Ghosts of Tython, Chapter 3: The Lore Keeper

Ghosts of Tython, Chapter 3: The Lore Keeper

Andis laid down and let Starla get to work healing his leg. It was numb beyond all feeling, which in and of itself felt strange. The bone fragments came back together seamlessly, and with her healing skills, the shattered bones became whole again. He couldn't walk until the anesthetic wore off, so he decided to lay back and rest.

Starla looked around the cave. Stalactites and stalagmites appeared everywhere, threatening like long knives. Some had been there long enough to join together to become columns. They had a dark grey-green color with a sleek glossy coating, in the background the constant sound of dripping water, as the stones continue to grow.

She felt the wall, one of the columns felt like metal. "Andis, look at this."

He put his hand against it, "Hmm, you're right, it's a fake. Stand to the side," she moved out of the way, "Look for anything that jiggles or moves."

"What are you…?" she started to say.

He began using the Force to push at the wall and its surroundings, a gentle wave fluttered over the area, "Do you see anything?"

A small stalagmite began to shutter, "Found it!" he stopped pushing and walked over to it, it was well disguised - it appeared to be just another small, dark silicate, just like everything else in the cave.

He grasped it in one hand and pushed it down, Clang! It was followed by a screeching metal sound. The section of wall hissed and came jutting forward and split apart, air came rushing out of the space.

The airtight chamber hadn't been opened in millennia. They walked into it, the air was stale, and it had a strange musk about it. Starla recognized the odor – decaying books. Her heartbeat quickened. "Andis, I know where we are," she said.

"I do, too, cyar'ika. The Jedi Archives of Tython," Andis was excited for Starla. Her excitement practically bounced off the walls. Starla pulled out a headlamp while Andis adjusted the sensors and sights in his helmet. The cavern was filled with books – on the floor in piles, on shelves leaning against each other – as if a great upheaval had caused the room to implode.

"I see you've found the Archives, my dear," a voice of authority and kindness said behind Starla. She gasped, then a wave of calm in the Force surrounded her, recognizing her as a Jedi and kindred bibliophile.

Andis drew his Beskad saber in one swift move, trying to see who was speaking. Starla smiled, and said, "Andis, put away the Beskad, this is Jedi Lore Keeper Gnost-Dura." The figure appeared out of the darkness and bowed to the couple.

Starla almost shivered – Kel Dor species always made her feel uneasy, although many were Jedi. Gnost-Dura said slowly, "I knew that someday this chamber would be discovered. I also knew it would be discovered by brave explorers, who are neither Jedi nor Sith."

Andis and Starla stood still, just staring at the ancient figure. Was he real, a phantom or a ghost?

"You need not be afraid of me. You see, I am the Lore Keeper, and it is my duty to remain with my collection for all time." He somehow illuminated the cavern with a wave of his hand. Starla's eyes widened in amazement. It was as if the collection of books went on forever. She then thought of the holocrons that were supposed to here. She hadn't heard of actual books ever housed here – like the ancient book room at the Coruscant Jedi Archives where she had worked. A little frown of puzzlement appeared on her face. She stared at the floor, wanting to read every book, mend every broken one, and never leave. A dark, claustrophobic feeling wanted to surround her, overtake her, but she willed it away. Andis still had a hand on the hilt of his Beskad saber. He could sense the darkness as well, and it made him intensely alert.

Starla stepped toward the tall, thin ghostly figure, "Excuse me, Master, but in all of the historical text on these archives that I've read, only holocrons were housed here. There was no mention of printed books." She felt something akin to a cold wind blow past her, making her wonder what if this figure is not who he says he is? Gnost-Dura was facing a crooked shelf of books that looked like it would fall over at any moment. A few books began to float around him, then encircled him. He slowly turned around toward Starla. She gasped at what she saw – his body began to soar toward the ceiling. Every book disappeared into a thin air, and an ice-cold wind blew past Andis and Starla, as they saw the ghostly figure disappear into the darkness. The illumination blinked out as well.

"Cyar'ika, where are you?" Andis said, standing in the dark for a moment, then adjusting the sensors and sights in his helmet. No response. "Starla!" he yelled, his voice echoing for an eternity.