Chapter 28

Underlayer

Four guys marched toward Grand Library. Kai, Elijah and Lucas tried to behave freely, when Raphael was partially lost in his thoughts.

As they walked toward the library, the boys kept up a lighthearted commentary, pointing out various spots on campus and exchanging jokes in an effort to distract Raphael from the unsettling strangeness still clinging to him. The warmth of their company eased the tension coiled inside him — even if just slightly.
A gentle breeze swept across the stone pathways, rustling the leaves of nearby hedges and making the lanterns flicker with a soft, golden glow. The air was cool and carried the scent of distant ink, old paper, and the faint aroma of blooming nightflowers.

The library, when they arrived, was unexpectedly crowded. Students were hunched over books in small groups or absorbed in solitary focus, their quiet murmur blending with the rustle of pages and the soft hum of enchanted lamps.
The high, vaulted ceiling created a natural echo chamber, amplifying even the subtlest sound — a dropped quill, a whispered explanation, the scrape of a chair.

– See? Late nights are normal here – one of the boys said with a smirk.

– Ok. Hello again, Ms Ravenwood – Raphael greeted.

Behind the librarian’s desk sat an elderly woman with sharply defined features and piercing eyes that seemed to see far more than what was visible. She looked up at the sound of their arrival, her expression warming with recognition. She smiled gently at the boys before her gaze landed on Raphael. A small crease of curiosity furrowed her brow.

– Ah, hello again, dear. I see you’ve made some new friends.

– Yes. There’s a lot of good souls eager to help in this school – Raphael replied with a small, genuine smile.
There was something deeply comforting about the librarian’s presence — as though she stood as a guardian of stories and secrets, old as time itself.

Ms. Ravenwood nodded, her eyes sparkling with quiet amusement.

– Indeed, there are many kind souls here.

She leaned forward slightly, folding her hands on the desk.
The motion made her shawl, embroidered with arcane symbols, slip slightly off her shoulder — revealing worn but steady hands.

– What brings you all to the library so late?

Kai stepped forward, his tone polite but purposeful.

– We’re trying to find out more about…

– Do you have anything about the Originals? – Raphael interrupted gently, his voice tinged with a subtle urgency.
Even as the words left his lips, he felt a strange flutter in his chest — like he was invoking something ancient, half-remembered.

The librarian’s eyes widened just a fraction, a flicker of alarm crossing her face. She cast a quick glance around the library, then leaned back slowly in her chair, her fingers beginning to tap thoughtfully on the wooden surface.

– The Originals, you say? That’s… quite a specific request.

There was a pause — measured, wary — before she spoke again.

– I do have some restricted texts that mention them briefly.

– Restricted? – Raphael asked, his voice falling slightly with disappointment.
His heart sank, the brief surge of hope flickering like a candle in the wind.

Ms. Ravenwood’s gaze grew more serious, and she nodded solemnly.

– Yes, they’re restricted for a reason. The information contained within is… dangerous.

Her eyes met each of theirs in turn, holding their attention with quiet intensity.

– But given your situation, I think it might be worth taking a look.

She stood up from her desk, the weight of the decision clear in her voice.
For a moment, time felt like it had slowed, as though even the books around them were holding their breath.

– Oh! Thank you so much! You’re an angel! – Raphael said, sincerely, his expression bright with gratitude and admiration.

Ms. Ravenwood chuckled softly as she stepped around the desk.

– Hardly an angel, dear. Just an old librarian who knows when to bend the rules.

There was a quiet grace to her movements as she led them through the rows of shelves, her steps steady and assured.
The ambient light dimmed subtly as they reached a more secluded section. Shadows stretched longer, and the air grew heavier, dense with the scent of centuries.

She stopped before an unassuming bookshelf and retrieved a small, ornate key from a chain around her neck. The metal caught the lamplight for a brief second before disappearing into the lock. A soft click, and the bookshelf creaked open to reveal a hidden door.

– Whoa… – Raphael whispered.
His pulse quickened, curiosity mingling with awe.

Behind the door lay a secret room steeped in shadow and silence, its shelves packed with ancient tomes and forgotten volumes. The air was thick — dense with the scent of dust, leather, and something intangible. Knowledge. Power. Danger.
Even his breath felt heavier here, as though the atmosphere itself resisted being disturbed.

– Welcome to my little secret room – Ms. Ravenwood said, stepping inside and gesturing for them to follow. She closed the door behind them with a quiet finality.
The sound of the latch falling into place echoed like a promise.

Even the typically carefree Luke straightened his posture, his smile fading. Elijah adjusted his glasses with a subtle nervous twitch, while Kai’s expression settled into focused attentiveness.
The gravity of the moment settled on them all like a velvet cloak.

Ms. Ravenwood motioned toward a wide table in the center.

– Sit here. Handle these books with care.

– Of course, Ma’am – Raphael said respectfully.
He lowered himself onto the bench, acutely aware of the centuries looking down at him from every shelf.

The librarian nodded with approval and moved to the shelves with reverence. She began selecting a few large, ancient volumes — their leather bindings worn, their titles etched in symbols none of them recognized. She placed them gently on the table.

– These are the books that mention the Originals.

Raphael leaned forward slightly, his eyes drawn to the most aged and imposing of them all.
Its surface was dark and cracked with time, yet it seemed to pulse faintly beneath his gaze.

– What language is that? – he asked, pointing at the weathered tome.

– It’s an ancient language predating Latin, called Enochian – Ms. Ravenwood replied, her voice lowered with reverence. – It’s said to be the language of the angels.

She slid the book closer to him.

– Only a handful of people in the world can read it fluently today. Even modern angels themselves not always know this language anymore.

A shadow crossed her face.

– This is the oldest and probably the best source of ancient knowledge about essential topics, the Originals included. But I still haven’t found a translation or anyone who would be able to translate it.

Raphael reached out and gently touched the cover.

The moment his fingers made contact, the etched runes on the leather ignited in brilliant blue light, flooding the room with a pulse of radiance. Shadows danced across the walls, and his face was bathed in an otherworldly glow.
Gasps filled the room, but Raphael could only stare — transfixed by the glowing patterns.

– Whoa! – he breathed.
The warmth of the magic tingled in his fingertips, running up his arms like a current.

Ms. Ravenwood gasped and stumbled back, her hand at her chest.

– Impossible! Only one born of Original blood could activate those runes…

– But… so how? – Raphael stammered, startled by the intensity of the reaction.
His mind reeled, grasping for something solid in the swirl of implications.

The librarian’s voice dropped to a whisper as she stepped closer, her eyes locked onto his face.

– You’re… you’re probably an Original. Or very close to it.

Her gaze searched his features, as if expecting some divine truth to surface there.

– Your bloodline must be incredibly strong for the runes to react like this.

– But what does that even mean? – Raphael asked, his voice barely above a breath.
Each word felt like it cost something — like truth being pulled from the depths of his being.

– It means you’re not just powerful – she said slowly – you’re royalty among supernatural beings. The Originals are the first, most powerful vampires, werewolves, and witches. They’re the ones who created the bloodlines that exist today.

Her voice trembled slightly.

– But nobody saw any Original for a very long time. People say that they left us for some reason and vanished, similar as gods did before.

Raphael opened the book slowly, expecting incomprehensible symbols. Yet to his eyes, the pages were filled with text in common language — clear, legible, familiar.
Maybe she meant another book…

The others gathered behind him, peering over his shoulder. But all they saw was a sea of strange Enochian runes.

– I thought you said it’s in some old language? – Raphael asked, frowning.

Ms. Ravenwood leaned in, confused.

– What do you mean? It is in Enochian, exactly as I stated…

There was a pause, thick with disbelief.

– But for you… is it in a language you understand?

– Y… yes..? I… I can see only regular common language, everyone uses – Raphael replied, his voice distant, lost in the strange unfolding truth.

The room falls silent as everyone exchanges shocked glances.
A tense stillness blankets the air, like a spell cast without words. Raphael could almost feel the weight of their gazes pressing against his skin. His pulse pounded in his ears.

Ms. Ravenwood’s eyes widen in disbelief.
Her fingers twitch faintly atop the wooden desk, as though trying to grasp something intangible.

– That’s… impossible. Only someone with Original blood can translate Enochian without effort. You’re seeing the text as if it were written in Common Language?

– Yes… – Raphael replied, his voice thick with disbelief.
His throat felt dry, as if the realization had stolen the moisture from his breath. How could this be true? The words felt unreal on his tongue, like he was confirming something he hadn’t yet accepted.

The realization hits the room like a physical force.
It was as though the very walls had absorbed the truth and now echoed it back in silence.
Kai’s eyes widen, Elijah’s jaw drops, and Luke’s playful expression turns serious.
Raphael caught it all in a glance — the subtle shifts, the visible shock rippling across their faces like a sudden change in temperature.

Ms. Ravenwood reaches out with trembling hands to gently turn the page, watching in awe as the text continues to appear in Common Language for Raphael alone. She turns a few more pages.
Her movements are slow, reverent, like handling a sacred artifact. Her lips part wordlessly as each page confirms the miracle before her.

– Ok. I’m trying to not freak out. These are some old stories about gods. Haven’t found anything about Originals yet – Raphael murmured, scanning the words with furrowed brows.
The text glowed softly in his vision, as if alive. He could barely focus, a tremble building in his hands that had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with the immensity of what he held.

Ms. Ravenwood nods gravely.

– The stories of gods usually precede the tales of Originals. The gods created them, after all. Continue reading carefully. Originals are mentioned rarely, and often in riddles or metaphors.

Her voice was calm but taut, like a taut string moments before snapping.

Kai leans in closer.

– Do you feel…

– What?

Raphael’s voice was barely more than a whisper. The quiet was no longer silence — it was expectancy.

Kai hesitates, his eyes flickering with a mix of curiosity and concern.

– Do you feel any different? Any strange sensations or urges?

He glances at the book, then back at Raphael.

– Original blood can awaken dormant powers. You might start experiencing things you never have before.

– Not again… please…

Raphael’s voice cracked with raw weariness.
The weight of the day, the visions, the transformations — it was too much. His body ached from within, from places he couldn’t even name. His plea wasn’t dramatic. It was real. Uttered like someone barely holding together.

Everyone in the room exchanges worried glances at his plea.
Even Luke’s usual irreverence had vanished, replaced by a wary attentiveness.
Ms. Ravenwood places a comforting hand on his shoulder.

– Do not fear unusual sensations. They are likely symptoms of your awakening power. Remember, Originals are the pinnacle of supernatural might. Your body is adjusting to capabilities beyond mortal understanding.

Her touch was warm and grounding, anchoring Raphael as the world tilted beneath him.

– Still no words about Originals. Maybe it’s really hidden in riddles but I can’t find them. If I could only…

Unknowingly, Raphael places his hand on a pile of clear paper, feeling a little dizzy.
He barely registered the motion — it was instinctive, like reaching for balance. A flicker passed behind his eyes, and then—

As his hand touches the pile, a sudden surge of energy courses through him.
It wasn’t pain. It was something stranger: a deep, humming resonance, like being struck by a tuning fork made of light.
The room spins slightly, and when his vision clears, the papers are no longer blank.
They’re filled with intricate symbols and words that seem to glow softly in his vision. He blinks in surprise.
He gasps, pulling his hand back slightly, as if unsure whether to trust his own senses.

– It’s the same text… Did I just turn into a copy machine??? – he groans, grabbing his head in both hands. – But what’s the point if nobody can read it?

His voice was caught between awe and exasperation. His temples throbbed. He needed answers, not more mysteries.

The room erupts into whispers of amazement.
A quiet current of disbelief surged through his companions like electricity.

Elijah moves forward, carefully taking one of the sheets.

– It’s… it’s written in Common Language. No gibberish, no metaphors… this is pure, straightforward text.

Ms. Ravenwood looks at Raphael with newfound respect.
Her gaze lingered longer this time — not just analyzing, but revering.

– So… is it translation? I can see the same text. Does it mean that it’s the exact translation of this book? – he asks, lost in total disbelief and astonishment. – I don’t know how it happened. I just thought that if I could somehow rewrite to you what I’m seeing, then maybe you could help find these riddles. And that’s when I felt dizzy.

His voice trembled slightly. Saying it aloud made it real — too real.
The dizziness still pulsed at the edges of his consciousness like a slow tide.

Luke gives a low whistle.

– Just did way more than rewrite it. That was pure Original magic – turning those blank pages into perfect translations.

Ms. Ravenwood studies his face intently.

– You might not understand what’s happening yet… but every action indicates possible Original blood.

Raphael inhaled shakily. The words clung to him, heavy and impossible to shake.

– I still feel a little dizzy. Could we go now? Ms. Ravenwood, would you be so kind and look for some clues or riddles in this text?

Ms. Ravenwood nods solemnly.

– Of course. I will study these translations thoroughly and look for any clues or riddles pertaining to Originals.

She gently takes the translated sheets from Elijah and begins to flip through them carefully.

– You should rest now. Your body is undergoing significant changes.

– Thank you, Ms. Ravenwood. Goodnight.

Ms. Ravenwood smiles warmly.

– Goodnight. Rest well. Tomorrow we will dive deeper into what this means for you.

She watches as he leaves the room, her expression thoughtful and concerned.

– I’ll make sure these translations are studied thoroughly, my dear.

– Thank you guys for bringing me here. And for other things too – Raphael added with a very weak smile and a wink.

Kai’s eyes narrowed slightly in concern.

– Are you sure you’ll be alright?

– Yeah man, we can walk you back to your room – added Elijah.

– That’s really no problem for us – Lucas assured him.

– No, really. I really appreciate it, but I’m ok now.

He was barely standing but pretended that everything was fine.
The boys’ generous offer was truly kind, but he needed a moment alone, just to process what had just happened.

– Ok, but don’t pass out on your way, otherwise we’ll feel guilty of abandonment and neglect – Elijah said half-jokingly.

– See you tomorrow – all three waved him goodbye and left in their direction.

As he walked down the dimly lit hallway, the cool stone beneath his feet felt unsteady, his head still spinning.
The shadows shifted with each flicker of torchlight, lengthening unnaturally. He steadied himself against the wall.

Footsteps echoed ahead. He looked up to see Liam striding toward him, his tall frame casting long shadows on the walls.

– Hey – Liam greeted curtly, falling into step beside him. – You’re walking kind of funny.

– I’m so tired. And a little dizzy – Raphael murmured.

Liam narrowed his eyes, noting the unsteady gait and pale complexion.

– You look awful – he stated bluntly, his brow furrowing. – What happened? You look like you’re about to pass out.

He stopped walking, turning to face him.

– Where are you going?

– I’m going to my room. I’m afraid I’m not capable of teleporting there.

Without warning, Liam wrapped an arm around Raphael’s waist, supporting his weight.

– The hell you’re walking alone then. You can barely stand straight.

His voice carried a surprising hint of concern beneath its usual harsh tone.

– Here, I’ll get you to your room before you collapse.

– Thanks! My half angel – Raphael muttered with a weak smile.

Liam rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. He kept his arm firmly around his waist, guiding him through the corridor with quiet determination.

– Don’t thank me yet – he grumbled. – I might just drop you on your bed and leave.

– I can’t force you to stay.

Liam stopped in front of his door, turning him to face him. His arm remained wrapped around Raphael’s waist, steadying him.

– No shit – he muttered, his face inches from Raphael’s as he searched for the room key. – But I’m not leaving you like this.

– You’re so sweet.

Liam froze, his hand mid-air as he blinked rapidly, caught off guard.

– Shut up – he snapped, his voice barely above a whisper. – Just… just get in bed before you fall down.

– Yes sir.

Liam watched as Raphael stumbled into the room, his expression softening despite himself.
He followed him inside and closed the door.

– Stop being so damn polite – he muttered, helping him sit on the edge of the bed.

– You are the one who’s extremely polite. Taking me straight to bed…

Liam’s face flushed pink at the teasing, his jaw clenching.

– Shut up – he repeated, but there was less bite this time. – I’m only doing this because you look like death warmed over.

– You know how to compliment a guy – Raphael whispered with a weak wink.

Liam’s blush deepened. He turned away, focusing on the floor.

– Fuck off – he muttered, though a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. – Just… just lay down before you pass out or something.

– You behave like you’ve never been in this bed with me – Raphael added with another wink.

Liam’s blush deepened into a full flush, his eyes widening. He swallowed hard.

– Shut up – he whispered. – I…

– It’s ok. I know we did it just for fun. And that’s ok. But today… you showed me your other self. Soft and caring.

Liam’s face twisted with embarrassment and something else — vulnerability. He ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it further.

– Fuck off – he muttered again, though his tone was void of anger. – I’m not soft or caring.

Raphael surprised him with a kiss on the cheek.

– Thank you.

Liam froze, utterly stunned. He turned slowly, locking eyes with Raphael.
The harsh mask slipped completely away, exposing something raw and tender.

– Don’t… fuck – he whispered, touching the place where Raphael’s lips had brushed his skin.

– Ok. We may not fuck today – Raphael said with a weak grin.

Liam burst out laughing — a rare, genuine sound. He shook his head, his usual smirk returning with a softened edge.

– Asshole – he chuckled, gently pushing Raphael onto the bed. – Fine, no fucking today.

– Liam! Thank you once again – Raphael said with a warm smile.

Liam smiled faintly, a rare expression that made his features look gentler. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Raphael’s forehead before pulling back with a smirk.

– Just don’t get used to it, okay? I have a reputation to maintain.

– Ay ay captain!

Liam chuckled again, watching as Raphael lay back with a faint smile. He turned away to hide the softness in his face.

– Smartass.

– You’re a really good friend – Raphael whispered, and instantly fell asleep.

Liam stood quietly for a moment, watching him sleep.
His expression softened as he gently undressed him and tucked the blanket around his body with care.
He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to Raphael’s lips before pulling back.

– Goodnight – he whispered.