As Klauthsura spread their five fingers, the gates of the "prison" opened one after another.
The heavy chitin doors slowly rose, revealing passages leading out.
The chaotic mass of monsters below immediately scattered. Those deformed creatures swarmed toward the exits, scrambling to escape the cage that had imprisoned them. Even the hideous giant Troll covered its face and stooped to flee through a gate, scraping a chunk of flesh off its enormous body against the frame.
The lift gradually stopped rising. The three of them passed through the railing and reached an entrance.
There was no door across the passage. Tristana's divine spell revealed no magical traps, either.
The three of them could even see all the way inside. Countless strange instruments were arrayed within, and many glass jars glimmered in the gloom, holding pinkish-gray brains suspended in liquid.
Klauthsura seemed impatient and floated forward to enter, but Renato caught their arm.
"Klauthsura, don't you think something's odd?"
"Odd?"
The Mind Flayer tilted their head, puzzlement flashing through their eyes. Only after looking over the expressions of all three did they understand.
"Ah, you must have assumed the 'Library' was like the Colony's other functional chambers. There's no need to worry. This place has no need of those external protective barriers."
"Don't you Mind Flayers value knowledge above all else?" Tristana peered inside suspiciously. "Shouldn't your most precious treasures have the most comprehensive defenses?"
"I never said the 'Library' was undefended." Klauthsura sounded somewhat resigned. "On the contrary, its defenses rank second only to the Elder Brain's 'Rest Pool.'"
The Mind Flayer paused, then added:
"No, perhaps not even second..."
"Stop talking in riddles." The old Dwarf snorted and tightened his grip on the Warhammer. "Then let's go in. Whatever monsters turn up, we'll kill them."
Balin's words seemed to