Roan's Point of View

Chapter 2

"So, when you asked me to take these books home," I paused, glancing at the overgrown mountain path we were about to climb, "you didn't mention the part about portaling to another city and then climbing a mountain."

"I didn't?" Nyssa gave me a wide-eyed innocent look. "I could have sworn I mentioned something about an adventure and you are an adventurer, right?"

"Well, yeah, but this path....," I paused, staring up the so-called path covered in loose rocks and fallen branches, "doesn't really look safe. Are you sure this is the right way?"

Water had eroded the unstable path even further, creating deep ruts in the earth. This was what happened to man-made paths when they were abandoned: nature took them back by force.

"It's definitely the right way," she said, covering up a laugh with her hand. "But you don't really have to come if you don't want to. I've been up this mountain many times, I'll be fine on my own."

Interesting. Sticking around to see where she was taking these books sounded like just the break I needed before heading to the local adventurer's guild.

"I've got time," I said with a smile. "That's a perk of the job. I get to experience all the fun parts of life as I travel the world, taking missions when I need to and relaxing when I don't. Besides, what kind of adventurer would I be if I left a librarian to haul all these books up a mountain by herself?"

"You're lucky, I've always got way too long of a to-do list," she said with a laugh as she activated the magic on the cart to get it moving again.

"Remind me again, where are we taking these books?" I asked, glancing at a moss-covered stone sign. Nyssa brushed it off, revealing an arrow leading up and a name. "The Misty Mountain Library?"

A smile lit up her face. "I'm reopening it. I don't care what anyone else says, it's a magical place. The best library you'll ever see. Or it will be once I'm done with it."

If it was as rundown as this path, then she'd have her work cut out for her. But I wasn't about to say that, not when she was bounding up the path full of excitement.

"Why do you love it so much?" I asked.

"It's a library. Why wouldn't I love it?" Her eyes softened as she glanced back at the cart full of books. "I used to spend a lot of time there as a child. It was the only place I really fit in and it's why I fell in love with reading. In a world full of magic, there's nothing quite like getting lost in a good book. Working there and sharing that experience with others has been my dream for years." She nudged my arm, grinning. "And you're helping me revitalize that dream."

Sunlight glowed against her auburn hair, warm and beautiful. Listening to her talk about something she loved was oddly soothing, like I was getting to share in her big moment.

"I like books too," I said, "but I've never read one that made me feel like I was getting lost in it. Maybe you can recommend a few after you reopen."

"Really? I can't wait!" She did a little happy dance, but almost tripped on a tree root jutting up from the path.

I reached for her elbow to steady her, feeling myself drawn to her excitement like a moth to a flame. I wanted something to be this passionate about too. Sure, I liked adventuring, but it was more of a means to an end than a passion. I wanted something that was worth spending years dreaming about.

"That was close, thanks." She rested her hand on my shoulder, leaning toward me. "How am I ever going to repay you?"

Her voice was low and her eyes glinted with mischief, making me momentarily forget how to speak. Who was this woman and how had I gotten lucky enough to walk her home? My heart thudded in my chest so loud she could probably hear it. Wait. No. That was something else.

I pulled back, drawing my sword as I studied our surroundings. A thump thump noise drew closer, almost like the sound of a shovel first breaking open the earth.

"What's wrong?" Nyssa asked, gaze searching the tree line on the opposite side. "What's that noise?"

"Not sure, but I'll handle it. You're safe with me."

She nodded, standing firm even as the noises surrounded us. Shapes moved between the trees, oddly formed like no creature I'd ever seen. I squinted. They looked like they had square heads and only one leg? No. They were made of wood, some kind of box attached to a stake.

Nyssa let out a breath, laughing quietly. "They're just the library's little lending boxes. They're placed along the path in case people can't make it all the way to the library."

I didn't loosen my grip on my sword as the little lending boxes hopped closer. Their paint was chipped and faded, their doors either missing or hanging off their hinges, and there wasn't a single book inside any of them.

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"Do they usually move on their own?" I asked calmly, trying not to judge this wonderful library of hers.

"Well, no, not that I remember, but imagine how useful that'll be when I need to restock them every few days." She held out her hand to one of the boxes. "Come here little library, we're not going to hurt you."

It hopped up and down frantically, flinging its door open and shut, creating a horrible squeaking noise that anything else on this mountain would surely hear.

"Be careful," I said. "We don't know what else is out here."

Nyssa waved her hand at me like I was being ridiculous as the lending libraries crowded around her. I kept close, ready to fend them off if they got violent, but they seemed more curious than dangerous as they leaned toward us, tilting this way and that.

I'd never seen anything like them. The gods had shaped our world out of magic through the power of their storytelling, imbuing magic into everything from the air we breathed to the food we ate. It's what formed the land and made the waters flow. It was beautiful and so full of potential, but when that potential was wasted, the magic spoiled, becoming wild with the need to finish its story. Even the gods couldn't say what it would do then.

And those cute little broken down libraries that Nyssa was fawning over reeked of wild magic. What had she called this library again? The Misty Mountain Library? That name sounded familiar, like I should know it...

"Is this what you're looking for?" Nyssa asked the lending libraries, moving closer to the cart full of books. "Do you want more books?"

They all hopped up and down like excited puppies. Nyssa smiled, not even a little afraid of them. I shook my head, admiring how she searched for just the right book to give each little library.

"You know they're just going to lose those, right?" I asked, pointing at the lack of doors. "They need better doors, something with a latch that won't come open as they hop."

Nyssa raised an eyebrow at me. "Here I thought you didn't like them. Now you're offering to help?"

"Wait, when did I offer that?" I shook my head. "I'd need tools and spare parts and stuff."

"True." She patted one of the libraries on its little roof. "Then I guess they'll just have to come with us to the library. I'll get them sorted out there. Time to head out!"

With that, all the little libraries hopped to attention, creating a single file line behind her as she marched ahead like the pied piper, leading her ragtag team of lending libraries up the mountain. I couldn't help but grin, hurrying to keep pace with her.

"You're kind of amazing," I said.

She glanced sideways at me. "I know."

Silent laughter shook her shoulders as we walked together, followed by the thumping sounds of the library stakes and the creaking of the wagon wheels. I sheathed my sword, hoping that if anything else was going to attack us, it would have done it by now. We weren't exactly inconspicuous.

The path ahead got more twisted and unkempt the closer we got to the library. Broken lights hung from the tree branches, doing nothing to guide our way, as dense fog blanketed the ground. The air felt thick, buzzing and snapping around me like it was dripping with magic. Wild magic.

"We're almost there." Nyssa's voice rose with excitement. "I've been waiting for this moment for so long. The last time I was here was right before it got hit by a wild magic storm. After that, my parents and I ended up moving, but the librarians swore the place would heal itself." She sighed, shaking her head. "A few years ago, I realized that not only had the library not healed itself, but the board had transferred most of the books to other libraries, basically shutting the place down."

"That's awful," I said, walking a bit closer to her. "Good thing we've got a few books with us then."

"Yes, good thing you showed up." She glanced back at the cart and then me, a smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe--"

She stopped talking as we stepped out into a clearing, her eyes widening.

A ramshackle library rose up from the mist, giant holes in the roof badly patched and windows boarded over like it was completely abandoned. The lending libraries raced ahead as Nyssa just stood there, transfixed. The stone exterior was cracked as vines claimed the surface as their own.

I'd hoped the library would be as beautiful and magical as she remembered, but that just wasn't how the world worked.

"I'm sorry," I said, reaching out to comfort her, but she didn't look upset. She was practically glowing. "Wait, you still love this place even with it looking like that?"

"Of course I do," she said. "I knew it would need some repairs. It gives me the opportunity to make it even better." She glanced back at me and shrugged. "What else am I supposed to say? That I give up on my lifelong dream to work here? Not a chance."

"Your determination is impressive. I respect that." Maybe I could spend a few days here helping her clean up the place, get the big things fixed at least. "Do you need a volunteer by any chance?"

She grinned. "Well yeah, but aren't you busy?"

I was going to stop by the guild, but it's not like anyone was expecting me. I just kind of showed up whenever I was in town. But somehow, there was always some big mission waiting for me when I did. Almost like the guild masters kept in touch, whispering about where I was going.

That was a weird thought, but Nyssa had already gone up to the library and opened the door. Noises filtered out like people talking followed by a roar that sounded like it came from the depths of the earth, shaking the windows.

Nyssa slammed the door shut, spinning to me with her back to the door. "On second thought, I don't need any volunteers. I'm all good here. You can head back to the guild."

My body tensed, waiting for whatever made that roar to rush outside.

"You really think I'm going to ignore that noise?" I asked, hand already on my sword hilt. "What's in there?"

"Oh that? It's nothing. Just an alarm system to scare people off since the library's supposed to be closed." Nyssa laughed awkwardly. "It's really fine. You should get going."

Her eyes were on the ground and her hand still gripped the door handle tight.

"Are you sure? Handling things like this," I nodded at the lending libraries, "is part of my job. I don't mind taking a look inside. And I won't charge you if that's what you're worried about."

"It's really nothing," she said, meeting my gaze firmly. "This is library business, nothing to do with the adventurer's guild."

That was true, but it didn't feel right just leaving her here without looking inside. Being an adventurer didn't give me permission to force my way into places though and she did seem pretty sure of herself. Who was I to doubt her word?

"Okay," I said slowly. "Why don't I come back later for those book recommendations then?"

"That sounds like a great idea." She nodded, sagging against the door in relief. "Thanks again for everything."

"Anytime," I said, forcing myself to walk away. "I'll see you soon."

In all my years as an adventurer, nothing had made me more curious than that woman and what she was hiding behind her back.