The Mage Wars

Archives

"What can you tell me about—"

Neirin taps me on the shoulder. I turn to face my cousin. His expression tells me he's tired of listening to the dragon speak. Let me guess: he wants to leave. Fine by me. "I'll be back later. Guinevere has something to show me."

I nod.

"Be back for dinner." Neirin nods. He goes back to Guinevere and tells her. She smiles and leads him out of the garden. I watch their retreating forms until they are out of sight. I turn back to Alloa.

She has a smile on her face. Can she even smile? That doesn't matter—my next question matters.

"Please continue," Alloa encourages me. I rethink if I want to ask this question. My head decides not to, but my gut tells me otherwise. So I do.

"What can you tell me about a book of dragons?"

"I can not tell you that. It would be best if you found answers yourself. I suggest looking in the palace archives." Her eyes darken again. This is a touchy subject. Her body language becomes guarded. 

Alloa stands and shakes her wings. With a heave of her wings, she takes off. I watch her retreating form soare for the mountain.

To the archives, I go.
_____

The doors to the archives are so large. If I were any other species, I would need another to help open them. I shake out my hands before using a spell to move the doors.

They creak and groan. At first, I think they aren't going to open and I'd have to use the unlocking spell. Then they swing open. A long screeching noise emits from the joints. Ouch.

"Spirits. Those need oil."

With the book I found at my side, I walk in. I can't help but marvel at the vastness of this library we call the Archives. The difference between an archive and a library is an archive is full of knowledge. In comparison, a library has various genres of books. Not just knowledge-based.

"Whoa."

Some of the books here are older than the first King. If I remember correctly, King Vesryn gathered books from all over Seraphina. Many of these books contain knowledge he once knew.

Knowledge I could know. This is the exact reason we aren't staying in the castle. I could spend weeks in here. But we don't have that time. Hopefully, I can visit whoever becomes King. Or queen. 

Now it's time to find a codex. That will be the hard part. Most libraries have a catalogue. I have never been in an archive, but I hope this one has a catalogue. If not, I'm screwed.

Aha! I found it!

A catalogue is on a table spanning nearly the entire length of the archive. I flip through until I find a section on dragons. At the bottom of the last page is a note on the book of dragons.

"Isle D7, fifth shelf from the bottom."

I smile. This should be as easy as cake. 

On a sign at the top of each aisle are ancient fae letters. Beside the letter is a number. Ah, so that's how they section—section D7. 

I walk until I reach section D7. From there, I count up from the bottom. The fifth shelf is about shoulder height. From there, I walk until I find the book I need. The first pass I make doesn't do me any good. "Where are you?"

"Well, Eve, books don't talk." I scold myself. Ha, I sound like Mother. Is that a good thing? Who knows. She once told me Father does the same thing. Father like daughter.

On my second pass, I find a book worth reading. All the books here are worth reading. Only this one is related to my topic. So it's more worthwhile at the moment.