I almost killed him. I almost killed someone again.

I ran. I didn’t know why I ran, I just did. If I ran fast enough, If I was quick enough, I could make it back there. Back to my room where my books were. I could gather them up at the corner of my bed and stack them until I couldn’t see the door, or the window, or anyone who might come in.

I could just sit there and read.

But I didn’t have a place like that here. The hallways were big and connected to more hallways with lit rooms, each one filled with more and more people that kept on looking and staring at me as I ran by until their faces started to blend together and an aching pain accompanied each breath until my legs weakened to the point I slowed and then couldn’t run anymore from the exertion and all the thoughts running around too fast for me to escape…

There was a door.

Two large doors, actually. A sign next to them on the wall read, ‘Library’. With a tentative push, I quietly entered.

“Ah…”

Rows of bookshelves, three times my height, split the library into little hallways and sectioned rooms lit just right for someone to browse the numerous stories and journals written by adventurers and scholars sharing their knowledge and experiences to guide others until they felt like they could move forward in spite of their thoughts and troubles.

Taller, rounded shelves lined the walls with wheeled ladders attached. Four staircases on opposite ends led to the next floor. Rather than four separate spaces, the floors of levels two and above were cut out so one could see the top from the bottom and the bottom from the top. There were walkways on each level that connected to the middle, a larger circular platform with a spiral staircase that ran through each level.

I walked past a collection of neatly arranged tables and chairs on my way to the massive staircase in the middle of the room. It was its own tower within a tower. Each floor, each step, was a new way to look at the library.

What would it be like to see people from high above? To watch the world with a bird's eye view, knowing they were all lost in the stories in their hands with thousands more within reach. From the first floor, it felt like I ventured into a new world, one with an infinite amount of possibilities. Could I read all these books in one lifetime?

As I grabbed the railing, someone called out to me.

“Miss, shouldn’t you be in class?” The man looked to be in his mid-thirties. He wore large round glasses and carried a stack of books with him. The pin around his shawl was red.

“S-Sorry...”

I couldn’t think of anything else other than to apologize.

He smiled. “I appreciate how interested you are in the library but your family didn’t send you here to just read, I presume.”

“...”

He dropped the books onto a table and brushed his hair away from his glasses. “Right, well the library is temporarily closed. We had a new shipment of books come in late and the other staff and I are busy organizing everything. It should be ready in two days if you’re eager to read.” He waited for a response.

“O-Okay…”

I knew he wanted me to leave. I just couldn’t go back, yet. I wasn’t ready. On the first day, I arrived late and drew attention to myself. Now, I’d possibly get kicked out. I hadn’t even had a chance to thank my sponsors yet.

“Which class are you in?”

“Class A.”

“Oh, Ms. Ein’s. Were you perhaps late returning from lunch? I can give you an excuse, just this once.”

“W-Wouldn’t that be bad for you if they found out? W-Why?”

He shrugged. “It’s a special privilege for us book lovers only. For a place of learning, you’d think more people would come to a place literally filled with knowledge. Keep it between us though, okay?”

I almost nodded. Ms. Ein kept me from accepting his offer.

“Keep what between you?” she asked.

The librarian spun around. “Ms. Ein! Fancy seeing you here. I was just about ready to let your student go back to class. She was a lot of help.”

She looked at me and I turned away. “I’m glad my student could help you so much in the minute or so she ran from the training grounds.”

“Oh, well, uh… That’s how great she is,” he said, picking up the stack of books. “I’m quite-”

“Ellar, what happened?”

I shuffled as I thought of what to say or what she wanted to hear. “I-I don’t know. I’m not sure how to control my powers.”

“No one ever taught you?”

I shook my head.

She pursed her lips. After a second she said, “You seem to have calmed down. Are you all right to return to class?”

I glanced at all the books. I was okay now, but how much longer would I stay this way? Did I have to run back to the library every time I couldn’t handle it? That was childish. I thought I’d be better than that. I wanted to be better than that.

“Ms. Ein, it seems that Ellar would feel more comfortable if she had a book with her. My wife is much the same way. How about it? I wouldn’t mind bending the rules a bit. Everything will be ready soon, regardless.”

“Would that help?” she asked.

“Y-Yes. I-If you can, is there a journal from S-Skychaser? I-I’ve been re-reading my copy of the third journal…”

“Skychaser? I’ve heard the name before,” Ms. Ein commented.

“An aspiring adventurer, perhaps?” the librarian mused. He navigated toward the back of the library and returned with a book. “The majority of what we carry are informational texts rather than those for entertainment, however, we’ve been hoping to change that and Skychaser is one we have quite a few copies of. His entries were very detailed. Here.”

“Th-Thank you.”

“Thank you, Mr. Reader,” Ms. Ein said.

Mr. Reader?

“Yes,” he said as if reading my mind. “I know it’s a bit of a strange name. Anyway, Ellar, you’re welcome here anytime.”

I nodded gratefully.

“They should all be waiting at the training grounds. Will you be all right returning before me? I would like to speak with Mr. Reader about something.”

Me, head back alone? What would everyone else think? What if they thought I killed Ms. Ein!?

I knew I was just trying to think of reasons why I shouldn’t go without her. As my mind kept wandering, I tightened my grip on the book. The smooth leather and the thought of the stories within calmed me. If I could make it through the day, I could read this.

“Y-Yes,” I replied.

I left a dejected Mr. Reader and a stone-faced Ms. Ein behind. It took me a while to find my way back. Once I was there, I hesitated. I didn’t speak much with anyone in class, though I observed them from time to time so I could figure out how to interact with other people better. The ones using the target dummies weren’t my classmates. I recognized only one of them, Leonard.

Iris and Elis pointed him out to me and earlier in the cafeteria, I saw him buying meat from the other students. What was he doing here? Did I accidentally go to the wrong side?

I crept forward for a better look, peeking out from the doorway. Off to the side, I saw them. Rainen looked fine, which set my mind at ease. If he’d been seriously injured, this would’ve been even harder. That lucky outcome failed to assuage all of my nervousness, though. As I approached, I saw a red-faced noble pointing at Rainen. “I challenge you to a duel!”

What? Why?

The noble looked ready to fight at any moment. So, why was Rainen acting so calm when all it did was provoke him? I knew some people didn’t back away from challenges. Rainen seemed the sort, given he fought against Abelard. But barely any time passed. What if he was still recovering?

Rainen laughed, “No.”

Skychaser and Halma wrote about adventurers like that, purposefully letting the tensions rise. These conflicts needed to be worked out or squashed before things went out of hand in a labyrinth or dungeon.

Droplets of water fell from the noble’s fingers and rose behind him, bubbling like his anger. The girl who led their group, Nina, giggled behind her hand as she shifted away from the readied magic. They rose with each second, still using his back to conceal themselves. Even Rainen couldn’t dodge an attack he didn’t see coming.

I had to go get the instructor.

“If you want to fight me, duel someone else first. Wouldn’t it be better for you to duel another noble instead?”

“Oh, me!” Elis said, shooting up. Iris immediately grabbed her, holding her mouth shut and dragging her away from the others. She fought, kicking and twisting, but couldn’t break free. Stone appeared from Iris’ hand and wrapped itself around their wrists, settling into a shackle that bound them together.

“No duel for you. What do you think your dad would say?”

“I don’t care what he has to say. He’s the reason why a bunch of us were late. Half the stuff he made me bring didn’t fit into the dorm room,” she said with a pout.

The water bubbled just behind the noble’s back. He’d use it any second now. I turned to grab the instructor’s attention but the thought of explaining the situation somehow made me rethink the situation.

Not now!

“Oh, you’re back,” Axel said. “Where’s Ms. Ein?”

The noble turned around and the balls of water evaporated. I was glad things ended peacefully, but their glares made me want to run back into the library. If it wasn’t for the calming feel of the book in my hands, I might have done just that.

“S-She’s coming,” I said, further hoping it would dissuade them from attempting anything else.

The girl leading the group clicked her tongue and a few minutes later, Ms. Ein called us all back to the classroom.

In the short time we had before curfew hit, students flooded the city, which made it easier for me to go unnoticed. I blended in as best I could and followed the directions given to me by the guards. The place I wanted to visit was the Caligan Merchant Guild. They were my sponsors. After today, I needed to at least give them my thanks in case something worse happened.

I hoped that never came to pass.

I took the left the guard instructed me to and couldn’t find the merchant guild anywhere. I spent the next few minutes looking around the area because I didn’t want to ask and find out I just missed it. That would've been embarrassing, though perhaps not as embarrassing as pretending to know what I was doing.

While trying to come up with an excuse not to talk to the guards or another stranger again, I spotted Iris and Elis. The two girls were browsing the stores and one of the tailor shops caught Iris’ eye. Inside, they examined the fabrics, feeling their textures and holding them up to the light. They looked like they were having fun.

Part of me wanted to talk to them, to join in on their adventures. They were kind and bright. But they were also like that to everyone. What if I overstepped and made them hate me? What if they only showed me that courtesy because we were unfortunate enough to all be late on the first day? The reasonable part of me, the part of me that remembered, said I wasn’t ready. I needed more experience.

Iris pulled on Elis’ ear and dragged her out after she made some kind of comment to the shop owner. They were lucky enough to be partners and I was happy for them. In class and during lunchtime, the two never ran out of things to do or say to each other.

If only I had someone like that.

I spent another ten minutes searching the area, coming out empty-handed. I resigned myself to my fate and took a deep breath.

“Ellar?”

“Wha-?”

Her smile was airy, like her voice. “We’re in the same class. I’m Nula Chosk. I’ve always wanted to meet a roluk. I hope that doesn’t come off weird. My family’s territory is a bit isolated.” On her hip, she carried a rapier. I didn’t know much about weapons, but the hilt looked more decorated than normal.

“Th-That’s not weird at all…”

“Oh, it’s okay. You don’t have to try and save my feelings.”

“N-No! I-I, I just… I just didn’t know what to say. It really isn’t weird. I promise.”

Relieved, she asked, “What are you doing out here?”

“I-I’m looking for the Caligan Merchant Guild.” As I said that, I remembered something Halma wrote in her journals.

‘Elaine is kind but self-absorbed. She never asks what the other members are thinking. It’ll be hard to build comradery before we reach the labyrinth.’.

“W-W-Where are you going- I mean, what are you doing here?” I asked in a rush, trying to finish it all before she responded.

“That tailor shop was the only place I remember when my parents brought me here a few years ago. Mother and Father bought me a dress from here.”

“Oh…” I had to remind myself to keep asking. “S-So you’re looking for another dress then?”

“No, I was curious if they still had it. We sold it to pay back a few debts.” Her lips remained curled in a smile, but her eyes seemed lost. She perked back up, “Don’t worry. We’re doing fine now and I already outgrew the dress. How about I help you find that merchant guild?”

“R-Really? Thank you.”

Nula guided us through the cramped streets and around similar-looking blocks until we ended up at the steps of the guild. “Here you are,” she said. “Did you want me to go in with you?”

“Ah, no. No, uh… It’s not that I don’t want you to go. T-This is a personal matter.”

“Your sponsor?” she guessed.

I nodded.

“Nearly all non-noble students have sponsors. I don’t mind waiting for you.”

“No, I-I don’t want to take up any more of your time. I-I’ll be okay.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

I nodded again. Nula left as I ascended the stairs. Having her around would have been reassuring, but I couldn’t rely on her more than I already had.

The guards of the guild let me in without a second glance. Four lines stretched from their respective receptionists. The people in line looking to spend, borrow, withdraw, or store their money, typically carried themselves in a more composed manner, sporting accessories and clothes that fit their demeanor. However, a few leaned more frugally, wearing patched-up shoes and shirts.

Upon seeing me, one of the receptionists signaled toward a door off to the side. It led to a velvet carpeted hallway with multiple rooms. A man with a monocle stepped in to guide me, seemingly already familiar with what I came here for. He knocked on a door and left as the man on the other side called me in.

The man was clean-shaven and looked to be in his early forties. He wore the same monocle as the man outside, but it sat near his collar. Nothing about him stood out in particular, save for a small cut by the edge of his mouth. “Hello, please take a seat. You must be one of our sponsored students. ”

“O-One of them?”

“We wish to build a better foundation for our guild, so sponsoring talented young mages is a must. The first person we sponsored graduated last year. When we saw how successful it was, we decided to put more resources into it. You’re the roluk from Egala Village, correct? I’m Marcel. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“I-I’m Ellar Wholehart.”

“I’ve been hoping to meet you. For our continued support, we require all our sponsored students to complete the occasional task for us. Let’s see.” He pulled out papers and rummaged through them. “There isn’t much information about you. Tell me about yourself.”

An interview?

I answered as best I could and he continued to ask questions until he was satisfied. They weren’t exceedingly personal, mostly questions answerable with a yes or no.

“Are you or your family in need of money?”

The question caught me off guard. Shouldn’t they have known the answer?

“I-I don’t know.”

He nodded, writing something down. “Now that that’s out of the way, I’ll give you your first task. Next week you’ll be heading into Aurora Labyrinth. If you do well, you should become a full-fledged adventurer. Once that happens, we need you to collect a minor core and five drain crystals for us.”

I wasn’t sure if the request was reasonable or not. Minor cores could be found in goblin dens and drain crystals were common enough that adventurers bought a few before leaving town. Was it a test?

“Th-That’s all?”

“Yes. We won’t ask you to do anything unreasonable. With that, our business is done. It won’t be an easy task to do alone, so we recommend creating a party to take on the request. Try to bring the items before the month ends.”

Outside, I was left with three feelings.

One. I really wanted to read Skychaser’s next journal.

Two. I really hoped he would write about how to find party members.

Three. I received a personal request!