I finally got to enter the library that day.
Our Classes ended at 5 in the evening, and Cat and Elliot accompanied me to the tall library tower before they headed back to the dorms.
"Are you sure you want to stay here?" Cat asked as they left me by the entrance.
"Yes, I have been dying to visit this place ever since I entered the academy!" I replied, trying to hide my excitement.
"We'll be off then, Arman is probably waiting for us back in the dorms," said Elliot.
"Tell him to stay out of trouble for me," I said with a smile as I watched them leave.
I entered the tower as soon as they were out of sight and breathed in the scent of old books and new parchment and drying ink from the entryway.
"Library card, please."
I looked towards the end of the entryway, to the librarian's desk, where a grumpy senior sat glaring at me. It was the same person who sent us away twice. He has long braided blond hair and pale blue eyes. The stars on his left coat pocket showed that he was a 5th year.
"Good afternoon," I greeted him with a smile. "Can you please tell me where the card catalog is?"
The librarian glared at me some more as I handed him my library card.
"It's right there by the side." He pointed to the right of his long desk towards a row of cabinets with several small drawers in front.
"Thank you very much," I replied with another smile.
I went straight to the card catalog and looked for the history books under the 'Hi' drawer.
I actually wanted to go straight to the M drawer for magic and the S drawer for spells, but I know that that would raise the librarian's suspicion, particularly since I am just a first year, so I decided to look around the library instead.
I can always come back later when I am more familiar with the place, as well as the placement of the books.
"So, the history books are at the 7th floor..." I mumbled to myself, a bad habit I picked up when I'm alone, particularly when I'm surrounded by books.
I entered the main library area then. The books on the first floor are mostly written fiction from authors around the empire. The fiction section filled the area up to the 5th floor, while the reference materials start from the 6th floor up. I made my way around the ground floor, looking at the books along the way, and noticing several students reading on the long desks provided at the center.
The second floor was arranged in much the same way, as well as the rest of the floors, with about 80 book shelves surrounding a reading area of thirty long tables. The place was well lit by oil lamps along the walls, and on thick pillars which supported the rooms, as well as on the reading tables themselves. It was the same all the way up to the 7th floor where I found the history books I was looking for.
But I didn't stop there.
I went further up the steps, towards the eight floor. The reference books took up space up to the 12th floor, and I was about to go up to the 13th when I heard someone clearing their throat behind me.
"Neophytes are not allowed from the 11th floor and beyond."
I turned around and saw the librarian glaring at me yet again.
"Ah, I beg your pardon, I was just so fascinated with the books that I was wondering what lies in the higher floors!" I said with a smile.
The librarian continued glaring at me.
"I was wondering if there were books written by the philosopher Sarkazein?" I asked him instead. "I heard that the third crown prince gave his father the Emperor a book written by him as a birthday present. I was hoping to find a copy here, but..."
"Sarkazein's work's are too difficult for a neophyte to comprehend," said the librarian. "They are in the 13th floor with the rest of the banned books."
"Ah, is that so? What a pity, then..." I looked around the other reference books on the 12th floor. "Can you recommend a good book by another philosopher instead?"
He glared at me some more.
"Try Anaxagoras, eight floor, shelf number 12, with the rest of the books by and about philosophers."
"Ah,
"'...Over all that has life, both greater and less, mind rules'."
My smile got wider as he completed the quote.
"He was the first person who described the nature of the universe using reason and logic, believing in only one god, and at the same time, rejecting all the other gods in existence!" I added.
"Exactly. His theorems paved the way for monotheism –the belief of one true divine being, which is none other than the Goddess of the Purple Flame."
My smile wavered, but I knew better than to argue with a fanatic's beliefs.
"I particularly like his contributions in astronomy, in how he explained where the moon got its light, and how the solar and lunar eclipse works," I said instead. "It was a shame, though, that he was exiled due to these beliefs."
"True, but his thoughts paved the way for other philosophers to use more logical methods to solve problems, and that led to the advancement of the scientific method."
"Exactly, and isn't Anaxagoras one of Sarkazein's favorite philosopher as well?" I cleverly slipped in. "I believe he turned agnostic after reading his works about monotheism?"
I grinned at the librarian who continued to glare at me.
"Nice try, but you need to be a third year to reach levels 11 to 15, and at least a 4th year to reach levels 16 to 18."
"Is that where the magic tomes are?"
I must have looked too interested, for the librarian's eyes narrowed as he glared at me. I thought he was going to chase me out again, but he simply sighed as he answered my query.
"That is correct. The magic books and tomes are in levels 16-18, while the highly destructive and forbidden ones are on the 20th level, and are only available to school personnel."
My smile came back.
My knowledge about Anaxagoras must have earned me some favorable points from the librarian.
"Wow, I can't wait to reach my 4th year, then!" I exclaimed. "Have you read those magic books yourself, senior?" I asked him while looking at the five stars on his chest.
"As soon as I moved up to my 4th year," he said proudly. It was the first time I saw a small smile play on the corner of his lips. "Now, move along and get back to the 10th floor where the neophytes are allowed."
I willingly made my way down the stairs again, glad that I now have a rough map of the whole library.
Problem is, the head of magic studies, Grand Magister Shalem, is said to reside at the top of the tower.
Right in the 20th floor where the forbidden books are.
But this was still better than nothing, and the magic books on the 16th to the 18th levels would be more than enough for me.
For now.
"May I know what your name is, senior?" I asked the librarian as he showed me shelf number 12 in the eight floor where Anaxagoras' books were."
"Melville," he replied. "Now, if you are settled..."
We were interrupted by a din we heard. We both looked at the direction of the staircase and saw a group of students descending from the top floors. Their voices were loud as they laughed and joked with each other, while their heavy footfalls echoed throughout the room.
"Tsk. Stupid barbarians," I looked at Melville whose glare was now aimed at the boisterous group. "Just because they were blessed with the Purple Flame, they think they could just storm in here and dirty the place, when I have never even seen hide nor hair of them reading books in the library before!"
"Are they the new Holy Nights?" I asked.
It was then that I noticed that the crown prince was in the head of the pack.
"Not just," Melville replied. "All Holy night candidates come here twice a week to get lessons from Grand Magister Shalem on the 19th floor."
They group was followed by five large men in gray garb, all of which wore masks. I hid behind the shelves as I recognized the biggest at the end of the group.
"Ah, I was wondering why you didn't mention the 19th floor, earlier," I said as soon as the group disappeared down the 7th floor.
"They come here behaving like they own the place, leaving muddy trails behind and pushing piles of books over to harass the students who actually came here to read," he mumbled.
"Doesn't Grand Magister Shalem reprimand them for their actions?" I inquired.
"He couldn't be bothered," Melville frowned. "He's too engrossed in his own studies and magical experiments to even notice what is happening on the floors beneath his room."
"Is that so?" I rejoiced in the knowledge I acquired. "How about you, Senior Melville? Don't you have any authority here?"
Melville glared at me yet again.
"You know damn well that I'm merely a student in my 5th year," he almost snapped at me. "I've been hiding in this library since I entered the academy and have made it a point, to not stand out and catch other people's eyes, particularly that bastard crown prince," he added in a whisper. "Good thing I was a year older. I doubt he even knew I exists, and I plan to keep it that way."
Melville left me on my own after saying that.
I thanked him profusely and said that I plan to look at the other philosophical books in that level.
Upon going down, I went around the ground floor once again, and placed a weakening spell on the locks of one of the arched windows farthest from the entrance hall.
I then went to the reference desk and smiled at Melville while handing him four philosophical books I planned to check out. One was the book written by the philosopher Anaxagoras, the others where byPlato, Pliny, and Plotinus.
"Neophytes are only allowed to borrow one book at a time," he said, glaring at me once again.
"Ehh?" I looked at him, much disappointed.
"Choose one, and hurry up," he added, "it's almost seven."