"So what are these conditions you speak of?"
"There are three conditions involved with the Librarian's command. Fulfilling even one of the three activates the skill. There is one issue."
"Go on."
"Unfortunately, I have tried to find more information on them but I have only been able to decipher the first 2 conditions. The third is still a mystery to me."
Knowing how ancient the library is, it's not really a surprise that we're missing information. Except in this case, I kind of wished we weren't.
"That's fine! I'm sure we'll find out eventually anyways. What about the 2 you did find? What are they?" This was fairly exciting either way.
"The 2 conditions are; To save and to protect"
"..."
I am utterly astonished. I really thought this was my opportunity to learn some S-class magic and change my life- BUT NO! To save and to protect!? Now I have to be the selfless, help-the-granny-cross-the-road superhero!?
Someone change the damn genre to tragedy!
"Master! Why do you look so dejected? This can be a chance for you to become a legendary superhero! All the kids would love you!" The blonde princess replied with sparkles of mockery in his eyes.
"Felix! You've become a master at sarcasm. I'm afraid you might even be better than I am."
A large grin appeared across his majestic face, "I have been practising!"
"..."
"Yeah! Find a new master, I'm out!"
"AH! MASTER! NO! I'm sorry! I won't do that again! Master come back! This is serious!"
"First of all, if you want me to stay here…" This little- "CAN YOU WIPE THE DAMN GRIN OFF YOUR FACE!" The audacity!
"Pfft- Sorry. Sorry. Forgive- Ahem! I apologise, forgive me Master! AHEM!"
I'm really going to punch this dude one day!
.....
"So in order to use the Librarian's Command, I would need to be in a situation where I either have to save or protect someone? Is that about right?"
After finally settling down, we got back to the issue at hand.
"Wait, Felix! Can I not use it to protect myself?"
If you really think about it, it wouldn't count as breaking the rules because I would still be protecting someone.
"Sorry, but the master of the library can't use its magic for personal purposes."
… So it's a one way only.
"In the end, even though I have a new ability, I can't even use it. Great Master I am. I thought this was my chance to improve my life! That I could finally get acknowledged!"
"I'm sorry Master." Felix looked disappointed that he couldn't be of more help.
"Forget it, having any kind of a trump card is still good news. Besides, maybe the third condition can help us out."
Felix simply nodded. I walked away from him looking around the spacious infrastructure until my eyes fell upon a book title that looked strangely familiar.
"Introduction to Ancient Texts? Where have I seen that before?"
An image of the desk in the library flashed through my head. I picked out the book and flicked through the pages. The contents were exactly the same. Even the small rip on the corner of the pages was the same. It's that book? But that can't be.
"Felix! Come here for a sec!"
He instantly ran over at my command. "What is it, Master?"
"I have a question. You said before that I don't need to bring the physical copy of the spell books back, does that mean every single book here is a copy?"
The blonde boy's face turned into a serious expression. He looked down and around trying to figure out my question.
"I believe only the spell books have copies. All the books outside the Enchanted chamber are the last remaining copies of their kind. So these books should only exist in the Enchanted Library and nowhere else." He explained. "But why do you ask, Master?"
"This book-" I showed him the book I was holding, "I found it in the Duke's library."
"PARDON! But that can't be!"
"Felix, you told me before that you've only worked here for 20 years. I never asked before because I just assumed this, but do you ever leave the library like I do?"
"Yes, I do leave every night and return here in the morning."
"But you said that the enchanted library has remained closed since I became the new master. So how can you travel freely?"
The Enchanted Library closed its doors ever since I became its new master. No one can access the library from the outside. As its master, I have the ability to travel freely in and out of the library, but in Felix's case it doesn't make sense. Does that mean that I accidentally let someone into the library? Are they aware of my identity? Am I going to get hunted by the empire and get my head chopped off like those people in my dream? Am I going to die?
"I have a magic pass, so it's fine."
"A magic pass?" So no one followed me in and found out about all this.
"Ah!"
A realisation was made as Felix turned to me and said, "I guess I forgot to tell you about it. Please forgive me Master."
"..."
What an insincere apology.
...
A magic pass is a special gate spell that is given a physical form into a crystal token that can be used to enter or leave the library whenever needed. The token in itself is small enough to carry around in pockets or with inventory magic. The Master of the library can grant anyone a magic pass if they wish to.
"My magic pass has been passed down in the library so I never had to ask you to make me one. Maybe that's why I forgot to tell you about it. The first time you came here you probably had one in your pocket."
I slipped my hand into my pockets but there was nothing there. Maybe it's in the other clothes.
"Even so, it still doesn't explain why that book was in the Duke's library?"
The magic pass is one thing but for that book to show up there, someone has to bring it over from here to the other side.
"I will look into this case immediately. Master should rest! Using telepathic magic for too long can be dangerous."
"Telepathy? Oh that's right! I fainted in the library!"
Hmmmm… why is everything becoming so blurry now? Ugh my head! When I woke up, I found myself in my room. Charlotte must have brought me back. My head was aching from the sudden use of magic and I blacked out once again.
...….
Step. Step. Step.
A tall figure appeared in the Enchanted library. In his hand, he tossed a crystal token with a bluish hue over it. He walked over to the aisle of ancient texts. Through a faint reflection in the window, a man with black hair and a streak of golden hair in the front walked past the bookshelves. His emerald green eyes glimmered in the reflection. The mysterious man stopped in front of the book titled, "Introduction to Ancient Texts"
"Kai was it," With a light smirk across his face, he picked out the book. "Interesting. Very interesting."
TBC