Keepers Clan: 3

The three empyrians moved through the hall, away from the tired pups, they weren’t sure what to do now so they mingled. However, it wasn’t long before bells were heard throughout the massive space. The three friends watched as the haedians moved in sync with each other. Groups of haedians stood, put their crystals, scrolls, and other objects away, and then headed toward another large entrance. Curiosity got the best of the three, and they followed the groups of haedians. 

The massive crystal door opens to expose another large room to the reoseans. While the haedians filed in, the empyrians remained near the edge unsure what to do. A few haedians would glance at them, but no one mentioned whether they were allowed in. Oeric displayed his frustration on his face, and Aule and Griffith remained calm as the group waited. 

“What do we do?” Oeric hissed quietly. 

Aule shrugged his shoulders and Griffith said, “Let’s go in.”

At Griffith's nonchalant tone, Aule spoke up, “We could disrupt a ceremony or something. Let’s ask.”

Oeric watched the crowd of haedians and tried to spot the only one they were familiar with. Thankfully, he spotted Khaldor walking closer to them. With a swift smack on Griffith and Aule’s shoulders, their attention was moved to where Oeric directed them to look. The group smiled at Khaldor’s arrival. 

“You three are more than welcome to join us inside the Chronicle Hall,” Khaldor said. 

The friends gave him a tentative nod and carefully stepped into the hall. Around them, walls filled with engraved crystals glowed. The crystals gave the space an ethereal feeling that unsettled the three empyrians. It wasn’t that they felt unwelcome, it was that they felt they were witnessing something larger than they could comprehend. The group felt they couldn’t appreciate the vast knowledge held here. 

“These are our sacred libraries,” Khaldor explained with a grand tone, “Every crystal plays a part in telling the stories held here.”

As Khaldor continued to explain some of the information held in this hall, the feelings the three felt were only getting stronger. 

“Should we really be viewing this?” Oeric whispered as he watched a few haedians gather around a cluster of crystals. 

“Of course,” Khaldor said, and when he noticed where Oeric's attention was he added, “Go over and witness one of the stories here.”

Oeric looked at his companions for their opinion and they seemed to welcome the idea of watching one of the stories play out. Oeric nodded and led his friends away from Khaldor. Khaldor watched them carefully step toward the group before he turned to go about his own tasks. 

At first, when the three empyrians approached the group, they stayed around the outside of the circle watching over the haedians’ shoulders. They waited while the haedians activated the story. The cluster of crystals glowed brighter and brighter until it surrounded the three empyrians. Faded images rippled through the glowing light, but everyone watched on in wonder. 

“What is the story showing us,” Griffith asked quietly. 

The haedians turned to him in surprise and when they realized there were more spectators the group opened their circle to them. 

“Step closer and you’ll see a clearer picture,” One haedian gestured. 

Sure enough, when the three friends stepped into the circle the story unfolding before them became crisper, and the edges of the haedians in the story became more defined. Their new view of the historical event made it clear that what they were witnessing was some sort of battle. Large creatures beat their chests and slammed their bodies together as their claws tore at each other. 

Aule and Griffith watched in wonder, to them they hadn’t quite thought of these visions as truth. They were viewing the battle like it was a fictional depiction of a legend. However, Oeric felt the fury of the battle and while he was wrapped up in watching it progress, he wasn’t paying attention to his magic. His heated aura expanded around him and was infused with the visions. Everyone present watched as the crystals’ story became even clearer with the additional magic. 

“Oeric,” Aule tried to say when the temperature around them reached new heights.

When Oeric didn’t respond, his eyes unblinking as they stayed locked on the vision, Griffith grabbed his shoulders. Griffith tried to shake him out of the trance he was in while Aule tried to counter the hot air with his cold magic. Aule’s magic chilled the air, but it was another magical force that added to the vision’s clarity. 

“Can we end the story?” Griffith said quickly as he watched the story become more real. 

The stunned haedians quickly snapped out of their shock and quickly began their processes to end the vision. All at once, the glow faded, taking the clear battle with it, and then the temperature of the air around them balanced out. Oeric gasped when he broke free of his trance and with a stutter, he apologized. Aule and Griffith did their best to comfort him as they quickly left the area. 

[847]