Chapter 10

 

Chapter 10

The sphinx will always have to be looked after.

© Zahi Hawass

You are afraid of me, because I talk like a sphinx.

© Charlotte Bronte

 

A sphinx with a sharp intellect and a penchant for art history, Noah Riddler found his interest in the world of supernatural creatures at a bar called On The Corner. Tucked away between the bustling corridors of the university, where Nick Lemongrass was studying, he crossed paths with him, the owner of the very bar that is now known as a haven for creatures of all kinds.

It was because of this unique atmosphere that Noah visited The Bar On The Corner. Entering the mysterious door of the bar, Noah had never felt such a sense of acceptance, such a sense of belonging in his life.

Sensing that he had witnessed something extraordinary, Noah could not resist the urge to share his newfound refuge with other supernatural beings in need of shelter. Over the next few days, Noah reached out to the supernatural beings he knew, whispering to them about a safe place where their secrets would be protected.

Slowly but surely, Noah's acquaintances began to trickle into The Bar On The Corner. Vampires, witches, werewolves, and many other incarnations of the fantastic now found themselves in the bosom of a group bound by shared experiences and connections that took place within the walls of Bar On The Corner.

As Bar On The Corner grew, so did Noah's function. He became a pretty good librarian and researcher, a good listener for the lost souls who sought their own refuge. His broad knowledge of history and art deepened their community and brought a deeper understanding of the beauty that lived in their world.

Thanks to Noah's connections, The Bar On The Corner became much more than just a bar; it became a supernatural center. Stories of its existence spread among magical creatures like wildfire, bringing them from far and wide to find shelter and companionship.

One evening Noah heard some frantic whispers at a table by the window.  A group of dryads, their skin like bark and their hair like moss, clung to each other, their usual playful energy replaced by a palpable fear.

«They’re killing the forest,” one whispered, her voice trembling. «It’s happening so fast…the light is fading…we have no time.”

Nick patted the dryad’s shoulder with tenderness.  «It’s alright, sweetheart. We’ll figure something out. What’s going on?”

«It's a blight,” a tall, wiry dryad named Lilac spoke, her voice strong despite the tremor in her hands. «A magic-sapping sickness spreading through the roots, draining the life from the trees. We need…we need a cure.”

«A cure? Like a magic potion?” Nick’s brow furrowed, his usual jovial expression replaced by concern. «We need to find a spell…something powerful.”

«The ancient ones spoke of a way,” a small dryad named Hazel chimed in, her voice barely a whisper. «But their knowledge is lost… hidden in the forgotten books.”

Noah, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke.  «Forgotten books? You’re looking for ancient lore?” 

The dryads looked at him, hope flickering in their emerald eyes. «Do you know something, Noah?”

He gave a slow, knowing smile. «I know where to find it.”

After Riddle joined the gang The Bar On The Corner wasn’t just a bar; it was a safe haven, a neutral ground where creatures of all shapes and sizes could gather. But it was also a repository of knowledge, a hidden library stocked with volumes of forgotten magic, ancient lore, and forbidden spells. Noah, with his vast knowledge and insatiable curiosity, was its curator, a living encyclopedia of the place.

«But the books are guarded,” Noah continued, his voice low and rumbling like the distant thunder. «Only those with a worthy purpose can access them.”

«We’re worthy,” Lilac declared, her voice filled with conviction. «The survival of our forest is at stake.”

Noah’s smile deepened. «Then we must find a way to prove it.”

Scarlet, the werewolf, joined the conversation. «And what about this blight? Is it magical, or something else?”

«We’re not sure,” Hazel admitted, her voice barely audible. «It’s like…a shadow, draining the life force of the trees.”

«Sounds like a curse,” Scarlet growled, her eyes flashing. «And curses need breaking.”

The night deepened, the air thick with the scent of desperation and the quiet rustle of ancient pages. Noah led the group into a hidden chamber behind the bar, a room bathed in soft, ethereal light emanating from glowing crystals embedded in the walls. Shelves crammed with ancient tomes lined the walls, each volume bound in leather, metal, or even bone. 

«These are the books,” Noah said, his voice echoing in the silence. «But they’re not just filled with words. They hold power, ancient magic, and whispers of the past.”

He pointed to a massive tome, bound in iron and adorned with intricate carvings. «This is the Book of Roots, the oldest and most powerful of them all. It holds the secrets of the forest, its life and death, its birth and decay.”

Lilac stepped forward, her eyes wide with awe. «But how can we read it? It’s written in an ancient language.”

«I know that one,” Noah replied, his voice soft but firm. «But there’s a price to be paid for such knowledge.”

He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. «The books are protected by a magic ward, a powerful barrier that only those worthy of the knowledge can breach. To reach the Book of Roots, you must prove your dedication, your strength, and your unwavering commitment to your cause.”

The dryads, their faces grim, exchanged worried glances.  They knew the danger, the burden of such knowledge, but the fate of their home hung in the balance. 

«We’re willing to pay the price,” Lilac declared, her voice strong and unwavering. «We’ll do whatever it takes.”

And so, under the watchful eyes of Noah the dryads  faced riddles of wisdom, trials of strength, and tests of courage, proving their devotion to their forest and their resilience against the shadow of the blight.  

One by one, they cracked three the codes, using the powers of nature and unlocked the wards, and finally, Lilac, with trembling hands, opened the Book of Roots. Its pages, shimmering with ancient light, revealed the secrets of the forest, the source of the blight, and a path to its cure.

It was a dangerous, intricate spell, requiring a rare and potent herb that only grew in the darkest depths of their forest, a ritual that needed to be performed at the heart of the dying trees, and a sacrifice of the part their own magic, a desperate offering to appease the ancient spirits of the forest.

The dryads, their faces etched with a mixture of hope and fear, made their way back to the forest. They faced the encroaching shadow, the dying trees, and the whispers of the ancient spirits.  They performed the ritual, their hearts heavy with the burden of sacrifice, their voices echoing through the dying woods.  

With a final burst of light and a tremor in the earth, the blight retreated, the shadow lifted, and the forest sighed with renewed life. The trees, revitalized and strong, reached out with emerald leaves, their branches swaying in the gentle breeze. The dryads, exhausted but triumphant, looked up at the returning light, a testament to their courage and their unwavering bond with their home.

With these happy news they came back to the bar.

«You did good,” said Noah «Because of your strong wish to help the forest and your pure hearts all your magic will return some in full force. It was a part of the ritual but a hidden one.” He smiled and winked while dryads started laughing and hugging each other.

It could be said, that Noah Riddler has undoubtedly rewritten the history of this bar forever, leaving it well lit for any supernatural being with hope.