The doors swung wide. Oz found himself staring out into the front yard. The mages conversed and laughed, the music played, the lanterns burned. No one paid him any mind.

He looked around, nodding to himself, and put his hands behind his back. Let’s get a lay of the land, feel out who’s here.

“Attention! Attention, please!” Sachairi called. He didn’t shout, and yet his voice boomed over the crowd, as though projected by a loudspeaker. Striding ahead of Oz, he lifted his arms, and all the gold and gems sparkled, as bright as a disco ball, demanding everyone’s eyes.

So much for that.

An old man with long white hair rushed up to Sachairi and blocked his way forward. His eyes flicked to Oz, then back to Sachairi. Leaning in, he hissed, “Sachairi, what are you doing now?”

“Introducing my guest. Attention, attention!” Sachairi dodged around the old man and kept walking.

“Guest? What guest?” the old man snapped, hurrying after him.

Trailing awkwardly, Oz smiled at the crowd, his eyes half-focused. This is brutal.

“I was in the middle of introducing him when you rudely interrupted!” Clicking his tongue, he opened his mouth again.

Before he could speak, Oz put his hand on Sachairi’s shoulder. The heat instantly burned at his hand, but he persisted anyways. Sachairi turned.

“I’ll handle it,” Oz said, retracting his hand and giving it a good shake. If I’m going to be announced to the crowd, I’ll do it myself.

Smiling with approval, Sachairi stepped back and gestured for Oz to go ahead.

Oz stepped forward. Cold eyes watched him. Uncaring. Harsh. Dark. He took a deep breath. At best, Ossian was a wallflower. Before he became the master of the Grand Magus’ Library, they probably had no opinion of Ossian. Afterward, Ossian became the barrier between them and either ‘their books Madame Saoirse stole’ or ‘limitless knowledge.’ Most of the people at this ball see me as a problem to be solved, not a human being.

I’m not going to change that today. That’s too much for me to change in one night. But I can lay the groundwork for the future.

Alright. Here we go. Infomercials. Politicians. College presidents. Final bosses—no, not that one. Er… heroes! That’s right. Hero friendship speeches! I can do this!

He took a deep breath and smiled. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I’m sure most of you know who I am. For those who haven’t been watching the news, I… am Oz Vestal. Currently in possession of the Grand Magus’ Library.”

The eyes turned frigid.

Oz chuckled lightly. He flicked his eyes down and put his hands behind his back, striding slightly to the side. “I’m sure many of you would like to change that.”

A few members in the crowd chuckled, just quietly. More of them narrowed their eyes with open disapproval.

“I came here today to introduce myself. I know I can’t hide in the library forever. I need allies. Assistance.” He paused, then turned back in the other direction. “But I didn’t come here to tell you what I need. I came here to tell you what I can provide.”

The old man grabbed Sachairi’s robes. “Shut him up. Now!”

In the center, directly in front of the doors, Oz turned, facing the crowd. He smiled and pressed his fingertips together, making a triangle with his hands. Power triangle, power triangle. I have this. “I want to make the library public. My dream is to one day freely open the doors to everyone who is willing to learn… and willing to share their knowledge.”

A gasp ran through the crowd. Mages turned to one another, muttering back and forth.

“Free…?”

“All of it?”

“He can’t mean that. It isn’t possible.”

“Share the library? I own some of those books. I’m not letting anyone read my manuals.”

“It’s a joke, it’s clearly a joke. It has to be. Right?”

Pressing on, Oz nodded. I’m losing it. Finish now, while some of them are still listening. “If you also believe in making the world a better place, in lifting up everyone around you, then please, come speak with me. I may be weak now, but I want to allow everyone I can into the library. If you have low-level disciples, the kind that cannot pose a threat to my safety, I want to give them access to the library.”

He bowed deeply, lowering his head.

A silence stretched. Oz’s heart hammered in his chest. Did I do it? Did I do okay? Shit… I’m going to die. This is too much.

“Thank you, thank you! Good, Oz. Good to meet you.” Sachairi walked out in front of Oz, clapping loudly. At his prompting, a few members of the audience jumped and clapped along, though most turned away. The buzz of gossip immediately filled the air. In the corner, the music started up again, though Oz couldn’t recall the moment it stopped.

A burning-hot hand landed on his shoulder, just for a second. “Stand. You’ve done what you needed to.”

Oz stood. He took a deep breath. “Er, right. Thank you. For this opportunity, that is.”

Sachairi grinned. “Don’t worry. Just think of it as a dying man’s extravagances.”

“Why are you helping me, anyways?” Oz asked, looking Sachairi in the eyes. I understand that he wants access to the library through Aisling, but is that all it is?

“Consider me a proponent of the free sharing of knowledge,” Sachairi said, grinning.

“Is it really that rare? For people to share their books,” Oz said. Based on the crowd’s reaction, it was almost as if I’d crossed some mortal taboo when I offered it.

Sachairi raised his brows. “You’re the first one to ever propose simply giving away your wealth of knowledge. I’m curious how it plays out. No more, no less. By supporting you like this, I gain much, and lose little.

“Besides, with how precious little time remains in this life of mine… I always thought I’d live forever, or nearly forever. I thought I’d get to watch the world as it changed and grew, as the ages of man rolled by.” He turned to Oz, and his eyes lit up, suddenly burning hot as a fresh ember. “And then you came along, and I thought, perhaps I’ll get my chance to watch the world change after all.”

“Oh,” Oz said.

Sachairi thumped him on the back. “Let’s go enjoy the party, hmm? I’m sure lots of people want to meet the new Librarian.”

With that, Sachairi wandered off, leaving him all alone. Oz put his hands behind his back and wandered toward the buffet table, his stomach rumbling. I had to sacrifice the pork to the spiders, and it’s been fasting pills since then. I could use some real food.

Cloth rustled. Oz turned.

A beautiful girl in a green off-the-shoulder dress and long, red ringlets smiled blandly at him, eyes averted. Oz frowned. He tilted his head, trying to catch Linnea’s gaze, but her eyes remained firmly on the floor.

“Ossian! Oz, is it? Thank you for taking good care of my disciple.” A blond man clasped Linnea’s shoulder and beamed at Oz.

Oz blinked. He pulled up Genealogy in his mind, and his eyes lit up. “Lif Lifsson?” He’s Linnea’s Master? Huh.

Lif’s eyes crinkled as he smiled. “I’m honored you remember me. Yes, indeed. Have you considered that amulet I offered you?”

Amulet? Oh, right. The shapeshifting amulet he offered me, back when I’d just arrived. My opinion hasn’t changed, especially now that I’ve actually stepped outside. With assassins and enormous attacks hitting my library at all times of night and day, that thing is a death trap. Oz shook his head gently. “No, no. I don’t think that’s for me.”

“Well. If you ever change your mind, just let me know. In the meantime, please continue looking after this disciple of mine.” Lif put his arm around Linnea and smiled.

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Linnea shifted, turning her face and body away from him. Those long eyelashes of hers fluttered, her eyes sliding away as she clearly wished she could.

Licking his lips, Oz ducked his head. “Right, right. The, uh, the buffet.” He gestured vaguely, then paused. “Linnea, would you accompany me?”

Linnea peeked at him, then at Lif.

Lif nodded, breaking out into the most earnest smile Oz had seen from him yet. “Go ahead. Don’t let me stop you!”

With a final glance at Lif, Linnea scurried off toward Oz. Smiling, Oz led her toward the banquet. “Here, show me what tastes good…”

As soon as they were out of Lif’s earshot, Linnea frowned at Oz. “Are you sure you want to associate with me in public? People will talk.”

“You looked uncomfortable,” Oz murmured back.

She paused, then snorted. “I was fine. But thank you.”

“Besides, what’s wrong with associating with you?” Oz asked, picking up a plate at the buffet table.

“I… have a reputation.” She ran a hand up her arm and looked away.

“Oh.” Aisling did say she practiced the art of seduction. Oz shrugged. “To most of the people here, I’m the undeserving trash who dared to usurp Madame Saoirse’s library. Do you think you could make my reputation worse?”

Linnea chuckled at that. She shook her head, but her smile became a little less forced.

Oz loaded up his plate, sneaking a few bites as he went. Tastes so good… I’ve been suffering from those bitter pills for so long! Thank goodness for real food.

“So you’re the one who inherited the library? You’ve got guts, kid.”

Oz turned and found himself facing a rotund stomach. He craned his neck up, up, up, until he was almost bending backward. Atop a bushy brown beard, a jolly face smiled down at him.

He stared blankly. A second later, he jolted. I came here to make friends and forge alliances! Focus, Oz!

Shuffling his plate to his left hand, he offered the man his right. “Master Gregoir, of the Iron Heart Clan, was it? Good to make your acquaintance.”

“Oh? You know who I am?” Gregoir smiled approvingly.

Thanks to Genealogy living in my brain, I do. Oz nodded. “Of course.”

“Gregoir, don’t hog Sachairi’s special guest all to yourself.” A woman as slender as Gregoir was broad squeezed in beside him. Wearing green, she seemed to sway in the wind, her layers of long, translucent robes carried with even the slightest breeze.

“And Madame Ide, of the Willow Wind School. Honored, honored.” Beaming, Oz shook her hand as well. A man from a warrior clan that focuses bodily magic, and a woman from a renowned, if small, school of music and magic. An odd couple, to be sure.

“I must say, you’ve really grown into your role. I was afraid you’d never find the nerve to come out of that library of yours,” Gregoir said, thumping Oz on the back. Oz grabbed at his plate, barely saving his food as the lurch sent it all flying.

“Yes, yes. I’ve always wondered what kind of music Madame Saoirse kept in her library… I don’t suppose you’d be willing to host a few low-level disciples? Perhaps for a day or two?” Ide asked, resting a slender but calloused finger on her cheek.

“Certainly, but…” Oz ran a hand over the back of his neck and cast his eyes down, letting out an embarrassed chuckle. “Well, I’m… barely not a mortal, so… it takes more than air and qi to sustain life…”

Ide smiled knowingly. Pale green light flashed across her eyes. “Of course.”

Gregoir nudged Oz with a grin. “I’d send a few of my boys, but I don’t think there’s a one of them that couldn’t break you in half. Maybe in a few months, huh?”

“Oh, yes,” Oz said, laughing. I can grow stronger that fast? I thought magic took a long—

“When my next son’s born.” Gregoir threw his head back in a guffaw at his own joke.

Oz smiled politely. Should’ve figured.

Clicking her tongue, Ide nudged Gregoir along. “Come, come. Let’s not bully poor Oz too much, shall we?”

Oz wandered away from the buffet table and settled in a corner, nibbling on the snacks on his plate. Piercing a piece of purple broccoli with a two-pronged long-stemmed fork, he offered it to Linnea. “Not hungry?”

“I don’t eat vegetables,” she said shortly. Crossing her arms, she gazed out at the crowd. Instead of the demure front she put up around Lif, or the seductive Linnea who hugged Roan’s arm and simpered, her eyes burned, brows furrowed just a hair.

“Your loss.” Oz chomped down the broccoli with a shrug. He nodded at her. “What are you looking at?”

“These vultures. Doesn’t it disgust you? They want nothing to do with you until you have something they want, and then they come swarming.”

“Swarming, that’s flies. Vultures circle.”

Linnea glared at him.

Oz waved his hand. “Mixed metaphors aside, why let it bother you? It’s human nature. Of course they’ll try to take advantage of me. I have something valuable, and they can’t have it, so the next best thing is to carve out as big of a chunk as they can for themselves. It’s my job to take as much advantage of them as they do of me along the way.”

Linnea said nothing, but her nose wrinkled a little. “Humans.”

“I know, right?” Oz laughed lightly. She thinks I’m not human, so it’s better to play along.

A shadow loomed. Oz turned, already smiling.

Cecil Daggarty smiled back, though his eyes gave lie to the smile. Cold as the depths of night, he stared through Oz, as if he could simply wipe him off the face of the earth by not acknowledging him.

And yet, here he is, talking to me. “Can I help you?” Oz asked politely.

“Bold of you, coming here tonight. If you weren’t Sachairi’s guest, I’d…” Cecil extended his hand, fingers twisting into a claw.

Immense pressure hammered down on Oz, closing in around him. The air grew heavy on his shoulders and stuck in his throat. He struggled to draw a breath, his heart pounding. His knees trembled against his will, simply struggling to hold up the weight.

A split second before Oz collapsed, a wash of heat rushed over him, pushing Cecil’s pressure away. He gasped a breath and stumbled back, putting a pace between them to regain his composure. From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Sachairi glaring at them from across the room. Mages laughed around him, completely unaware of the silent battle of wills between Cecil and Sachairi.

Cecil lifted his arm with a dry laugh. Instantly, the pressure bearing down on Oz lessened, and a moment later, the heat faded, too. Sachairi watched, his furrowed brows smoothing.

Cecil snorted. “Sachairi’s still looking for a place to die, I see. I’m not going to give him the pleasure.”

“What do you want?” Oz asked defiantly, crossing his arms.

Linnea grabbed his arm, terrified. Quietly, she hissed, “Oz!”

Cecil’s tone turned vicious, and his smile vanished. “Watch yourself, thief. Inheritor of a thief, with nothing of your own to your name. You won’t get away with this forever.”

“Thank you for the warning,” Oz replied blandly. Someone like this? You can’t win for losing. Better to be nothing, forgettable, and let his viciousness wash over me.

Cecil snorted. He turned to go, then paused and leaned in. “Enjoy your library while you can.”

“I think I will, thanks.” Oz smiled.

Cecil narrowed his eyes.

Oz kept smiling. Yeah, I noticed that villain line. Go ahead. Try your worst. I know you want the library for yourself.

Scoffing, Cecil turned and walked off.

Linnea let out a long breath. “Phew. He’s terrifying.”

“Is he really that scary?” Oz asked.

“He almost crushed you with his pressure!” Linnea exclaimed. She shook her head. “He might only be a low-ranking Master in the Sun Cult, but he’s still incredibly more powerful than us.

“And the Sun Cult… not even Master Lif dares insult them. Even Sachairi, if he weren’t on the brink of death, wouldn’t dare oppose Cecil Daggarty, as long as he has the backing of the Sun Cult.”

Oz glanced after him, then shrugged. “I’ll be honest, I’m so weak that it’s all the same to me.”

Exasperated, Linnea rolled her eyes. “You are infuriating sometimes, you know?”

From across the yard, a man in black professorial robes caught Oz’s eye and paused. He started to walk on, backstepped, went to walk on again, then bit his lip, shook his head, and turned on his heel, marching directly toward Oz. “Oz! Wonderful, wonderful. So good to see you.”

“And you as well… Professor Caolan,” Oz greeted him, offering his hand.

The Professor reached for his hand, then lifted his, palms out, and took a half step back. “I shouldn’t, no no. Er, and it’s Professor Keane, thank you.”

Oz’s smile stiffened. “Certainly.”

“Ah, no, no, please. I just have a thing about dirt. I can’t bear to touch something filthy,” Professor Keane explained. “Not… that your hands are filthy, but… well, they are, but that’s not to say that you’re filthy, er…”

“Professor Keane, it’s very good to meet you. Can I help you with something?” Oz asked.

Startled to be interrupted, Professor Keane blinked at him, then frowned. He worked his jaw a few times, as if finishing his thoughts in his head, but not aloud, then nodded. “Yes, yes, of course. Ah, as I’m sure you know, I’m a high-ranking Professor in the… that is, one of the greatest scholarly academies in the Mages’ Quarter, Sielver Academy, and—”

Oz nodded.

He took a deep breath, visibly resetting himself. “Would you mind allowing a few of our young minds to spend a day inside the library? I—it would be an incredible honor, truly. To even momentarily access one of the greatest repositories of knowledge… I’m envious, honestly. Those young minds could benefit so much!”

“Of course, of course. It’s just that… well, it takes resources to run a library, and…”

“One dozen gold,” Professor Keane said, before Oz even had a chance to finish his sentence.

“Eh?” Oz asked, startled.

“Per head. A dozen per head. Is that not enough? Twenty. I can do twenty.” Professor Keane gritted his teeth, then wrinkled his nose. “You drive a hard bargain. Twenty-five. Any more than that, and I’d have to cut down on the number of disciples I sent.”

“That—that’s quite enough, yes,” Oz said, before the Professor could bargain himself into paying even more. I did just brag about taking advantage of people, but the Professor… he’s too earnest. I can’t.

Besides, I really do believe in sharing the library. As soon as I’m able to open it safely, I’ll open it up. Charging excessive admission will only come back to bite me in the long run.

Smiling, Professor Keane stuck his hand out to shake, then quickly grabbed it away. “Let’s shak… consider this deal done. I’ll have them by bright and early tomorrow.”

“T—tomorrow?” Oz stuttered, but too late. Professor Keane whirled away in a rush of black linen.

Beside him, Linnea snorted. “You are incredibly bad at making deals.”

“I am not! I’m just… not good at dealing with certain types of people,” Oz muttered, half under his breath.

Linnea shook her head. “Uh-huh.”

One after another, people came up to Oz, introducing themselves or simply congratulating him on his introduction. No one else suggested a deal, but nonetheless, the experience grew exhausting. He leaned back against the stone wall and blew out a breath, sending a few strands of hair that had escaped from his half-up hair flying. Plate long gone, he swirled a quickly-warming glass of a lemonade-like drink Aisling had called sherbet when she’d shoved it at him in one hand. His eyes roved the crowd, drinking in the many unfriendly faces who hadn’t come to say hello.

Long-since bored, Linnea wandered the crowd, giggling cutely and nodding enthusiastically with anyone who would look her way. He watched her for a moment, but his eyes quickly slid off, seeking out Aisling instead. She offered a plate of cut crystal glasses to another mage, nodding with stoic silence as they took a glass.

With a friendly wave, Sachairi pulled up beside him. The cool night instantly warmed, the man’s heat radiating through his thin silks. Even with the night’s chill, sweat still spotted his face. Gesturing, he turned to face the crowd. “What do you think?”

“I think I have my work cut out for me,” Oz muttered.

“Smart man,” Sachairi said, chuckling.

“But I have somewhere to start from, now.” He took a deep breath and stretched, then nodded at Sachairi. “I think it’s time for me to turn in, if you don’t mind.”

“Leaving so early?” Sachairi asked. Even so, he turned and whistled. Aisling spun, instantly making eye contact, and he cocked his head, calling her to his side.

“Look who it is,” a voice drawled, slow and teasing.

Oz turned. What now?