The tral Archives loomed ahead. Thankfully the area in front of it that they had to walk through was pletely empty. Looked like J-65 was right that his modified tour had meant he would miss running aost of the other students.

  Much like many of the buildings he had passed so far, it had t ns and intricate stonework. In fact, it looked more like a sacred temple than a mere library. As they walked up towards the mairance, Krion couldn’t help but stare at the statues that f. On the left side, a human schor stood tall and regal, holding aome in one hand and a quill iher, their robes carved with intricate patterns that seemed to shift subtly uhe evening light. On the right, a lithe elf was depicted bent over a rge book, their free haended up as though knowledge to any that would grasp it.

  While the statues were impressive, easily the equal of any that he had heard about on dispy ii ba Earth, it was the smaller bas-reliefs in the walls behind them that seized his attention as J-65 moved to lead them ihey were deh people of all different races, those he had e tnize as well as more than a few he had yet to learn about. Every single one was holding a book of some sort, though the poses they took varied. Many were bent over, appearing to study the works they held, while others were engaged in what looked to be vigorous debate.

  Before Krion could get a closer look, he was beyond the entrand into the tral Archive itself. The momeepped through the arched doorway, a cool, dimly lit spaveloped him, and he could almost feel the accumuted weight of turies of knowledge. Even this close to the entrance, he could pick up the faint smell of old paper aher mixed with the cool st of stone. Out of all the buildings he was excited to spend time in this year, the tral Archive robably the one he most looked forward to. While bat training and magic were undeniably important for him going forward, the idea of being able to immerse himself in the vast wealth of knowledge housed within the Archives resonated with a deeper part of him. Krion had always loved to read, especially sce fi and fantasy stories, when n to study for a degree that didn’t matter anymore.

  Perhaps just as important as the books was how Krion hoped that the tral Archives would offer soce. Its quiet, its books, and its unassuming guardianship of knowledge appealed to his more introverted nature. Among the stacks, he could think, learn, and perhaps briefly escape from what he was already beginning to suspect would be cutthroat petition.

  J-65 did not speak as she led him through the entry hall, but Krion did notice the occasional gnce she gave him, even if it was covered up by the mask she wore. He did not want to ask too many questions — especially given her earlier warning that she could not engage in anything that verged on teag — but there was something about the silehe way she moved through this space with ease, that told him there might be much more to her than he could dis at first gnce.

  Finally, they were beyond the entryway and Krion’s first glimpse of the tral Archives itself was everything he had hoped it would be. The rows of bookshelves stretched in long rows that he could not quite see the end of, and from where he stood, he could see that there were stairways that went up and down to other floors.

  J-65 stepped over te marble pedestal, upon which y a glowing orb. She did not touch it, but her presence seemed to prompt the orb to pulse with light, and a map of the tral Archives unfolded in the air before her. The map itself was vast, stretg in all dires, and showed what he thought to be at least eight floors. Ses were marked with bels, which he could not make out without looking at the map closely, and he realized that the yout of the tral Archives was too plex to prehend in a single gnce.

  Krion had been in libraries before, but none of them were as amazing as the oood in now. The fact that it en to him, a first-year student still so raw and uain about so many things, felt both exhirating and disorientating. Leaving J-65 he orb, he walked deeper into the space, heading over to the shelves. The books on the shelf that was chest height to him were staggering in their variety. Tomes bound iher or velvet sat o scrolls tightly wound in protective cases. In tiny writing on a small copper pte on the shelf were the words, Early Imperial History - Wars of the Founding. He reached out and pulled a heavy book from where it sat, its weight heavy in his hands. He had just begun to flip through the pages when he heard a soft voice behind him.

  “ I help you find something?”

  Startled, Krion spun around the face the source of the voice. Standing a few steps away was an old librarian in robes of faded gray, his spectacles perched precariously on the end of his nose. His hands, though bent with age, moved dexterously as he straightened some books on a nearby shelf.

  “Sorry,” Krion said without thinking. He had been so absorbed in looking at the books he hadn’t even realized someone else had been nearby. “I was just looking around. I hadn’t expected the tral Archive to be so vast.”

  The librarian smiled kindly, though his eyes twinkled with a knowing amusement. “Ah, yes. The tral Archives have that effeany. It’s easy to lose oneself here, even if you don’t mean to. Based on your uniform, you are a udent, yes?”

  “Yes, I am a first-year student,” Krion firmed. “I hope to be spending a lot of time here.”

  The librarian’s eyes flickered briefly as if assessing him, lingering on the scars that covered his face. He then motioo the rows of bookshelves surrounding them. “While you are free to explore, there are important rules as well.”

  “Of course. I wouldn’t want to cause any trouble.”

  The librariaured for Krion to follow him back to where J-65 still stood by the orb that rojeg a map of the tral Archive.

  “The rules of the tral Archives are simple, but they must be followed by all. First and foremost: no fighting. Ever.”

  Krion raised an eyebrow at that. “Fighting?” he asked, incredulous. “Why would anyone fight in a pce like this?”

  The librarian chuckled. “You’d be surprised. Young people, especially ss, tend to be a little more… passionate about their studies and the i petition of the Imperial Academy. Sometimes tempers fre, and one fet where they are. So remember this: no fighting in the tral Archives. Not only is it disruptive and will require the Seo step in, but it also puts the books at risk.” The air around him felt heavier all of a sudden. “And I am sure you wouldn’t want to be responsible for damaging them.”

  Krion nodded in response, making a mental note of the rule. Not that it would be hard to follow. His current pns to avoid making enemies lined up with using the tral Archive for reading instead of a pce to attempt to attack others. The st thing he would want was to get into trouble here.

  The librarian came to a stop o J-65, who simply stood there silently. “Sedly,” the librarian tinued, “no loud he tral Archives are meant to be a pce of quiet ption. You’ll find that the majority of students that e here do so to study in peace.” He held up a finger. “While you are free to engage in versation, keep it respectful and at a low volume. Not everyone shares the same is or the same approach to learning. If uo trol your voice, or if you seek to engage in arguments, you will o reserve one of the private study rooms.”

  Krion nodded again, uanding the point he was trying to make. It was all about maintaining an atmosphere of focus. He appreciated that the rules weren’t so harsh or unreasohat no versation could happen whatsoever, but he still had a feeling that many students would rgely avoid engaging in any. Or they would use one of the private study rooms the librariaioned.

  “And stly,” the librarian said, his voice taking on a more lighthearted tone, “ing or drinking. The books are delicate, and you will not want to risk any spills or crumbs finding their way into the pages. Nothing worse than trying to up a spill on an a scroll while one of the Associate Librarians looms over you. Trust me, you’ll thank me for this one. ”

  Krion awkwardly shifted in pce, remembering more than a few of his own books that he had actally given coffee stains or opened after weeks of not using them to fily the kind of crumbs that the librarian was likely referring to. He would have to make sure not t anything with him when he was looking through the stacks.

  “I’ll make sure to follow the rules.”

  The librarian smiled approvingly. “Good. You’ll be one of the smart ones if you do. The st thing I should mention is that many things will not be immediately accessible to you here. Some knowledge is reserved for students further along in their educational journey, while others require certain requirements to be reached. Don’t let that dissuade you. With proper effort and diligence, you will get access to everything you need in time.”

  Krion pohe librarian’s words. Given what he seemed to be saying, there likely were year restris for each floor dispyed on the map the orb rojeg. While a little disappoihat he couldn’t just wander wherever he wanted in the tral Archive, he had to admit that robably for the best. If things worked anything like some of the games he had pyed growing up, sprinting to the end-game tent would cause only problems. Better to follow the rules.

  “I uand. I am sure I’ll find plenty to keep me occupied.”

  “I’m sure you will.” The librarian’s voice then took on a tone of admonishment. “But you should also know that the first night at this Imperial Academy isn’t meant to be speirely at the tral Archives. There are social events, as you’ve no doubt heard, and you’ll be expected to attend. The social aspect of your education is just as important as the academie.”

  Though he khe librarian had a point, a knot still formed in Krion’s stomach. The idea of attending social events, mingling with other udents, and participating in endless versations where he might make a mistake with every response did not appeal to him. He had already seen how many of the students had ied with each other after the ceremony at the Amphitheater of Indu — clustering together based on their rad rank, likely sizing each other up in an attempt to secure alliances or future advantages. It was the kind of behavior that made him more than a little unfortable. But that didn’t matter. After his versation with Hector, it was being increasingly clear to him that he could not avoid all the other students. He had gaioo much attention, too quickly which, when bined with his rank, meant he was likely on everyone’s radar. While he had been a bit of a loner ba high school oh, he did not think he would be able to get away with that approach here at the Imperial equivalent of a finishing school and graduate school bined. If he wao get ahead, he would have to figure out some baween his traditional solo pursuit of learning and the socializing that was integral to success, and survival, at the Imperial Academy.

  “I suppose I’ll have to attend, won’t I?” Krion asked, trying to keep a slight edge of irritation out of his voice.

  “Socializing is part of the experiehe librarian firmed. “The tral Archives will be here when you are able to return. Just remember, no fighting, no loud noise, and ing or drinking.” The old maurned back to his duties.

  “Are you ready to leave?”

  Krion turo J-65 as she asked her question. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to face the social obligations that awaited him outside the tral Archives, but he knew he had already deyed long enough. “Yes, as much as I would like to titing it off, I think I’m ready.”

  “But you would rather stay here?”

  “Of course, I would,” Krion said, smiling at the tilted mask of J-65. “But the librarian is right. I ’t spend all night with books. As much as I’d prefer it, I have to get used to the social expectations of my rank.”

  “Very well. But if you tire of the festivities, I will remain close by to escort you to your residence.”

  Krion offered her a grateful gnce. While it had beehan a day, he had already e to appreciate the Sentinel’s help. Too bad her position at the Imperial Academy appeared to preclude her from helping him in a more full-time capacity. Oh well, there was nothing he could do about it for the moment. However, perhaps tonight, he would be able to find some friends who could.

  As they emerged bato the soft light of the evening, the pressure of the ing socializing was still there, but his new focus on finding some new friends helped alleviate it to a degree. Besides, if things didn’t work out tonight, J-65 had already indicated she would be nearby whenever he was ready to call it a night.

  He shot one final look back at the tral Archives as he followed J-65 to where the other first-year nobility had eheir own tours.

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