Chapter 05
More Mysteries
Finn settled into the plush, lime-colored armchair letting the softness envelop him, offering a much nicer experience than the hard library floor he had been resting on only moments ago. The hidden nook provided a quiet refuge, away from the bustling activity of the labyrinthine, magical library. As he sank deeper into the cushions and took glances at the mysterious librarian, Finn’s curiosity grew. He thought for a movement, before asking a few careful questions, hoping to learn more about the enigmatic librarian who already seemed to know plenty about him.
“So… Aldric, how long have you been at the academy?” Finn asked, trying to sound casual as he adjusted his position in the armchair.
Aldric leaned back, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. “Longer than most, I suppose.”
Finn’s face involuntarily scrunched at the response. Why is he so annoyingly vague with his replies?!
Biting his lip, he quickly resumed his casual expression. He nodded. “I see. You must be quite a remarkable mage to manage such an incredible place.”
“Remarkable? I guess you could say that,” Aldric said, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Undeterred by his elusive answers, Finn pressed on, finally asking the question he had been dying to ask ever since he learned that Aldric managed this entire library. “What tier mage are you?”
Raising a brow at the sudden question, Aldric facepalmed. “Boy, you do know that you just broke the number one rule of simple mage etiquette?”
Finn blinked, caught off guard. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.”
Aldric’s smile softened. “Considering you’re a new member of mage society, I forgive your rudeness,” He paused. “Remember, being curious is always a good trait as a mage, but never overstep your or others' boundaries.”
Finn quickly nodded, appreciating the gentle reprimand. “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Although,” Aldric paused, his eyes twinkling with a mixture of pride and mystery, “to satisfy your curiosity, I am a Tier 7 mage.”
Finn’s eyes widened in astonishment as his body instinctively leaned forward. “Tier 7?! That’s incredible!”
Aldric chuckled softly, clearly enjoying Finn’s reaction. “I suppose.”
“You suppose?” asked Finn with a raised brow. “You speak as if Tier 7 isn’t all that impressive…”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to come across that way,” replied Aldric as he looked down. “Of course Tier 7 is remarkable.”
Finn looked at the elusive expression of the mysterious librarian, noticing he clearly didn’t believe his own words. Perhaps he has his own reasons for thinking that way. But seriously. Tier 7 is insane! He thought to himself.
Back in Finn’s hometown, there was a single mage many regarded as the most powerful in all of Velrid, yet that mage was only Tier 2! Of course, that said mage was much more impressive than Finn, but compared to that of Aldric, they were but a spec of dust!
Finn continued asking some no-so-important questions about the library as he continued to rest his body and mind. The events earlier had really taken a toll on him.
After a while, their small talk had finally come to an end as Finn finally felt fully rejuvenated. Feeling no lingering remnants of the earlier events, he decided it was time to leave the library. After all, he only wanted to check it out because of how famous it was; he didn’t need anything from here right now.
Saying his quick goodbyes to the enigmatic librarian, Finn headed out of the secluded nook. Remembering the path they had taken to get here, he eventually made his way back to the entrance. Looking down at the spot where he had almost vomited onto the floor, he couldn't help but chuckle. If he had to be honest, he was probably never going to forget that traumatic experience and the feeling of embarrassment he had felt—it might possibly be the worst moment of his life! And that’s not even taking into account the weird scene he saw as he traversed the barrier. Just what was that?
Taking a deep breath, Finn prepared himself to step through the barrier for the second time. Surely the same events wouldn’t transpire after he stepped through?
Praying inside his mind, please don’t throw up, please don’t throw up repeatedly, he held his breath and stepped forward toward the barrier.
*
Meanwhile, sitting comfortably in a plush, grey-colored armchair surrounded by shelves that formed a quiet, secluded nook, Aldric wore a look of deep contemplation, a stark contrast to his usual taciturn demeanor.
“Interesting,” he whispered to no one in particular upon receiving the feedback that the boy had left the library. With a mere touch to his temple, a clear, vivid image of the boy's mana flow and its channels formed in his mind, resembling the precision of an x-ray.
Frowning as he inspected the image, he stroked his lengthy goatee. I was right, he confirmed internally. This boy—there is something quite wrong with him, Aldric mused, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint the anomaly.
Straightening up and fixing his posture, Aldric began to search through his extensive knowledge of magic. Using his many decades of expertise, the librarian tried to determine the cause of the boy's irregularities. Moments passed with Aldric appearing frozen in thought until he suddenly leaned back into his chair.
Smirking, he stretched his neck and gazed at the ceiling, his usually expressionless face breaking into a wide grin. “Very, very interesting!”
*
After finally stepping through the spatial barrier, the same inexplicable sensation, all too familiar to Finn, washed over and throughout his entire body once again. But this time, he was ready for it. Letting his body and mind relax, instead of fighting it, he felt the foreign sensation slowly weaken and disperse as his senses gradually began to return.
Feeling his feet land on the hard pavement of the academy courtyard, Finn breathed in a sigh of relief and stretched out his limbs. Man, I don’t think I will ever get used to that, he thought to himself whilst shaking off the lingering numbness.
He took a moment to collect himself as the fresh air filled his nostrils, before he looked up, seeing the courtyard still teeming with life at every corner. Early in the morning, it had been relatively active, with students and professors making their way through. Now, with the sun at its peak in the vast sky above, the crowd had nearly tripled its size. Watching as the many students, professors, and others alike move about in an orderly fashion, Finn couldn’t help but feel conflicted.
Furrowing his brows, he sighed. Large crowds have always been the bane of my existence, he thought to himself half-jokingly. Forcing his expression into a determined smile, he straightened himself up and steeled his resolve. I still have a couple of things I need to do, I can’t slack off and hide away now!
Taking one last deep breath, he began marching forward, trying his hardest to blend and flow with the crowd. His predetermined destination was the administration building on the opposite side of the academy grounds; much to his dismay.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
On his way, many of his thoughts returned back to the events that had happened when he first entered the library, he still didn’t have the slightest clue what it was. What was wrong with him? Was that normal? He decided that, if this problem persisted, he would speak to someone about it—preferably a professional, of course.
Continuing with the flow of the crowd and passing by the cafeteria, a mouth-watering smell wafted into his nose, almost persuading him to change his direction.
Reminding himself of his goals, he eventually arrived outside the towering structure known as the administration building. Casting a large shadow over the surroundings, its impressive architecture continued to stand as a testament to the academy’s grandeur. Along with the large double-white doors marking the entrance, this building was another reminder as to why this academy was so well respected and known throughout the world. Everything—the buildings, the architecture, the professors, and even the students—was in their own, unique way, beyond impressive and unparalleled.
Swallowing the build-up of saliva in his throat, Finn raised his shoulders and began his way toward the towering double-white doors. Trying his best to avoid colliding with the flow of students entering and leaving, he meandered through the crowd before finally stepping through the ajar double doors.
Finn entered the building, where a scent of polished wood and fresh parchment immediately entered his nostrils. Suddenly stopping in his tracks and unintentionally stalling the flow of the crowd, his wide eyes lay upon the sight of the interior of the administration building. Should I even be surprised anymore? Of course, it’s also insane! He thought to himself as his heart skipped a beat.
The room stretched long and rectangular, echoing the familiar layout of the bank back in Finn's hometown. Several sections and queues divided the space, culminating in a large, grand desk at the back, where clerks busily attended to their tasks. The walls were an eclectic blend, adorned with vintage paintings and holographic screens, creating a striking contrast between history and modernity. A majestic chandelier, its crystals shimmering, hung from the towering ceiling, casting a warm glow throughout the room. Natural light poured in through the tall windows, evenly spaced along the walls, adding to the room’s grandeur and illuminating every corner with a soft, inviting radiance.
Lost in thought as he stared wide-eyed at the room, Finn suddenly felt a gentle shove from behind, propelling him forward and causing him to teeter precariously. Struggling to regain his footing, he finally managed to steady himself, his mind racing with confusion and surprise. He quickly spun around, eager to identify the source of the disturbance that had nearly toppled him in front of a large crowd, no less.
“Who was that—” he began to say, but a high-pitched, panicked voice cut him off.
“Sorry!” shouted a short, greasy-haired boy, his face flushed with embarrassment. He looked up at Finn with wide, almost teary eyes, clearly mortified by the incident. The boy's hands were full of books and papers, now scattered on the floor around him.
Finn's irritation melted away as he took in the boy's distressed expression. “It's alright,” he said, bending down to help gather the fallen items. “You just surprised me a little, no harm done.”
The boy didn’t seem to hear FInn, his hands trembling slightly as he instinctively accepted the books Finn handed to him. “I didn't mean to,” he mumbled, his voice still shaky. “I tripped and...”
Finn offered a reassuring smile as he gestured for him to stop. “Like I said, no harm done. Just be careful next time.”
The boy's worried expression stayed much the same, but he seemed to hear Finn’s words this time as he nodded gently. Both standing up, Finn began to think to himself, What a weird boy. He’s almost… cute?
As Finn stared at the boy, who was now shuffling his books and papers into a balanced position, a sudden feeling of unease shot through his body, followed sharp headache that pierced his skull. Staggering forward, he quickly raised a hand to his forehead as a quick but blurry image flashed in his vision. A figure with imperceptible facial features, save for a frightening, sadistic grin, appeared in Finn’s mind before fading as quickly as it had come.
Finn gasped and stumbled back a step, the image leaving him disoriented and shaken.
The greasy-haired boy noticed and stepped closer, concern etched on his face. “Are you alright?” he asked with a gesture, his earlier embarrassment replaced with genuine worry.
Finn blinked a few times, trying to clear his head. “Yeah, I think so,” he said, though his voice lacked conviction. “Just a headache. Came out of nowhere.”
“Are you sure? You should sit down and-”
“I’m fine!” Finn cut him off, his voice a tinge more serious than before.
The boy slightly shaken, said his quick goodbyes then scuttled off to another section of the vast, crowed room.
Again… with these images… what is wrong with me? Finn questioned almost angrily. Confused and still in pain, he could feel the headache fading, but it was still there.
Somewhat snapping back to reality, he noticed he was still disrupting the melodic flow of the crowd. Shaking his head slightly he sauntered over to the section he was looking for. Joining the not-so-long queue, Finn quickly went back to his thoughts.
The room buzzed with activity, the low hum of conversations blending with the soft footsteps on the polished floor. Finn's mind drifted back to the strange vision. The figure’s sadistic grin had felt all too surreal, sending a chill down his spine. What could it mean? Did it even mean anything? Am I just hallucinating? He questioned relentlessly.
Slowly inching forward in the line, he took a deep breath as he tried to push away the unsettling image from his mind. The queue continued to move steadily, and soon he found himself at the forefront of the grand desk, facing a male clerk who greeted him with a polite smile.
“Good afternoon. How can I assist you today?” the clerk asked, their voice calm and professional.
Finn hesitated for a moment, still slightly disorientated. “I’m here to collect my uniform,” he finally said, forcing a smile.
“I see,” the clerk said. “May I see your identification card please?” he asked politely with a smile.
“Sure,” Finn replied, reaching into his pocket. “Here.”
He handed over his identification card to the clerk, who placed the card inside a small scanner. The machine hummed softly, transferring Finn's information onto the screen in front of the clerk. The clerk glanced at the screen, then back at Finn, nodding in recognition.
“Everything looks in order,” the clerk mumbled, handing the card back. “Please wait a moment while I retrieve your uniform.”
As the clerk disappeared into a back room, Finn took a moment to observe his surroundings once again. The various eclectic mix of vintage paintings and holographic screens surrounding him seemed to pulsate with life and provide a sense of calm, yet he still couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him. Ever since that image had flashed in his vision, he had felt a persistent unease. His eyes instinctively scanned the crowd, briefly meeting the gaze of a blurry figure that he couldn’t quite make out. Finn quickly averted his gaze, looking forward toward the now empty window in front of him.
That was nothing. I'm just imagining things, he thought to himself.
Before he could dwell on it further, the clerk returned with a small, neatly packaged brown box.
“Here you are, Mr. Travis,” he said as he passed the box through the small gap in the window. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”
Finn shook his head with a forced smile as he received the package. “No, that’s all. Thanks.”
Balancing the box in his arms, he stepped away from the desk and toward the exit of the building. Trying his best not to make eye contact with anyone, he hurriedly meandered through the crowd and out toward the exit. As Finn balanced the package once more, he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone, or something, was still watching him. Glancing over his shoulder one last time, he dismissed it as nerves or paranoia and stepped outside.
Taking a deep breath of the fresh air, Finn felt a wave of relaxation wash over him. He glanced around, his eyes scanning the bustling surroundings until they settled on a secluded bench shaded under a small tree, far removed from the main path where the crowd seemed to stick.
Thanking his luck, he sauntered over to the bench and sank down with a sigh of relief. The quiet and solitude offered a welcome contrast to the hectic atmosphere he had just left behind. Thinking back to the person he had seen in the crowd, he wondered if the person was actually looking at him.
Why would someone be looking at me? Maybe it was a coincidence? He questioned internally. He nodded gently, seeming to believe that was the case.
Finn stared mindlessly at the tree above him for several minutes, letting the calm breeze relax him as his mind finally released the thoughts from before. Lost in a sense of lull, Finn was suddenly startled by the sound of approaching footsteps.
Sitting up and quickly looking in the direction of the footsteps, he saw someone he didn’t expect to see. It was Lyla, and she was carrying a box much like the one resting on his lap.
Meeting his eyes, Lyla smiled brightly. “Hey Finn!” she said with a small wave. “I knew it was you I saw in the queue!”
Huh? Finn was flabbergasted. So I wasn’t imagining things? Someone really was looking at me! Finn thought to himself in embarrassment.
Realising his mistake and that he was just being overly paranoid due to the weird hallucination he had seen previously, he chuckled.
As Lyla approached him, she looked at him with a hint of confusion. “What’s so funny?” she questioned.
“Nothing much, just feeling weird due to the hot weather,” he replied with a forced smile. “I didn’t expect to see you today,” he paused as he gestured for her to take a seat next to him. “Are you ready for classes tomorrow?”