Calytrix's Journey

Chapter XXVII: Witches

The black hole Akios showed me was an extremely small one. It shouldn't be a big problem if it were the size of a pea pod. This time I set my goal on figuring out how to close it without the spirits' help. Free from territorial restrictions, I asked Akios to teleport me to an extensive library in the far north of Nix, a considerable distance from Lumi, to avoid trouble.

Akios teleported us directly into the basement of the library. It was pretty dark, but the smell of old paper immediately comfired that we were in the right spot. I didn't want to linger in the dark, so went toward the light, which led directly to the giant shelves filled with books as far as the eye could see. Akios's footsteps were the only ones I heard, which was a shame. Such a great place deserved lots of visitors.

"I already checked all the old magic books," Akio said while yawning.

"But maybe we missed something the first time," I explained. "It wouldn't hurt to check again and see if there are any clues we missed."

"Even if there were old clues, it would be something long lost, buried or turned to ash," Akios said while his eyes searched for an exit. "But I heard the roasted meat in this area was tasty."

"I agree," I said, dreaming of a juicy, warm steak, then I snapped out of it, "but we need to seek the old, forgotten knowledge first."

"Suit yourself," Akios said as he left towards the exit. "I'll be at the inn eating fine steaks."

"Fine," I said, walking in the opposite direction. 

I rarely got to see a place as magnificent as this. It was warm inside, and stepping into the cold outside would surely end up with a frostbite or two.

A soft carpet covered the floor, so I barely resisted the urge to remove my heavy boots and walk barefoot. I saw that the handful of all the other visitors had their shoes on and ignored the carpet. The books were the true treasure, not some carpet... big, small, thick, or thin... there was no end to the varieties. Covers with dazzling colours and ones with dark shades.

Nobody stopped me, so it was quite easy to keep my identity hidden by covering myself with the cloak Akios gave me. I wasn't sure what the people here thought of witches, but the frowns in Lumi made me vigilant. The witches' guild might have been involved here too.

I didn't have to look far, as I instantly sensed magic from the shelves to my left. Someone tagged that section "science," an ironic place to hide magical things. Out of curiosity, I grabbed a medicine book, which I found totally confusing. The explanation of the inner workings of the body made no sense to me. I rapidly put it back to ready myself for spell-casting.

Since nobody was nearby, I cast silent magic openly. 

"Ostende invisibilem!" 

As the science bookshelves shifted left, a giant bookshelf with a single book was revealed. I held the heavy book, carefully turning its aged pages. The book contained an old language that detailed ancient spells. Ones that could change the rules of nature, something that shouldn't exist. 

As I focused my attention on a spell that said to uncover the wonders of the inner earth, an earthquake started. Books went flying as the shelves shook violently. I jumped to avoid direct hits, and as I let go of the tome in the panic, the shaking stopped.

I heard the quick footsteps of a few people leaving the library, but I remained calm. Apparently, there were other visitors that I didn't see. My face felt hot because I was ashamed I had made them leave.

I ought to clean up the mess because I was the one who caused the earthquake. I sat by the old book, cautious not to touch it while working to restore everything.