The grand library of the academy loomed before Caelan, Dorian, and Aldric as they approached its towering stone entrance. Inside, the vast halls were filled with shelves of ancient tomes, scrolls, and artifacts from a world long forgotten, the air rich with the scent of old paper and parchment. The silence was comforting, a stark contrast to the buzz of the academy outside.
"Let's find those books," Caelan said, pushing open the heavy wooden door. Dorian and Aldric followed him inside, their eyes adjusting to the dim, filtered light that illuminated the massive room.
The library was a labyrinth of knowledge. Tall, polished shelves lined the walls, some reaching up toward the vaulted ceiling, and students moved quietly between them, engrossed in their studies. Caelan felt a sense of awe as they stepped inside. It was as if the weight of centuries pressed down on him, the forgotten knowledge of a once-great civilization waiting to be rediscovered.
Dorian glanced around. "Impressive," he muttered. "Now, where do we find those books Professor Maren mentioned?"
Caelan scanned the room and spotted a counter near the entrance, where a librarian stood sorting through a pile of manuscripts. The librarian, a girl their age, looked up as they approached. She had a calm demeanor, her brown hair pulled back neatly, and she wore simple, dark robes—the kind students often wore when assisting professors.
"Hello," Caelan said, offering a polite smile. "We're looking for a few books Professor Maren recommended during his history lecture. Could you help us locate them?"
The girl glanced at them and smiled warmly. "Of course. You must be referring to The Fall of the Great Empires and The War of Ashes, right?"
Caelan nodded. "Yes, those are the ones."
She gestured to the tablets hanging at their sides. "The tablets you were issued when you enrolled at the academy have your identification records stored. I can use those to enter the data for the books you wish to borrow. Please hand them over."
Caelan was the first to pull out his sleek, metallic tablet and hand it to her. The tablet had been issued to each student upon their arrival, containing their academic schedule, library access, and other personal records. It was a modern creation, one of the few surviving pieces of technology from the previous world.
The girl quickly scanned Caelan's tablet, her fingers dancing across a glowing screen. After a few moments, she nodded, the system accepting the request.
"All set," she said, handing the tablet back to him with a smile. "I'll check the system for the book's location."
Caelan took the tablet and thanked her, noting the efficiency with which she worked. Her confidence suggested she wasn't just a student helper but someone familiar with the workings of the library.
After a few moments of searching the system, she looked up. "I've found the location. I'll take you to the right section." She then reached for a small bell and rang it twice.
A few moments later, an older man appeared from one of the back rooms. His hair was silver, and he wore the typical robes of a professor. His face broke into a kind smile when he saw the group. "Good afternoon. How can I assist you?"
The girl turned to him and explained. "Professor Ardin, these students are here for some books Professor Maren recommended. I've already entered their data, but I'll show them to the correct section."
Professor Ardin nodded. "Ah, I see. Well, allow me to finish registering their other tablets. Hand them over, boys."
Dorian and Aldric passed their tablets to the professor, who started scanning them for registration.
Meanwhile, Caelan couldn't help but feel curious about the girl. Something about the way she moved and spoke hinted at more than just a passing knowledge of the library.
As she led Caelan toward the book section, he finally broke the silence. "I don't think I caught your name. Are you also a student here?"
She smiled at him as they weaved through the maze of bookshelves. "I'm Lysandra Elowen," she said. "And yes, I'm a student here. I'm also a researcher. I just happened to be helping out Professor Ardin while he stepped away. I came here to borrow some books myself, but when I saw the professor needed help, I thought I'd lend a hand."
"Ah, I see," Caelan said, intrigued. "So, you're studying ancient civilizations and artifacts too?"
Lysandra nodded. "That's right. I'm particularly interested in the technology and culture of the civilization that was wiped out in the last great war. It's fascinating how much they accomplished, and equally tragic how they lost it all."
As they turned another corner, Lysandra glanced at Caelan. "You're Prince Caelan Althar, correct? It's not often we have royalty wandering the library."
Caelan blinked in surprise. "How did you know?"
Lysandra smiled. "I'm from the Kingdom of Eryndor as well. It would be a bit embarrassing if I didn't recognize my own prince's name, wouldn't it? Even if I don't follow royal politics all that closely."
Caelan chuckled. "I suppose that's fair."
They reached a narrow section of the library, where the shelves seemed older, the books lining them bound in faded leather. Lysandra stopped and gestured to a few of the shelves. "Here we are. These are the books on ancient history and the wars that destroyed the old world."
She pulled out a large tome, its cover thick with dust. "This is The Fall of the Great Empires. It's one of the most comprehensive texts on the collapse of the old world."
Caelan took the book from her, his hands heavy with its weight. The pages were yellowed with age, the writing within dense and packed with knowledge.
Lysandra pulled out another, slimmer book. "And this is The War of Ashes, which goes into more detail about the specific battles and strategies used during the war."
Caelan accepted the second book, his curiosity growing. "Thank you," he said, his eyes already scanning the titles of other books on the shelf. "I didn't realize there was so much written about the old world."
"There's more than you might think," Lysandra replied. "But be careful. The past is alluring, but it's also dangerous. The more you learn about what humanity lost, the more you'll realize how close we are to making the same mistakes."
Caelan nodded thoughtfully. "I just want to understand what happened… so we don't end up repeating it."
She smiled softly. "That's a noble goal. If you're truly interested in these subjects, you're welcome to visit me in my workshop. I'm doing research on artifacts and ancient technology. Perhaps you'll find something that interests you."
Caelan's eyes lit up at the offer. "I'd like that. Thank you."
Lysandra turned to lead him back to the entrance, her pace steady as they navigated the labyrinth of shelves. They made small talk along the way, discussing the library and the various subjects they were studying at the academy. Caelan found himself intrigued by her depth of knowledge and her passion for ancient history.
When they reached the front of the library, they found Dorian and Aldric waiting for them. Both of their registrations had been completed, and they were now leaning against one of the counters, flipping through their own books.
"There you are," Dorian said, raising an eyebrow at Caelan. "Took your time, didn't you?"
Caelan grinned. "Got caught up in a conversation."
Lysandra smiled and gave a small nod to Dorian and Aldric. "I hope the books help with your studies. If you need any more recommendations, feel free to ask."
Dorian's eyes flicked between Lysandra and Caelan with a knowing smirk, but he didn't comment.
Aldric, on the other hand, gave Lysandra a respectful nod. "Thank you for your help. We appreciate it."
Lysandra waved off the thanks. "Just doing my part. Good luck with your research."
With that, Caelan, Dorian, and Aldric made their way out of the library, the heavy books in their arms. As they stepped back into the afternoon light, the conversation quickly shifted back to the books and the upcoming exams.
Caelan, however, found his thoughts drifting back to Lysandra and her offer. The allure of ancient ruins and forgotten knowledge tugged at him, a curiosity that he couldn't easily shake.
As they walked, Dorian nudged him with his elbow. "So, what was that about? You seemed pretty interested in the librarian."
Caelan rolled his eyes. "She's not just a librarian. She's a researcher, like us. And she invited me to check out her workshop."
Dorian raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really? Artifacts and ancient civilizations, huh? Sounds like a good excuse to get to know her better."
Caelan shook his head, trying to ignore Dorian's teasing. "I'm serious. She's studying artifacts from the old world. It could be useful."
Aldric chuckled softly. "He's right, Dorian. Knowledge of the old world could give us an advantage. Especially if we ever need to deal with the ruins."
Dorian sighed. "Fine, fine. I won't tease. But don't forget, we've got our hands full with our studies right now. And we can't afford to get distracted."
Caelan nodded, though his thoughts continued to swirl. He couldn't help but feel that Lysandra knew more than she let on—and that her research might unlock more than just knowledge.
Perhaps it was the key to understanding the world's past... and future.