Solari’s POV

The library was a spring of whispers and murmurs as always. Hundreds of minds pressed on me all at once as spell tomes stirred on the shelves.

The mental pressure was almost overwhelming, but I was grateful for their clamor; without it, I would never be able to conceal my awareness from Lady Celestial.

Her starry eyes traced over my features with an intensity that made my pulse quicken. Her body was thin and delicate, her skin so pale that it reflected the violet light of the lamps above. She had bright white hair that reached the middle of her back in ringlets, and her lips were as red as fresh blood.

She blinked slowly, apparently still considering my request.

“Well, can I see it?” I asked, unable to push down my anxious impatience.

Her lips parted with all the haste of a slug as a long breathy whisper slipped from her throat.

“You are bold...and foolish...”

“I am neither brave nor foolish, only obedient.”

I reached into my pocket for the note from Aqua. Gripping it with a trembling hand, I offered it to Celestia.

With a slow and elegant hand, she plucked it from my fingers.

My heart pounded as she opened it.

If she didn't approve, everything would be over.

It’s just one more tome. I wanted to say, but I dared not.

Celestia was a beautiful being, and more terrifying than any magi-beast I had ever seen. With the exception of Ash, Celestia had a grip of authority over the other founders. Behind her frail appearance the woman was basically a god.

A faint smile played at the corner of her lips as she read the note. Her eyes closed and she shook her head. Then, with a heavy inhale, her voice echoed through the room silencing the tomes. “This will be your ninth request from the restricted section, Solari.” She paused, her gaze piercing me as the full weight of her mind pressed against mine.

It’s not like I’m bonding with them, just searching like everyone else.

She pushed harder.

This isn’t worth it, I should just go back and tell Aqua—

“Tell Aqua what?”

My heart stopped.

“That—that this is all a waste of time. If there was something in these volumes that could cure M then surely you would know of it.”

Her eyes narrowed.

I tried not to blink or turn away, but I felt like a mouse staring at a snake.

Slowly, she blinked again. Then, she smiled. “Nine forbidden volumes. Nine classes of magic. All recovered by you on solo missions that only you, Aqua, and I know about. Nine separate spell tomes and yet all nine in a series of the same origin. The only nine daughters whose secrets I do not know. What do you intend to do with all of them? Hmm?” Rising from the desk, she placed a finger under my chin, forcing me to keep eye contact as she stood.

I felt a lump in my throat and my mind went blank as a surge of panic rose within me.

“No, the better question is what does my Aqua want you to do with them?"

My chest rose and fell like a wave as I gasped for air. I was drowning in her presence.

She was still smiling as she looked deep into my eyes, then through them as if I wasn’t even there. “I will give you the book, Solari. I will give you this last one.”

“Th—thank you. I—”

“But in exchange, you will report back to me and tell me everything Aqua asks of you. Do you understand?”

Her mind receded from my consciousness as I nodded, unable to speak.

“Good boy,” she said, patting my shoulder. “You know the way, and I’m sure I don’t need to warn you against lingering longer than necessary.”

I took a deep breath as my mind slowly returned to me.

Lady Celestial didn't have to warn me, I knew the danger and consequences well enough.

Nodding again, I replied, “Thank you.”

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Dexter’s POV

Bookshelves like giant towers sprouted up from dirt, reaching so far beyond violet balls of fire that they faded into darkness. Moss and soft grass covered much of the floor while ivy crept along every other surface. Plumes of purple flame drifted between the shelves high overhead, casting a violet glow below, though their light could not push back black void above.

The atmosphere felt restless, as if the air itself was alive. My head felt charged with energy, but my body was exhausted as if I was wading through waist deep water. We had only just entered, but the constant buzz made me eager to leave.

A clerk with hair so white that it seemed to glow sat behind an out of place desk. Her almond shaped eyes were full of life, but also old and tired. She had perfectly smooth skin that suggested manicuring, but if she cared about appearance, I wondered why she kept her white. Similarly, I questioned her choice in fashion. The tight necked gown she wore looked about as ancient as Sibal’s legend, maybe older and it couldn’t have been comfortable.

Old and frail as she looked, no one could say she wasn’t beautiful. Still, seeing her next to Professor Kaylastal was jarring. The boy was the picture of youth and life, while the librarian was so old she looked as if she might die from the labors of breathing in air. If a breeze blew through the place, she might even crumble into dust and drift away.

She raised her face from a book as the professor reached toward her desk. “What do you need, Don?” she rasped. “Was there an issue with your class's tome selection?”

“I was only checking that it’s the same atheneum as last time.”

“Of course.” The old woman nodded, “Now if you don’t mind, I have a million lonely tomes in need of conversation, so you’ll have to excuse me.”

“Lonely tomes…” I mumbled. How can they be lonely? And couldn’t they just talk to each other?

The professor nodded then turned back to us. He gestured to a narrow path between two shelves before himself starting down the aisle. We followed obediently until we came to another open space.

There was a desk here too, but no old lady. Instead, there was a collection of spell tomes arranged neatly on the desk.

When all the students had gathered into the space, professor Kaylastal said, “Before we begin, let me start by saying it doesn’t matter what order you go in, because th—”

“I’m going first,” Jyanna interjected, pushing him out of the way and reaching toward the thickest tome on the desk.

As her fingers connected with the book, it flew from the desk, disappearing into the shadows. An instant later the other four tomes took off as well.

“—the tome chooses its magister as much as the magister chooses the tome,” Professor Kaylastal finished.

“What the fuck!” Jyanna cursed. “So what happens if they all leave?”

“You stand and wait for a new set to arrive, then you pray one of them is willing to accept you. It may be an unfamiliar concept, but—”

A black book marked with crimson red lettering flew directly into Jyanna’s chest. It was a small tome, but even from a distance it’s power could be felt. There was something sinister about the book, but I couldn’t read the title.

With a glance down Jyanna smiled. “This one is perfect.”

The professor dropped his shoulders with a tired sigh. Waving her away from the desk, he said “Next!”

A quiet boy with glasses and a thick afro stepped up to the desk. Patiently, he waited until there were seven spell tomes laying on the table. His face scrunched in concentration as his hands hovered over the books.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

He touched one, then quickly withdrew his hand moving to another tome that barely resembled a book. Closer to a notepad in appearance, the spell tome appeared to be loosely bound at the top and missing most of its pages.

I would not have picked it, but it didn’t seem right to offer input on someone else’s spell tome selection. Even Jyanna kept her opinions to herself, but that may have been due to her preoccupation with her tome.

Stepping forward, Alex said, “I’m next.”

There were eight tomes lined up for him to choose from. The number seemed to grow each time, and Alex had a wide variety of tomes available. Some were small spiral bound notebooks, one was bound between metal sheets and looked to weigh as much as a person. There were glittery tomes and dusty ones; they seemed to come in every size and shape too.

A smile spread on Alex’s face as he placed his hand on the brightest one. The rest dispersed, leaving him only one option .

“Hurry up boy!” The professor barked.

Grabbing the book, Alex held it close to his face as if he struggled to read the lettering. After a moment, he set it back down. The book zoomed away then several more appeared a few minutes later.

One with a star pattern on its cover stood out. I knew almost immediately Alex would pick that one. He didn’t seem to have decided yet; his hands hovered above two other spell tomes. One had a pair of wings drawn on the cover and the other a single wing.

After a minute of hesitation and going back and forth, he grabbed the spell tome with a star pattern in both hands and moved away from the desk.

The spell tome seemed to accept him and the other tomes floated into the air and disappeared back into the void.

I stepped forward, hurriedly reaching the desk and waiting expectantly. My fingers itched with restless energy as a series of spell tomes flew overhead, but after several minutes the desk remained bare.

Turning to professor Kaylastal, I asked, “Is it supposed to take this long?”

He shrugged.

Several more minutes passed, and I still didn’t have a single tome to choose from. The other students, still waiting for their turn, got restless, complaining and jostling against me.

“Hey, professor Littles,” one of the students barked, “make him step back so someone else can have a go.”

I felt a palpable malevolence fill the space, turning I saw the professor surrounded by a dark aura. He raised his arm and dark energy extended forth, wrapping around the students neck and raising him more than a foot off the ground.

With a snarl, he said, "Listen boy, if you want to survive my class, then you'll treat me with respect."

The student struggled, his legs kicking below him as both his hands worked to pry off the dark grasp. He appeared to be trying to speak, but no sounds came out.

The professor dropped the boy on the floor like a heavy sack. His appearance returned to normal, though he was clearly still irritated.

While the student knelt coughing and gasping for air, Professor Kaylastal turned to me. “Go on and let someone else try.”

Reluctantly, I stepped back as another student took my place at the desk, a thin young man with short blue hair. Several spell tomes presented themselves readily. Giddy, he reached for a small black book bound in leather. It had a simple clasp holding it shut and there was an image of a snake eating its own tail engraved on the cover.

It was definitely a tome of destruction.

I was a bit envious and jealous of how quickly the tome presented itself. As soon as he reached the book leapt from the table into his hands. He held it close to his chest, while staring at the other tomes left on the desk. Boldly, he reached for a second, but all of them fled.

“Spell tomes are a moody and often jealous bunch. I warned you about overconfidence already; don’t delude yourself thinking you can become a dual magister right off. You’ll need to cultivate a relationship with the tome you have first.” Professor Kaylastal explained.

Nodding, the boy stepped away from the desk and a girl with red hair took his place. She went through the same motions as the last student, grabbing a book from the table then stepping away.

I stopped watching after that, instead leaning against a shelf and wondering why no spell tome came to me. Did they sense my hesitation? Or was it because I was too eager?

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Solari’s POV

My chest shuddered as I rubbed against the wall searching for the shadow rune. I should’ve known where it was; I’d been the one to place it.

“Where is it? Where is it?” I gasped, anxious excitement fogging my brain.

I finally had all nine volumes. Now I only needed to place them together; then I could try the spell I found in the first book.

If I succeed, then everything will be different.

A smile pulled at the corners of my mouth, but I forced back my excitement and regained composure. There were still things to do before I could celebrate.

After several minutes of searching, my hand settled on a small square hidden in the stonework. Relief washed over me as I ran my fingers over the shape.

This was my own private room, a place that only I could open, but as an extra layer of security I had taken the extra step of moving my room to a separate dimension and replacing the original with a false image. Without magic, no one could get in here. I was the only one here, but I still felt like someone was watching me.

Scanning the room again and finding it empty for the third time, I pushed aside the feeling.

It must be Celestia, but it’s too late for her to stop me.

I activated the rune with my mana. The stone wall gave way to darkness, then a room lit by violet light appeared before me. The space closed behind me, separating me completely from reality. Here, even the founders couldn’t monitor my activity.

Moving swiftly, I placed the ninth spell tome on a shelf with her sisters. The nine books radiated power; so much power that the air vibrated around them.

The collection was finally complete. The ritual circle was drawn on the floor. I only needed to bind the volumes.

My heart pounded as I took my place at the center of the circle and reached towards the shelf, but I couldn't contain the smile on my face.

Closing my eyes, I focused on the waves of mana flowing from the books. Their whispers of encouragement soothed me.

With a deep breath, I called out to them.

“My dear daughters, it is time to fulfill our destiny.”

Letting my will touch each volume, I lifted them from the shelf. Each of the books responded in kind, flying from the shelf and swirling around me. Their voices grew louder, merging into a single chorus as they sang.

Solari. Solari. Solari.

I felt their love for me as they circled, slowly descending on my body.

“Yes! Yes, my daughters! Together we will make this world a better place. Together we will show them what true magic is. It will be glorious, we will—”

Their will crashed over me like a tidal wave, knocking me to the floor. The room trembled and the shelves shook.

I felt them press down on my consciousness, drowning me in their thoughts and desires.

“What's wrong? What are you doing?” I asked, gasping for air. “You are supposed to become one with me, together we could be like the founders, only greater!”

They didn’t reply, just pressed harder until it felt like my skull was going to burst.

The room spun. My vision blurred. Stuck to the floor and pressed flat beneath their will I could only watch as the volumes swirled together into one.

The room shook violently and my head felt like it was being split in two.

The completed book fell to the floor beside me, the words on the cover began to glow, then the letters faded and the book’s mana disappeared completely.

“Fuck!” I sat up, forcing myself to ignore the lingering pain. Taking the tome in my hands, I frowned.

I did everything right. Why did it fail?

A chill ran down my spine then the space filled with a heavy silence.

Touching the cover, I let out a long exhale.

There was still mana. I flipped open the tome anxiously. The spells… the spells had to be there.

My eyes scanned over the blank pages.

There wasn't a single rune or character on any page.

All my work and preparation...

Everything was gone!

The words, the runes, the spells; everything…

Light poured into the darkness, forcing my eyes closed. Generating a weak vortex beneath it, I moved the spell tome into a dark corner then slowly released the mana.

My eyes opened slowly to a girl with bright pink hair and icy blue eyes standing confidently before me. Chains and white fabric whirled around her, barely covering her naked form.

The way back to my room was open, but how?

I blinked, wondering if I was hallucinating.

“How did you find this place?” I demanded, raising a hand to block the light radiating from behind her.

She said nothing, just smiled as her chains crept closer to me.

“Stop! What are you doing? How did you get here? No one should be able to find this place without—”

She raised an arm, pointing at me, her lips still pressed in a tight smile.

Her chains wrapped around my body, constricting until I couldn’t move.

My heart raced as I struggled, trying to free myself.

She laughed, her voice hollow and sinister.

The chains pulled tighter, until they fully restricted my movements. The girl snapped her fingers, igniting a flame over her hand.

“Solari, my friend.” A low voice rumbled through the room.

I knew the voice, but we weren’t friends.

“To think we would both find ourselves in the same situation. Aware of the true world, shackled in service to a founder, but it seems there are still differences between us.”

The girl with pink hair pressed her fire to my chest.

I screamed, but the flames raced up my throat and devoured my vocal cords.

“You see, my master saw fit to give a special spell tome, one that needs no instruction and will defend me from any threat and executes whomever I instruct her to. But it seems Aqua didn’t trust you with such a power.”

The girl moved away from me, leaving her flames to burn through my flesh and consume my body.

I couldn't scream. I couldn't cry. I could only hang there as my flesh melted off my bones. I could keep myself alive with mana, hopefully long enough for them to leave. Then I could heal myself and try to bond with the tome again. Then I could get revenge, but I wasn’t strong enough to beat them both.

Why are they here? What could he possibly want?

The man stepped forward, kneeling by my feet. He touched the floor beneath me, then shifted his gaze to the corner.

The spell tome? But how did he know?

It didn’t matter. There wasn’t time. I couldn’t let him have it.

Shifting my focus from staying alive, I opened a hole in space below the book. Better that she be returned to Celestia than anyone else take hold of her.

“No! No! Ali—”

I felt the book fall through the void as the flames consumed what was left of my body and mind.