After Siraye, Thoma, and the others had left for their expedition to Soule, Anwill immediately took to researching the Autarchica Primaria that Siraye had mentioned to him in private just before they left. He was deep in the archives of the Royal Library, as Aurae had given him permission to do so.
This, however, was not to satisfy any desires for power on any of their parts, rather, they searched for ways to better help Thoma control his powers.
There is not a lot to go on here, Anwill thought, setting aside yet another stack of papers that cluttered his mahogany desk.
The only information provided in these texts are that it was originally discovered when the first Realmwalker appeared, but how many had come with him, or before him for that matter, isn't stated here. The only other bit of information on it is that the Realmwalker helped shape Myrdin into what it is today, though what other places he might have influenced are not mentioned, he thought as he compiled the information he now had.
With a heavy, exasperated sigh, he leaned back into his chair, feeling the wood creak a little beneath him. He stretched his arms above his head, and yawned deeply before looking at the hour-candle he'd lit when he first arrived.
Shit, it's almost completely out. Have I really been here that long? He thought, noticing it was on its last marking.
He chuckled lightly, and shook his head while stiffened joints creaked as he got up from his seat. "I really should pay more attention to the passage of time," he said aloud, feeling the blood rush back into the lower half of his body. "You should, indeed," Aurae's voice came from around one of the tall bookshelves filled to the top with scrolls, tomes, and other such records.
"Did you come to see whether I was dead? I can assure you that though I may look like it right now, I am very much alive," he said, his voice a little raspy from the lack of both sleep and sustenance. "No, no, I know you're an absolute bookworm. I don't blame you for that, I just wanted to see if you'd made any progress," she said, waving her hand dismissively.
Anwill was pensive for a moment, but ultimately shook his head. "There really isn't much information left," he said, gesturing to the desk of unraveled scrolls beside him. "The only thing I could really find was that there were once people, or elves… or gods even, I'm not sure which, were called Realmwalkers," he said with a shrug.
Aurae turned immediately pensive as Anwill said the final word, as if searching through her memories to find anything useful. After a few, quiet moments, she clicked her tongue in frustration, and exhaled through her nostrils. "If the Great Abstersion removed so much knowledge from our realm, then why was that left behind?" she asked, voicing her thoughts.
"Perhaps they wanted us to find it," Anwill suggested. "But why now? It makes no sense. None of it does," she countered frustratedly as she began to pace the room, playing with the ring on her left index finger idly. "Aurae, I've done what I could here, but none of our records here give us any insight into what truly happened back then, regardless of how hard we look," Anwill said tiredly.
"I know, I know. I just…" she trailed off, hearing footsteps coming from down the hall. Anwill also noticed the distinctive sound of armored footfall, turning to face in its direction. Vesryn came out of the dimly-lit hallway, and raised a hand in greeting. "Hello there, old friend!" he exclaimed in greeting.
"Vesryn! It's good to see you again," Anwill returned the greeting. Aurae stepped out from behind him, and the guardsman's facial expression paled. "Y-your majesty! My apologies, I didn't see you were here, too," he said, nearly snapping himself in half as he bowed. "It's quite alright, Captain. Now, tell us, what brings you to this darkened corner of Myrdin?" she asked, gesturing for him to raise his head.
"As you wish, your majesty. I've come here to notify you that over the past few days since Commander Siraye's departure, my scouts have noticed a strange figure lurking about the borders of Myrdin," he said flatly, though his features couldn't hide his unease.
"A strange figure? What did this figure look like?" Anwill asked. "According to some of the scouts, it somewhat matches the description of a creature Commander Siraye fought nearly a year ago," he said plaintively. "That can't be. She killed the one she fought as well as the others that came along with it. There was no other time where these creatures have been recorded here," Anwill said.
It's impossible. Or, rather, it should be impossible for there to have been another event like that without us knowing. Did it come from another land? He thought, scratching the side of his head.
"She did, and the reports have confirmed as much since that time. However, this one apparently has strange markings on it unlike its predecessors," Vesryn said. "What kind of markings?" Anwill asked, his curiosity peaked.
"Like those of the creatures that attacked Coltend Castle," Vesryn replied with finality. He knew all too well what those words would mean, especially to one who was there.
"By the gods above and below," Aurae said, cupping her hand over her mouth.
Siraye never mentioned they had markings, did she? This is becoming a war on two fronts with two different enemies. There's always the possibility that these different creatures are somehow working together, Anwill thought, digesting the information.