"So, you say I have to see someone as my master, Mr. Sandoval?" I asked to make sure because that was how all the ways to get just one more sigil as a Slave the old librarian listed sounded to me.

"Not master exactly. Just as someone akin to your master. Like I said, it could be someone you work for, or it could be someone you're fulfilling a request taken from a notice board for. It all depends on how you see the person."

'Shit! Shit, shit, shit!'

That was a lot to take in. If what he was saying was true, which it seemed to be as he backed it up with quotes from various books, then basically, Stable Master Hale could serve as a replacement for my master. All I had to do was continue to work in the stables.

Of course, it was much more complicated than putting in the hours. To get those sigils actually engraved on my blasted array, I would need Mr. Hale to be reasonably satisfied with my work - the same could be said of Blaine and, for that matter, Rayden. I followed the lieutenant's notes and did the bait the way the Captain wanted.

There was only one catch. My stupid Slave array required me to see them as no different from my master - even if only temporarily.

'Was it worth it? Did I really need to get stronger?'

Hearing that there was no other way around the master-thing, at least not according to the librarian, doubts began to gnaw at my resolve. After all, I wasn't doing so badly right now. At the stables, I had a job I enjoyed, my boss was reasonable, my coworkers weren't terrible, and the pay seemed high enough to get by. Better yet, for the time being, I was staying with an old couple who were nicer to me than I deserved. And then there was Ria and…

‘Fuck!’

Thinking back to the little kitare, all the bad shit that had happened to me since I came to the city came rushing back to me.

'Not her fault, absolutely not.'

But there was the alley she was with me at, and then the weird tension over at City Hall where she worked and Timmy, another guide.

'I don't know, things were just weird. As if... Shit! Shit, shit, shit!'

The constant suspicion of everyone working for the mind mages was the worst part. Hell, at some point, I even suspected Alley, a cat, scalehoofs, and my coworkers. So no, getting stronger was not some lofty idea, but a necessity. As much as it rubbed me the wrong way, I had to swallow the notion of seeing someone as my master and get those last...

"How many sigils does one actually need to create a second array, Mr. Sandoval?"

The old librarian smiled warmly, obviously pleased to see I had made up my mind. "At ninety-six sigils one reaches the full first array, but only gets the opportunity to form the second when one hundred and two sigils are carved on their array. There are several interesting theories as to why that is so, but that's a matter that would take us all day to wade through, I'm afraid."

Yeah, not something I was particularly interested in right now, and neither had time for. Something he said, however, caught my attention.

"I get an opportunity and not form the second array right away?"

"Indeed, that is so, Miss Grey. While I unfortunately can't speak from personal experience, with a hundred and two sigils, you should get three choices. Overwrite the existing array with a new one, advance the old array, or create a second array next to the old one. Most choose the latter for obvious reasons."

'Obvious reasons my ass.' The way I saw it, the first option was just asking me to choose it. The librarian's chuckle, however, stopped me from speaking my mind out loud.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"It's so refreshing to talk to someone not hiding their intentions behind a facade. Let me tell you, Miss Grey, choosing to rewrite the array is the worst option."

"W-what? Why? D-do I lose the sigils? Because I don't care."

"No, you don't lose any, and that's the issue. Imagine yourself suddenly becoming a carpenter. To advance further, you would have to do the same deeds as someone who grew up a carpenter. It could take you the rest of your life to get your weaves to a level where you can get another sigil on your array."

"But I wouldn't be a Slave."

"That is undeniable. However, for the sake of my better conscience, I must appeal to you to consider forming a second array. While advancing your current array has its advantages, I can see why it would be an unacceptable choice for you."

Having only a rough idea of what this "advancing one's array" entailed, I nodded. "Yeah - so, why the second array?"

"Isn't it obvious? Because you get to avail of the benefits of two arrays. Please... don't give me that look. I know you're brighter than that, Miss Grey."

"W-well, it's just..." I trailed off, not really knowing how to validate my disgust with my current array.

"Tell me, is it better to have one book or two, even though you may not like the cover of one? Both contain knowledge that can enrich your mind."

"I know what you're trying to say. Still..." I had been dreaming of getting rid of that accursed Slave array for so damn long.

"That's all right, Miss Grey. As long as you don't just dismiss the idea at the drop of a hat. You still have plenty of time to think about it, so..." the librarian said, stopping mid-sentence, his eyes going to the main door just as my ears perked up - someone entered the library.

"Hey, there's no one here. Didn't you say the old man usually sits in the chair by the door?"

"Doesn't mean he has to be there all day, does it? We'll just have to wait until..."

"Are you fucking kidding me? Why don't we just... where the hell is the bell?"

"This is a library, not a butcher shop, Vara."

"Don't be a smart-ass with me. Just because I don't read books..."

"As ill-timed as this is, let me excuse myself for a moment, Miss Grey," spoke the old librarian, getting up from his chair, drawing my attention back to him.

"O-of course," I stammered, my gaze falling on the magical window and the view from it. While it wasn't a static image, nothing much had changed. The meadow below the mountains was still getting hit by the seemingly morning sun - the few shadows that were there had not moved since I sat down, and I had been sitting here for a while, no doubt.

"Actually," I blurted out, getting up in a hurry shortly after the librarian pushed his chair back to the table. "I think I've taken more than enough of your time, Mr. Sandoval. I... I still have somewhere to be, and I really wouldn't want to be late." Not when I had already paid ten silver coins, which I was hoping to get back in my nine o'clock lesson.

The old librarian paused in mid stride, pulling out what looked like a pocket watch with a chain. Unlike the timepieces I knew from historical films, the diaglyph of clock hands lit up over these in a breath, similar to the diaglyph over the bracelet Ria had. "Time really flies with good conversation. Though we have strayed considerably from the reason for your visit, haven't we?"

"Yeah." I nodded, a chuckle escaping my lips, quickly replaced by panic. "But I don't mind. I've learned so much more, for which I am deeply grateful, Mr. Sandoval."

"And I to you for listening to this old man. It was a pleasure, Miss Grey. Now..."

"I'm s-sorry, if you don't mind me asking?" I rudely cut him off, seeing him giving the pocket watch away. "What time is it?"

"Fourteen minutes until eight o'clock. I hope I didn't keep you too long, Miss Grey."

"No. Not at all. Actually, I'd say we talked just long enough."

"That's good to hear. I feel that today's young people are always in a hurry and never find time for a good cup of jartine tea. Very well, let's see what those two ladies in uniform want. The noisier one is getting quite restless and I don't wish to have a bull trampling between my bookshelves."

He was right. I didn't even need my big ears to hear Guardswoman Vara growling at her friend from halfway across the library.

"Seriously, where is he? Did he have to take a shit or something?"

"Can't you keep your voice down? We're in the library."

"Who came up with that stupid rule? It had to be quite a whack job, because the silence is getting under my skin. It's not normal."

"Enchantments."

"I know, I'm not stupid, El. Seriously, though, why us? Couldn't they have sent someone else for that half-Terr chick?"

"So, you'd rather just patrol the streets?"

"At least there is something going on there. But here... if she doesn't show up in a minute, I'm gonna go look for her."