I ran my fingers along every spine on the second floor. I had no idea what SM stood for, but I kept at it despite my thoughts. I hadn't told Nik, but I worried for the safety of my friends, and I believed Volar. When he had spoken to us that night, he didn't smell afraid. And when he spoke, I could hear that his pulse hadn't changed speeds.
The books at the end of the shelf ended at "SM 249.T4" and I needed T5. I whined in frustration. I was hungry and tired and missed my friends. I growled and started from the beginning. About halfway down the same stacks, I had remembered Taury mentioning she had to use a ladder the other day. A ladder! I ran through the stacks to find one.
I skidded to a stop, almost running in to the one at the front. I grabbed it and yanked it to where I hunted. The wheels above on the tracks squeaking at the speed with which I dragged it. At the SM section, I halted and climbed up the rungs. I dragged my finger along the spines again seeing the T5 and waiting for the numbers to increase.
There. A red dyed leather-bound tome. It was so massive that it took two hands to removed off the shelves. Feet on the floor, I took out the number Taury had written down for me. They matched. I flipped the book over and ran my hands along the title, "The Consideration of the Ninth Element."
Before I could open the heavy volume, someone stepped out from behind the shelves. I looked up in surprise.
"You?"
"It's about damn time. I got sick of coming up here every night." Ameer stood before me, and a grin passed over my face.
YOU ARE READING
The Crystal Trials
FantasySalvare University looms above its city as a sanctuary for those gifted with magic. The University is renowned for pouring out students that encounter immediate success and wealth in the world. Those that have earned their robes are respected as lea...
