There was a woman of middle age in the library of Vahara Arta. Her golden brown hair flowed down her back like a river of sand as she sat behind a dark wooden desk. Other librarians preferred to light incense or put flowers in their rooms, but to her the aroma of old paper and wood was more pleasant.
She had worked here her whole life. She leaned back in her chair. Today, as usual, there was a pile of books she had to register, but now it was time for a little break.
She stood up and walked next to the window. The trees in the small garden in front of the library had blossomed. She loved the spring season; books were more pleasant to read in the early mornings of spring. The garden was always calm, always peaceful... Well, almost always.
She looked through the window. She saw the figure of a mage near a flowering tree. She was surprised because this was a very small garden and usually there was no one there so early in the morning.
He was rather focused on something... on a cherry flower in his hand.
There was a noisy flock of sparrows in a nearby shrub. The whole shrub was shaking because they were fighting with each other fiercely for the comfortable places on the tiny branches. Heliona noticed this through the window, but the mage didn't pay any attention.
He was looking at the loose blossom in his palm, his fingers caressed the soft petals. He spent a few minutes in reflection, staring at the blossom. Then he squashed it, keeping it in his palm for a little while before letting it fall onto the ground.
A few more petals from the tree fell and slid down the black velvet of his cloak. After that, he entered the building and Heliona lost him from sight.
Interesting.
Heliona recognized the mage. She had seen him once long before he became an archmage, when he had been still a student. Throughout the years many students had visited the library but somehow she remembered him and his name. Aristhaeus.
His black clothing contrasted with the pale pink petals of the flowering tree. It was hard not to notice him.
A knock on the door of the librarian's study disturbed her. She turned around. A female elf entered, and the librarian went back to her desk.
"Miss Heliona, there is a young woman here who would like to meet you. She would like to ask for help regarding some books," the elf said. There were many elves in the library. They were known to love working with books.
"Let her come in," Heliona smiled.
Elyre cautiously stepped in and found the room to be very nicely decorated and the librarian quite amiable. The elf girl assured her that Heliona loved to help and to suggest books. When it came to rare information, Heliona was the person most likely to have an idea how to find it.
Heliona was a very attentive listener. Elyre told her everything she knew related to her task, which was not a lot: she'd heard there existed a legend about an ancient Princess of the Wood-Nymphs and a possible cure for maginopia.
Heliona's features reflected her maturity and knowledge, but she looked younger than her age.
"So, my dear," the librarian spoke when Elyre shared with her everything she knew related to the maginopia, "you say you come from Wild Wood… But who are you exactly, Elyre?"
Elyre was a firine and they didn't normally live in Wild Wood. Elyre thought that had provoked Heliona's question.
Firines lived in the Proud Mountains, not very far from Wild Wood, but actually that was one more reason why they usually returned to their homelands instead of staying in the forest.
"I am the adopted daughter of the Queen of the Wood-nymphs, Thyberia," she replied. "In fact, my sister Phyllada, the Princess of the Wood-Nymphs, gave me a document in case I need to verify that I am sent by her to research."
Elyre would take the piece of paper out of her pocket, but Heliona made a gesture to show this was not necessary.
"Very well. I thought you might be adopted. After all, there aren't normally many firines in Wild Wood, are there?" Heliona sighed, "I'm afraid I won't be able to come up with the book titles you need off the top of my head. Why don't you come again in the afternoon?"
"Alright," Elyre said. "But I am not alone here in the city. So I am not sure when exactly I will be able to come, but I will sure be here some time in the afternoon." She thought she might have some other tasks as she hadn't even discussed with Mage Phabian where they would stay for the night or if he needed her for the investigation of the amulet, or for something else.
"Ah, someone else from Wild Wood is here with you?" Heliona asked. "He or she can also join us."
"No, ah, I traveled with one mage. But he has his own business here."
"Ah, I see." Heliona smiled.
***
Elyre came in the afternoon and Heliona had already prepared a list of books for her.
Heliona invited Elyre to a cup of tea.
"Why don't we have a cup of tea? Sometimes the best ideas come to me when I'm having a friendly conversation with someone. Who knows? Maybe I can come up with some more books you can check up. Moreover, you said you've just arrived in the city. You must be tired, although you are in a hurry to complete your task."
Elyre readily accepted the offer. They sat at a small table, drinking most fragrant tea.
"You come from so far away. Did you have a pleasant journey?" Heliona wondered. "Please tell me, for I haven't left Vahara Arta in ages. I suppose it is because my work does not involve traveling… And I love this place: it is hard to go away."
"The journey was pleasant, indeed, but not very calm," Elyre replied. "Our ship was attacked by a dragon very near the island. Luckily, we had some mages on board and the people managed to escape."
"Ah, the dragon case? Yes, I heard a ship sank a few days ago. But I wouldn't imagine it was yours! A pity. I am quite surprised."
Mages on board? Could Aristhaeus have been among them? Maybe. He should have come from the continent as well. But even if Elyre had seen him, he wouldn't have told her his real name.
~It has always puzzled me a bit why he hides his identity,~ Heliona thought. ~It is certainly not out of fear; no one would be so stupid as to willingly become his enemy. Probably it is for the sake of gaining more personal space.~
It was rare that the archmage would come to Vahara Arta. Heliona hadn't seen him for years! Perhaps he wouldn't think she remembered him...
Heliona was really curious and wanted to ask more questions even if chances were Elyre didn't know anything.
"I really hope I will be able to help you," Heliona said. "The library of Vahara Arta is well-known. Many emissaries and travelers come here and I have heard about the tension between the people of Wild Wood and the government. If you manage to find a cure for maginopia, you may well be able to avoid a serious confrontation."
"Yes. The Queen and the archmage are without a doubt the most hated people in the forest. Nowadays, there is so much tension even something small may turn into a cause for rebellion. …I don't have an idea what they must be imagining−"
"You should be careful with your words. Those people have ears everywhere," Heliona warned her. Elyre nodded. The librarian continued, "The more details you tell me about maginopia, its symptoms, your journey and why you come here, the better I can help you. You said there's a mage with you. Does he know why you're here? He could be of great help! Are you sure he will be busy?"
"Yes... He's an investigator. He investigates ancient artifacts."
"What an interesting profession!" Heliona exclaimed. "And is he going to be really busy? What is he investigating?"
Of course, Elyre noticed this librarian was too curious. But... wasn't this a good chance for her to understand more about her amulet? She was curious what this smart librarian would tell her. The librarian was quite knowledgeable, perhaps she could know something about Elyre's amulet. On the other hand, that mage Phabian didn't look like the most sincere person on Earth. It would be better if she double-checked any information coming from him.
"My amulet," Elyre said. "Do you want to see it?" She took the amulet out of the neckline of her dress. "What do you think?"
"Hm, interesting," Heliona said. "I don't know. It looks like a normal amulet. It doesn't resemble any piece of rare jewelry I've heard of."
"Wait. Have a closer look," Elyre said and she took off the amulet like she once had shown it to Aristhaeus.
Heliona looked at the amulet... and then again at Elyre... and again at the amulet.
It looked like she found out something, but Elyre wasn't sure what.
Elyre did not know that Heliona was almost a mage. She was well-trained in magic.
She had received her training a long time ago, before Queen Lyneanne forbid women from becoming mages. For a short period, Heliona had even been an assistant to a mage teacher in Vahara Arta. ...So, just like Aristhaeus, Heliona noticed Elyre's natural magic once her amulet was off.
~This girl... Her natural power is like Aristhaeus's back when he was a student. Who would have thought that they're two of a kind?~ Heliona thought. ~Her amulet had been hiding her natural resonance. Just like Aristhaeus is hiding his own nowadays...~
~Shall I tell her about it?... Is it a coincidence that Aristhaeus is here at the same time when she is here? ...She is too young. She must have been born after the Queen's ban. Maybe she doesn't know about her talent. Maybe she hasn't even studied magic...~
"Ah," Heliona said, "you'd better put this amulet back on. It is... a strange piece of jewelry in my opinion, but still I think it doesn't resemble anything I've heard of. ...Why don't we go back to the library so we could find some books for you?"
***
Elyre's gift in magic was considerable, but Heliona could not assess it precisely because her own abilities were weaker. Mages of weaker ability could sense that somebody was their superior, but could not tell how much superior.
...That said, Heliona herself was quite powerful and rarely somebody could rival her, not to mention be superior to her.
~Have I ever seen someone that powerful except Aristhaeus?~ She thought as she was walking the corridor. Once Elyre put her amulet back on, it looked like Heliona had imagined it...
Heliona led Elyre to the section dedicated to medicine. She had taken a long list of titles from her study and asked the firine to help her gather those books in one place.
Elyre looked at the list. These books were all related to forests. She was soon to discover that most of them were heavy and she had to climb ladders to get them... But she didn't feel tired because she was very enthusiastic about doing this. One by one she would take the books, bring them to the desk, check them off the list and move on. Heliona would get the ones that were hidden in places where only she could find them. Many of the books were so dusty Elyre started coughing.
At one point Heliona got exhausted and sat in one of the nearby armchairs. Elyre continued, determined to complete the task. She climbed up a ladder right above a long green carpet, which led from one corridor of shelves of books to another.