Chapter 22: Unease in the Stacks
Abel was currently deep in the quiet, shadow-filled expanse of the Stone Tower’s library. The vast halls stretched endlessly, lined with towering shelves filled with books, scrolls, and manuscripts that spanned across countless topics—ranging from mundane tales of old to the most obscure and dangerous arcane lore. He had greeted Marcella when he entered, and without much conversation, she had given him his task for the day: organizing the shelves and ensuring that no books were missing.
“You’ll be fine,” Marcella had said in her usual calm and motherly tone, her eyes twinkling with a hint of mischief. “But keep an eye on them. The books can get a little... playful.”
Abel had given her a curious glance but said nothing. He didn’t want to question her, even though the warning made his skin crawl. Marcella always had an odd way of saying things, her smile too kind, her words too careful. He decided it was best to just take her advice and proceed with caution.
He made his way through the endless rows of shelves, the air growing colder and the light dimming as he delved deeper into the library’s labyrinthine corridors. The further he went, the more isolated he felt, as though the world outside no longer existed. Despite the grand size of the space, it felt like he was being drawn into something far more intimate—a place where time and reality seemed to shift.
The shelves grew older, and the books themselves felt heavier, their spines cracked and their pages thick with dust. He ran his fingers lightly over their rough covers as he passed them, their strange, ancient symbols staring back at him in silent judgment. Every now and then, he would glance at his list and check the inventory, but for the most part, everything seemed to be in order.
Yet, there was an eerie vibe to it all. The library was quiet—too quiet. It felt like a place that had been left untouched for centuries, the only sound being his own footsteps echoing faintly against the stone floor. Abel tried to ignore it, but the longer he worked, the more unsettled he became. There was something wrong with the silence, something that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
As he knelt to check the bottom row of a shelf, his heart nearly leaped out of his chest when he heard a noise from above—a soft but unmistakable thud. It was as if something had shifted high up on the top shelves.
Abel froze, his breath catching in his throat. Slowly, he stood up, his eyes scanning the towering shelves. Nothing seemed out of place. He swallowed hard, trying to calm his nerves. But the sound had been real, he was sure of it.
With shaky hands, he reached up toward the higher shelves. His fingers grazed over the books until they found one that was slightly out of place—a thick, dark blue volume with a faded title: Constellations in the sky. He hesitated for a moment, staring at the book as if it held some secret knowledge, something he wasn’t meant to find. Then, with a small push, he slid the book back into position.
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For a moment, everything was still. The silence pressed in around him like a suffocating blanket, and he let out a quiet sigh, feeling a small measure of relief. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe the books had just shifted naturally.
But just as he bent down to resume his work, the same thud came again, louder this time.
Abel’s heart pounded in his chest as he whipped around. The book—that same book—had once again slid halfway out of the shelf.
A chill crawled down his spine. His breath grew shallow, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching him, something unseen lurking in the shadowy corners of the library. He reached for the book once more, gripping it tightly as he pushed it firmly back into place. His hands trembled slightly, his mind racing with unease.
What was going on here?
The library had always felt strange, but this... this was different. The atmosphere had shifted, the air thick with tension. He glanced around, half-expecting to see a figure standing in the shadows, watching him with unseen eyes. But there was nothing. Just the endless rows of books and the flickering torchlight casting long, eerie shadows across the stone walls.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Abel’s shift came to an end. The sun had begun to set, casting a warm orange glow through the high windows and bathing the library in an ethereal light. He exhaled deeply, grateful to be finished for the day. As much as he enjoyed his time in the library, the oppressive atmosphere had worn him down.
As he made his way back to the entrance, the doors opened and in came the familiar faces of Room Eighty—Sena, Isabella, and Nando. They looked tired but satisfied with their day's work, and Abel smiled as he approached them.
“How was the mission?” he asked, trying to shake off the lingering feeling of unease.
Isabella shrugged. “Not bad. No real danger, but the forest has a way of making you feel... watched.”
Sena nodded in agreement. “Yeah, it’s creepy out there, especially at night. We managed to gather what we needed, but we’ll have to head back tomorrow to finish the task.”
Abel listened intently, his thoughts drifting back to his own strange experience in the library. “Well, it sounds like you had a more exciting day than I did. I spent my time shelving books and dealing with one that kept moving.”
“Moving?” Nando raised an eyebrow. “Are you serious?”
Abel nodded. “Yeah, it kept sliding out of place. Marcella warned me that the books in the library can be... temperamental. I didn’t believe her at first, but now... I’m starting to think there’s more to this place than meets the eye.”
Sena smirked. “You’re not scared, are you?”
Abel chuckled softly, though the memory of the book still sent a shiver down his spine. “No... just cautious. There’s something off about that library, but I’ll figure it out.”
The four of them talked for a while longer, exchanging stories of their respective tasks and speculating about the rumors they had heard around the Tower. Word had spread that some of the more experienced recruits would soon be attempting to break through to the next level of their training. There was a sense of anticipation in the air, and the recruits knew that the coming days would bring challenges and trials, both for themselves and those who sought to rise above their current ranks.
As they finally headed up the stairs toward their rooms, Abel couldn’t shake the feeling that something was lurking just beyond his understanding, something dark and mysterious that hid within the very walls of the Stone Tower.