Unknown POV

“Silas, would you slow down!” Braxton complained, chasing after his best friend.

“No, I won’t. Either keep up or I will see you later,” Silas answered, nearly running through the hallway toward the library.

“You know, that’s not how this works,” Braxton said, flatly.

“Then keep up. I finally hit a breakthrough in my studies, and I need to get to the library to confirm it,” Silas glanced at his nearly, huffing friend. “I thought military generals were supposed to be fit.”

“Most generals don’t have to chase princes up ten flights of stairs to get to the library,” Braxton huffed. His green orc skin was sweating from the climb. “Why the hell did they put a library on the top floor of the guild anyway? It would be easy for a wind magic user to come up here and steal priceless books.”

“The powerful and priceless books aren’t on this level. This level is ancient history and records,” Silas answered as he waited for Braxton to catch his breath. This man had won wars, but he couldn’t handle a few flights of stairs. What the hell?

Braxton narrowed his gaze at the elf prince in front of him. “You mean to tell me that we ran up ten flights of stairs to the dusty and forgotten records part of the library. Seriously, Silas?”

Silas’ need to rush into the library lessened when he considered Braxton’s words. What was the likelihood that anyone except the librarian would be in there? Very unlikely. The proof of his research wasn’t going anywhere. Still, he felt a need to hurry into the library like he was going to miss something. What could he be missing in the forgotten record section of the library? A spider making a new web perhaps? He joked to himself. “Look, I just feel like I need to hurry. I know it doesn’t make sense, but when do I make sense?”

Braxton chuckled, “Hardly, ever.”

“Exactly. I am just following my gut wherever it leads.” Silas confessed as they finally reached the grand door to the library. Wooden carvings of great wizards decorated the doors. The golden crown molding around the door matched the golden doorknobs. Each floor of the library had different wooden carvings in the door like magical items, powerful spells, and historic magic moments. Silas traced his fingers over the wooden carving at the bottom of the door of Ramire Bishop. Ramire Bishop is the breakthrough that Silas had discovered in his research. It was recorded in his ancient spellbook that Ramire Bishop mastered polymorphic magic in his time at the guild, but nobody has reached his level since. Silas hoped to find more about Ramire Bishop and his research in the forgotten records section of the library. He wanted to see if he could master polymorphic magic as Bishop once had.

“Are you just going to stare at the wooden carving or are you going into the library?” Braxton asked, studying the zoned-out Silas.

Silas snapped out of his train of thought. “WE are going in.”

“So, you need me now, huh?” Braxton joked.

“Of course. Who else will help me carry all those old heavy books?” Silas grinned.

“I suddenly wish I had stayed in bed this morning… I could have slept in instead of climbing stairs.” Braxton moped.

Silas chuckled, pulling his large, moping orc friend behind him. Once through the door, they entered a huge room that looked like a labyrinth of books. In the center of the room, was a frumpy, grumpy male fairy stacking books on a cart. Silas dragged Braxton across the creaky wooden floor to the help desk where the fairy stood.

The fairy was indeed grumpy to see his visitors approaching the help desk. “Great, more people.” The old fairy mumbled.

“More people?” Silas questioned. “You mean we aren’t the only people here?”

“Great, nosy, and arrogant people are here.” The old fury grumbled under his breath. “What are you looking for, boy?”

Braxton chuckled at the fairy. He had never encountered such a grumpy creature before. This must be why the guild keeps him up here. He watched Silas’ frustration as Silas asked about the other people in the library. He has never seen a librarian get under Silas’ skin so easily. Why was Silas even concerned about other people in the library anyway? Anyone in this guild was allowed to come to the library, so what was all the fuss about? “Silas, what about your research?” Braxton reminded his friend.

Silas tilted his head, thinking about why he had come up here in the first place. Silas was like that though. As long as Braxton had known him, Silas would easily forget his train of thought if he wasn’t completely focused on it. Silas, also, switched focuses all the time. He would go on tangents on certain things he would try or want to learn, and then he suddenly wasn’t interested anymore. Heck, that's why the queen, Silas’ sister, had sent them both to the Wizard’s Guild because the prince was driving everyone in the castle crazy with antics. Braxton was assigned as Silas’ official bodyguard and babysitter before they left on their adventure two years ago. He went from being a decorated war general to being a glorified babysitter for his best friend.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Silas shook his head. “Are the other visitors still here, librarian?” He wanted to find information on Ramire Bishop, but something bothered him about there being visitors in the library.

“Great, nosy, and ungrateful people.” The old fairy muttered. “No, boy. Only you and your brute companion are here. Either tell me what you need help finding or get out of my library.”

“But, the library just opened. How can the others have left already?” Silas asked.

“Grand Fairy Darius, I came as soon as I got your message.” Master Wizard Maximus Renaldy said as he hastened into the library. Master Renaldy looked down at Silas, Braxton, and a grumpy Grand Fairy Darius. “Oh, Silas, Braxton, good morning. I am sorry, but we need to close the library today. Perhaps, it will reopen tomorrow, and Grand Fairy Darius can help you then.”

“Wait, why is the library closing?” Braxton asked.

“Sorry, boys, but that’s classified wizard council business.” Master Renaldy replied. “Now, off you go.” He gestured for them to leave.

“Does it have to do with Fairy Darius’ visitors this morning?” Silas refused to leave. This whole situation bothered him.

“Oh, did Fairy Darius mention visitors?” Master Renaldy asked.

Silas looked back at the old, grumpy fairy who had crossed his arms in annoyance. “He did…”

“Well, I am sure it was nothing. Go on, boys. I need to speak to Grand Fairy Darius.” Master Renaldy insisted, but Silas and Braxton didn’t budge. Master Renaldy whispered a spell under his breath, and the wooden floor came to life, rolling like hills to push Silas and Braxton out the door. The two men landed on their asses in the hallway as the door slammed shut.

“Great, just when things were getting interesting around here,” Braxton sighed.

Silas glared at his companion. Sure most days had been boring for Braxton, but every new spell that they have learned had been exciting so far. At least, Silas had thought it had been fun. Wait… That’s it. Braxton had learned a hearing enhancement spell in his boredom a month ago. “Braxton, use your new hearing spell to find out what’s going on, quick,” Silas insisted.

“But…Master Renaldy…Then, again, it would be better than being trapped in the library tomorrow,” Braxton thought. He put his hand on the wall and focused on the fairy’s voice while whispering his spell. Suddenly, he could hear the grumpy old fairy…

In the library…

“Like I said in my message, Master Renaldy, the book on The Grand Wizards is gone. The sneaky little woman moved like a ninja bouncing around the room. She avoided every trap we have set. I shocked her many times with my lightning, but she didn’t falter. I know I injured her, but it was like she was a ghost. I haven’t seen anyone move like that without using magic in a long time.” The old fairy grumbled thinking of the woman he saw. “She wore all black with raven-colored hair, but there were animal-like ears and a fluffy tail…”

“A beast woman? They usually have limited magic capabilities. I don’t know why the woman took that particular book. There’s no research or secrets in there. Just history…like a kid’s storybook almost.” Master Renaldy rubbed his chin. Why would a beast woman want a magic history book? It doesn’t make sense. He leaned back against the help desk until Grand Fairy Darius swatted him with a book.

“Don’t mess up my desk, Renaldy…” Fairy Darius muttered. “The woman was not a normal beast woman. She had a powerful magical item with her though she didn’t use it. It was ancient…and immensely powerful…”

Master Renaldy pondered the fairy’s words. “Perhaps, she took the book to learn about her magical item. Although that doesn’t explain how she came into possession of such an item, it does give me a why. Maybe, we can trap her by finding her magic item…”

The grumpy fairy shook his head. It would not be easy to find this woman again even if Master Renaldy could track her magic item. This woman was meant to be hidden. He was certain she wasn’t supposed to exist at all. “Renaldy, it won't work. That woman is protected by something even I don’t understand.”

The fairy’s words bothered Master Renaldy. He began to have a nervous twitch in his arm. What could be so special about this woman? “I am just supposed to accept that this woman can come in here and steal whatever it is that she desires! I am a Master Wizard on the Grand Council. I am supposed to protect the guild, including its students, treasures, and secrets. Are you telling me that I am incapable of doing my job?” He huffed.

“No, Master Renaldy. I think we are all incapable of stopping this woman’s destiny to learn what she needs to learn here.” Grand Fairy Darius answered.

Master Renaldy chose not to heed the old fairy’s warning. No beast woman was that strong. The fairy is just making excuses for letting her get away. “Ha. Whatever you say, Fairy Darius. I am sure I can stop this beast woman with no trouble. Perhaps, you were just having a bad morning when she came.” Master Renaldy offered.

“I warn you, Renaldy. The woman can’t be stopped as long as it is her destiny calls her to it.” Fairy Darius cautioned the wizard. “The magic of this world connects all life, guiding each individual down their path. Her unusual magic guided her here to that book.”

“What did you see that you aren’t telling me, Grand Fairy Darius?” Master Renaldy questions the fairy. The grumpy fairy had seemed foolish in his words, but maybe there was truth in his words.

“When I entered the library, it was full of light. Lightning surrounded the woman until she sensed my presence. Then it all stopped… She took the book and left. Nothing I did could stop what happened this morning.” Fairy Darius recalled.

“The beast woman wielded such magic… That’s unheard of… Perhaps, it has to do with her magic item. All the more reason for us to catch the thief and find out.” Master Renaldy decided. “I shall make arrangements with the rest of the Wizard Council. For now, Fairy Darius, fortify the library.”

Outside the library…

“Come in, Silas. We need to go,” Braxton said, moving away from the wall. He grabbed Silas’ arm and headed down the hallway. He dragged Silas into a corridor, trying to keep the elf prince quiet as Master Renaldy exited the library. Once the wizard passed, Braxton removed his hand from the fidgety elf’s mouth.

“What was that about?” Silas asked, wiping his mouth.

“Did you want to get caught spying on their conversation?” Braxton complained at Silas.

Silas’ eyes widened. “You mean the spell worked? You know what happened?”

“Yes, impatient elf, I do. For now, let’s just say there’s an interesting thief on the loose.” Braxton smiled.

“Does that mean you want to hunt the thief down?” Silas questioned his friend. He secretly hoped Braxton would. He wanted to know everything about this thief.

“We have plans to make. That is if we want to catch the thief before Master Renaldy. This is going to be so interesting.” Braxton laughed.

“That’s the first time in two years that I have seen the look of the excited war general,” Silas commented.

Braxton chuckled as they headed down the stairs. “Well, this will be my first time trapping a beast woman.”

“Wait, a beast woman broke into the library without getting caught?” Silas was stunned. The library was full of traps and guarded by a master-level magic user on each floor. How could a little beast woman escape with anything?

“The fairy said she could use magic, and that she had a powerful magic item with her.” Braxton watched Silas’ excitement grow. Silas was now hooked on learning about this beast woman, which would save Braxton from being trapped in the library.

“Braxton, we are going on a hunt,” Silas grinned and ran down the stairs.

“Yes! No more libraries!” Braxton cheered chasing after Silas.