Resonance - Witches tale

Chapter 14

I wake up to a beautiful, sunny day. It's past 8 o'clock. I get ready in the bathroom, put on my clothes, try to do something with my hair, and then head down to the kitchen.

My appetite still isn't the best, so I eat something while waiting for Caedes to come down from upstairs.

"Don't forget to change your appearance!" Caedes says from behind me.

"Oh my god, I totally forgot!"

Not long after, we leave. The school isn't far, so the awkward silence doesn't last long. We walk through the gate.

My breath catches as I look around the hall. The enormous height of the room almost overwhelms me, and it's the first thing that catches my eye. The walls are covered in dark purple and deep black, as if the colors themselves are alive, radiating some dark magic. The walls are lined with portraits of people—perhaps the school's most outstanding students. Their faces are mysterious, as if each of them is watching me.

Opposite the gate, two wide staircases lead up to the next floor. One turns to the right, the other to the left, both made of black wood, with a long purple rug running along the worn edges of the steps. Delicate gold embroidery glistens along the edge of the rug. The school is vast, a three-story building, and I'm certain each floor hides a new secret.

The students are buzzing everywhere, and a multitude of different emotions overwhelms me. I focus and block them out, only paying attention to Caedes' feelings.

"The library is on the first floor, I'll walk you there. I'll be teaching on the second floor." – he says as we reach the top of the stairs.

The hallway on the floor is long and wide. The walls blend in dark burgundy and deep green. The windows are tall and large, but they're covered with dark curtains, so the light only filters in dimly. Candles line the walls, their small flames flickering, their warmth in sharp contrast to the cool air.

On both sides of the hallway, doors line up, each hiding a classroom behind it. The doors are made of thick, dark mahogany wood, their surfaces adorned with fine gold letters, likely reflecting the names of the subjects. Students constantly flow into the classrooms, surely the lessons are about to begin.

At the end of the hallway, we stop in front of a massive, ornate door. The door is made of dark wood, its surface decorated with intricate carvings. Caedes opens the door for me, and I walk in.

The library is enormous, almost seeming endless. The entire ceiling is covered with astronomical depictions: constellations, moon phases, and solar positions. The moon phases stretch across the ceiling, radiating light from themselves, illuminating the entire room.

Six long rows, separated by shelves that are sagging under the weight of books. On the right side of the room, rows of reading tables and chairs are lined up, with magical, floating light orbs providing the illumination, making traditional reading lamps unnecessary. On the left side is the lending table, behind which is a massive, round window overlooking the school garden.

At the very end of the room stands a huge, carved wooden door, perhaps hiding the books that not everyone can access.

I'm so excited! To others, this place might feel so natural, but I can hardly contain myself. I look at Caedes, not even sure what I'm supposed to do in a place like this.

"Come," he says, and we walk over to the lending table. No one has been sitting in the chair until now, but as we stop in front of it, a young girl appears in the seat.

"Good morning, Professor Walron!" she says, smiling. "How can I assist you?"

"Good morning, Mona! This is Priscilla, a distant relative of mine. She's staying with me for a while. She'd like to look around the library while I teach."