"I want to know how to learn a skill!"
The woman, probably Miss Fortner, blinked at Matt with her grey eyes. She was an old lady wearing a black dress with white hair and a face covered in wrinkles.
She put her book on the counter and said, "Am I correct in hearing that you want to learn before school even starts?"
"Yes! I mean, it's my first time using magic and stuff. So I think it'd be pretty cool." Of course, his main reason was to stop a mass murder, but he was also interested in this magic stuff. Maybe he can be like the heroes in his novels.
"I see, I see. Alright then, why don't you come with me?" She gestured for him to follow her and he obeyed.
"This library is so big..." Matt said.
Behind him, Aelia said, "Do you like libraries, Matt?"
"Well, I like the books more, but yes, I do."
"Maybe I can show you some in the Desert of Dreams. There are some bigger than this one."
"Really?!" He said. Aelia nodded with a smile.
Their feet tapped on wood as hundreds of bookshelves stood beside him. There was a book about the history of the Vastlands, peculiar fauna and flora, fighting techniques, and so much more. If only he could stop to read them.
All the bookshelves had a golden plate stuck to them with a letter and a number carved into it. The one they were passing had H 5.
"Um, Miss Fortner? What do those letters mean?"
"How do you know my name?" she asked, surprised.
"Oh, well, Red told me."
"Oh, Red. I thought you could read minds! How silly of me. Well, the letters represent the genre of the book. H means history, B means biology, F means fiction and so on. The numbers only represent the numerical order of the bookshelves, so it all stays organized."
Matt nodded as they kept walking.
"You know, it's quite nice to see people like you. So curious and eager to learn. It always makes this library more lively. Oh, here we are!"
They reached a bookshelf with a golden plate saying, "M 1."
"Usually students get their own copies of the Tome of Divination, but since class hasn't started, you'll just have to use this one." She took a book with a leather cover and golden chains wrapped around it. In the middle of the chains was a Phantasium crystal orb embedded in the cover.
"Woah..." She handed the book to him. When his fingers touched the chains, they snapped apart and scattered on the ground.
"Oh, d-did I break it?"
"Don't worry," Aelia said, "the book does that. Its chains break when a Manipulator touches it."
"Yes, I purposely avoided touching the chains just so I can see the look on your face," Fortner said with a chuckle.
Matt sighed and was about to open the book—
"Before you open the book. I have to give you a few pointers."
"Pointers?"
"In the land of dreams, you'll meet a guide in the first village you come across. Talk to him. He'll help you with everything you need to know. Oh, and please hold hands. If not, only one of you will get sent there."
"Wait, the land of dreams—"
"No more questions! Guardian, open the book for him."
Aelia held Matt's hand and opened the book. A bright light flashed his eyes, and he flew up and down, up and down, until his back hit stone and the light disappeared.
