"You're supposed to be a powerful figure, a wise one of this kingdom. Is surrender really so easy for you?" Finn asked, somewhat incredulously. The Crystal Sage's readiness to submit was baffling. If it were him, he'd rather go down fighting than surrender so easily. Yet, here the Crystal Sage was, willing to yield without shame.
"Indeed, I am this kingdom's sage, but I never claimed to be a warrior." The Crystal Sage replied, shaking his head with a sigh, "You must realize what the Kingdom of Lothric has become. This place is nothing like it once was!"
The Crystal Sage reminisced about the former glory of the kingdom, a time when it boasted formidable knights, even dragons to aid in battle, and the legendary Lothric's Twin Princes. One of these princes was incredibly powerful, while the other was physically frail but a genius in magic, someone the Sage truly respected. However, as with all kingdoms, decline was inevitable.
The king, entangled in dark experiments, transformed himself into something neither human nor hollow, while the princes took on the title of Lords of Cinder.
But after certain events, they abandoned their thrones, leaving the kingdom in ruin. Now, Lothric was overrun with creatures and had become a haven for monsters, a reality the Crystal Sage found unbearable but powerless to change.
The Sage had no desire to fight outsiders. As for avenging his brother, it was a wish beyond his reach, given his current strength, or rather, lack thereof. With his life on the line, he accepted his own cowardice, hoping for mercy from his captors.
"You really have no pride at all. Fine, if you're surrendering, we need to ensure you're not a threat. Riveria, mark him with a magic seal." Finn said.
Riveria nodded. She had recently learned a technique that allowed her to imprint a magical seal on a place or person. If activated, the magic within the seal would unleash a powerful explosion.
Initially, they never thought they'd survive here, as this realm was overrun by madmen and monsters, with almost no one sane. Sane individuals could be spared, but everyone else had to be eliminated without hesitation.
The Crystal Sage's sanity was questionable, but he had surrendered and was clearly valuable. Since capturing him seemed manageable, they accepted his surrender.
Soon, the magic seal was in place, and the other monsters in the library had been thoroughly cleared out. They prepared to gather books without hesitation when the Crystal Sage, now desperate to save his own skin, suddenly spoke up.
"Um… you should be careful when handling those books. To prevent theft, I've laid down special enchantments across the library. If you get too close, they'll trigger!"
Just as they began to approach the shelves, various enchanted weapons emerged from the floor, each armed with magical attacks, ready to ensnare the unwary.
In a rare show of self-preservation, the Crystal Sage confessed the traps he'd placed, hoping it might spare him from further repercussions. After all, if anyone assumed he'd led them into a trap, the magic seal might very well detonate, and he wouldn't survive that.
The mere thought sent a chill through him, as he realized the devastating power of Riveria's sealing magic. It was one of her most potent spells, and not something he could withstand.
The eruption of magic was potent enough to kill the Crystal Sage outright.
"With so many traps set up, you're certainly cautious. Now, how about you dispel these spells?" Finn demanded, seeing through the Crystal Sage's craftiness.
The Crystal Sage's survival instinct was indeed strong, and the measures he'd taken were as devious as expected in the Dark Souls World, where insidious tricks and hidden threats lurked around every corner.
"Alright, alright! I'll dispel everything so no harm comes to you!" The Crystal Sage said hurriedly, wiping cold sweat from his brow.
He quickly moved to various shelves, muttering spells and dispelling enchantments.
As layers of protective spells dissolved one by one, the sheer quantity of them left everyone speechless. The setup was absurdly excessive, and they were all relieved they hadn't killed the Sage earlier.
Had they done so, dealing with this maze of traps would've been nightmarish. While the traps wouldn't necessarily have killed them, they'd have inflicted plenty of aggravation and injuries.
The books were too valuable to leave behind, so as the last of the enchantments faded, everyone started gathering them eagerly.
Soon, the various spaces in the library were stacked high with tomes of all sorts. Watching the once grand and guarded library emptied, the Crystal Sage looked as though he were bleeding internally.
Though he'd read nearly everything in this library, these books represented his home, the very essence of a kingdom's history and legacy. Now, not only was his home gutted, but he himself had become a prisoner. He was left speechless.
With the library emptied, he was close to tears.
"Alright, the Grand Library is cleared out." Finn said, "So now, Crystal Sage, tell us about the Lothric's Twin Princes!"
Although he had learned a fair bit from Ludleth, Finn knew the Crystal Sage's firsthand knowledge might hold invaluable insights.
"What? You're looking for the Twin Princes?" The Crystal Sage stammered, turning pale with fear, "This is madness! You'll die there! No, dying is one thing, but I refuse to be dragged down with you."
The Crystal Sage's face went white. He wondered if these guys truly intend to go after the Lothric's Twin Princes. After all, these princes were formidable, among the strongest Lords of Cinder, and such a confrontation would surely be suicidal.
"We've already dealt with three Lords of Cinder. That just leaves the Lothric's Twin Princes. Figure out your own decision from there." Finn said with a grin, making their intentions unmistakably clear.