The descent was long. It takes the group all they have to keep going. So far they found some really nice things and mapped many corridors so Prayer is sure they can keep going for a little bit more. And so far all of the newbies are rather useful. 

Tu Shen is still quiet but they showed they can fight. Maybe not the best one could fight but they have the knowledge needed to at least know how to swing a sword. 

Snowdrop has knowledge of many different things, including how magic works and how to deal with the dungeon. It is often theoretical knowledge rather than practical but Prayer can see her learning as she goes how to use all she has. 

And Grandpa Jiu is surprisingly good at keeping good morale in the party. At first Prayer was unsure about Jiu, he seemed just a little too touchy. But then he kept making sure everyone was fine and feeling fine, joking around and talking about his travels on the surface. It is nice to have someone talkative in the party for a change. 

When they stand in front of yet another closed door they do not hesitate. Snowdrop goes forth to fiddle with the lock while Prayer and Tu Shen prepare weapons. Grandpa Jiu stands back, making sure nothing is waiting to attack from behind. 

The door itself is huge and wooden but covered in metal incursion. It looks almost as if the wood is in the middle of transforming, a process that might have occurred once in the past or might still be underway. Prayer can’t tell which one is true. 

Finally something clicks and the door moves slightly. Prayer and Tu Shen look at each other and slowly Prayer opens the door further. What waits inside is a bit different than it expected. There are no monsters. Instead it is a well lit huge chamber full of tall shelves and old books. A wide passing is closed from both sides by rows of overgrown and falling apart bookshelves that lead to a circular center. From the doorstep Prayer can tell that what they see in distance is but a one crossing that leads further into the library. 

Slowly Prayer sheets its weapon. “Clear. But don’t be too confident, keep your weapons at bay and don’t spread too much.” 

The party comes inside and Prayer hears sighs of amazement from all of them. Prayer smiles to itself. Yea, dungeons work like that. 

They go into the library further and further, climbing stairs and stepping over smaller and bigger plants. At some point there was even a small creek that carved its way into the stone floor. And over their heads bright bubbles of light hang motionlessly like a memory of past glory. 

They are deep into the library, where some chests stand and desks full of closed shelves. The party stops to take a look at all that’s around them and look for possible hidden goods. 

Snowdrop picks a random book from a shelf and puts it on a table. She starts looking through it, seemingly able to understand the writing. “I think some of these could be very useful for Ignacy,” she says. 

Prayer immediately regrets having Snowdrop here. “Do you have to?” 

“Hmm?”

“I mean, mention him?” 

“Oh, sorry,” Snowdrop says. When Tu Shen looks at her with a raised brow she explains: “Exes.” 

“We are NOT exes,” Prayer insists. 

Snowdrop shrugs and goes back to checking out books, shuffling some into her bag. 

Prayer knows it made many mistakes in its life and taking Snowdrop on a dive is slowly rising to the top ten. It likes her, sure, but she also has all those ideas that are for sure not true. And just because Prayer has this intense and reciprocated hatred with Ignacy that makes it come to his castle and plot his demise DOESN’T mean their relation is in any way romantic or anything. They have never been a pair. And never will be. The dreams Prayer has at night are about teaching Ignacy a lesson, not about anything else. 

Deep into its thoughts Prayer takes out a random book and opens it wide. It looks at the book and the symbols in it start to move. It’s not the weirdest but sure wasn’t expected. Prayer waits and looks as the symbols migrate into different groups, forming what looks like closed eyes. 

And then the eyes open and the chaos breaks loose. 

Book after book opens and rearranges itself, faster with every moment. The books start floating into the air and over the party. The horses stop what they were doing and look up. 

“Maybe… They are friendly…?” says grandpa Jiu with little hope. 

“Nu-uh. We should run. Now,” says Prayer and gets its sword out. 

And they run. And the books start attacking. 

Prayer and Tu Shen swing their swords. Grandpa Jiu breaks some shelves by running into them, causing a chain reaction of several shelves falling over behind them. Snowdrop casts a minor spell, making their run faster. And the books keep attacking. There are hundreds of them if not thousands. They bite and screech and recite words in strange languages. They clearly do not want anyone in here. 

The party reaches the door and Prayer starts closing them behind. A few books fly over through the break before it finishes, but they are quickly fought over by Tu Shen cutting them in half. 

And then there’s only the sound of books thumping into the closed door. 

The party breaths are harsh and uneven. Snowdrop takes a moment and leans over the wall. 

“I don’t think I want to see a library ever again,” says grandpa Jiu. 

Tu Shen chuckles. Prayer rolls its eyes but there is a slight smile on their lips. Maybe… Maybe they should start their way back. Maybe this is enough for one campaign.