I woke a few hours later as the afternoon rays peeked through my window, glaring into my eyes.

My exhaustion had been washed away completely, as if I had slept a whole day, and I was ready to do some very important research.

I had told Darius I'd be using my time wisely and I was very serious about it. But I wouldn't be studying those books Alexei had told me to. I would have time for that tomorrow at work.

Alexei had given me tons of new information and I had yet to look into the other few things I had found out yesterday as well. If I could find something at the library, it would be good. If not, no harm is done. I would've just narrowed down where not to look.

I quickly got up from the bed, straightening my clothes and running my fingers through my dishevelled hair. With a determined stride, I made my way out of Caius' house, bidding it a temporary farewell.

Stepping onto the bustling streets, I marvelled at the scene before me. The afternoon sun casting a warm glow, painting the city in hues of gold and amber. Managing to hail a passing carriage, I paid the driver a single copper coin to take me near the town's centre by the library which I went straight inside. Away from the golden-coloured streets.

Without hesitation, I made my way directly up to the history section on the second floor. It was there, buried among all the other random books on who knows what that I hoped to find some clues about the churches and their significance. Why were they constantly brought up in moments of importance? Why did they have superiority over The Hunters Den of all places? Were they deeper rooted in the history of Arcanists than I thought?

I scanned the shelves, my eyes darting from one worn spine to another. Most of the books focused on ancient civilizations, folklore, and tales of forgotten empires. There were none on current magic or the true power of arcanists or their history. I figured those were strictly forbidden and illegal to possess.

Undeterred, I delved deeper, searching for anything that might shed light on the churches and their influence. I pulled out an arm full of books on religion and such and made my way over to my spot at the window.

As I settled into the comfortable chair by the window, I began my search for answers. Book after book passed through my hands, their pages worn and yellowed with age. I devoured the information within, hoping to uncover the secrets that lay hidden.

The history books painted a different picture of the churches than I had anticipated. There were not one, but six different churches, each dedicated to a distinct concept or ideology. They held significant sway and were often the cornerstones of power in various kingdoms and regions. It was clear that they were more than mere religious institutions—they wielded influence and authority that extended beyond matters of faith.

Among the few books that named the churches, I found mention of The Church of the Herald of Twilight, The Church of the God of Eternal Balance and Light, and The Church of the God of Arcane Lore. None of which being the church I was familiar with relevant to my new Arcanist position, The Church of the Keeper of Time.

All that was written about them was vague and almost too simple, the churches were created very early on in history at different points in time for followers and believers to worship. All a little too normal for something this mysterious.

But it was the other missing information that piqued my curiosity. Three of the other churches were either torn out, removed or scribbled over, leaving behind unrecognisable remnants. And even within the pages that remained, there were gaps, as if someone had purposefully removed pages. Again.

My fingers traced the missing parts, a frown tugging at my lips. The person or persons that have done this was definitely destroying the records of things relating to the history of arcanists in some way. It’s as if they don’t want the general public to learn about their own history. Wouldn’t it just be passed down through word of mouth anyways? Why go this far to ruin library books?

The thought struck me then. My newfound ability as a Watcher could prove invaluable in uncovering the missing information. If I could extend my perception through time, perhaps I could catch glimpses of the past, see who had tampered with these books, or even discover where the missing pages are. I would need all the other tampered books I had found as well to try.

But a sense of caution washed over me. I was in a public library, surrounded by people. If I were to use my ability openly, it would surely raise suspicion. The use of such powers was strictly forbidden, and the consequences could be more than dire.

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However, I also knew that the fractures I perceived were invisible to others. No one else could see the subtle ripples in the fabric of time that I could detect. Alexei not seeing them earlier proved that. I had an advantage, a hidden tool at my disposal.

With a determined resolve, I gathered the books with missing pages and approached the librarian at the counter. She glanced up from her work, her gaze flickering with curiosity.

"Excuse me," I began. "I'm looking for some books that I had given you a couple of days ago. The ones with the missing pages?"

The librarian's eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise dancing across her features. Her voice lowered to a hushed tone as she responded, "Ah, yes. The books with the missing pages. Has Darius requested them?"

My heart skipped a beat, and my mind raced. How did she know about Darius? Was she somehow connected to him? I couldn't afford to reveal my suspicions or cause a scene. I must maintain my composure.

"Um, Who?" I replied cautiously, keeping my voice steady.

The librarian’s lips curved into a knowing smile. "I see. My apologies for the confusion earlier. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Robin, and I'm actually part of Darius's crew. You could say I'm an informant posted here at the library."

I sighed knowing I hadn’t been found out by some random citizen, though her revelation sent another shockwave through me. She was part of Darius's crew, an insider. But why had she chosen to reveal herself to me now instead of the other times I had been here?

I gave her a quizzical look, trying to make sense of the situation. "Why are you telling me now, why not the other day?"

Robin's expression softened, and she gave a slight shrug. "I would’ve assumed Darius would tell you. My apologies if I startled you."

An awkward silence hung between us, and I cleared my throat. "So, the books?"

Robin looked startled as if she had already forgotten the task at hand. "Oh, right. Yes, I had to put them in the restricted section for safekeeping."

Without further ado, Robin motioned for me to follow her. We navigated through the aisles of the library until we arrived at a nondescript wooden door, tucked away in a secluded corner. The sign above it read "Staff Only."

As Robin pushed open the door, it revealed a hidden passage leading to a dimly lit area. The air felt heavy with the weight of forgotten knowledge. It felt as though this area was too unguarded though. Just a wooden door, and not even key access?

We stepped into the restricted section, a realm of forbidden tomes and ancient secrets. The shelves were lined with books bound in weathered leather, some of their titles written in archaic languages and symbols. A great contrast to the books in the public section, these were clearly for those in the know.

My gaze wandered to a corner where a young boy sat, engrossed in reading. His features were similar to Caius, short. But he had brown hair instead of white, and his attire was of finer quality. Robin noticed my curiosity and leaned in to whisper.

"That's Felix, another informant like me. He often frequents the library, but he's not much of a talker you know. He prefers the company of books instead. He usually tends to keep an eye out for anything unusual happening in the city, that’s why he’s so smart. A great asset to the team I’d have to say."

I nodded, acknowledging Felix's presence, and we continued our journey deeper into the restricted section.

Finally, we arrived at a secluded corner where Robin had stowed away the books I had requested, along with a bundle of other books. They were all wrapped in protective covers, shielding their covers from damage. She gestured for me to approach, allowing me to peruse the selection at my leisure.

"You can pick out the ones you want, I forgot which ones you gave me to be completely honest. They should be among these ones though," Robin whispered, her voice carrying a note of excitement. "Feel free to look around as well. We're on the same team, after all. I can trust you."

With a nod of appreciation, Robin excused herself, mentioning that she needed to return to the counter. I watched as she made her way back, disappearing among the shelves of books.

Glancing around to ensure nobody else was nearby, a thought crossed my mind. The boy, Felix, seemed engrossed in his reading, oblivious to his surroundings. Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to use my Watcher ability without drawing attention.

I approached the shelves and carefully picked up one of the books in the covers, checking to see if it was among those with missing pages. It was. This was my chance to put my new ability to the test in the field.

Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and focused, channelling my energy, my spirit, and my will into my hands. I focused on its weight, the texture of the leather cover, and the faint smell of aged paper.

In my mind's eye, I visualised the glass bowl. The same one I had envisioned earlier that day. The water-like substance getting drained from the bowl and flowing out of me, into the book. My perception, my consciousness, entering the book in my hands.

Everything felt right. The same exact feeling from before. With that, I opened my eyes and saw it.