The building that housed the library was enormous. From the outside, it appeared roughly the same size as the dining hall, so it only made sense that the inside was just as large. Still, imagining the dining hall stacked with enough books to fill it was one thing; seeing the collection in person took Saahira’s breath away.

  Bookcases twice her height towered over her on the main floor, their shelves packed from one end to the other with leather-bound tomes. Intricate engravings were etched into the dark wood down either side of the bookcases and continued across their arched tops. On the outskirts of the shelving, winding staircases led up to two additional levels with wide, metal walkways. From the entrance, Saahira caught a glimpse of a glimmering light on the second floor, and additional silhouettes of more bookcases on the third.

  Saahira took a deep breath. The scents of cured leather, fresh paper, and aging parchment combined into a single, intoxicating elixir that beckoned her forward. There was so much here to learn, so many new texts to devour. She’d lost count of how many times she’d read through Hahn’s small collection, but here, she’d always have something new to read. I wish he could see this.

  The door closed behind her, and the sound echoed against the walls. Sunlight poured inside from tall windows near the ceiling with black, diamond-shaped latticework laid over the glass. Each wall had four panels that illuminated the furnishings in a warm, yellow glow.

  Saahira stepped forward and glanced around the first few bookcases. There were narrow tables stationed between the rows, each one with enough chairs to fit six students at a time. Clear glass spheres rested on golden stands in the center of each table, accompanied by fresh ink, quills, and parchment.

  I didn’t need my dorm room after all. Saahira walked lightly on her feet and picked up one of the quills before sliding it into her satchel.

  Most notably, however, there were no other students in sight. A pair of voices murmured from higher up—possibly from the light on the second floor—but everything else appeared to still be in pristine condition. Outside of her newly acquired quill, the supplies were untouched, not a single piece out of place. The chairs were flush with their tables, there were no errant books strewn about, and the spines on the shelves aligned perfectly.

  “Is there a book I can help you find?” a gentle voice behind her asked.

  Saahira flinched in surprise; she hadn’t heard the newcomer’s footsteps at all. She turned around to meet a young man whose colors called to mind the first frost of winter. His hair and eyes had the faintest touches of blue, like the icicles that gathered from a roof’s edges. Golden rings framed his irises, as if keeping the pools from flooding over, and matching golden wings rested on either side of his head. He wore a white, long-sleeved shirt buttoned up to the collar at his neck, layered beneath a white vest with ornate golden embroidery. Both the shirt and vest cut off just above his navel, where a second, larger pair of wings protruded outward from his lower back.

  While Caerulea, Professor Béliveau, and—unfortunately—even Talia had an otherworldly beauty to them, Saahira had never considered the same would be true for their male counterparts.

  “My apologies, I didn’t mean to startle you,” he said, setting a book he was holding onto the table between them.

  “It’s alright! No harm done,” Saahira replied quickly. “Er, i-it’s my second day, and I wanted to look around.”

  “Naturally.” He slipped his hands into his pockets with an easy smile. The gesture brought Saahira’s attention back to his taut stomach, and the soft dips in his skin threatened to keep it there. “Would you like a quick tour of the library? Or I can fetch a few more quills for you, if you prefer,” he teased lightly.

  He saw that?! Saahira coughed, hiding her embarrassment behind her hand and snapping her eyes to the floor. “A tour would be…good.” Her tongue felt heavy in her mouth, and her face burned like the sun was inside the library with her.

  “Very well.” He rounded the table to stand beside her, then leaned back against its surface, hands still in his pockets. “Why don’t we start with introductions? My name is Basile Renoult.”

  “I’m Saahira,” she replied. “Oh, um, Saahira Montarac. Sorry.” Stop apologizing! She toyed with a strand of hair that had fallen over her shoulder. “Do you work here?”

  “In a way. I’m a student of the sanctum, like you, though it’s my third year. I maintain the library in the afternoons and evenings.”

  Saahira furrowed her brow and looked up at Basile. He was nearly a full head taller than she was. “Is there not a full-time librarian?”

  “That would be Mr. Hirokazu.” Basile tipped his head to the side, and his wings twitched thoughtfully. “Students are encouraged to work in different areas of the sanctum. Were you not aware?”

  Saahira shook her head. “I am now,” she murmured.

  “Well, no matter. This is a place of learning,” Basile replied easily. “Continuing with our tour, Mr. Hirokazu organizes the books as he sees fit. At times, it may feel a little confusing. Don’t be afraid to ask myself or anyone else at the desk for help.” The right wing at his waist stretched out and pointed at a large, circular desk at the very center of the room. His feathers looked downy soft, and their lines led back to the smooth curve of his hip. “Are you still with me?”

  “Y-yes.” Saahira forced her attention to a staircase a short distance away.

  “Good.” Basile stretched his wing before relaxing it at his side. “As a first-year, you have access to every book and scroll on the first floor.” This time, he took a hand from his pocket and gestured around the room. “You’ll find rooms beneath the staircase that house the scrolls. You need a key, which we keep at the desk.”

  Basile’s arm rose, and he pointed to the second floor. “On floor two, we have the study alcoves. The dormitories can be a little…unwieldy at times, and the first floor of the library will be very busy starting next week, so if you need somewhere more reserved, I suggest seeking sanctuary there.

  “Finally, we have floor three, which has books and scrolls reserved exclusively for third-year students and above.” Saahira opened her mouth, but Basile raised a hand, anticipating her question. “If you try to go up there without an enchanted charm, it activates a curse that paralyzes you from the neck down, and then someone must carry you to the infirmary. It’s an unseemly affair, and you will be the root of every joke for months. I don’t suggest it.”

  “Actually…I was just wondering what kinds of books and scrolls are up there,” Saahira said. She squinted her eyes, but it did little to bring more than the bookcase outlines into focus.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  “Advanced spells, dangerous alchemy, rare enchantments.” Basile shrugged. “Unfortunately, first and second years tend to learn the basics, then believe they can take on anything. Practicing texts like that can, and will, kill them.” He looked at Saahira, and his gaze softened. “Not to say that all first years are so brazen.”

  Saahira nodded and looked at the floor.

  Basile cleared his throat. “But I digress. You can take up to three books at a time to bring to class or back to your dormitory. We do ask that you don’t bring them inside Odalric’s taverns, but I’ve been here long enough to know that’s a futile request.” He chuckled and returned his hand to his pocket. “That being said, scrolls can’t leave the library. Bring plenty of parchment for copying down what you need.”

  “Wait, we can take books with us?” Saahira blinked in surprise. Hahn had never let her take a book home with her. It would be too expensive to replace, and with Isa around, there was an even higher chance of their destruction.

  “Yes, of course,” Basile said slowly, studying her face. “I do recommend returning them in a timely manner. A personal visit from Mr. Hirokazu is not an experience I suggest.”

  “No! I’d return them! I just didn’t think that I—” she was rambling again. Saahira silently cursed herself, took a deep breath, and tried again. “This is all very new for me.”

  “I can see that.” Basile nodded. His voice had maintained its gentle, considerate tone throughout his library introduction. There was a hint of humor or curiosity in it at times, but never condescension. “A wise flügel once said our first flights are always our most frightening. But that’s why we must spread our wings as much as possible. Then flying becomes second nature before we realize it.”

  Despite her nerves, Saahira smiled. “Who said that?”

  “My mother.” Basile chuckled. “Do you have any other questions for me right now?”

  “Can I ask what these are for?” Saahira reached over the table and picked up the glass sphere at its center.

  “Reading lights,” Basile said brightly. “There are lamps along the wall that we light in the evening, but the tables are fairly dim after the sun sets. And if you don’t wish to incur Mr. Hirokazu’s wrath, you will never bring or cast fire inside the library. May I?” He held his palm out, and Saahira passed him the sphere. “If you channel a little of your energy into any one of these, they’re enchanted to glow for a time.” He closed his eyes, and she couldn’t help but notice how long his eyelashes were. A few seconds passed before the sphere began to glow in his palm, and he opened his eyes. “It doesn’t take much, and it gives you two hours of light. Just refresh it as needed.”

  So many aspects of the sanctum were powered by magic. No longer did she have to rely on candles or oil lamps. Not when there were enchanted glass spheres and bottled light. It was dizzying.

  Basile carefully replaced the sphere in its holder and returned to his casual lean against the table. “What else do you have for me?”

  “Just one more thing, I think,” Saahira said. “Would you happen to have a copy of the newer book for enchantments? The one, um, not written by Nils Steinheil?”

  Basile’s smile was striking. “Another wise flügel once said that Nils Steinheil flew a little too high above the rest of us. This way.” He nodded his head to the right and straightened, then retrieved his book from the table before leading her down the center row.

  It was the first time Saahira had been so close to a flügel’s back. Talia seemed to prefer keeping her wings withdrawn beneath her lavish robes and cloaks, and Professor Béliveau had moved too quickly around the classroom to catch more than a glimpse. The middle arch in Basile’s back peeked out from his shirt, flanked by tight muscles beneath the pair of golden wings that formed just above the tops of his hips. The plumage near his skin was short with frayed edges, layered on top of each other until they reached the long, narrow feathers that filled in the rest of his wings.

  He walked with just as much grace as Talia, and his light steps were nearly silent despite the square heels on his boots. No wonder she hadn’t heard him approach.

  “Ah, I should mention,”—Basile pointed to a row of cases to his left, breaking Saahira from her trance and forcing her to stand up straight—“this section right here is spellcraft.” He glanced over his shoulder at Saahira. “You’ll know, because these shelves will be emptied out and the tables around them will be full.”

  “Does Professor Gallowood assign that much work?”

  “Professor Gallowood prefers his students to learn from as many masters of spellcraft as possible,” Basile said. “Mm. On second thought, maybe I should let him surprise you.”

  “But…then…what would that mean for someone with an affinity for every element?” It was a passing thought she’d intended to keep to herself, but it escaped her lips.

  Basile paused and turned toward her. “Is that a hypothetical question?”

  “No.” Saahira brushed her hair behind her ear and shook her head. “He warned me that it would be difficult.”

  “That’s fascinating. I’ve read about the possibility, but have never met someone personally.” Basile pinched his chin, and the wings on his head twitched thoughtfully. “Would you mind if I ask you more about it as the year progresses?”

  It was strange, having people outside of her parents take any real interest in her. “I don’t see why not.”

  “Excellent!” Basile’s wings fluttered beneath his hair. “Thank you for entertaining my curiosity.” He appeared sincerely excited. It made Saahira smile. “Now, your book.”

  He led her the rest of the way to the back of the library, then turned right, down a row with just a single bookcase.

  “Now, I know what you’re thinking, but this section is small for two reasons.” Basile walked to the front of the shelves and trickled his fingers down their spines. “First, Professor Moborí prefers a more hands-on approach. Many of our titles are curated by the professors themselves. Ah, here we are.” He pulled one of the books free and held it out to Saahira. “Second, many books on enchantments—and the majority of texts on curses, for that matter—are on the third level.”

  Saahira accepted the book as Cyprus’s threat reverberated in her ears. ‘Isn’t it fortunate that we’re learning enchantments, curses, and hexes?’ “Brazen first and second years, right?”

  Basile smiled. “That attentiveness will serve you well here.” He tipped his head toward the center of the room. “Alright, back to the desk. Let’s record this down for you, and you can be on your way.”

  “Basile, wait. You said I need to return this in a timely manner.” Saahira licked her lips and ran her thumb down the papers’ edges. “What if I need it for the year?” She braced herself for any number of disparaging comments about her inability to buy her own copy.

  Instead, Basile chuckled. “If you really do allow me to ask about your spellcraft, I can arrange for this particular copy to be unavailable for the year.”

  Saahira’s spirits lifted. “Really?”

  “Our little secret.” He winked, and Saahira flushed. Shoving his free hand back into his pocket, he started back toward the center desk. “In fact, we can start now. Was one of your parents attuned to every element?”

  Saahira skipped to catch up with him, then fell into step. “No. They…don’t have any magical aptitude. At all.”

  “Grandparents?”

  She shook her head, then realized he couldn’t see it. “Not that I know of.”

  “Really now? By Hretha’s hands, you are interesting.” Basile glanced at the book in his hand. “I’ll have to finish this quickly and then research more into this. Maybe we can discover something together.”

  ‘Together.’ Did he really mean that? “I’ll, um, always be open to more questions,” she replied meekly.

  “Then let’s hope I don’t bore you to death.” Basile rounded the desk to a swinging door that served as the entrance. After situating himself near a short stack of books, he pulled out a huge, leather-bound ledger, then flipped through its pages until he found a blank space. “I just need you to spell your name for me, and then I’ll need which dormitory you’re staying in.”

  It really was that simple. When they were done, Basile wished her luck, and she was free to walk away with a book she didn’t have enough in her savings to afford. The thought of what Mr. Hirokazu did to those who didn’t return their books definitely piqued her curiosity, but she would never dare test it.

  Two clocks hung on each of the four walls of the library, and Saahira searched out the closest one to her. Thankfully, there was still plenty of time to copy Cyprus’s hexlation notes before their potion lesson together. Saahira took a seat at the table with the still-glowing reading sphere, fished out Cyprus’s notes from her satchel, and reached for a fresh sheet of brilight paper.

  On second thought… Saahira left the brilight paper alone, instead taking a sheet of parchment from the center of the table.

  Saahira managed to finish copying them down just as the final bell chimed, despite her eyes occasionally wandering to the handsome flügel reading his book at the center desk.

  Thanks for reading!

  Be sure to check out our for early access chapters, full-size artwork, acrylic pins, and more. Subscribe to the monthly for exclusive updates and coupons!

  Many thanks to our Patrons!

  Berserker Tier: SkySom, [William Martin]

  Scholar: Jack Sparrow, Flaming Moose, DiscountDan, Alex Bagster-Collins, Zachary C

  Curator: PhantomKnight, nick0, Runecaster, Lazarus G, LT_Ashpole, 0hawkclaw0, Sir Joe, Janna Shi Island’s Fury, Lord Taxus, Miles, Tim W., Gavin D, Zarkis, Carlos M, Neko1967, Pyromaniac, Kat S, Rieka Hunt

  Powerhalf, Mitchell Aberson, Matt[hew] D Christensen, Travis, JC Quinn, HariboHeadHunter, King Jerkera, waymogunz, Phil, Centhi, Khii, Matt[hew] Johnson, Jason Walker, Belkorin, Rodney the Paladin, ICE.Paragon, Kyle McCoy, Cameron Garfalk, blackmambauk, NekoPix, Zerum Sparklez, Joshua williams, Michelle Hundt, Dave, Emily, Skade, Rosalee, SyloSpectre, Tonk, Twelve, hanani, Shags, Ranger Frank, Zak Stromquist, Spencer decoteau, Jacob Moore, Alex H Cowley, Zeklor, Neko1967, KH, Bilman, VKandis, ProfessorComputerMan, Victor Bugg, Vir Honestus, Steve Tatum, Brooke Grace, Hock, kenneth york, Kat L, WarptheSynth, Aaron A, Queen Toast, GreatFireLegend, Ryan E, Draxx127, Wesley F, Bakenecro, BeanSauce, StarTin, Myrmarked, Bryan O, Mister Drake, Hahn Feder, Elissia, Lumberjack0716, stupidhand, Zaq, Aaron C, MrMcmuffin, Wesley Jace, Marisa Eldridge, Michael KochKetola, danjiro

  Please remember to follow, favorite, and rate!

  Patreon | |