OVA's Lore: Areallya S1.4

From that day forward, Areallya got an escort to Igor’s library almost every day. The librarian did little else than study his vast collection, admitting he’d only read around half of what his room contained. Areallya still considered it impressive. She, on the other hand, just began. Igor suggested books for her to read that would help her understand the kind of magic plaguing her.

“The first step is understanding,” he said when giving her the books. While little remained known about the Crow King, vast knowledge existed about curses and binding magic. Igor had another desk brought in for her and placed it in the corner near one of the windows. Many things changed for Areallya after the incident, but this started to feel familiar; sitting at a desk, reading books, and taking notes. In a blink of an eye, a month had passed. The studious teen finished all of the preliminary material Igor planned for her. Her hard work towards releasing the curse had an impact on the librarian, and she’d become something of an apprentice of his by now. Areallya gladly came under his wing. Igor began directing her into more advanced materials, and predicted they could begin physical training when Spring came. 

Unfortunately, another interference would occur before then. It happened in the afternoon. Areallya and Igor settled into their routine; quiet reading and study until his ‘trivial church matters’ in the late day. An hour into her book, Areallya felt a sudden twinge of pain in the left side of your head. She looked up from her book sharply.

You think all this is going to save you? A voice whispered in her ear. Her knuckles started to turn white as she gripped the book in her hands. 

“Areallya…?” The girl’s name hung in the air unanswered. Igor met her terrified eyes from across the room, but before she could plead for help she collapsed from her chair. He swiftly moved to her through the mess of books. Aside from her loss of consciousness, everything seemed fine. Igor picked the girl up and gently placed her on a long couch. Even with her eyes closed, he could see the dim glow. Areallya’s face continued to twist uncomfortably as chaos raged inside her head. The longer Igor witnessed this, the more his anger boiled.

“Time to put a face to a name,” he said to himself, placing three fingers on Areallya’s forehead. With a short chant, Igor found himself in the turmoil of the girl’s mind. Dark clouds swirled about and rumbled angrily. Flashes of lightning warned him to stay away, but the librarian ignored this. He plunged through the smoke in search of the storm’s source. A crow suddenly darted at him from the darkness. Igor dodged the single attack with ease, but as the birds began to charge him in all directions, he put up a protection spell. 

“I must be on the right path.” Igor continued to follow the faint thread of magical energy until he came to a large ball of smokey clouds encircling itself. He cautiously entered the swirling ball, still encased in his magical protection. The clouds soon parted and revealed a large empty room shrouded in darkness. Igor touched down on the floor and inspected his surroundings. The birds had stopped attacking. Inside the swirling chaos, it fell eerily quiet. He started to walk up a short flight of steps and through an enclosed hallway. Igor observed the surroundings morph as he continued, briefly running his palm against the dark stone-like walls. He found himself in an open space once more. This time however, a figure sat on a throne at the end. The man wore all black clothes. He sat crossed legs, hand against his fist in the extravagant chair. Igor’s approaching footsteps had the stranger lift his head. A piercing blue eye peered at the librarian.

“You have no business here,” a voice boomed in the emptiness. 

“Oh, I believe I do,” Igor replied. He looked back at the Crow King, unafraid of whatever intentions the intruder had. 

“Areallya is my pupil. I will not stand by idly while you torment her.” Laughter erupted from the dark figure in response. 

“The girl and her immense power are mine,” the Crow King rose and began towards Igor, intending to strike down this annoyance. However, his arrogance would cost him this battle. The librarian gripped the arm intended to strike him.

“You can’t do away with me without harming the girl!” The dark haired man would use anything to bargain with.

“You’re just going to keep quiet for a while,” Igor began another defensive spell. The Crow King yelled in protest and clawed at the iron-clad hold on his arm, but to no avail.