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"speech"

'thought'

"English"


Void and veil: Chapter 6-The veil has risen

3 loud knocks echoed through the woods.

Silence, not even a rustle of leaves, or the birds in the trees.

''I guess no one is hom-' I was cut off when the oak door, swung inward... Okaaay, every movie I've ever watched says run.

Answers, run. Answers, run. Answers, run... Shit.

'Here we go,' I communed to Hatenna, who was holding me tightly now. Entering into one giant room, I immediately noticed the inside was far larger than the outside. I knew magic was a thing here, but it is nice to have confirmation.

Hatenna was likewise drawn toward a number of gadgets and gizmos on display on several desks and tables, and bookcases, all made from precious metals and different woods respectively, from what I could tell anyway. The bookcases literally covered the walls, I couldn't see behind them. Stairs and banisters climbed every side of the interior to labeled sections that honestly looked more akin to mazes. The open center opened straight up to the roof, well, I assume I was unable to see it, it just stretched onward. No windows though, or lights, or candles. Magic, I assumed with a small smile.

"Errr, E'llo," I called out quietly, though it echoed unimpaired through this place... 'Maybe no one is home?' Why did I think that? I paused... Silence, 'Huh.'

'Well the doors are still open, that's a good sign,' I thought to Hatty. Anticipation, she projected back, yeah. Keeping my head on a swivel, something got my attention, solve et coagula, dissolve and coagulate, the maxim and motto of alchemy.

Looking back at the still-open door for a second, well nothing ventured. 'You with me?' I asked my partner, the response was equal parts anxious and joyful, 'All right then'.

Moving up the staircase away from the ticking machines, toward the section I was met by thousands of books and tomes, well, where to start?

After a few minutes of looking two books grabbed my attention 'Alchemical Symbola' and 'Alchemical Elementa', symbols and elements huh, well, it's not like I would understand the advanced stuff without the basics. I could stay here for days but at the same time I was uneasy in this wonderful library, still, I had a time crunch.

I took the two books back down to ground level before I began to leaf through them, and I just knew this was the real deal, how strange.

Hatenna was getting bored though, I felt, interrupting my musing, Hmm. 'All things are one, and all things will return to one,' I thought to her getting her attention. 'It's the basics of alchemy the laws of equivalent exchange, deconstruction, and reconstruction. With it, you can turn wood hard as stone or soft as grass. Maybe turn a lump of metal into one of those gizmos you like,' I pointed at one of the machines she had been staring at this entire time, it was fascinating. I had her attention now though, that was a good thing, uh, I think? And I began to read the book to her as I learned from it. After a while or so I stopped reading, strange I smelt sage? Huh?

I put the books down and looked around. I saw hieroglyphs, what looked like Haitian Creole, Hindi, Hebrew, Kanji and grass script I knew these languages, but I couldn't read them they were from my old home, perhaps there is a link maybe something on the multiverse? There was just so much to go through, though. Then I saw something familiar, English, specifically old English 'curs' meaning curse, on the third floor. That's something I can't ignore.

I arrived at the third floor, I don't know why I was so worried about this place, there were so many books and tomes, some even in Celtic, old English, and even Gaelic. I wanted to go further but stopped myself, one step at a time, this wouldn't be like mine and Hatty's rushed bond. I inhaled, the smell of salt? Now prevalent, and an old tome caught my eye Curses: Benevolent and malevolent, in rather resent English, from when I left anyway. I picked up the heavy tome.

Going back down the stairs to the other books I Had left, I noticed Hatty looking at the moving gizmos again. 'Hatty,' I repeated several times, finally getting her attention once more. 'Curses are things from my old home that witches are renowned for,' I thought to her, keeping her attention, 'Curses are spells put on people or items, even things like the weather. I could curse someone to have, say, good or bad luck or even have them cancel each other out.' Interest is what I received from her, yup figures the future witch would like curses.

The smell of ginger and basil hit me this time. I frowned at the aroma, it felt like something was wrong, 'Hatty are we missing something, why did we come to the library today?' I got confusion as a response. I took the book to the table I had put the others and tried to think, but was having a hard time remembering why I was here with this witch. I shook my head holding Hatty in place and looked around, something was wrong. Multiple scents struck me. And I saw a tan-colored single-shoulder bag on a pulled-out chair, that hadn't been there before I realized I, we needed to leave the tower...'The tower,' I realized and sent to the Witch-to-be.

The reaction was instant, Hatty clung to my head hard and my head darted around the room. Nothing. Only silence.

Damn it, I had let my guard down because this place wasn't an active threat, but it was still magic, unpredictable. Checking my mental shields, I found them intact, as far as I could tell anyway. I cautiously checked the bag for anything nefarious, with my limited knowledge, but only found a book inside, The Circle of Magi, in Galarian script.

I cautiously looked around, "Errr, thanks?" I said aloud, unsure, silence was the only response I got as I began packing the books, hyper-focused on leaving but keeping up my forced calm for both Hatenna and myself. "So you don't mind if I take these books?" I held up the now full bag. Once again, silence greeted me. Good enough for me, We headed for the exit, Hatty as alert as myself. Seeing the woods beyond the doorway, I put the bag over my shoulder and stooped at the door. I took one last look behind me "Thank you," Best not to piss off the powerful abnormality, with that, I stepped through the portal onto the high street? "Wha-".

*Giggle* *Slam*

I spun around, there was nothing there. Quickly orienting myself, I looked to where my home was located and the woods the tower had been... Nothing.

"Hey, Hatty," I asked aloud. I received nervousness enough to match my own.

"You ever feel like you're being watched?" Her shuddering yet quiet cry was response enough.

Realizing something, I reached into my pocket, where I had put my talisman charm, and only pulled out two burned cords, "Yeah, me too".


Unknown P.O.V

As she slammed the door closed, she couldn't help but giggle. With but a flex of her prodigious powers, she took her tower back to the void.

'My, my so polite,' She had been rather impressed with that. They had remained calm and kept themselves together through her little test, and they had brought an actual charm. They had earned their chance.

The circle was gone now and her friends with them, while she was trapped within her tower. So, she watched as the balance tipped as the future darkened to calamity.

A grin formed on her fanged maw. Though perhaps it wasn't too late, how long had it been since she had seen hope, a way to restore the wavering balance, young yes but the future always is.

Many came, some accidentally, some by intention. But none were willing to fight, none sought the truth, and none were determined to try. All failed, for power or riches sometimes both, they were removed from her tower remembering naught.

When her cards had led her here yesterday, she had expected more of the same, then she had felt it, a young adept and his partner, she had been disappointed at first, then, she had watched them.

She began padding back into the depths of her tower, but teleported her cards before her.

The Tower; represented change and knowledge, A crisis was coming but would it led to destruction or liberation? It also represented her tower the first test, that had gotten her attention.

The Hierophant would bring truth from the unknown, and their belief will be challenged. But they would learn from it, or they would fail.

Then Justice the card represented someone unaligned gray and impartial, to bring justice morally and logically, factual but feeling. But it also represented someone seeking justice for being wronged, 'Hmm'.

The fool, yes new beginnings, inexperienced they would have to improvise and have faith in themselves and what they are doing. They would be tested by the world many times.

Temperance, moderation and patience. Union of past and present, mind and body, this would result in growth, or they would destroy themselves

The Magician, the card of the Order, they would find their balance and their full ability would be great if they were resourceful enough. They would need a guide, though.

*Giggle*

Yes, she would lend a helping paw to them. Fate would not have them. She looked ahead to the future, what was, what could be. And growled, 'No that would not do, huuum.' She looked at the possibilities, 'Yessss that could work.' She would guide them she decided, the void would not take them, the order would return. Now how to, 'Ah yes that will do,' She giggled once more having made her choice, padding into the darkened halls of the tower, tails trailing behind. 'Of course, no one said she couldn't have fun doing so,' They would succeeded or fall on their own power and ability.


A/N: Sixth chapter of Void and Veil done, I know there will be some mistakes, but let me know what you think. Unknown description is vague for a reason

Also unknown is vague or a reason, hence unknown.

A/N: As there was some confusion, Half-five is English for Half past five or 05:30, its half past the hour would mean half an hour past, at least that's how it is in Nottingham.