It'll be a rush job, but you figure that unsealing the magic lock is the way to go.

You decide to start disengaging the magical lock. You touch just one finger to the latch so you can start interfacing with the lock. Spiraling magic rings spring out from the lock and begin moving like gears along each other, each brimming with intense arcane energy. In order to keep the coursing energy in check, you have to focus on it like never before. So long as the flow of magic remains consistent...

At the worst possible time, the book emits another pulse of magical energy. Your gauntlet practically lights up like a bonfire, shooting mana into the delicate arcane gear system.

The next thing you know, you're flying 6 feet backwards to the floor! Papers, ink bottles, and other utensils go flying in all directions as a blast of glass shards and arcane energy erupts from the case. The eruption of energy has split the case wide open, and the mysterious tome is on the ground - free for the taking. Unfortunately, the explosion has also left you paralyzed on the floor, barely able to breathe. And as if it couldn't get any worse, you can hear the harpy coming back...

The harpy looks around in annoyance at the mess you made, clicking her tongue. She glares down at you, and you can just tell her mind is ticking away at something dreadful. After thinking for a moment her eyes light up and she grins at you - or comes as close to grinning as she can with her beak. You can't help but shudder in dread as she wraps her larger wings around your ankles and dangles you effortlessly in front of her. She quickly disarms you, tossing your gauntlet onto the desk next to her.