Chapter Forty-Nine

Daphne is looking around at all the other students, a frown making her brow scrunch up. “People are nervous,” she says.

You look around too. The people moving around the corridors are mostly in tightly knit groups, with their Familiars close to their sides. Most of them are either looking around as if they expect something to jump at them or are moving a whole lot faster than usual.

You guess they are nervous, like Daphne said. Maybe it’s because of all the Inquisitor people running around the city and asking weird questions or the guys in big armour patrolling around the school that Abigail called soldiers.

Something’s up, and it’s making all the human’s be all scared. “Why are they all acting like that?” you ask Abigail. It would be good to be sure that you’re right, after all mortals are both unpredictable and silly.

Both she and Charlotte stare at you for a moment, then Abigail pats your head. “People are just afraid. Someone--” She gives you a pointed look before continuing. “Broke into the Inquisition’s Conclave and stole something. Of course they would react to that. And because they’re reacting poorly to it, everyone else is also becoming nervous.”

“A few of the second years mentioned house-to-house searches, or perhaps a closing of the city gates to prevent anyone from exiting the city,” Daphne says. “It won’t come to that, of course. The nobles and merchants need cargo to keep moving and they’ll fight against anyone searching their homes lest they learn of their dirty secrets.”

Abigail nods along. “M-maybe, ah, we can find something to do outside of the city. For a little while.”

“The weekend is coming up, and I don’t think we have anything too important in our Firstday classes,” Charlotte says. “We could leave as a group, visit one of the little towns nearby.”

“Or you could visit my estates,” Daphne says. “I would love to show you around, Charlotte and Dreamer. Abigail already knows everything there is to know about my lands, of course.”

The girls start talking about boring things and you tune them out as you walk next to Abigail. Leaving the city might be fun, though you’ve hardly been in it for very long and there’s still plenty to explore. But if Abigail wants to go then you’ll go with her. As long as you’re all together it’ll be fun.

You arrive before a huge set of double doors made of thick wood with super detailed carvings etched into them of people and trees and animals and books. It’s a sort of landscape with a tree in the middle broken up only by the crack between the doors. ‘Librarium’ reads a plaque above.

“Oh, you’re going to love this, Abi,” Daphne says as she pushes the doors open.

The room smells like books. Musty paper and old leather and secrets inked into parchemin. You close your eyes to sniff it all, then open them to take in the library.

It’s a huge place. The entire room is built like a cross with a large circle in its middle. The circular shaft rises two floors above, with balconies all around, and also descends five more floors below the one you’re on. Each level has four big rooms sticking out of it like the spokes of a wheel, and the very bottom has a lot of seating room and desks arranged so that taking one means that others can’t see you except from above.

“Ohh,” you say as you take it all in.

Abigail claps, then stops as the sound echoes across the library.

“I'll have to ask that you restrain your enthusiasm a little, though it is nice to see people enjoy the mere sight of our library so much.” A boy steps up to your group. He’s short, barely half a head taller than Pou-tine and all skinny. He’s practically swimming in his school robes, but his hat has the wide brim of a third year student. “Welcome to the Librarium,” he says in a voice that’s just above a whisper.

“I’m so sorry,” Abigail says as she bows a little.

The boy waves it off. “Most book lovers have a similar reaction,” he says before grinning. “It’s usually a good sign.”

“This is very impressive,” Charlotte says as she takes in the entire room. “Some of the people here aren’t students.”

You look around and notice that she’s right. Some of the people aren’t wearing student robes. Others look way older than the average student too. Most of these are nose-deep in a tome or another or are following someone who is wearing the school robes.

“The Five Peak’s Academy Librarium is the finest around,” the boy says. “Quite a few mages, and some non-mage scholars, come here to satisfy their curiosities. Others to purchase copies of manuscripts or to sell us rare tomes.”

“Wow,” Abigail says. “Is access free?”

The boy shakes his head. “One fiat an hour. Unless you’re a member of the Exploration Club, in which case the fee is waived in exchange for some work every week or month, depending on which part of the group you’re in.”

“I’ve heard of that,” Daphne says before turning towards Abigail. “The Library Exploration Club has a second club called the Library Expedition Club tied to it.”

“That isn’t quite accurate, but I suspect it’s close enough,” the boy says with a grin. “So, were you here for some knowledge in particular, or were you interested in the Club? If it’s knowledge you seek, Sandra at the front desk can help. A guide costs extra but it’s better than losing time searching, unless the search is what you’re here for. You never know what you’ll learn.”

Abigail shakes her head. “We were looking at various clubs and thinking of maybe joining. If you would have us, and if you could show us to someone that can, ah, show us around.”

The boy grinned. “I’d love to. I’m Skinner--or that’s what my friends call me--leader of the expedition group of the Exploration Club.”

“Ah, so what does that mean?” Abigail asks.

“Come along, and I’ll show you,” Skinner says as he begins moving off to the side.