flea men appeared again, as well as in that small corridor it was full of skeletons with rapieras and wizard elves, what in that moment the two already go preparing themselves.
Lotte summons a hippogriff and the creatures go attacking it, Sucy aims with the crossbow at each one and goes knocking them down one by one at that corridor and with that the duo goes following that corridor with more tranquility, passing to another one of those corridors, that one was with flea men mounted on skeleton dragons, beating on the castle walls.
Sucy: I hate those little hunchbacks.
Sucy starts to use the arrows, aiming mainly at the flea men that are dying one by one, then Lotte shoots fireballs at the dragons that are going aimlessly, one by one being exploded with the magical powers of Yanson, finishing another of the corridors and with that they arrive at another part of the library, where they had many more shelves, but it seemed that it was a place to store.
They pass through there and already start to come across more of the flea men, only these ones were with armors to make things even more complicated, only the two of them get very careful with that.
Sucy: Now they're wearing armour, but damn.
Besides the flea man with armour, there were also knights with spears, skeletons with rapieras and a few books going towards them, which were defending themselves, besides some huge rats that started to appear, giving Lotte a bit of fear, which disgusted her or hid behind the tables afraid of the creatures.
Lotte: Sorry Sucy! I can't.
Sucy: Oh, now I'm going to make these rats pay! You like to scare my girl, but I will scare you.
Sucy goes launching her arrows with everything in the giant rats, relieving a little for Lotte who manages to stop hiding, going back to attack the other creatures that appeared, with that they go even down the stairs to another corridor where it was full of goblins that were summoning more creatures to go on top of the girls, These goblins were being very creative, invoking all kinds of creatures, what ended up making Yanson fight back, she started to invoke skeletons and also another hippogriff to clear the way.
Lotte: I hope Idon't run out of magic by the time we end up facing a much bigger threat in this castle, because that's what I'm getting the impression we're going to end up doing.
Sucy: Those goblins are pretty annoying too, they keep bothering us all the time, but we'll manage, my arrows are much better now, better than ever, fifteen shots at once, that's very good, faster than anything.
The two go little by little opening more way hitting the goblins that were there, arriving to one more stairway going down, this one that already gave in the last corridor before arriving closer in a corridor where it would give in the fragment of the door key.
The corridor was already more challenging, full of skeleton dragons, besides also flea men with armor, some of them mounted on dragons, others outside, with that, the two look at each other and breath deep.
Sucy: It's not going to be easy here, how are we going to get through.
Lotte: Play potions, I'm going to do my magic.
Sucy makes sure to throw potions, doing that hidden, Lotte uses her magic to levitate the same potions, controlling them in the air, making them break and fall with everything on top of the creatures, without seeing the girls. The creatures go crazy with the way they are being dissolved, then skeletons are summoned, these go running towards the creatures armed with swords, but are dismounted quickly.
The Manbavaran lights an arrow with fire and shoots 15 shots quickly in the direction where the potion was thrown, since part of the liquid was also flammable and with that ended up catching on the ground, causing the biggest fire rising defeating the creatures present at that location and with that releasing more the way creating some explosions.
After killing the creatures Lotte uses a spell to extinguish the fire and this way the two pass quietly through the corridor.
Lotte: We just need to be a bit tactical, it was quiet even.
Sucy: Now let's defeat this thing quickly, we'll finally be able to finish this part of the castle and progress.
The two pass through the last corridor, soon they notice that the front has an arena more circular and in it has a table with a book on top, when passing through the door of that same corridor, some big books fall covering the two sides of it and with that the book that was on the table starts to open and in it other books come out, the same ones fall on the floor open and with that when opening they are going to reveal some creatures.
A black cat on fire, known as Big Ears, Cú Siths and a goblin with a spear, known as Red Cap came out of these three books, being invoked, with this the two are already preparing for the attack, Sucy is preparing the arrows and Lotte starts to concentrate on spells.
The first ones to go up are the Cù Siths that go with speed towards the duo, but they are hit by the arrows, what makes everything worse is that even killing one by one, the book kept invoking them, what ended up being a task for Lotte, she went trying to hit a fireball at the book, but still kept being hindered by Big Ears and Red Cap that were joining to defend themselves from Yanson.
Sucy: Lotte! We have to attack the books! They just keep on coming!
While they were concentrating on not being attacked the main book was floating on top of them using some runes and casting small spells on both of them that go dodging, having more problems in all the way and surroundings, trouble everywhere, having nowhere to breathe.
Sucy hits an arrow on the main book, but one of the Ass Siths jumps on top of the Manbavaran leaving Yanson angry and with that she throws a powerful fireball towards the creature and starts a summoning spell, making a book come out of there, starting to summon creatures to fight them, only in this Yanson barely ends up not being hit by a spear of the Red Cap, But they still had to deal with the onslaught of Big Ears that transforming itself in a fireball hit them throwing them a little backwards, giving some burns on their clothes, but they got up, Lotte continued to use invocation spells, creating other Cu Siths to protect her and Sucy.
Sucy: Atsuch times the presence of Marianne or Akko would be greatly missed.
Lotte: I agree!
Sucy also starts to use her sub item, to lighten the bar a little when Cù Siths started to surround the girl, she managed to get rid of some of them, but the books were still active, this until Lotte shoots fireballs at each of them, with that ending with the summoning advantage.
The two soon go focusing on finishing with Big Ears and Red Cap, the book on top of them circling them was just focusing on hitting the book that Lotte invoked that kept invoking skeletons and distracting the Cu Siths, with that the two look at each other.
With the shrewdness of the two, they attract both of them to the book where Lotte invoked and Yanson claps her hands as she passes by it almost being hit by a Red Cap's spear, but she ended up throwing herself on the ground at the time and with that the book exploded causing a great damage, killing the remaining Cu Siths and the Red Cap, leaving only Big Ears and the main book that started to go towards the ground, but Sucy was throwing arrows that caught the same book that was being hit and had to go changing route.
Sucy: You can be quiet, you won't be invoking anything else!
Lotte focused on Big Ears and with that the creature was going up with all the power towards the duo, but Yanson opened her book and started to use a spell to suck the soul of the creature, and all that could be heard was the screech of the meow of the creature that entered as if it was falling into a hole in that book, leaving even the blonde herself in shock with the power of the book.
The main book fell on the ground full of arrows and started to summon other books, Lotte even tried to throw a fireball at it, but at the time a dragon appeared right in front of it that could defend the book and with that another fight would happen.
Lotte: This is going to be more difficult than I thought.
The Dundee Dragon appeared so that Yanson's attack would fail and by the proportion it was what already worried the two girls that swallowed their saliva, since the creature was really big, they were observing each other.
Sucy launched some arrows towards the dragon's head that started to spit fire in both of them.
The main book starts to raise flight, the duo climbs on top of Lotte's book that enters in flight mode and with that they start to be distracting the dragon that is following them, they go in direction of the main book that is trying to counter attack, until a giant hand comes out of it and with that the blonde had to dodge with a speed that Manvaravan can't follow, being caught by the hand of the creature and with that leaving Yanson worried and at the same time angry throwing with all her strength fireballs at the book that end up releasing Sucy and with that the dragon below also shoots at both of them, which makes the blonde end up falling from the book itself falling on the ground and getting a little hurt.
Sucy: Lotte!
Sucy gets up a little hurt, she starts to use the bombs that she kept in her bag, releasing them with everything and throwing them exactly in the direction of the dragon that simply opens its mouth, another one that went in the direction of the book where the dragon was invoked and with that the explosions keep happening, Sucy keeps throwing more bombs in the opposite side, causing the biggest rise of smoke, spending almost the whole arsenal on the creatures, Lotte gets up.
A little hurt, she coughs a little due to the smoke excess, then uses a spell to dissipate it and with that only the main book is left, which is floating and was full of burn marks and arrows shot by Sucy.
Lotte: You weren't supposed to use up all the bombs my love, that way there won't be any left for the monsters later on.
Sucy: It was to put an end to the dragon that was attacking us, I would do anything to protect you!
The main book, tries to stay on the ground to summon more books, but Sucy keeps shooting more arrows and with that it ends up getting a little full of it and ends up revealing itself more, taking out a huge hand from inside it, it was only a hand, but it was chasing the girls, Sucy's arrows were useless just hitting the thick skin of the hand that came to give a crush to the two that were running and almost didn't get hit.
Lotte: A hand, what a strange creature.
Sucy: Strange is my arrows are useless against that thing, I have to be able to at least turn it around or else we might end up dying because of this thing.
Lotte also tries to attack, but her fireballs are useless and the hand starts to go faster floating towards the two and with that she ends up using magic to call the book and make the two start to fly, kind of running away from the flying hand that was following them, Sucy was starting to test with different types of arrows, shooting against the giant hand, but many were useless.
Sucy: Silver arrows are useless!
Sucy keeps trying while Lotte was running away and she kept using different types of arrows, but even shooting the different types did not work, she even throws another bomb and with that her hand feels a little, but that was the last of the Manbavaran's hand, she tries with arrows bathed in potions, but it also does not work and with that Lotte had an idea.
Lotte: You distract the hand I will try to use my magic, I want to see how far that goes.
Sucy agrees with the head, the two get down and start running in separate ways, Lotte goes flying and stays in a higher and safer corner, starting to think of a spell, she goes elaborating one according to what was in the book trying to find some way to defeat the hand that only kept following Manbavaran who kept running.
Sucy: Hurry up Lotte, I don't want to become a mash
Lotte started to use an invocation spell, summoning new creatures that appeared, starting by wisps that were going to the book floating, fireballs with faces, they were giving a light damage on the hand that stopped following Sucy and it was on this that Yanson was realizing that was working.
She was summoning more Wisps to go towards the book and the hand was getting a little irritated and angry, trying to find where the invocation was coming from and Sucy noticing what happened was sending a thumbs up sign to Lotte.
Lotte: Those little fire things are kind of useful.
Lotte went on with the invocation, but the hand soon realised, it went all out towards Yanson, she tried her best, when she got too close she threw herself and managed to cushion the fall with the book, but the hand punched that wall, which ended up causing the exit to the other side to be buried a little.
Sucy: Shit! That damned hand! It came just to get in our way, just as we were about to defeat it.
The hand was again on top of the two, but it was starting to dissolve, more and more, becoming alive flesh, then it was just bones and then it caught fire as soon as it was near the duo and that way The Great Hand was defeated, one more creature of the castle ended up losing, soon appears the vials showing that the two fulfilled the mission, the two touch the same, recovering from their injuries, when noticing this they even smile to each other, but they also notice that in front of them they had another problem.
Sucy: That hand ended up making our path more difficult, how are we going to get it all out? We'll use magic.
Lotte: The magic of the shovel.
Sucy: You're kidding me, right Lotte?
Lotte ended up causing two shovels to end up appearing in front of the two and she was just nodding in agreement going over to the pile of rubble that was gathering right in front of the exit door and with that she was starting to go taking it out with the shovel, which Sucy was already rolling her eyes at, but decided to join in as well, since she didn't have much to do at that point, the Manbavaran was just getting frustrated as she dug the door out.
Sucy: Seriously Lotte, we could solve this by summoning a creature to do it for us.
Lotte: I won't spend my magic summoning creatures, we can do it quickly without complaining.
Sucy: We could have been the first to get the fragment, but because of this we will be delayed a lot.
Lotte just shrugged, she continued to dig up the rubbish and throw it to the side, Sucy was also doing that and doing it quickly, the two of them were in the greatest synchronicity doing the removal, with all the speed of the world, taking it from one side to the other, without much delay, little by little the hole was opening and the two of them were getting more hopeful, also a little tired and panting.
But still the hole was not enough, they were taking more and more, it was already possible to see an exit, taking some minutes they finally managed to open an opening through which it would be possible for a person to pass and with that both went down and passed through the small opening that was formed and then Sucy passed the hand on the face when remembering something.
Sucy: Lotte, how are we going to get back?
Lotte: There must be a teleportation, apart from the fact that anything we dig back up, it's no problem, we'll soon find out.
The two go by that corridor, already a little tired, they arrive at the room where the fragment is, they get the same and are even a little excited to see it there, they touch it with a smile on the face and notice that there is a teleportation, quickly they go to the same and panting they end up arriving, Soon they also notice that the trio of Amanda, Jasminka and Constanze also ended up arriving and that practically before them, what let Sucy already know the reason why they took a little longer in relation to the other three that were relaxed enough.
Amanda: Look, some more have arrived, they didn't take long at all.
Sucy: You have no idea what the library was like.
Amanda: And you guys have no idea what prison was like, seriously that castle is crazy.
Lotte: You tell us first and we'll tell you later, so it didn't take us long, I thought it was quite fast, there weren't many rooms in the library, we got to the point.
Amanda: In the prison there were four corridors, two staircases and a main circular room that had a smaller room where I got an upgrade on my crossbow, now I can shoot spirit creatures and do damage to them.
Soon they are telling how was the part of each one in the castle, mainly giving an emphasis in the improvements that they got in the weapons and also the troubles that they had, mainly Sucy that made a point to be praising how the buried door got in the way of everything and in how they could have been the first ones to arrive, Amanda talked about how they managed to free some people still alive and mainly about the trio of Wangari that didn't stop registering everything and commenting movement by movement of what they did and with this a more relaxed conversation was created between the five of them about the castle, having two fragments of five it was only a question of time so that they could go to the next level.
Amanda: I love how Lotte made you have to work hahaha! We are more than used to digging around, you have no idea what it's like, we are the best diggers in the region, that's for sure.
Sucy: Oh, you're used to digging around, we're not, you can't imagine the hell it was, I've never had so much pain in my arm and back as I have now.
Lotte: That's because you dug in any way you like and forced yourself, you didn't need to dig like that, just go with the rhythm, digging in a hurry is like that, you'll end up getting a bit weak to advance in the castle like that.
Sucy: I have 15 arrows in one, there's no way I can even be weakened, I'm much better now, it's much easier than shooting one arrow at a time.
Amanda: Ah man I wish I had one of those, my bow is only effective on spirit creatures, because of that bagpipe ghost, if I had one of those it would do some damage.
Sucy: so what do you say we make it a game? Whoever wins will get the multi-shot crossbow, a game of precision.
Amanda: I would like to, but I am a proud hunter, I am proud of the weapon I have, and a good hunter is good with any weapon, I will improve as much as possible my usefulness in this and manage to be as efficient as your 15 shots, but I accept a game of precision, not worth anything, I certainly have a much better aim than yours.
The two immediately stare at each other with their faces close to each other, then Jasminka draws a target and they begin to play a game to see who can hit more accurately than the other, also using a bit of cloth to not damage the tip of the arrows, showing who has more aim than the other, but Lotte is just laughing at this dispute of both.
Two of five parts, the door is slowly opening to another part of this huge castle, where they are already exploring for a good few minutes, this time they even have a map to have a better notion and realizing that that door only marks a part of the way, since they will still have a lot to cross on the way, it will not be the end of the journey that will still have its ups and downs, especially with the three remaining parts that are still having their complicated and longer parts.
See you, librarian witches...