Levy guided Braxill through the quiet halls of the Knights' gathering building, then down a narrow staircase hidden behind a half-rotted wooden panel. Torches flickered faintly in the underground chamber.
"So this tunnel leads us to the library?" Braxill asked.
Levy smirked, pressing his palm against a worn stone slab. The wall rumbled, sliding open to reveal a long tunnel vanishing into shadow.
Braxill's eyes lit up. "How do you even know this is here? Just knowing this makes you even cooler than before."
Levy blushed. "Well... what can I say? I'm a man of many mysteries."
They walked down the tunnel, the air cool and heavy with dust. At the end loomed a massive iron door carved with strange glyphs.
Braxill tilted his head. "Is this... the Library?"
Levy nodded. "Yeah, but as I said before, we wont be able to go inside because we aren't knights"
Braxill stepped forward, placing his hand on the door.
"Wait," Levy said quickly, stepping back.
"What?" Braxill frowned.
Levy hesitated. "I... I don't know. Maybe we shouldn't. Dad said it's too dangerous."
Braxill's gaze hardened. "Who's more powerful? Your dad... or Joy?"
Levy swallowed. "Well... I guess Joy. But my dad's pretty strong too."
Braxill felt the surface of the library doors. An eletro energy field hoevered over the library door surface.
Braxill's eyes lit green, he pressed his palm firmly against the door. Slowly, the iron slabs groaned and began to open.
Suddenly both Braxill and Levy were knights.
Levy gazzed akwardly at his hands 'What happened to me". Braxill "I used my imagination to turn us both into knights.
Braxill slammed the door open.
"See?" Braxill grinned as the door creaked fully open. "Safe."
He strode inside, eyes wide with wonder. Levy followed, unease gnawing at him.
The Library awaited.
Meanwhile...
Jett's carriage rolled back toward the Zoner District, silence heavy inside. Betrayal clung to him like chains, every breath poisoned by Sephiss's words.
"Jett," Roberta said suddenly, pointing. "Company."
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Three figures blocked the road ahead, silhouettes lit by torchlight.
Jett stepped down, summoning his Moon Sword. The silver light reflected in his grim eyes.
"Levin," he said coldly.
The Artimancer stepped forward, staff in hand. At his sides stood Pita and Asteroy, their eyes sharp, their staves already humming with Abi energy.
"Jett," Levin greeted. "You've traveled far."
Jett tightened his grip. "Have you come here for a fight?"
Levin smirked. "That depends. I thought perhaps... you'd surrender peacefully."
Pita scoffed.
Asteroy chuckled.
Jett grinned bitterly. "You think you're funny? You think Artimancers stand a chance against a Knight?"
Levin's staff snapped alive with crackling light. "Let's find out."
Pita and Asteroy slammed their staves into the ground.
Glowing spheres spun around them, releasing colossal spectral hands of Abi energy.
They surged forward, seizing Jett's soldiers, crushing them like twigs.
One hand swung toward Roberta.
She ducked low, spinning her spear, slicing through the glowing construct. The hand shattered, sparks bursting.
Pita's eyes widened. "How can you cut through advanced Abi with just a spear?"
Roberta narrowed her eyes. "I am not an artist. Not an Artimancer. I am a soldier. And soldiers train like you do. We learn to channel Abi into weapons. Spears. Blades. Whatever we hold."
Pita sneered. "So be it. But a soldier is still nothing compared to a tradesman."
Jett and Levin clashed. Moon Sword against Mancer Staff. Sparks erupted with each strike, steel and Abi colliding.
Levin's staff spun, firing bursts of spears that fractured into glowing energy hands.
One struck Jett across the face, another morphed into a blade that nearly carved through his guard.
Jett staggered, blood trailing down his cheek. He parried desperately, the Moon Sword glowing brighter under strain.
Levin smirked, pressing harder. "Is this the strength of a Knight? A peacekeeper who betrays his own?"
Jett's teeth ground. "I will protect my people... even from you!"
Their weapons clashed again, steel and Abi ringing like thunder across the night.