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[h1][color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b][u]History[/u][/b][/color][/h1]
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sJk9AE82kc&ab_channel=RelaxingMusicPro](Mood Music)[/url]
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Auriel listened to Hans as he explained that many of the records on the heroes would likely be shrouded in bias and exaggeration. Despite that, Auriel still wanted to see them. She could cross reference the information within the books with the knowledge that was shared with her as she trained to be the Holy Warrior. Auriel nodded to Hans after being asked if she would bother with proceeding. With that, she followed the man through the long stacks of the cathedral's library, eventually coming upon a section that only contained maybe a dozen books on the heroes. How strange... For something so integral to the culture of the world, there seemed to be a distinct lack of material. Perhaps the knowledge was being controlled by the Church of the Four. That'd make the most sense... But it didn't rule out of factors either.

Auriel smiled at Hans in appreciation for taking her to the books she was looking for. She laid her fingers along the spines of the books and drew them across the words that denoted their titles. Eventually she came across one, 'Four Legends, Four Myths, and Four Disasters'. Auriel pulled the book from the stacks and opened the blank cover. The first page was a summary of what the reader would expect. The book took into account twelve legendary heroes over many different eras. There were three of each type of hero, and they would all be placed in one of the three categories that made the name of the book. It spoke of the greatest of each of the chosen heroes, and the worst. The myth's section seemed to recount stories that could never be verified or corroborated, but were commonly spoken of as great deeds of mysterious heroes. It seemed interesting, but what captured her attention more was an old paper that slipped from the pages and fell to the floor. Auriel blinked and picked the paper up. She saw it was a handwritten note that was signed.

Auriel's breath caught her throat when she saw the name of the person who had written the note. Archiel. The greatest Holy Warrior to ever live, and the only one in the last eight hundred years who had had the honor of fighting alongside the four heroes of legend. Until Auriel's destiny was made manifest, the Holy Warriors fell into obscurity since, despite having heroes summoned three times since Archiel lived, no warrior was of the age or ability to be of any assistance. Most Holy Warriors would live their entire lives training for this one purpose, only to wither and die of old age. Auriel being the only Holy Warrior since Archiel to serve the heroes was pure luck. And to think that the spear she now wielded was used and made famous by Archiel. She felt that there was a standard to live up to in order to even hold the weapon. Just brandishing it in public made her feel as though she had to do right by Archiel and continue his legacy. Would she forge a new legend with the spear and become the next role model for entire generations of warriors after her? The thought was vast in scale and it made her nervous. She hoped that she would be able to hold a candle to Archiel's brilliant light.

The thought crossed her mind... If the note was hand written by Archiel himself and placed within the book, then the book must almost be nearly a millennium old. Perhaps it remained untouched by bias... And because of its age, it would speak of heroes that she had never even heard the name of before. She read the note...

[color=gold][i]"To whoever finds and reads this note. Congratulations. You have found the one and only record of the legendary heroes as they were. You might be fooled by the title and first few pages of this book, and that was by design. At the time of writing this, there were many of that particular volume printed and distributed. Myself and the Bow Hero, Sullivan Krasster, took this book and replaced the pages with journal entries from myself and the four heroes of my time. The writings in this book at unedited, transcribed by myself and no other over many painstakingly long nights. My body is withering, and I am afraid only a quill is all my frail body, in its old age, is capable of lifting on its own now. There has been a widespread purging of knowledge about the heroes, as the Shield Hero of my time accessed forbidden knowledge that nearly brought about the end of us all. While I feel the intention is the betterment of all, I believe it is foolish to simply whisk away the truth and replace it with carefully tailored information. Please, to whoever finds this book and reads this note, safeguard it and cherish the knowledge it contains. As I pass into the next world, I have instructed my youngest son to take the book do as I did until the time comes again when he must hand it over to a new tome bearer. Do not let history become dust in the annals of time.

 - Archiel Ashenwind[/i][/color]

Auriel's cheeks flushed as she read the note. She calmly set the paper down on a reading table and opened the ancient book to a random page, far enough in to pass the ruse before the truth. Sure enough, the pages were written by hand and not inscribed by magic, and it was all in the same handwriting as the words on the note. She read some lines, the particular topic being a record of the Spear Hero of Archiel's time, Tira Alembech. Auriel's golden eyes were practically glued to the record. She was reading actual journals of a hero from eight hundred years ago! She wanted to read more, but a sneeze from a random reader brought her back into the real world. The book must have slipped through the cathedral's censors, or perhaps it was secretly placed in the stacks by the last holder. Since interest in the records of the heroes had greatly diminished, perhaps the library at the heart of the censorship was the safest place for it. Beyond the obvious importance of the information is carried, it was also put together by Archiel as his last gift to the world. This was a relic of the highest magnitude to her Order, and no one had even known about it. She slipped Archiel's note into the book, leaving it on the page where the true records started so she could easily skip the nonsense. Auriel closed the book and hugged it to her chest protectively. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"Archiel... I swear your efforts will not be wasted... Thank you..."[/b][/color] she mumbled quietly to herself.

She heard Hans returning to her, to see if she had indeed found something that would prove useful to her. She didn't go into any detail, she just held the cover of [i]Four Legends, Four Myths, and Four Disasters[/i] in front of him and quickly exclaimed that she would like to take indefinite ownership of it. She reminded him that she was the Church's champion, and a representative of the Four Heroes. To deny her over what appeared to be a dusty, falsified and biased book would be ridiculous. [color=lightgoldenrodyellow][b]"I will pay the Church recompense for taking a book from their collection."[/b][/color] she assured.
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