God’s Tree

The cold air thickened, pressing against Argolaith's chest like an unseen force. The Veiled Order's leader stood tall, his crimson robes swirling in the lingering darkness of his magic. His pitch-black eyes gleamed with amusement as he watched Argolaith, Kaelred, and Malakar recover from the shockwave.

Kaelred wiped blood from his lip, gripping his sword. "I knew coming here was a bad idea."

Argolaith smirked, standing up straight. "And yet, here we are."

The crimson-robed man chuckled, shaking his head.

"You are bold. I admire that." His voice was smooth, but beneath it was something deeper—something ancient.

Malakar, for once, looked unsettled. "Argolaith, be careful. This isn't just some cult leader—he's wielding forbidden magic. I can feel it."

The man smiled, raising his hand. "Good. You understand what you're dealing with."

With a flick of his fingers, the shadows in the room twisted and convulsed, forming serpentine tendrils of darkness that slithered toward them.

Argolaith lunged forward, sword cutting through the nearest shadow tendril. It hissed like a living thing, recoiling before reforming.

Kaelred dashed to the side, throwing a dagger toward the crimson-robed leader.

The man merely tilted his head, and the dagger froze midair, caught by unseen magic. With a flick of his wrist, he sent it flying back at Kaelred.

Kaelred barely dodged, the blade slicing past his shoulder.

Malakar raised both hands, summoning dark runes in the air. The symbols pulsed before releasing a wave of his own magic, clashing against the enemy's power.

The shadows trembled, warping under the weight of two forces of darkness colliding.

The ground cracked.

The temple shook.

Argolaith pressed forward, dodging a tendril that tried to wrap around his leg. He leapt, swinging his sword straight for the leader's chest.

The man raised his palm.

A barrier of pure dark energy formed in an instant, blocking the attack.

Argolaith's sword clashed against the barrier, sparks flying, but he was forced backward by an invisible force.

"Predictable," the man mused.

Kaelred exhaled sharply. "This isn't working. We need a real plan."

Malakar, his eyes glowing faintly, spoke through gritted teeth. "He's using an ancient variation of shadow magic. If we disrupt the balance of his spellwork, we might be able to break his defenses."

Argolaith smirked. "So, hit him harder?"

Malakar sighed. "In the most reckless way possible? Yes."

Kaelred groaned. "I hate this plan already."

Before they could act, the crimson-robed leader lifted both hands, and the darkness in the temple surged like a tidal wave.

"Let's see how long you last."

The shadows became solid, taking the form of spectral warriors, their eyes glowing with an eerie white light.

Kaelred swore under his breath. "Oh, fantastic. More things trying to kill us."

Argolaith grinned, gripping his sword. "Just another day, then."

Malakar's fingers twitched, preparing a countermeasure. "Be careful. These aren't mere illusions. They're bound spirits—trapped in his magic."

The spectral warriors charged.

The battle began again.

Argolaith sidestepped the first warrior, his blade cutting through its form. The specter dissipated, only to reform seconds later.

Kaelred ducked under a sweeping attack, retaliating with a precise stab to the core of one of the wraiths. It let out a shriek before vanishing.

Malakar's runes flared, launching bursts of dark energy that disrupted the specters' formations.

But the leader stood at the center of the chaos, unshaken.

His eyes flashed, and suddenly—

The shadows beneath Argolaith twisted, dragging him down.

"What—?"

The darkness wrapped around his legs like chains, pulling him toward the Veiled Order leader.

Kaelred lunged forward to help, but a spectral barrier blocked him.

The leader smirked. "You fight well, but you don't understand the forces you're meddling with."

Argolaith struggled against the magic, his muscles tensing as he fought to break free. Stay connected with My Virtual Library Empire

The leader leaned closer. "Tell me… where did you get that ring on your finger?"

Argolaith froze.

Kaelred shouted, "Let him go!"

The leader's grin widened. "That ring is no ordinary artifact. I recognize it."

Malakar's expression darkened. "Release him."

The leader only smiled, tightening his grip over the magic.

"That ring should not exist in this world. Tell me… who gave it to you?"

Argolaith clenched his teeth. "I took it."

The leader tilted his head. "Took it? Interesting."

Malakar stepped forward. "You need to stop this, now."

The leader chuckled. "Or what?"

Malakar's runes surged—and suddenly, the darkness binding Argolaith shattered.

The Veiled Order leader staggered slightly, eyes narrowing.

"You… You are not ordinary, either."

Malakar smirked. "I never claimed to be."

With the shadows disrupted, Argolaith moved in a blur, swinging his sword.

The leader blocked it with another barrier, but this time—the barrier cracked.

Kaelred rushed forward, attacking from the side.

The leader dodged, but Malakar's magic surged behind him, cutting off his escape.

For the first time, the leader looked annoyed.

"Hmph."

With a flick of his wrist, the temple walls trembled.

An explosion of dark energy sent everything shaking, forcing Argolaith and Kaelred to brace themselves.

When the dust settled—

The Veiled Order leader was gone.

Kaelred let out a breath. "Did… did we win?"

Malakar frowned. "No. He let us go. That was a test."

Argolaith sheathed his sword. "Then next time, we make sure he doesn't walk away."

Kaelred sighed. "You really don't know how to stay out of trouble, do you?"

Argolaith grinned. "Where's the fun in that?"

As they stood in the ruined temple, they all knew—

This wasn't over.

The Veiled Order had tested them.

And soon…

They would come for real.

The ruins of the temple stood in eerie silence as Argolaith, Kaelred, and Malakar caught their breath. The Veiled Order's leader had escaped, but not before revealing that he knew something about Argolaith's storage ring.

Kaelred sheathed his sword, rubbing his temples. "I swear, every time we think we've dealt with one problem, five more appear."

Argolaith smirked, "That's just how life works, Kaelred."

Malakar, however, stood motionless, staring at the spot where the leader had vanished.

His glowing eyes dimmed slightly, lost in thought.

Argolaith noticed. "Alright, Malakar. What aren't you telling us?"

Malakar exhaled slowly before speaking. "That magic he used—it wasn't just shadow magic. It was something far older, far more dangerous. That leader—he's not just a powerful sorcerer. He's been trained in an art that very few have ever mastered."

Kaelred frowned. "And you know this how?"

Malakar turned, his gaze intense. "Because I once sought it myself."

Kaelred and Argolaith exchanged looks. Malakar rarely spoke about his past, and when he did, it was always vague.

Argolaith folded his arms. "So, let's hear it. How do you know about this magic?"

Malakar hesitated, then sighed, motioning for them to follow.

They exited the ruined temple and walked to a secluded alleyway, where the city's lights barely reached.

There, Malakar leaned against the wall, crossing his arms.

"Long ago, before I became what I am, I was a scholar. A researcher of lost knowledge. I spent decades searching for hidden truths—things that the world had long forgotten."

Kaelred muttered, "Sounds familiar."

Malakar smirked, but it was brief.

"I came across records of a forgotten school of magic—a craft that predated the kingdoms of men and elves alike. The Silent Order. It was rumored to have mastered the manipulation of shadow and spirit, bending them to their will in ways that defied normal magic."

Argolaith listened carefully. "And you tried to find them?"

Malakar nodded. "I did. And I succeeded. But the price of learning their secrets was high. Too high."

Kaelred's brow furrowed. "Wait… are you saying you were part of this Order?"

Malakar's expression darkened. "No. I was never one of them. But I stole from them. I took what knowledge I could before I was forced to flee. The Order doesn't take kindly to thieves."

Argolaith tapped his fingers on the hilt of his sword. "And you think this Veiled Order is related?"

Malakar nodded. "Not just related. They might be a branch of the same Order I stole from. If that's the case, then we're dealing with something much worse than just a criminal syndicate."

Kaelred swore under his breath. "So what now? If they know about Argolaith's ring, that means they're not going to stop."

Malakar's gaze flickered toward Argolaith. "That's exactly what worries me."

Argolaith looked down at his finger, where the storage ring rested.

It seemed ordinary enough, a simple band with no distinct markings. Yet, it had infinite space—a power unheard of outside of myth.

Argolaith exhaled. "Alright, Malakar. What do you really know about my ring?"

Malakar hesitated, then said, "I don't know everything. But I do know that rings like yours… shouldn't exist."

Kaelred raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Malakar crossed his arms. "Even the most skilled enchanters cannot create truly limitless storage. There are always restrictions—maximum weight, size, or magical limits. But your ring ignores all of those rules. That means it wasn't made by normal means."

Argolaith frowned. "Then who—or what—made it?"

Malakar looked at him for a long moment before saying, "Someone who understands the fundamental laws of reality itself."

A chill ran down Argolaith's spine.

Kaelred shook his head. "Great. So not only are we dealing with shadow cults, but now you're telling us this ring might be the work of some godlike being?"

Malakar exhaled. "Possibly. Or something worse."

Argolaith clenched his fist. "Then I'll find out the truth myself."

Malakar gave him a long look before sighing. "You're relentless, I'll give you that."

Kaelred groaned. "Alright, enough of the cryptic talk. What's our next move?"

Malakar straightened. "We need to prepare. The Veiled Order won't stop until they get what they want."

Argolaith smirked. "Let them come."

Kaelred, however, was more cautious. "We barely survived the last fight. If their leader comes back with reinforcements, we're dead."

Malakar nodded. "Which is why we need to train. We need to be ready for anything."

Kaelred muttered, "Why do I feel like this is going to end terribly?"

Argolaith laughed, stretching his arms. "Because it probably will. But that's never stopped us before."

Malakar smirked. "Then let's get started."

And so, as the night deepened, Argolaith, Kaelred, and Malakar began their preparations for war.

The Veiled Order was coming.

And when they did—

Argolaith would be ready.