Chapter 37: Ledas: The Voice

One page… nothing… The next, and there was nothing as well, or at least there didn’t seem to be anything. Ledas wasn’t really paying attention at this point, just mindlessly flipping through index pages in the hope of any sign of what he was searching for.

Three days in the royal library had yielded nothing. Ledas kept checking his reflection in the medallion mirror hanging from his neck to make sure his warmth spell was holding. After all, his luck wasn’t infinite.

The voice from the ritual buggered him. The incantation that led to them did that too: Architect, Library of Infinite Knowledge, Tower of Babel. He'd found the Tower mentioned only in names of fiction novels he'd rather not be seen checking out of the royal library. Why there was a smut section in the royal library was beyond him. The Library Of Infinite Knowledge appeared in a single, useless reference in "Formation of Defensive and Barrier Spells" - just a warning about its instability during magical warfare.

Following that thread had led him to "Asmar's History of Magical Warfare." It had been borrowed by one of the previous Arshakions two centuries ago and never was returned. The king had raised an eyebrow when Ledas requested to borrow it, but even that didn't help much. The book only confirmed that old and unmaintained magical libraries tended to fail under stress, particularly during wars with aberrations.

One passage did catch his attention: "Library of Infinite Knowledge contains over four hundred commands related to space, time calculation, and power management. Until the City of Magic was founded, non-affiliated and rogue mages used the LoIK freely, as it had no access restrictions. No faction claims control over it, and the library is considered abandoned since the late 5th century."

None of this explained the voice that had whispered in his mind during the ritual. "Here you are. It is nice to finally meet you," it had said as if it had been waiting for him. Ledas knew about people who heard voices - they usually ended up in the care of Mother of Mercy or worse in places where the Mother wasn’t revered. Asking anyone about it wasn't an option due to that.

He glanced at his reflection again, adjusting his collar. The theatrical gestures came naturally - old habits from the troupe died hard. But here in the castle, every movement felt wrong, and every interaction was a potential misstep. At least in the circus, he'd known exactly where he stood: at the bottom of the hierarchy, in the spotlight but invisible. Here he was away from the spotlight but always observed.

Day four was a day off; no responsibilities at the castle, aside from checking the ritual beacon from time to time. Ledas finally was able to visit Olaf’s place, although sadly Smoothy tagged along, as Ledas didn’t have any real autonomy.

Olaf was happy that Ledas found a new friend, so Ledas decided not to clarify that his bodyguard and watcher who was acting like his friend in public wasn’t one.

Well, at least in a few more days, and he could finally travel around the city or even around the castle without Smoothy during the days, and the night watcher whose existence he knew about but never saw.

The salary did raise his spirit on the next morning though. He got two big gold coins as a bonus. A good riding horse worth of gold was in his palm. He stared at the three small gold coins and two big ones in his room. 230 Silver Drams in his possession. He never had anything that valuable that was his own. It glistened in his eyes and he wanted to enjoy it.

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A reminder of the strange occurrence didn’t allow him though. It was hard to forget the voice during the ritual when the ritual was active on the lower floor of his own quarters.

There were three ways to resolve this. Ignore, Research, or invoke the library again. The first two didn’t work.

Ledas took the ritual scroll.

“Architect, I ask you for access to the Library of the Infinite Knowledge you kept safe for millennia. Allow me to see the true wisdom of the Tower of Babylon you built.”

The words became tangible again when he read them from the scroll out aloud.

Nothing. Ledas felt nothing. He invoked the library, but this time he felt nothing. No access was granted, as if he just read some random words.

He tried to force the library again.

#include LibraryOfInfiniteKnowledge

“Aren’t we persistent?” The same calm and cold voice responded to him. “Later, Mister Sanders, later. When the time will be right.”

“Who are you?” Ledas asked quietly, but no one responded.

Chills went down Ledas’ back. It was unnatural to hear someone talk into your mind. The Library of Infinite Knowledge wasn’t abandoned, and he wasn’t insane.

“What if it was an angel of Noritz?” he asked himself. “Yeah, I sent her the request, and one of her angels just said hello to me, an angel magic. Case closed. They probably just built a new library for their followers later, that’s all. There is nothing I should worry about.” He cleared the sweat from his forehead and exhaled deeply, calming himself down, and returned to his bedroom.

A parcel with a letter on it was put on his bed, and considering the security around the place of the hero summoning it must have been important.

“Magister, you are invited to a tea party this afternoon, 2-4 Past Zenith. At the east garden.”

The parcel had a two-piece blue suit and polished leather shoes.

Ledas didn’t recognize the name of the sender, but well, he had never been to a tea party and had never worn a suit before, so it was hard for him to stop staring at the mirror looking at himself. He looked and felt like a nobleman. No longer at the bottom, but at the top.

The longer he stared the more surreal he felt.

“Do you know what they call people who are in love with themselves?” Smoothie asked him just as he entered the room.

“Do I look good in this?” Ledas tried to comb his hair in another way.

“They call them flowers, and yes, it does fit you. On what occasion decided to order a new garb?"

“Do I need one to look this good?” Ledas answered with a question again.

“Yes. Well, what did I expect from someone who wears a mirror medallion on his neck? You know, right that medallions usually hold a picture of a beloved person, not a mirror to stare at yourself at?”

“Smoothy, did they tell you that you are a mood killer?” Yet again Ledas responded with a question.

“I pity your future wife,” Smoothy said with a low and cold voice.

“Huh? Why?” Ledas didn’t turn around.

“If you are so insufferable now, imagine how bad it will be when you will become an archmage!”

“Oh! You think I will become one, I think so too!” Ledas responded cheerfully.

“You missed the point. What’s wrong with you? How long have you been staring at yourself in the mirror?”

Ledas looked at the clock, it was at least an hour since he opened the parcel, and he had barely enough time to get to the tea party on time.

“Well, when this summoning is over, I will find a good mind healer.” He smiled at Smoothy.

“Ugh, I will go to the city, and see if one is available on short notice. Your behavior is worrying the higher-ups.”

“Oh…” Ledas stopped looking at the mirror as his heart sank.

“I don’t watch your every step, but when you ask the king for an ancient book, and for days only leave the royal library for sleeping and eating it will be known in the castle. Rumours start to spread, and it gets harder to do damage control.”

“Rumours?”

“Ask Wraith. As for now, I am going to see if there are some good mind healers in town.”

When Smoothy left, Ledas looked at the mirror once again. He wasn’t a flower, he tried to convince himself. Whatever his situation, he just had to act normal.

***

At Wraith’s office:

“I think the Magister is hiding something. My lord.”

“Like what?”

“He sometimes acts like he is possessed, obsessing over things.”

“Smoothy you know why it is illegal to teach kids magic till they reach puberty?”

“No, sir.”

“Now you know.”

“I don’t understand you, my lord.”

“Magic can screw unformed minds. Most kill themselves, or go on a mayhem."

“Oh… Why are we keeping him? Isn’t that dangerous?”

“Maybe to himself.”

“So, should I look for a mind healer for him?”

“Just, submit the form for the expenses after.”