I pushed open the heavy door of the library, the familiar creak sounding like a welcome. The smell of old books and wood hit me as soon as I stepped inside, I loved this place.

I spotted Mara right away. She always made this place feel like a second home, like I could stay here forever and never get bored. Mara was tall and graceful, the kind of person who seemed to glide when she walked. Her auburn hair was pulled back into a loose bun, but a few strands always escaped, framing her face in a way that made her look even more kind.

What I loved most about Mara were her green eyes. they sparkled with a warm and gentle glow, like she was always ready to dive into a new story. Her voice was soft and sounded almost like a lullaby. I always felt calm around her. She wore her usual flowing dress, all green and simple, with a shawl draped over her shoulders.

“Elyndra” Mara called out softly as she noticed me. She put down the books and smiled, her eyes twinkling like they always did when she saw me. “Where were you yesterday? I didn’t see you, and that’s not like you.”

I walked up to the counter, feeling a little nervous. “I spent the day in bed,” I said quietly. “The voice told me my class... and I overdid it a bit." Her eyes started to narrow, that's never a good sign. "Just a little bit, promise!”

Mara’s eyes became less dangerous, win. “Oh? And what did the Voice reveal?”

“I’m a Pebblemancer,” I said, trying to sound important. I watched her closely, wondering what she’d think.

Mara’s smile grew wider. “A Pebblemancer! That’s a rare one, only Pebblemancers I've met have been Dwarves. Earth magic isn’t something you see every day, especially not in humans. But I'm sure Priest Jamesson already told you about that.”

I nodded, and took a deep breath. This was the bad part. “He did, he also said I’ll be leaving soon… to study at the Adventurers School. Maybe as early as tomorrow.”

Mara’s face softened, and she reached out to gently squeeze my shoulder. “That’s a big change, Elyndra. Are you feeling okay about it?”

I nodded, even though I wasn’t sure if I really was. “It’s exciting, but also a little scary. I’ve never been away from Renway before.”

Mara’s smile was warm, like a hug. “You’ll only be a few days' ride from here, and you’ll finally be with others your age who are probably massive bookworms like you. You'll get a real chance to make new friends and learn together, maybe become an adventurer at the end of it all.”

That did make me feel a bit better. “That would be nice,” I said. “It’s hard sometimes, being the only one interested in books and magic, but I don't know about adventuring.”

Mara chuckled softly. “You’ve always been a bit ahead of the others, Elyndra. I think you’ll find your place at the school, if it's what Priest Jamesson has planned out then it will all work for the best."

I nodded, feeling a little more relaxed. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad after all.

“Come,” Mara said, leading me to a table by the window where the light was brightest. “Why don’t we spend the day together? You can tell me more about what Priest Jamesson said, and we can read something interesting.”

I smiled and followed her to the table. She pulled out a big, old book from nowhere and set it in front of me, probably one of those class abilities again, so cool. The cover was dark green leather, and the golden letters on the front were a little faded. It read: “A Tale of Earth & Sky: The War of Nature"

“This is one of my favorite books,” Mara said as she sat down beside me. “It tells the story of how the Dwarves and Elves, who were once enemies, became allies.”

I carefully opened the book, the pages crackling softly. It smelled old, like something ancient and important, but also dusty, soooo much dust. “I’d love to read it with you.”

We started at the beginning, where the book talked about how the Dwarves and Elves used to fight. The Dwarves loved to dig deep into the earth, pulling out treasures like gold, mithril and gems. They thought the earth’s treasures were there to be used, to build and craft things that could life thrive. The Elves, though, believed the earth’s treasures were sacred. They wanted to protect the land and keep everything in balance. They thought that taking too much from the earth would hurt it, and that would be bad for everyone, they wanted life and nature to thrive together.

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“They were both so sure they were right,” I said, looking at the pictures of Dwarves digging into mountains, fighting off the dangers in the dark and Elves standing in tall, green forests surrounded by creatures of the wild. “It’s sad they couldn’t understand each other.”

Mara nodded, her eyes thoughtful as she read with me. “It is sad. The Dwarves saw the Elves as being too idealistic, while the Elves thought the Dwarves were greedy. Neither side could see that the other had a point.”

The book showed how, over time, the disagreements turned into big fights. The Dwarves dug deeper and deeper, building huge cities underground, eventually even spreading underneath the lushest of forests where some of the rarest minerals hid. The Elves used their magic to make the forests fight back. Trees would spread their roots deeply into the underground networks, troubling the Dwarves wherever possible. Things got worse, small skirmishes started amongst the youngest of their races, and eventually, as the casualties mounted, all-out war.

“The war was terrible,” Mara said quietly. “Both sides lost so much, but they kept fighting. The Dwarves thought they were defending their way of life, and the Elves believed they were protecting the earth itself.”

I looked at the drawings of battles in the book and felt a little sad. “Didn’t anyone try to stop the fighting?”

“There were some who tried,” Mara said, turning the page. “But the mistrust between them was too deep. Each side thought the other was trying to destroy what they loved most. And as the casualties mounted, as ever more loved ones died in battles, the voices calling for peace dwindled to nothing.”

The story went on to tell how, over centuries, the war dragged on. The Dwarves kept digging, building bigger and stronger fortresses underground, while the Elves used their magics to expand the forests, to push back. But as they fought, other races began to grow stronger, humans and demons. The world was changing, and the Dwarves and Elves realized that if they kept fighting each other, they might not survive.

“The world was getting bigger,” Mara explained, “and the Dwarves and Elves were getting left behind. They were so busy fighting each other that they didn’t see the humans and demons spreading across the land, growing to match them.”

I thought about that. It must have been scary to realize that while they were fighting, other people were getting stronger. “Did they finally decide to stop?”

“Yes,” Mara said, a small smile on her face. “The leaders of the Dwarves and Elves, Queen Tharmina of the Dwarves and King Lathriel of the Elves, finally met under a flag of peace. They knew that if they kept fighting, they would both lose everything.”

I leaned closer, eager to hear what happened next. “What did they do?”

“They made a pact,” Mara said, turning to the next page. The words were written in fancy, old-fashioned letters, and the picture showed Queen Tharmina and King Lathriel shaking hands. “They agreed that the Dwarves could keep mining the treasures under the earth, but only in places where life couldn’t grow. They promised not to dig under forests or rivers, where the Elves’ magic was strongest to protect. The Elves would trade the Dwarves treasures of the land, but only what nature could give freely, whilst the Dwarves would be able to trade their crafts to the Elves.

I read the words of the pact and felt a little shiver. It was such a simple agreement, but it meant so much at the time, couldn't they have done that before the fighting got so bad?. “So they stopped fighting? just like that?”

“They did,” Mara said. “And over time, they became friends. The Dwarves and Elves learned to respect each other’s ways, and they realized that they were stronger together. They shared their knowledge and skills, and eventually, they even built amazing cities, the first multiracial cities, where the earth and the forests were in perfect balance.”

I closed the book gently, thinking about how the Dwarves and Elves went from enemies to allies.

The sun was starting to go down, and the library was getting a little darker. I leaned back in my chair, feeling happy and a little sleepy. I hadn’t noticed how much time had passed while we were reading.

Mara must have noticed how sleepy I was getting, because she smiled and said, “You’ve had a long day Elyndra. Why don’t I help you get home? I think you'll really like the trip.”

I nodded, too tired to say much. Mara stood up and took my hand. She whispered "Find That Book" and suddenly, it was like we were plunged into a deep water, but only for a second, and we were back in my room at the orphanage. It was like magic, well, it was magic, she was right, I really like that!

Nina was waiting by the door, and she smiled when she saw us. “Welcome back, Elyndra,” she said. “Ready for bed?”

I nodded, feeling the weight of sleep pulling me down. Mara gave me a gentle pat on the back. “Goodnight, Elyndra. Don’t worry about tomorrow. You’re going to do great things.”

I watched as Mara said something, couldn't make it quite out, but she disappeared, leaving me alone with Nina. I climbed into bed, and Nina tucked me in, just like she always did. The blankets felt extra soft and warm tonight.

“Sleep well, Elyndra,” Nina whispered, brushing my hair out of my face. “You have a big day ahead of you.”

I smiled, my eyes already closing. “Goodnight, Nina.”

As I drifted off to sleep, I thought about everything that had happened today. I was excited and a little nervous, but I knew that Mara and Nina were right. I was ready for whatever tomorrow would bring.