CHAPTER 427: CHAPTER 427. TRIALS 1

The group hovered silently, each of them staring at the endless shelves of fragments.

Even from a distance, the library seemed alive. Golden light flickered along carved runes in the floor, reflecting off the fragments, casting shadows that danced across the towering shelves. Some fragments hovered gently, spinning, while others pulsed as if aware of the intruders.

Kailen’s eyes swept across them all, calm and calculating. "Do not touch anything," he said firmly, though his gaze softened slightly as it passed over Arrie and the others. "Observe first. Move carefully. The library will test intent and compatibility, not strength."

Arrie’s eyes scanned the shelves, lingering on a fragment that radiated soft green light. "It... it’s beautiful," she whispered. "I feel like it’s... calling to me."

Ethan frowned, gripping his hands together. "Calling or warning?"

Anaya’s gaze remained sharp, as she was studying the runes etched into the floor. "The patterns here are... alive. Even the smallest movement could trigger a reaction."

Micheal exhaled slowly, floating slightly above the ground. "We have to trust Kailen, then. One wrong step and... we might not get out."

Kailen’s shadow extended subtly across the floor, a silent protective net. "Exactly. I can sense the flow of the fragments. They react to intent, not touch. Watch, and you’ll understand."

A faint pulse rippled through a nearby shelf, and one fragment began to glow more brightly, spinning faster. Arrie instinctively leaned closer, curiosity tugging her forward. Kailen’s hand shot out, almost imperceptibly, and a shadow barrier nudged her back.

"Careful," he murmured. "The library is already testing you. It doesn’t take much to provoke a reaction."

Arnold stepped forward, eyes narrowing. "So the danger isn’t just picking the wrong fragment... it’s even approaching them too casually?"

Kailen nodded once. "Yes. Some fragments are... aware. They measure your will, your intent, your compatibility. The wrong approach, and illusions or guardians will appear."

For a moment, silence hung over the group. Only the soft hum of floating fragments and flickering runes filled the air.

Then, without warning, a faint ripple ran across the floor. A single fragment floated slightly higher, its golden light pulsing aggressively. Shadows around it stretched and twisted, forming vague, humanoid shapes — guardians, barely visible, yet undeniably alive.

"Everyone, stay back!" Kailen commanded, his voice calm but precise. His shadow stretched across the room, forming a protective dome around the group.

The pulse faded, the guardians’ silhouettes wavered, then disappeared, leaving the fragment hovering gently once more.

Anaya blinked, astonished. "He... stopped it without even touching it?"

Kailen’s gaze lingered on the fragment. "This is just a test. Observe, understand, and move with certainty. The library will not forgive mistakes."

Arrie floated closer to his side, voice quiet. "Babe... are we ready for this?"

Kailen’s lips curved into a faint, precise smile. "We don’t get a choice. Only forward."

A low hum echoed through the library, and the fragments pulsed again, faster this time, as if reacting to the group’s combined presence. Shadows stretched across the floors and walls, runes flickering like living veins.

---

The golden light of the fragments shimmered across the group, flickering like a heartbeat. Each member hesitated, eyes drawn to the glowing relics.

Arrie floated slightly forward, her curiosity stronger than caution. "Babe... that one," she whispered, pointing to a fragment that pulsed softly, casting pale green reflections across the floor.

Kailen’s gaze followed hers. His shadow stretched subtly toward her, barely noticeable, nudging her back without words. "Observe. Don’t touch. Learn its flow first."

Everlong gritted her teeth. "It’s... almost mocking us. Like it knows we’re hesitating."

The fragment pulsed again, faster this time. Shadows warped around it, faint humanoid silhouettes rising from the floor, as if the library itself was testing their courage.

Ethan froze, his hand twitching toward another fragment that floated lazily above a pedestal. Kailen’s shadow rippled under his feet, forming a protective veil. The fragment’s glow shifted instantly, reacting to Ethan’s intent. A low hum filled the room, faint but heavy, as if the library were breathing.

"Step back," Kailen murmured. "It’s measuring you. Your intent is... too eager. Calm your mind."

Anaya’s eyes widened. "It’s alive... in a way I’ve never seen runes interact with lifeforms."

Micheal floated closer to Kailen, his voice quiet. "So this is... the real test. Not strength. Not skill. Intent."

Kailen nodded. "Exactly. One wrong move, and the library won’t let you go until it decides you’ve learned the lesson... or it forces you into an illusion forever."

He was sure of everything he said because he had deep understanding on runes, and the hints the time dilation artifact kept giving him, alongside the usage of his battle style ,umbral pirouette- observe ,predict, incoporate.

Arrie’s curiosity overcame her again. She leaned slightly toward the pulsing green fragment. It shimmered violently in response, sending waves of energy across the floor. Shadows twisted upward, forming more defined shapes — humanoid guardians, reaching out, their forms flickering between solid and ephemeral.

Kailen’s hand shot out, unseen to the others. Shadows swirled around the fragment, diffusing the energy pulse, and the guardians dissolved as if they were smoke. The fragment hovered harmlessly once more, glowing softly.

Everyone exhaled in relief. Even Arrie’s lips trembled slightly, awed.

"Babe... that was..." she started, but Kailen placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression calm, precise.

"Observation first," he said softly. "Touching comes after understanding. The library reacts to intent, not strength. You will not succeed if you rush."

Arnold stepped forward next, eyes scanning the rows of fragments. One golden fragment floated slightly apart, its glow stronger than the others. A faint energy ripple pulsed around it, distorting the runes beneath.

Kailen tilted his head. "That one is not just a test of power. It watches, adapts, and punishes hasty actions. Approach carefully... or it will force you into an illusion you cannot distinguish from reality."

Arnold swallowed hard. "I... I understand. We need to watch its pattern first."

The group spread slightly, moving cautiously through the library. Each fragment they passed seemed to pulse, as if alive, whispering in light rather than sound. Some pulsed in response to their emotions; others flinched and dimmed as they studied them.

Kailen’s eyes never left the fragments. Every pulse, every shimmer, every shadow movement was noted, measured, and calculated.

Finally, he paused before a fragment hovering near the center of the library. Its light was pale, almost fragile, but the shadows around it twisted unnaturally. Kailen extended a finger, testing the aura with his shadow sense. The fragment reacted instantly — the runes on the floor flared brightly, but the shadows did not attack.

"It’s compatible," he muttered under his breath, almost to himself. "This one is meant to test, not destroy."

Arrie floated closer, her curiosity barely contained. Kailen’s gaze met hers. "Watch," he said. "Learn its flow. Only then will you understand how to choose."

A low hum echoed through the library again, stronger than before. Shadows lengthened across the floor, creeping toward the group. The fragments pulsed faster, as if sensing the approaching challenge.

"This is it," Kailen murmured. "The library has decided we are ready. Stay alert... the library is about to test us"