Otter woke to the buzzing alarm he’d set on his wrisplay for 5:30 in the morning. He rubbed his eyes and sat up in his small bed, the faint creak of floorboards the only sound in the room. It was still dark, save for the faint grey light that filtered through the window.
He dressed quickly, buttoning up his shirt and pulling on his boots. It was early, and Otter imagined the other students on his hall were still fast asleep, no doubt exhausted from their travels and the hectic nature of registration and orientation the day before. But Otter was wide awake. He refused to be late for his first day of Library Duty.
He slipped his notebook into his satchel and left the dormitory. Out in the courtyard, the cool morning air carried the faint scent of dew and woodsmoke. The Academy was a maze of secrets and mysteries, and Otter couldn't wait to dive into them. He had become obsessed with unraveling its puzzles, and every day brought new paths to discover, new secrets to unlock.
He had a feeling that today was going to be a day full of adventure.
The Library’s front doors loomed large in the morning light, the runes carved into the surrounding frame faintly glowing. Otter ran a hand over the smooth stone, tracing the delicate symbols with his fingers. Ancient wards, probably. He wondered if they were meant to protect the books inside—or keep something out.
He gave the door a push, but it didn’t budge. Frowning, he checked his wrisplay.
6:50 AM.
He’d arrived early, but surely Archivist Dane would have been here by now.
Library hours didn’t start until 8:00, so it made sense that the doors wouldn’t be open yet. But if he was expected to be there at seven for his shift, how was he supposed to get in?
Otter waited for exactly one minute, feeling restless and anxious the entire time. He shifted from foot to foot, his fingers drumming against his satchel.
Then he remembered the rear entrance.
The ivy-covered door he’d noted during his campus exploration. Maybe that was the entrance he was supposed to use.
As fast as he could, Otter dashed around the dark gray stone walls, weaving between hedges and cutting through a narrow alley until he reached the hidden alcove in the back. The ivy-covered door stood exactly where he remembered.
He reached for the handle.
It turned easily.
Otter pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The air changed immediately. It was cooler in the Library, with a faint scent of aged parchment and leather lingering in the air with an undertone of something more pungent. Alcohol? Vinegar? He couldn’t place it, but it had that kind of chemical smell.
The space beyond the door was dimly lit, the only light coming from enchanted lanterns that hovered high above, casting soft golden light over the towering shelves.
Otter took a few steps inside, letting the door close softly behind him.
“Impressive,” he murmured, glancing around. The Library felt endless, rows of shelves stretching into the shadows. Each shelf was crammed with leather-bound books, scrolls, and strange tomes with faded titles written in unfamiliar languages.
The silence was comforting, wrapping around him like a blanket.
“Bennett.”
The sharp voice startled Otter out of his thoughts. He turned quickly to see a tall, severe woman approaching from one of the aisles. She moved with purpose, her dark robes flowing around her like water. Her hair was pulled into a tight bun, and her expression was one of mild irritation, yet approval wrapped into one.
“Archivist Dane?” Otter asked hesitantly.
She gave a curt nod. “You’re almost late.”
Otter glanced at his wrisplay. 6:56 AM. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure which door to use. I went to the front entrance first...”
Dane waved his explanation away. “Nevermind. I said almost late. Which means you are on time. Punctuality is commendable. I expect nothing less. As an old professor of mine used to say, ‘Early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Very good.” She gestured for him to follow as she strode deeper into the Library. “Come along. We have much to cover.”
The Library’s layout was more complex than Otter had expected. It wasn’t just rows of shelves—it was a labyrinth of alcoves, spiraling staircases, and hidden reading rooms tucked away behind thick curtains. It also seemed bigger on the inside than it did from outside, if that was possible somehow.
“This Library is one of the oldest parts of the Academy,” Dane explained as they walked. “It contains thousands of volumes—some common, some one-of-a-kind artifacts of knowledge. Your job is to help me maintain order.”
Otter ran his fingers along the shelves as they passed, marveling at the ancient tomes. Some books glowed faintly, others seemed to hum with arcane energy.
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“What kind of books are these?” Otter asked.
Dane’s expression softened slightly. “Magic, history, cartography, beast lore, runes, and more. Some are mundane. Others are…” She hesitated. “Let’s just say they require careful handling.”
They stopped at a large iron door near the back of the Library.
“This,” Dane said, “is the Restricted Section.”
Otter’s curiosity burned as he stared at the bronze plaque mounted on the door.
Restricted Access: Authorized Personnel Only.
“What’s in there?” Otter asked quietly.
Dane’s gaze hardened. “Knowledge that is dangerous in the wrong hands. It’s not for students to see. Only faculty and adventurers of the highest level are allowed access.”
Otter nodded slowly, but the door called to him like a locked puzzle waiting to be solved.
Suddenly, Otter’s wrisplay buzzed. Dane stopped walking and looked at it.
“That would be your schedule. Please take a look before we go any further.”
Otter did swiped through the screens, finally coming to one he’d never seen before
Academy Schedule
Time
Activity
Location
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
Morning Prep and Book Returns
Library
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (Mon, Wed)
Combat Basics
Ironstride Training Grounds
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
(Mon, Wed, Fri)
Understanding the System
Evershade Hall
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
(Tues, Thurs)
Navigation and Survival
Redthorne Fieldhouse
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
(Tue, Thurs)
Adventuring Fundamentals
Arkwright Hall
4:45 PM - 5:45 PM
Shelving
Library
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (Tue and Thur)
Evening Checkout and Lockup
Library
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Sat)
Various Duties
Library
As soon as Otter had reviewed the schedule, Dane continued leading him toward the main desk, where she handed him a stack of scrolls.
“As you can see, you will be spending quite a bit of time here at the library this semester. I will not be your only supervisor, but I am your primary. If you plan on taking liberty, I ask that you let me know before making the official request, so I can make sure your shifts are covered.”
“I’m really looking forward to it,” said Otter earnestly. “Is there much down time, or is the library usually a busy place?“
The archivist gave him a shrewd look. “It varies. Some weeks, you'll be so busy you won't have a chance to breathe. Other times, it'll feel like you're the only one in the whole Academy who remembers this place exists."
Otter nodded thoughtfully, his fingers twitching at his sides. "And... when it's quiet?"
Dane tilted her head slightly, her sharp eyes narrowing.
Otter went on, “When its quiet, am I allowed to read some of the books in here?”
She arched an eyebrow. “Yes. Of course. That would be an appropriate use of your downtime...if you truly have nothing else to do.”
Otter nodded, mollified.
“Your first task is simple,” she said. “File these in the appropriate cases.”
Otter nodded and got to work. The task was tedious, but he found it strangely satisfying. Each scroll contained unique information—a map of ancient ruins, a list of magical creatures, a treatise on Skill leveling mechanics.
As he worked, his mind drifted to the Restricted Section. Why did he feel so drawn to it? There were hundreds or thousands of books in the rest of the Library. He could read all day, every day and not read everything in here. Why did he feel the need to explore anything else?
Maybe it was Luck’s Whisper guiding him to something important. Maybe the answers his father’s letter mentioned.
He shook off the thought and focused on his task.
By the time his shift ended, Otter was tired but pleased with his work. He gathered the empty scroll tubes and carried them back to the front desk, where Dane was reviewing a ledger.
“Good work, Bennett,” she said without looking up.
Otter smiled faintly. “Thank you, ma’am.”
As he stepped outside, the familiar buzz of his wrisplay drew his attention. He glanced down at the screen, heart quickening at the sight of a new notification.
New Objective: Gain access to the Restricted Section of the Library.
Quickly, he swiped to his profile screen.
Name: Dwayne Shi’longh Bennett (Otter)
Level: 0 XP: 0
Class: None Life Force: 4
Stats
STR 9
DEX 9
CON 9
INT 10
WIS 9
CHA 9
Luck 18
Skills
Cartography Novice- Lvl 1
Handyman Novice- Lvl 1
Jumping Novice- Lvl 1
Knowledge (Entomology) Novice- Lvl 3
Knowledge (Mathematics) Novice- Lvl 2
Navigation (Urban) Novice- Lvl 4
Observation Novice- Lvl 4
Persuasion Novice- Lvl 3
Reading Novice- Lvl 4
Swimming Apprentice- Lvl 5
Writing Novice- Lvl 4
Current Objectives:
Find Your Calling
Gain access to the Restricted Section of the Library
Otter stopped in his tracks, staring dumbly at the screen. In the three years since he’d gotten his wrisplay, he’d only ever had the one objective. No matter how many odd jobs he’d taken, how many promises he’d made to himself, it had never updated. Why now? And what was so important about that restricted section?
Mind whirling with questions, he made his way along the winding paths toward the Training Grounds for his first session of Combat Basics.