Page 13

"Now we're getting somewhere." Dax grins.

"Supervised disputes," Caelen corrects.

"That sounds less interesting." I say.

"It's supposed to." Caelen answers.

"Can students challenge anyone?" I ask.

"Technically."

Caelen leads us beneath the northern archway and into a corridor wide enough for three dragons to walk through side by side. I mention this.

"They used to." He says.

I stop. "Dragons walked inside?"

"Smaller ones."

"How small?"

Rhyven passes us. "House-sized."

"That isn't small." I answer.

"It is to a dragon."

The library occupies three entire towers. I decide it might be the most beautiful place I have ever seen.

Bridges cross between circular levels lined with shelves disappearing into shadow.

Books float from one section to another. Golden lights drift beneath the vaulted ceiling like slow-moving stars.

The scent of parchment and dust wraps around me the moment we enter. Home. Not exactly. Close. I take two steps inside. Then five. Then forget everyone else exists.

"There she goes," Caelen says behind me.

I ignore him. Shelves rise higher than the trees beyond our estate. Rolling ladders move along tracks without being touched.

At the center of the first floor, an enormous white tree grows through the stone, its branches holding reading lanterns instead of leaves.

I turn slowly. "This is ridiculous."

Soren joins me. "Complimentary or insulting?"

"Complimentary." I smile.

"Good. The librarians become violent when criticized."

A woman at the nearest desk lifts her eyes. Soren lowers his voice. "I'm joking." She continues staring. "Mostly."

Caelen points upward. "General archives on the lower three levels. Magical theory and history above. Restricted records in the western tower. You need professor authorization after sunset."

"And before sunset?" I ask.

"You still need authorization." He answers.

"So the time was irrelevant."