by Eric Vall
I sat back down and began to sift through the files. Sure enough, it said right in the first sentence of the section on Tietra that it was visible only to the magic eye, which explained why there was so little around it.
I wasn’t left alone for long though. The only thing I had learned in the time Tem was gone was that the village itself was rumored to be over a thousand years old, and the library elder’s name was Calamar Sterling.
Tem placed a tray in front of me. On it was a bowl of hot potato and leek soup with bread, a plate of roast beef, and a pale ale. A grin spread across my face.
“This looks amazing!” I complimented. “Thank you!”
Tem laughed. “I cooked it all myself. No missus here to do it. Everything is done by my brother and I.”
As I shoveled food into my face, Tem sat quietly and read over a roll of parchment he pulled from his pocket. It was strange how comfortable I felt here, as though I’d been here before, but I certainly never had. Even though Maelor and I had traveled this way, our paths never crossed with Tietra.
“So,” I started between bites of bread, “do you get a lot of travelers through here?”
“On occasion.” Tem put his parchment aside and took up his mug again. “We often find ourselves with scholars or wandering mages who have lost their way, but Tietra is quiet.”
“And everyone here seems so friendly,” I commented.
“We have no reason to show hostility unless we feel threatened,” Tem explained.
I quirked my eyebrow in question. “Have people come here to threaten you before?”
“Of course,” Tem answered easily and sat back in his chair. “Tietra is home to one of the only remaining ancient libraries. We’ve had plenty of our share of travelers who would bring harm to it or force violence upon the villagers to gain information.”
I frowned deeply at that. “I hope you don’t think we’re here to cause any kind of trouble.”
Tem shook his head then with a soft chuckle. “Like I said, we aren’t hostile unless we feel threatened. If Knick thought you were going to be a problem, he would have kicked you out to the curb.”
I took a bite of meat and let it melt in my mouth with a complimentary hum before I continued. “So then, theoretically speaking, how would he know if we were trouble? We could be putting up a front.”
Tem’s shoulders shook as his chuckles turned into a laugh. “Ah, that’s the advantage of Knick being a clairvoyant.”
“I’m sorry?” I blinked rapidly, unsure if I’d heard him correctly.
“In layman’s terms, my brother can read minds,” Tem explained, “but it isn’t that simple. It’s more like Knick can sense when someone’s intentions aren’t pure.”
“That’s awesome!” I exclaimed quietly. “It must really come in handy.”
“It sure does,” Tem agreed. “Though I am curious what you want with the library.”
I faltered a little as I remembered Sleet’s words before Gawain and I left. I wanted to be able to trust Tem and Knick, but I also didn’t want to put the mission in jeopardy because I put my trust in the wrong people.
“I’m sorry, I can’t tell you that,” I replied with a deep frown. “We were sworn to keep it a secret, but I promise you we don’t mean any harm. We’re just looking for some information.”
“I understand.” Tem nodded. “I did my time at the Academy, too. All of us have at some point.”
I sighed in relief. “Thanks. I wish I could give you a better answer than that.”
“Think nothing of it,” Tem reassured with a smile.
“I do have a question maybe you can answer, though,” I added to keep the conversation from going sour. “The symbols on the doors … what do they mean?”
Tem eyed the symbols, and then looked back to me incredulously. “You don’t know?”
I shook my head. “Should I?”
Tem sat forward again and set his mug back on the table. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked.
“Apologies, I didn’t mean to be rude,” Tem said. “I just meant I forget the lore of mages isn’t often taught the way it should be. Those of us who grew up and have lived in Tietra for a long time are privy to the information of the library.”
“The Academy in Varle has a pretty extensive library itself,” I mentioned.
“Aye, that is true,” Tem agreed, “but, well, I’ll let you see the library here for yourself when you visit. For now, let me answer your question.”
I took a sip of my ale and sat back as Tem pointed to one of the symbols toward the front of the inn.
“They represent the seals of the twelve guardians,” he started. “The guardians are the masters of tending to the balance between the human world and monster world. They’re something like the Maker, but we don’t worship them as we do Him.”
I balked. Never in a million years would I have thought the lore between mages and monsters was this deep, and I had a distinct notion we had only scratched the surface.
Tem laughed at my reaction. “That’s only a fraction of it. Elder Sterling can tell you more when you see him at the library tomorrow.”
I nodded dumbly. “Why would they keep something like that from being common knowledge though? Surely all mages should know something like that, especially the ones on the response squads.”
“Well,” Tem began and scoffed a little to himself, “I imagine it has something to do with the council not wanting it to be so common. They curate the curriculum, after all.”
Suddenly everything seemed clear, like why Sleet wanted to keep this mission a secret from the council, and why Miriam Sharpay had an issue with me without knowing me. It must be because Sleet gave Rori, the first year summoner professor, permission to alter the summoner curriculum without consent from the council. That must have been the point he wanted to make to her when he and I spoke outside of the infirmary after Layla was hurt in her round.
I sat back in my seat as I took it all in. What good was a council that wanted to keep the history and lore of the world of monsters hidden from us? I turned my eyes back on Tem.
“What is the connection between monsters and mages?” I asked. I didn’t know if he would have the answer, but as someone who grew up here and learned from an early age from the elder of the library himself, maybe he at least had a guess.
“No one is sure anymore,” Tem answered honestly, “but if I recall, it was thought the guardians were once mages themselves who gave their lives to keep the balance between monsters and mages.”
“Does that mean they’re monsters now?” I asked hesitantly.
Tem shrugged. “I’m just an innkeeper, Gryff. I don’t have all the answers, but I know whatever you and your friend are here for is being done for the good of everyone. I’m sure Elder Sterling will be able to help you more.”
“I understand,” I replied with a soft sigh and smiled. “Thank you for everything, Tem.”
“The pleasure is all mine. It isn’t often I get the free time to chat with those who stay here, so if anything I should be thanking you for keeping me entertained.” He stood then and took the now food-free tray back to the kitchen.
I sat and thought about what Tem told me. Guardians who were once human who sacrificed themselves to protect the balance of monsters and mages. If that was the case, what were they doing now? Why were there so many attacks? Was this their twisted idea of balance, feeding the humans to monsters for population control?
The more I thought about it, the antsier I grew. I hoped Gawain would awake soon so we could pay a visit to Elder Sterling, as Tem called him. I knew we were there to talk about the ciphers, but I had so many more questions now.
Hell, maybe they were all connected in some way.
I laughed at myself. Since when did my thirst for knowledge become so great? Sure, I didn’t mind learning or studying, but this was beyond anything I had thought possible. I started to see why Arwyn loved it so mu
ch, and why she enjoyed talking about her findings as much as she did. With so much out there we didn’t know, it was easy to get lost in all of it without being able to sort it out with your own thoughts and opinions.
I stood as Tem came back into the lobby slash dining area.
“I think I’m going to see about getting a few more hours of sleep,” I told him with a stifled yawn. “Thanks again, Tem.”
“Don’t mention it,” he smiled and waved as I headed back to the room. “When your friend wakes up, there will be breakfast ready.”
I laughed at that as I put my hand on the door handle. “Don’t tempt me with more of your cooking. If your breakfast is anything like that meal, I’m in trouble.”
“I guess you’re really in for it then,” Tem joked. “I make a mean bacon omelet.”
Chapter 6
As it turned out, I missed out on Tem’s bacon omelet in favor of a few more hours of sleep. Gawain had already left the room when the sunlight streamed through the window and into my eyes to stir me out of slumber once more. I figured I might as well take the opportunity to use the shower while Gawain was occupied. If he acted anything like the primadonna he was at the Academy whilst we were on this mission, then I knew he would take his sweet time to get ready and start the day, and I’d rather wait on him than have it be the other way around.
The shower was small and made of wood that had mossed over. I thought it strange, but at the same time, clever. Why waste water when it would be used to harvest life in some fashion?
I sighed as the spray hit my body. Somehow, it was the perfect temperature without me having to adjust it. I chalked it up to sensory magic and enjoyed the peace and quiet while I could.
I dressed and made my appearance again sometime later. Gawain sat with Knick at one of the tables next to where Tem and I sat earlier that morning. They seemed engrossed in conversation, and I couldn’t help but think it odd Gawain deigned to offer his time to anyone willingly. Yet, there he sat, a relatively pleasant smile on his lips as he and Knick joked about the different uses of elemental magic, and I had a front row seat to it all.
Maybe I shouldn’t have been surprised, in hindsight. After all, people could change, and Gawain had certainly done so in the course of the several months since I’d first started at the Academy. Perhaps he was still a bit pompous. No, he was definitely still a bit pompous, but he seemed more aware of himself, as though in him admitting defeat, it allowed him to show a side of him he didn’t normally get to. I didn’t really know what the cause was, but I did know he wasn’t the same person who had interrupted my conversation with Nia on my first day.
As I approached them, Knick greeted me with a warm smile and waved.
“Morning! Sleep well?” he asked and offered me a cup of coffee, which I graciously accepted.
“Yes, thank you,” I replied as I took the seat next to Gawain, who greeted me by simply nodding at me over his mug.
“That’s good,” Knick commented. “Gawain and I were just chatting about his gun and its properties.
“Really?” I took a sip of coffee and eyed Gawain, who nodded. “That’s cool because I’ve been meaning to ask you something about it myself.”
Gawain quirked an eyebrow. “Is that so? Go on then.”
“I got to thinking, and I was curious as to what kind of metal is it made of,” I told him, and he looked a little taken aback.
“I’m … not sure,” he answered honestly. “I never thought to ask. Why?”
I took out the rhin dagger I had strapped to my side and set it on the table. Knick leaned in and examined it closely as it pulsed a calm shade of blue.
Knick whistled. “She’s a pretty little thing. Where’d you pick her up?”
“One of our professors created this in a lab,” I explained. “The metal that it’s made from is called rhin. It’s compounded essence that’s able to absorb and utilize mana and its different properties.”
Gawain nodded. “So that’s why. To be honest, I’d never given it much thought. I just assumed it was some top of the line weapon since it came from my father.”
“If your gun is made of the same thing, then I’d be curious as to who developed it,” I told him. “If someone else other than Ms. Hamner and Piper is producing rhin, then it might be cause for concern.”
“Why is that?” Knick asked.
I set my mug down on the table with a thoughtful look. “Well, I’ve been under the impression they were the ones who created it in the lab. If Gawain’s gun was created from someone else using the same materials, then someone else is producing these powerful magical weapons. That should be concern enough.”
I watched out of the corner of my eye as Gawain put his hand on his gun, and the look of concern grew on his own features, though he didn’t voice it.
“It might be something worth looking into when we get back to Varle,” I suggested.
“Until then, we have a mission to accomplish. I’m going to shower so we can change and head out before we lose too much time,” Gawain declared as he stood abruptly and bowed his head to Knick. “Thank you for the coffee.”
Knick smiled. “Don’t mention it.”
With that, Gawain disappeared back into the room and left me alone to chat with Knick.
“I had the pleasure of talking to your brother early this morning,” I informed him.
“I heard,” he replied with a soft chuckle. “I hope he didn’t talk your ear off. He doesn’t get to talk to many of our guests because he works at night.”
“No, he was fine,” I assured. “He was great company actually.”
Knick nodded over his mug. “He mentioned you had questions about the carvings on the doors of the rooms.”
“I do.” I sat back in the chair with a soft sigh. “The lore behind the connection between the monsters and the human world isn’t something they teach at the Academy. Tem mentioned it might have something to do with the politics.”
Knick set his mug down and folded his hands on the table. “There is a reason there are only two libraries remaining, Gryff. The powers that be are afraid if the people knew the truth, they’d lose power.”
“But why?” I inquired. “What is so incriminating they’d burn down entire libraries?”
“The truth,” Knick replied simply.
“And that is … ?” I pressed, but I already knew the answer.
“No one knows anymore,” Knick said, “and that is the point. Our history as mages has been lost through time and records. There are bits and pieces remaining, but there is no one left alive who knows the full truth. Even our own Elder Sterling doesn’t know everything about the world of monsters and mages, and he’s probably the smartest man left alive.”
My heart sank. So, everything Tem said had been true after all. I didn’t want to believe it, but I knew deep down it was as I was told. The pieces of the puzzle were aligned too nicely to ignore.
“I feel like I don’t really know anything,” I admitted, “and that’s saying something, because I came from the outside, from the Wilds.”
Knick reached across the table and patted my shoulder reassuringly. “Go to the library. Speak to Elder Sterling. He is a gracious man who is willing to impart his knowledge to any mage who is willing to listen.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” I told him with a wry smile.
He stood then and disappeared into the kitchen like Tem had earlier this morning. When he came back, he brought a plate of sausage and eggs with him.
“It isn’t Tem’s bacon omelet, but it’s still good eats,” Knick chuckled. Then he set the plate down in front of me.
“This looks fantastic!” I exclaimed as I nearly drooled over it.
“Think nothing of it.” Knick waved it off. “I wasn’t blessed with the gift of cooking, but I can make an egg and heat up some sausage.” He left me alone to eat and stood behind the desk near the stairs.
As I ate, I thought it strange I hadn’t seen anyone else in the inn. I knew it was a
place only visible to us magic folk, but surely there were other mages who traveled through here?
“Hey, Knick?” I called between bites of egg. “Are there any other patrons here?”
Knick shook his head. “You and Gawain are the only ones for now, but we did have another traveler from your neck of the woods through here earlier in the week. Said he was on a mission as well.”
My eyes went wide. “Did you happen to catch his name?”
“Sure.” Knick shrugged. “He was a tall guy, kind of bulky. Went by the name Vascarti.”
I nearly dropped my fork. “That’s Orenn!”
Knick blinked in surprise. “I beg your pardon?”
“The guy who came through here. His name is Orenn Vascarti. He’s on a monster response squad with me,” I divulged.
“Oh, well that explains a lot,” Knick chuckled. “He said he’d failed his Magicae Nito, so he needed to complete his solo quest or something like that. Anyway, he mentioned having a friend like you.”
I resisted the urge to blush, but I was definitely flattered Orenn thought of me as a friend. “He’s a good guy. I’m honored to be part of a team with him.”
Knick smiled. Immediately after, Gawain came out of our room. He looked refreshed but still like he could use a fair bit of sleep. I had to remember he was probably still trying to recover from his injuries in the rift. It was strange that it felt like it all happened months ago, but it was only a matter of days.
“Ready, princess?” I teased, and Gawain scoffed as he crossed his arms.
“Finished eating?” he retaliated, and I quickly turned back to my plate to scarf down the rest of the sausage and eggs. Maybe it wasn’t Tem’s bacon omelet, but it was still good eats as Knick had said. I cleared my plate and stood, hands on my hips and a grin on my face.
“Ready!” I declared.
“Let’s go, summoner.” He sighed and rolled his eyes.
I stepped away from the table to leave but stopped and turned to Knick.
