Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

The remaining mages in the meeting room, although relieved to be alive, were still shaken by the sudden disappearance of Arion and the others, so they exchanged nervous glances with each other when the meeting seemed to come to an end, but Vorian still hadn't left.

The candles flickered slightly, casting dancing shadows on the walls adorned with antique tapestries. An atmosphere of uncertainty hung in the air as Vorian scratched his beard and seemed to think of something.

Finally, Vorian rose from the table and said:

"It's settled, then. At last, the red tape is over..." he declared, his voice echoing around the room. "However, before we close this meeting, there is something you need to know."

The mages looked at him, their faces a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. What else could the Elder Master Mage have to reveal?

Vorian raised his hand, a gesture that instantly silenced any remaining murmurs in the room. His eyes narrowed slightly and looked up.

"During the entire time of this meeting," he continued, his voice taking on a tone of unusual gravity, "we were being watched and listened to the whole time."

A murmur of perplexity ran through the mages, their gazes flickering between disbelief and alarm. How could they have been watched so closely without realizing it?

Vorian stretched out his hand in front of him, an aura of power pulsing around his fingers. He snapped his fingers, sending out a wave of energy that reverberated up the walls of the room and created a magical gravity zone. The eyes and ears created by Alina, skillfully woven through the magic, were suddenly drawn to Vorian's palm.

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A flickering light danced across their contours, like distant stars reflected in a dark mirror.

A deep silence fell over the assembly, and with a gesture from Vorian the large doors of the meeting room opened quickly, revealing the figure of Alina in front of the astonished magicians. Her invisibility gradually disappeared at that very moment, not because she wanted it to, but because Vorian's glowing eyes looked at her.

The mages watched in amazement as Alina materialized in front of them. Her eyes, shining with an inner light, met theirs.

Vorian, in his role as undisputed leader, stepped to the edge of the doorway and looked at Alina, who was in shock. His voice, now imbued with an inexorable authority, resounded through the walls like distant thunder.

"You dare us..." His voice stopped, however, because he didn't recognize the blonde-haired woman in front of him. "Wait, who are... you?"

He looked back over his shoulder to see if the other three mages could tell him who she was, and two of them shook their shoulders, not recognizing her. However, one of them widened his eyes as he looked at Alina and said:

"That's her... the girl the Psyker was looking for. She's Alina Sylly, the Elder of the Sylly Noble Family and the last librarian of the old Mages' Library!" She revealed, pointing at the woman with long clothes and hair as yellow as sunflower petals.

The silence that followed Alina Sylly's revelation hung over the meeting room like a dense fog.

Vorian, still stunned by the revelation, took a few steps back, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. He faced Alina, who remained standing, maintaining her composure even under the critical gaze of the mages. Her eyes, however, revealed a mixture of determination and apprehension.

It was clear that she hadn't expected to be discovered, but she wouldn't back down in the face of the truth that was about to be revealed.

Vorian, finally recovering from his initial bewilderment, frowned and addressed Alina in a serious tone. "Alina Sylly, Elder of the Sylly Noble Family and last librarian of the ancient Library of the Magi. What brings you to us? And why have you chosen to observe our meeting clandestinely?"

Alina tilted her head slightly, her eyes now fixed on Vorian's. "Master Vorian, members of the Council of Mages, I apologize for my approach. I did not seek to cause intrigue or distrust. I came in search of answers and, perhaps, an alliance." She bluffed.

Alina's words perplexed the wizards. A noble librarian, from a family naturally renowned for its wisdom and probably possessed of vast knowledge, she was certainly seen as a potential ally, but she was also an exile from the Library of the Magi.

"Answers? Alliance?" said Vorian, arching an eyebrow. "Explain yourself, Lady Sylly. Why should we trust you, especially after you've been secretly watching us?"

Alina took a deep breath before she began to explain herself. Her eyes now showed not only determination, but also a hint of vulnerability.

"Lord Vorian, members of the Council of Mages, I understand the gravity of my approach. Allow me to tell you the story that brought me here," Alina began, her eyes meeting those of every wizard in the room.

"The Library of the Magi, which was my home and source of knowledge for so many years, has become a place where truths are distorted and power is used for purposes that go against the original purpose of magic. Many of the magical objects I kept there during the years the Library was sunk in the Forest of the Forgotten have begun to undergo unexpected changes after so long away from Olaynore."

She paused, allowing the words to penetrate the hearts of those present. The room was immersed in silence, only the occasional crackle of a candle breaking the stillness.

"I believe that the Psyker, the one who sought me out, was waiting for this. He seeks a forbidden knowledge, one that could alter the balance between magical energies and throw all worlds into unrecoverable chaos. I, as the last librarian, could not remain indifferent to this.

I decided to seek help from the only group that could understand the magnitude of this threat, the mages of Olaynore, and when I heard about this party, I..."

"Enough." Vorian said, interrupting her. "Do you really think I can't recognize a lie? Your heart is racing and your words are slurred. Think about it, do you really think that a wizard like me wouldn't be able to recognize such an obvious lie?"