I need to check the Autarium and see what condition it’s in.

Before I can set off to check it, I freeze, looking at the people still trembling and vulnerable around the room. I needed to move them first.

Ilyric senses my hesitation and stiffened state. “Do you want me to move them to a safer place?”

He crooks a brow toward me, his expression back to his normal demeanor but with a slight…softness to them.

My brows raise into my hairline with his slightly softened tone and accurate guess.

He continues, a grin tilting his lips at my expression, “And to the Vault.”

“How did you know that’s what I was thinking?” I ask, my eyes narrowing toward him.

His haughty smile returns but softer and more playful. He chuckles as he passes me, heading toward the center of the Library, turning back to meet my eyes, “It’s strongly spelled, and also…that's what I would do.”

A gentle curve tilts his lips. “Maybe we have more in common than I thought.”

With that, he heads to the reception desk. He calls for everyone's attention, quickly explains our plan, and starts leading everyone to the basement level.

Cole and Jace help by lending a hand to move Mateo and others that are injured.

With Ilyric, Jace and Cole helping, I can finally make my way to the Autarium and find out if our defense is strong enough to bide our time until reinforcements come. Or whether we have to fight our way out of this.

Either way, I wasn't going to let anyone or anything touch or take the Records. I would give them one hell of a fight if they tried.

I make my way up the stairs, another blast hitting the building and shaking the barrier as I reach the attic floor. I enter the Autarium room on the top level, the overflowing magic hitting me instantly as I walk in.

The room is a chaotic mess, light flaring from the Autarium, static power pouring from every facet of the protective artifact. It spreads and stretches to every crevice of the room and down the walls with light blue wispy waves flowing under the static power like fog.

The air thick with a heavy buzz, the sound of its power permeating around the room, saturating every part of it.

I gasp at the overwhelming feel of it against my skin, almost scratching at my lungs as I breathe it in.

I calm myself, trying to steady my breathing, and continue toward the Autarium, its power lashing out, sending a static flare toward me. I dodge and continue slowly, one step at a time, as I call to the bond I felt toward the Library and its magic. Something pulls at my chest as I connect with the bond, an overwhelming uneasiness settling within me as I draw nearer.

I reach my hand out toward the large glass casing holding the old artifact. Watching on as it once again unleashes its anger upon me, a small bolt of magic hitting my hand and burning it instantly.