SWNOVELS Chapter 13
“Exactly,” Lyra agreed, straightening up with a wince. She rolled her shoulders, trying to work out the knots that had formed from hunching over the pedestal. “I think we need to approach this differently. Maybe if we combine our efforts…”
Fenris nodded, moving to stand beside her. He placed his hand on the puzzle box, next to Lyra’s, and immediately felt a jolt of energy course through him. The patterns on the box’s surface swirled faster, responding to their combined touch.
“It’s reacting to us,” Lyra breathed, excitement coloring her voice. “Quick, think of something related to the moon. A memory, a feeling, anything!”
Fenris closed his eyes, reaching deep within himself. He thought of countless nights spent running beneath the full moon, the exhilaration of the hunt, the primal connection to nature that coursed through his veins. Beside him, he could sense Lyra doing the same, her magical energy intertwining with his own.
For a moment, it seemed to be working. The patterns on the box began to align, forming recognizable symbols and glyphs. But then, just as quickly, they scattered once more, leaving the puzzle as inscrutable as ever.
Lyra let out a frustrated groan, snatching her hand away from the box. “It’s no use! Every time we get close, it slips away. There must be something we’re missing.”
Fenris stepped back, running a hand through his hair. “Maybe we’re overthinking this. The spirit said we needed to decipher an ancient spell, right? What if we’re not supposed to unlock the box at all? What if the puzzle itself is the spell?”
Lyra’s eyes widened at the suggestion. “That… actually makes a lot of sense. But how do we interpret it? The patterns keep changing.”
“Not completely,” Fenris pointed out, gesturing to the box. “Look closely. There are certain elements that remain constant, no matter how the rest shifts.”
Lyra leaned in, studying the puzzle box with renewed intensity. “You’re right! These symbols here, they’re always present, just in different configurations. If we can identify their meaning…”
She trailed off, her gaze darting to the bookshelves surrounding them. “We need reference material. Start looking for anything related to lunar magic or ancient spellcraft.”
They split up, each taking a section of the vast library. Fenris found himself grateful for his enhanced senses as he scanned the faded titles of countless tomes. The sheer volume of knowledge contained in this room was staggering, and he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of inadequacy. This was Lyra’s world, not his.
As if sensing his discomfort, Lyra called out from across the chamber. “Don’t worry about understanding everything you see, Fenris. Just look for anything that resembles the symbols on the box. Your instincts are sharper than you give yourself credit for.”
Her words bolstered his confidence, and Fenris redoubled his efforts. After what felt like hours of searching, he finally stumbled upon a promising lead. “Lyra! I think I’ve found something.”
She hurried over, her arms laden with scrolls and books of her own. Fenris held out a slender volume bound in shimmering silver leather. “This keeps drawing my attention, even though I can’t read the title. It’s like… like it’s calling to me somehow.”
Lyra’s eyes lit up as she took the book from him. “This is incredible, Fenris! It’s a treatise on lunar resonance magic – incredibly rare and powerful stuff. How did you know to choose this one?”
Fenris shrugged, uncomfortable with the praise. “I didn’t, not really. It just felt right.”
“Well, your instincts were spot on,” Lyra said, already flipping through the pages with eager intensity. “This could be exactly what we need to crack the code.”
They returned to the pedestal, spreading out their collected resources around the puzzle box. Lyra dove into the texts with single-minded focus, cross-referencing symbols and muttering complex incantations. Fenris tried to follow along, but much of the magical theory went over his head. He found himself growing restless once more, the wolf within him chafing at the academic approach.
“Maybe we should try a more direct method,” he suggested after another hour had passed with little progress. “What if we channel our energy into the box again, but this time with a specific intent? You could use your magic to amplify the lunar aspects, while I tap into my connection to the moon through my wolf form.”
Lyra looked up from her work, a frown creasing her brow. “That’s far too risky, Fenris. We don’t know how the box might react to that kind of raw power. And you said yourself that you’ve been feeling off-balance lately. Transforming here, in the heart of such potent magic… it could be dangerous.”
“Sometimes you have to take risks to get results,” Fenris argued, his frustration mounting. “We can’t just sit here poring over dusty books forever. Those creatures outside the temple are still out there, and who knows what other dangers are heading our way. We need to solve this puzzle and move on to the next trial.”
Lyra’s expression hardened, a spark of anger flashing in her eyes. “And rushing in blindly is sure to get us killed. This isn’t some brawl in a tavern, Fenris. We’re dealing with ancient, powerful magic. One wrong move and we could unleash forces beyond our control.”
“So we do nothing?” Fenris shot back, his voice rising. “We just sit here and hope the answer magically appears in one of your books? We don’t have that kind of time!”