"Thanks, Val, for calming down," said Athar. "Alright, let me explain what this book is," he added, holding it in his hands.
"This book is known as the Book of Dreams, though some also call it the Book of Illusions or the Book of Desires."
Athar's calm voice continued..."It should have been hidden in a metal cage, yet I don't know why you found it, since it was hidden in the mirror dimension."
"I'm truly sorry about that, once again," Athar said, his voice heavy with regret, his hands trembling slightly as he looked at Val. "I never meant for this to happen."
"Actually, where did you get it?" Val asked, sitting down on the ground and resting his hands on his knees, his gaze fixed on Athar with curiosity.
"Where did I get it, you ask?" Athar turned, walking slowly toward another of his books.
"The information about the location of such books was hidden in this one." He wiped the dust off the cover and slowly turned back toward Val.
"I got it from a friend of mine who disappeared in the Great War, the War of the Oni clan's I told you about. She had the same last name as you,"
he added, his voice quiet, as if lost in thought. "How many years have passed since I first opened this?"
"I think it was 10 years? Maybe 2, or even 40... but never mind that," Athar said, his voice growing distant, as if lost in time. He took a deep breath before continuing, his tone firm but filled with a quiet intensity. "The most important thing is that I created a guild of the most powerful mages, to protect the secrets of these books, hidden within this one. I couldn't let them fall into the wrong hands."
Athar began explaining how he had acquired the books, gifting them to trusted mages to guard them. "Perhaps you were chosen by the greatest abyss to read it, at least once," he said, his voice heavy with the weight of the moment. "Now, I must hide it forever."
With those words, Athar opened a portal to an unknown place, the air around him crackling with energy. Without hesitation, he threw both books inside the one Val had read and the one Athar had been speaking of sending them into the depths of the unknown.
"Now listen, Valen," Athar's voice grew more serious, his gaze intense and filled with concern. "The book you read wasn't just any ordinary grimoire. It was the 13th book of world knowledge." He took a step closer, his expression filled with worry. "If you learned anything from it... don't ever use it. It will destroy the balance of this world, and once again, we'll face the threat of destruction from the Devil God of the Abyss." His voice shook slightly, as if the fear of what could happen next was weighing on him.
Athar turned slowly, his gaze returning to the shelves of books, his posture tense. His fingers brushed over the spines, but his mind seemed far away, consumed by the heavy burden of his words.
"You don't need to worry about that," Val said.
"I hope so," Athar replied, his voice turning cold, "otherwise, I'd have to kill you." He grabbed the book with a threatening tone.
Instinctively, Val's hand went to his sword, sensing the bloodlust emanating from Athar.
"Of course, I'm just joking," Athar quickly added, a small laugh escaping him. "Death itself would come for you after you took something from it," he continued, chuckling.
Valen slowly released his grip on the sword, his expression unshaken. "I'm not afraid of death."
Athar looked at Val, his expression darkening slightly.
"I realize that, because you wouldn't be here if it were otherwise," he said, his voice low.
"But you should still fear death. Who knows what you might face when it comes for you?"
He turned to Valen and, walking slowly past him, added, "Let's go get something to eat." His tone shifted, as if trying to lighten the mood.
"I didn't cook anything," Val said, quickly walking towards Athar.
"It's okay, don't worry. I brought something with me," Athar replied, opening a small pocket portal. From it, he pulled out a plate of golden-brown fried zucchini, crispy on the outside yet tender inside. Alongside it was a perfectly roasted duck, its skin crisp and glistening with a rich glaze, the meat juicy and fragrant. Beside the duck lay soft, pillowy dumplings, dusted with a light sprinkle of herbs, their warm, fluffy texture a perfect complement to the savory feast.
"Let's eat" Athar said a moment after.