Sarai couldn't help but cast curious glances around as she and Dimir strolled away from the castle grounds. The city's panic seemed to have ceased but she kept her small hands clenched to her hard leather satchel. "Dimir, this doesn't appear to be the usual route to the library. Where exactly are we heading?"

"I am not so sure time is our ally, I'm afraid princess," Dimir said. She never saw him so tense before. It almost made her seem as if she was the relaxed one of the two. "You see," he continued, "this direction allows us to bypass most of the royal paladins and any nosey nobles that like to take midnight strolls." Sarai giggled at the absurdity that a noble of any high ranking class would take a stroll in the middle of the night when they live so close to the castle. It is merely asking for trouble with the royal paladin patrollers.

"I see, but do you need to have all these books and scrolls?" Sarai inquired after taking a quick glance to his overflowing satchel of wares bouncing against his side.

"Regrettably, it is not enough," Dimir confessed. "As I think I mentioned, this magic is ancient and entirely unanticipated. I theorize that this magic is tied to shamanism. After stumbling upon some old tomes and texts, I found a few that might aid us in this regard since our thieving friend got a hold of the good parts. I remembered sealing them away in a well-hidden location within the Grand Library earlier today in case I needed them for reference. That area far more secure than my laboratory," he explained. Sarai couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the weight of the discovery, especially so soon after losing such an important piece of the puzzle.

"Listen, Sarai," he asserted as they approached the grand library's steps. "You are extremely intelligent, and certainly grasp the workings of magic in our world from our previous studies, correct? You are my student." He paused on the steps, "due to the current situation we are in, I am inclined to ask for your help as my partner and equal. Are you up to the task?"

Feeling somewhat flustered by the sudden responsibility, Sarai quickly regained her composure. "Yes, I remember quite well. I even delved into additional readings. However, my lack of magical affinity is precisely why you advised me to pursue alchemy, isn't it?"

"Indeed," Dimir confirmed. "You see, for those like us without innate magical abilities, we turn to alchemy and engineering to make our dreams a reality. Just because one cannot perform magic doesn't mean they cannot glean knowledge and insights from it."

Dimir gazed up at the library, then turned back to Sarai. "To aid your father, I need to impart more than just the fundamentals. I require you to be more than my student; you must become my colleague now that you've come this far. Suffice it to say, I am sure you are smart enough to even improve the medicinal qualities of the elixirs I have been giving you for your illness."

"Do you think I'm prepared?" Sarai asked.

"You have no alternative. You must demonstrate your value to yourself, the crown and the kingdom. Your father faltered in this regard, so you'll need to pick up the pieces."

Sarai took a few steps forward as they ascended the library's grand staircase. "I understand."

The grand library's walls were truly magnificent. Generally spoken amongst the nobles that it is the pure definition of beauty in art. Its glass ceiling bathed the space in natural light, while the walls were adorned with a vast array of bookshelves, maps and ceremonial weaponry. Sections of the wall devoid of literature were bedecked with precious sapphire jewels and silk tapestries, gifted to King Filleon's father by the foreign nation of the Yurram kingdom in the Juran kingdom's colors. King Filleon had chosen to display these gifts to encourage learning among the public, making the library accessible to even the poorest children of the kingdom. His vision was to educate the entire realm, not just a privileged few. However, due to his willful negligence, no one outside of the inner districts was allowed to enter.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Dimir let out a long sigh at the irony as he surveyed the room and what it was supposed to represent. "We must go to the lower floors, where the restricted sections are," he said, ensuring no one noticed their intentions. "Certain individuals, usually of status or influence, are granted access to various specific parts of the library. This is one such place, and your father granted me this privilege for my research. Only I and one other may enter this space. It is the same space that allowed us to pocure the first batch of elixirs to stave off some of your symptoms. I believe some of these ancient texts could aid us in helping you. There is much we still don't understand about the world."

Sarai listened in awe to Dimir's thirst for knowledge. How could she become the pupil of such a talented and driven man in uncovering the world's secrets?

Upon reaching a far wall on the opposite side of the ground floor, Dimir stopped and turned to Sarai. "Most people are unaware, but this is an illusion," he disclosed. "There never was a window here. I created it years ago to deter unwanted visitors from entering this section; of which, also holds many secrets from the past of this kingdom."

Sarai stared at her hand, uncertain, and then took a deep breath before stepping into the illusion. Dimir awaited her on the other side, seemingly amused by her clumsy entrance.

Puzzled, Sarai inquired, "I thought we were entering the restricted section of the library?"

Dimir chuckled with a hand to his mouth, "This is it. The front door. What we seek lies beyond this door, but there's a riddle inscribed in the ancient Celestial language. Answer it correctly, and the doors will open. Fail, and the doors won't budge for a whole day, until the next sunrise resets the alchemic symbols."

Sarai quipped, "You do enjoy creating entertaining fail-safes, don't you?"

Dimir chuckled, "Yes, well, I do love a good riddle. This one changes every time it's solved twice."

Sarai tilted her head, asking, "Why twice?"

"It allows me to determine if others have entered. I'm the only one I know of who comes here despite one other knowing the system, so I should always receive the same riddle twice before I know it will change again," Dimir explained. "If I see a riddle once, and then it changes to something else the next time I visit, then I will know someone else came here."

Symbols in a vibrant teal and yellow danced and swirled on the door.

Sarai pointed the current riddle, and Dimir suddenly gasped. "What is it?" Sarai asked.

"It shouldn't be possible, but... I believe someone is inside," Dimir's face paled.

"So, the riddle is different now?" Sarai asked, confused.

"Unfortunately, yes. My previous riddle was related to time. This one asks: 'What has four legs in the morning, two legs in the afternoon, and three legs in the evening?'"

"Do you know the answer?" Sarai said. The worry on her face made Dimir tense.

Dimir's face showed his uncertainty. "I've never heard this one before," he admitted. "Please, give me a moment to think." Sarai leaned against the wall, observing Dimir's pacing as he contemplated the enigmatic riddle. She found herself captivated by the unexpected turn of events, appreciating the newfound excitement in her life. After years of illness and isolation, this unpredictable adventure offered her a welcome change.

As Sarai watched Dimir pace in front of the mysterious door, she couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of purpose and intrigue. The prospect of solving an enigmatic riddle and delving into the secrets hidden behind the door sparked a dormant curiosity within her.

With every step Dimir took, Sarai's excitement grew. The library's grandeur, the hidden illusions, and now this unexpected challenge all contributed to an exhilarating atmosphere she hadn't experienced in years. Her body, accustomed to a life of lethargy, seemed to awaken with newfound energy.

Dimir's brow furrowed in deep thought as he mulled over the riddle's solution, but after a tense moment, Dimir finally spoke, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty. "I've contemplated the riddle, and while I can't be certain, I believe the answer is a creature that undergoes a transformation throughout the day—a human."

Sarai's eyes widened in surprise as she considered Dimir's response. It was a clever interpretation of the riddle, one that seemed to fit the criteria. Four legs in the morning referred to infancy, when a baby crawls on all fours. Two legs in the afternoon represented adulthood when a person walks upright on two legs. And three legs in the evening might symbolize old age, when one might use a cane or walking stick. What amazed her more was the fact that she connected the dots to rationalize the answer. Maybe she was fit to be someone that could reach his legendary status.

Dimir stepped closer to the imposing stone door, and as he did, the runes etched on the door began to emit a soft, ethereal red glow after he said the word "human". Sarai watched in anticipation as the door creaked open, revealing a passage leading deeper into the library.

Dimir glanced at Sarai with a sense of accomplishment. "It worked," he whispered. "We can enter now."