Whispers, shouts, and heated arguments filled the chamber, a cacophony of voices clashing in the vast room. Amid the chaos, Alisha sat silently, their expression calm as they observed the others with a quiet intensity.
Lucetta and Alaric exchanged uncertain glances, their gazes occasionally darting toward General Rhoderick, waiting for him to speak.
"Calm yourselves..." Rhoderick commanded in a low, measured tone, his hands clasped together as he rested his chin on them.
His voice, though soft, carried a weight of authority that momentarily stilled a few of the council members. But the others, still caught in their own heated debates, ignored him entirely, the uproar continuing unabated.
"I said, calm yourselves!" Rhoderick bellowed, his voice reverberating through the chamber like a thunderclap.
At once, the room fell silent. All eyes turned toward the general, his commanding presence drawing their undivided attention.
Colla, standing near the edge of the chamber, stiffened at the sheer force behind Rhoderick’s words. It was as though his voice carried an unseen power, pressing down on him with a weight that felt almost supernatural.
"Are you certain?" Rhoderick’s piercing gaze shifted toward Luka, who stood just inside the doorway.
Luka nodded firmly. "We checked her seal... It wasn’t destroyed. It simply vanished." His voice carried a tremor, though he tried to maintain composure as he stepped closer to the table.
"Has she shown up anywhere? Has anything been attacked?" The dark-skinned woman interjected, rising from her chair. Her sharp tone cut through the tense silence, her mechanical hand gripping the edge of the table.
"Nothing." Luka replied, shaking his head. "It’s as if she’s vanished into thin air."
"In that case, for now, there’s no need to worry..." the dark-skinned woman remarked, sinking back into her chair with a measured sigh.
"'For now' being the key phrase." Lucetta interjected, her sharp tone cutting through the brief calm. She glanced at Colla, her emerald eyes lingering on him before shifting back to Rhoderick. "She’ll reveal herself eventually."
"Ugh..." Alaric groaned, pressing his fingers to his temples as if trying to ward off a headache. His usually serene demeanor was noticeably shaken by the unsettling news.
"These are the times we live in, aren’t they?" Renae added, leaning back in her chair with a wry smile. Her swirling irises caught the light, a brief flicker of resignation crossing her face.
Suddenly, Lucetta rose from her chair, turning sharply toward Colla.
"Enough sitting around and speculating... you’re coming with me," she commanded, striding toward the exit without a second glance.
"Salvitto...?" Rhoderick’s voice cut through the room like a blade, his heavy gaze locking onto her.
Colla froze again, the weight of the general’s words pinning him to the spot. He felt as though the air itself had thickened around him. Yet Lucetta, alone among those present, seemed utterly unaffected, as if Rhoderick’s authority couldn’t touch her.
"What is this...power?" Colla thought, struggling to comprehend the overwhelming force behind the general’s voice.
"Leave him be, Sawyl..." Lucetta called out over her shoulder, just as she reached the doors. The flower tucked into her hair began to emit a faint glow, its petals shimmering like polished glass.
Rhoderick narrowed his eyes, studying her intently. His brow furrowed, and for a brief moment, the tension in the room seemed ready to boil over. Then, with a reluctant sigh, he relented, sinking back into his chair.
"And what exactly do you plan to do?" he asked, his tone laced with suspicion.
"The usual... I’m going to look for the boy." Lucetta replied, her back still turned to the room. Without waiting for a response, she stepped through the doors and disappeared into the corridor beyond.
Colla, finally freed from the oppressive weight of the general’s presence, hesitated for only a moment before hurrying after her. The doors creaked shut behind them, leaving the council chamber to once again fill with murmurs and heated arguments, voices clashing like distant thunder.
----------------------------------------
The boy hurried to keep up with Lucetta’s brisk pace as they passed towering stone pillars that supported the massive balcony above the entrance to the Grand Library.
The Grand Library, the continent’s largest repository of knowledge, was a marvel of both architecture and magic. It spanned four grand floors above ground, seven underground levels, and an intricate web of tunnels connecting it to other key structures in Naso—and beyond. Unlike the marble-dominated architecture of the city, the library's walls had been hewn directly from a granite mountain, then reinforced with layers of obsidian, marble, and mana by master engineers. This blend gave its surfaces striking black-and-gray patterns against the white walls and pillars, creating an aura of quiet majesty.
"You're sure he’s here?" Lucetta asked as they ascended the staircase toward the grand entrance.
"Ah, yes, ma’am." replied Colla, nervously adjusting his uniform. "He’s been here with Diemut for several days now."
"Diemut? Well, now that’s interesting..." Lucetta murmured under her breath as she pushed open the massive stone doors and stepped into the Great Library.
The moment she and Colla entered, they were greeted by two guards stationed at the entrance. Clad in the standard Naeronian soldier attire—leather tunics emblazoned with the Council’s crest—they stood at attention, their expressions wary but respectful.
"Ah, Lady Salvitto." one of them said, lowering his spear. "To what do we owe the honor of your visit?"
"Where is Artair?" she asked curtly, her gaze already drifting past them to take in the library's grand interior, clearly uninterested in pleasantries.
"The professor? He should be on the second underground floor." the second guard answered quickly, gesturing to a nearby door on his right. "In the Runic Studies section. The stairway is through there. Shall we escort you, ma’am?"
"That won’t be necessary." Lucetta replied with a dismissive wave, already moving toward the indicated door. "Come on, kid."
Colla followed closely behind, his thoughts lingering on why Lucetta had chosen to meet with Artair instead of staying with the Council to address what it seemed a serious issue. The question gnawed at him, but he kept silent, for now.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
As Lucetta pushed open the indicated door, glowing mana orbs flickered to life one by one, illuminating a spiraling staircase that descended into the depths of the library.
The farther they descended, the stronger the musty smell of aged paper and lacquered wood became, saturating the air in the lower sections of the library. The faint creak of each step echoed ominously around them, adding an eerie stillness to the atmosphere.
"Has anything changed down here since I was last visited?" Lucetta’s voice broke the silence as she glanced around, her sharp eyes seemingly trying to pierce the veil of shadows still clinging to the edges of the light.
"Uh... when was the last time you were here?" Colla asked hesitantly, struggling to keep up with her brisk pace. Despite her small frame, she moved with an almost unnatural swiftness.
"About half a century ago." she replied nonchalantly, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.
"Ah..." Colla hesitated for a moment, then the realization clicked in his mind. "Right... she’s an elf."
"Well?" Lucetta prompted, her gaze unwavering.
"From what I know, they’ve added a few new sections and tunnels," he answered, his attention momentarily drawn to the warm, flickering orange light that marked the entrance to the first underground level of the library.
With a soft hum from the woman, the two finally descended the last steps, stepping onto the first of the vast subterranean floors.
This level was organized into three distinct tiers: two upper walkways spiraled around the edges, encircling a central lower section that lay several feet below.
The lower section was filled with towering bookshelves, stretching from the floor to the ceiling, crammed with countless volumes. The upper walkways were primarily designed for movement between various entry points to other levels and for better navigation across the sprawling floor.
The lighting here was faint and ethereal, emanating from soft, glowing mana orbs floating between the bookshelves. Their placement was intentional, ensuring no flames from candles or torches would risk a catastrophic fire in this treasure trove of knowledge.
Colla couldn’t help but stare in awe. Even though he’d been to the library before, the scale and meticulous design of this place never failed to leave an impression. "It's... breathtaking every time."
Lucetta’s only response was a quiet hum as she continued forward, her steps echoing softly against the stone floor.
They made their way toward another set of doors on the far side of the section.
“Hmmm… do you know exactly where he is?” Lucetta asked, leaning casually against the wooden railing at the edge of the upper floor, gazing down at the vast lower section below.
“He should be somewhere down there.” Colla replied, pointing toward one of the heavy wooden doors set into the granite walls of the lower section.
Lucetta nodded, her expression unreadable as she turned and began descending a nearby staircase leading to the library's central lower floor. Her movements were brisk yet graceful, exuding an air of confidence that Colla found simultaneously inspiring and intimidating.
Hurrying to keep up, Colla followed her past towering bookshelves crammed with countless volumes.
As they passed through a wide, dimly lit tunnel, the sound of their footsteps echoed in the stillness. It was a quiet that felt almost sacred, though Colla couldn’t shake the faint sense of unease it brought with it.
“May I ask, ma’am… why exactly are we meeting the professor?” Colla ventured, his voice tinged with cautious curiosity as they continued down the wide, dimly lit tunnel.
“You’ll find out when we get to him.” Lucetta replied, her tone dismissive. She punctuated the statement with a small yawn, as if the matter wasn’t worth discussing further.
Colla frowned slightly but didn’t press further. Moments later, they emerged from the tunnel into another section of the library. This one bore a striking resemblance to the last, save for one notable difference: instead of a lowered central floor, the middle of this section was dominated by a massive pillar. The pillar rose all the way to the ceiling, its surface completely covered with towering shelves full of books and scrolls.
Standing near the base of the pillar was a woman with short blonde hair. Her bangs were neatly braided into a small plait that rested behind her ear, giving her an air of meticulous order. A pair of thin-rimmed glasses perched on her nose, partially obscuring her sharp, jet-black eyes as she scanned the spine of a nearby book.
“Diemut…” Colla muttered under his breath, recognizing her immediately. He quickened his pace, though he hesitated to get too close.
“Diemut!” Lucetta called out loudly, her voice echoing through the vast chamber as she strode briskly toward the woman.
The blonde woman flinched at the sound, nearly dropping the book in her hands as she turned toward them. Her wide eyes landed on Lucetta, and her expression shifted to a mixture of surprise and unease.
“Ah… Director Salvitto.” Diemut stammered, her voice tinged with disbelief. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be at the Council meeting?”
The nervous tremor in her tone didn’t escape Colla’s notice. He glanced between the two women, noting how Lucetta’s calm yet commanding presence seemed to unsettle Diemut.
The nervous tremor in her tone didn’t escape Colla’s notice. He glanced between the two women, noting how Lucetta’s calm yet commanding presence seemed to unsettle Diemut.
"I have better things to do. Where's Artair?" Lucetta cut straight to the point, her sharp gaze sweeping over the room as if it might reveal the answer on its own.
"Ah, yes... Artair should be back shortly. He went to fetch some books from the upper floors," Diemut replied with a strained smile, taking a cautious step back as Lucetta stepped forward, narrowing the gap once again.
"And what books, exactly?" Lucetta pressed, her tone laced with suspicion. Her steps matched Diemut’s retreat, maintaining the same unnervingly close distance.
Colla watched the exchange from the side, his heart pounding in his chest. The tension between the two women was palpable, so thick it felt like it could be cut with a blade. Even from where he stood, it weighed on him heavily.
"I..." Diemut hesitated, her shoulders slumping under the weight of Lucetta’s unyielding stare. "I’m sorry." she finally said, lowering her head in defeat.
Lucetta let out a slow, deliberate breath, softening her expression just enough to seem less intimidating. "Go home, Diemut." she said firmly but not unkindly.
The blonde woman nodded quickly, her movements jittery as she stepped away. She turned toward the exit, her pace hurried, but before disappearing through the door, she glanced back at Colla, offering him a brief, almost apologetic nod.
Lucetta leaned against the edge of the central column’s bookshelves, crossing her arms and legs with an air of casual confidence.
"We’ll wait here." she declared, her tone brooking no argument. "He might not take too long."
She gestured for Colla to settle himself. The boy nodded and plopped down on the stone floor beside her, his legs stretched out as he gazed at the faintly glowing mana orbs floating above the shelves.
After a few minutes, the sound of footsteps and muttering came from the right. Soon, a disheveled man emerged, carrying several thick tomes. His dark hair stuck out in uneven tufts, and dark circles underlined his tired eyes.
"Lady Salvitto... what brings you here?" Artair asked, adjusting the precarious stack of books in his arms. His voice held equal parts curiosity and fatigue. Then his eyes darted to the boy on the floor. "And you, Colla? Where’s Diemut?"
"I sent her home." Lucetta replied briskly, pushing off the wall and striding toward him with purpose. "We have something important to discuss."
"Oh? And what might that be?" Artair asked, his interest piqued, as he set the tomes down beside him with a soft thud.
Colla stepped closer, flashing Artair a small smile. Despite the tension in the air, the professor’s presence brought a sliver of ease.
"You’ve heard she escaped, haven’t you?" Lucetta sighed, cutting straight to the point.
"Of course. Diemut already mentioned it to me... news like that travels fast." Artair replied, returning Colla's smile with one of his own.
"And what’s your take on it?" Lucetta pressed, her tone firm as her sharp gaze flicked to Colla, silencing his momentary smirk.
"The Council will handle it." Artair said nonchalantly, moving toward a particular shelf. His demeanor shifted, becoming more focused as his eyes landed on the lone book resting there. "I have something much more important to deal with."
"Oh, really?" Lucetta chuckled softly, her tone laced with skepticism. She had been privy to Artair’s so-called 'important matters' enough times to know better.
Without responding, the professor reached for the book, a worn and weighty tome. Opening it carefully, he extracted a photograph tucked between the pages. The image that was retrieved from Saelwen's destroyed home, it bore the marks of age and wear, its edges slightly frayed.
Artair held it up for a moment, staring at it as if it contained answers to questions only he understood. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he tossed it toward Lucetta.
She caught it effortlessly, glancing at the picture.
"This... is far more important," Artair said gravely, his tone devoid of the earlier lightness.