As Linus reached the manor, his demeanor shifted, slipping back into its usual calm, calculating state. He sat at his desk and unfurled the partial map he had retrieved from the spies' room, smoothing it out over the polished wood. His eyes scanned the markings, trying to decipher their meaning, but the ruins indicated on the map remained a mystery. Various possibilities raced through his mind, yet the puzzle before him was still incomplete without more information.

Determined to find answers, Linus decided to visit the town's library later that afternoon. He disguised himself, donning a simple, nondescript cloak and planning to sign in under an alias to avoid drawing unwanted attention. As he approached the grand structure, the scent of aged parchment and polished wood drifted through the air, a familiar comfort that belied the tension of his mission. However, his eyes quickly caught sight of guards stationed at the entrance—an unusual precaution for a library, but one he would have to navigate.

"State your business and sign in," one of the guards said, handing him a ledger with a firm but bored tone.

Linus maintained his calm demeanor, his expression unreadable as he took the quill and scanned the list of names already entered. Without hesitation, he signed in under a carefully chosen pseudonym. "Just doing some research," he said with a polite nod, his voice smooth and unassuming.

The guard glanced down at the signature, pausing momentarily before nodding slightly and stepping aside. Linus moved past them, slipping through the entrance and into the heart of the library. Inside, the vast rows of shelves stretched endlessly, filled with ancient tomes, faded scrolls, and leather-bound volumes.

Linus wandered through the dimly lit aisles, his fingers lightly grazing the spines of ancient tomes and scrolls. The library was cloaked in a heavy silence, broken only by the soft rustle of pages and the occasional creak of floorboards. As he scanned the shelves, he searched for texts that might offer clues about the map's markings and the ruins to the north.

As he perused a row of dusty volumes, an old librarian approached him. Stooped with age but with a sharp, penetrating gaze, the man’s eyes, a piercing blue, watched him intently.

"Can I help you with something, young man?" the librarian asked with a raspy yet oddly warm voice.

Linus hesitated, torn between his instinct to protect his secrets and his urgent need for information. "Just browsing," he said carefully, keeping his tone neutral.

The librarian nodded but didn’t turn away. Instead, he lingered, his gaze unwavering. "It's rare to see someone so absorbed in these old texts," he said, his tone contemplative. "They hold a wealth of knowledge if one knows where to look."

Linus could sense the subtle challenge in the librarian's words, and after a moment's pause, he decided to take a risk. "Actually, I am looking for something specific," he admitted, facing the librarian. "Do you have any information on the ruins to the north? I've heard them called the 'Sanctuary of the Eternal Flame.'"

The librarian's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of recognition passing through them. "The Sanctuary of the Eternal Flame, you say?" he repeated, his voice dropping to a softer, more reverent tone. "That is indeed a rare and ancient place. Few inquire about it, and fewer still know what it truly is."

He studied Linus for a moment as if weighing the worth of the question. Then, with a slight nod, he gestured for Linus to follow. "Come with me," he said, turning to lead the way. "There are a few texts that may hold what you seek, but be warned, young man—knowledge of the past can be as dangerous as it is enlightening."

Linus’s pulse quickened as he followed the old man through the winding aisles to a secluded corner of the library, a sense of anticipation building with every step. With a careful, almost reverent touch, the librarian pulled a heavy, leather-bound tome from a high shelf and set it down on a nearby table. "This book," he said, patting the cover gently, "holds some of the oldest records about the Sanctuary of the Eternal Flame. It is a place of legend, connected to the lore of the Phoenix."

Linus's heart quickened as he opened the tome, the pages yellowed and fragile with age. The librarian's words echoed in his mind as he began to scan the text, searching for any mention of the ruins and the markings on his map. The book detailed the history of the sanctuary, its purpose, and the myths surrounding it.

One passage caught his eye:

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"The Sanctuary of the Eternal Flame was built to honor the Phoenix, a creature of light and fire. It is said that within the sanctuary lies the Phoenix's Heart, a gem of immense power that can reveal the hidden paths to the Phoenix Blade. Only those with a true affinity for light, along with the Phoenix's Heart, can unlock its secrets and wield its power."

Linus's pulse raced as he realized that the sanctuary was not merely an ancient ruin but a key to finding the Phoenix Blade. As he continued reading, he discovered that the Phoenix's Heart was not the only powerful artifact hidden within the sanctuary.

Another passage spoke of an ancient shield, the Aegis of Aether, said to be imbued with the stars' essence. The shield was rumored to grant its bearer near-invincibility against magical attacks, its power waxing strongest in the presence of celestial bodies. It was forged in the sanctuary's deepest chambers, where the boundary between the mortal world and the heavens was thinnest.

Linus’s mind reeled with the implications. The sanctuary wasn’t just a relic of the past; it was a vault guarding not one but two artifacts of immense power. He could feel the pieces of his plan starting to shift and realign, the path to the Phoenix Blade now more complicated yet tantalizingly within reach.

The librarian, who had been quietly observing, allowed a small, knowing smile to appear on his lips. As he turned to leave, he hesitated as though considering whether to share something more. "You know," he said, his tone thoughtful, "there's an old legend about the Phoenix's Heart. It was said to have been found long ago, but it has been missing from the sanctuary for centuries. Some say a great warrior took it; others believe it vanished of its own accord, waiting for the right person to claim it. But who’s to say? Legends often contain a kernel of truth."

Linus looked up, absorbing the information. Before he could press for more, the librarian added, almost as an afterthought, "It's always encouraging to see someone so eager to learn. Just the other day, I noticed Aria from the drama theater doing some research here—looking into a character's background, I believe. Libraries can help you uncover all sorts of valuable knowledge."

With a final smile, the librarian shuffled away, leaving Linus alone with the ancient tome and the thoughts swirling in his mind.

Linus looked up, intrigued by the mention of Aria. He thanked the librarian and returned to the book, but the revelation continued to nag at him. Why would Aria be visiting the library? What information could she have been seeking?

After a few more minutes of reading, Linus closed the tome and approached the librarian once again. "Would it be possible to check this book out and return it later?" he asked, his tone polite but firm, trying to convey the importance of the request.

The librarian shook his head, his expression resolute. "I'm afraid not. These texts are rare and valuable. They must remain here so that others may also access them."

Linus managed a tight smile, hiding his frustration. "I understand," he replied, though the refusal meant he would have to spend more time here than he’d planned. He returned to the table, pretending to resume his study, but his mind kept circling back to Aria. Her presence in the library raised questions he couldn't ignore after her odd behavior today.

Driven by his growing curiosity, Linus decided to investigate further. He made his way over to the ledger where visitors signed in, casually flipping through the pages from the last month. Line after line of names passed under his gaze, but Aria’s name was conspicuously absent. If she had been here, she hadn’t used her real name or signed at all.

If she hadn't signed in, she was either using an alias or bypassing the system altogether. That was no small feat, given the vigilance of the library guards. It suggested a level of cunning he hadn’t entirely associated with her—until now.

He closed the ledger, a spark of intrigue lighting up his eyes as his mind worked through the possibilities. If Aria had indeed been here without officially signing in, it meant she had something to hide, and whatever she was researching, she didn’t want it traced back to her.

Linus returned to his table, but it was impossible to focus. The earlier discoveries about the Sanctuary of the Eternal Flame and the artifacts it protected felt suddenly less urgent compared to this new puzzle. He cast a quick glance over his shoulder, his eyes landing on the librarian, who was busily shelving books. The librarian's face was a mask of concentration, revealing nothing of his thoughts as he moved among the stacks. It was clear Linus needed to tread carefully, but he was determined to get to the bottom of it.

After a moment of deliberation, he decided to probe further. He approached the librarian, this time softening his tone, injecting a touch of casual curiosity. "You mentioned Aria from the drama theater had been here recently. Do you recall what she was looking into?"

The librarian paused, adjusting his glasses as if considering how much to share. "Oh, just some old texts on local folklore," he replied, a slight smile on his lips. "She said it was for a role she was preparing. Quite dedicated, that one. Though..." he hesitated, glancing around to ensure no one else was listening, "it was a bit odd. She spent an unusual amount of time here."

"Interesting," Linus murmured, masking the growing intrigue beneath a friendly smile. "I’ll have to ask her about it sometime."

The librarian nodded, seemingly satisfied with their conversation, and returned to his duties.

He made a mental note to watch the entire drama company closely. Something didn’t sit right. The masks in Aria’s room, her sudden flirtatious behavior, the mysterious deaths, and now her secretive visit to the library—each detail seemed insignificant on its own, but together, they painted a picture that was growing darker by the moment. Linus could sense there was more to Aria and her troupe than met the eye, and he was determined to uncover whatever they were hiding.