Chapter 16 - Chapter 2.6: The Grand Library

𝟐.𝟔: The grand library

𝐄lysia turned away from the window then, her attention shifting to the expanse before her.

The Grand Library was nothing short of magnificent.

Tall, arched ceilings stretched toward the heavens, adorned with carvings of celestial constellations and mythic beasts that seemed to move ever so slightly when she wasn't looking.

Massive stained-glass windows filtered sunlight into a cascade of amber and gold, casting shifting patterns across the polished marble floor.

The scent of old parchment mingled with lavender oil, weaving an atmosphere that felt like a memory—soft, quiet, and nostalgic. It smelled like wisdom. Like home.

Dark mahogany shelves towered above her, each one meticulously organized and labeled by subject and genre.

Each section beckoned with its own story:

Historical Chronicles lined the first row, filled with detailed accounts of past rulers, epic battles, and the rise and fall of empires. Each spine bore gilded crests—a silent testament to history written in blood and glory.

Political Philosophy & Governance came next, housing thick volumes on diplomacy, legal systems, and the careful art of power. Some had bookmarks still peeking out, likely left behind by the twins—Luke or Lucas, no doubt.

Mythology & Folklore shimmered quietly from the corner, its vibrant covers whispering promises of ancient gods, legendary heroes, and forgotten beasts. The stories carried the breath of time, passed from mouth to mouth until ink trapped them in eternity.

Rare & Arcane Tomes were sealed behind enchanted glass, pulsing faintly with old magic. Inside were prophecies, grimoires, spells, and forbidden alchemy written in scripts older than language.

Poetry & Literature offered a gentle hush—pages of longing, verses soaked in emotion, and timeless tales of love and loss. They didn't shout. They waited to be heard.

Art & Music Theory was a visual feast—scrolls adorned with intricate sketches, sheet music scribbled in passion, and paintings that shone with unspoken melody.

Science & Innovation brimmed with the marvels of discovery—astronomical charts, anatomical diagrams, and contraptions that danced the line between brilliance and madness.

Military Strategy stood like a commander's desk—rows of manuals, crisp tactical layouts, and the brutal philosophies of war. Every page was a cold calculation of sacrifice.

Etiquette & Royal Customs gleamed with order—manuals on court conduct, noble etiquette, dress codes, and ancient ceremonies. Elysia imagined noblewomen flipping through them with smug self-importance.

"They probably feel really smart after reading books like these," she thought, lips quirking.

Sacred Texts & Philosophy exuded quiet reverence. Scrolls filled with prayers, meditations, and musings on morality and mortality rested like slumbering truths.

Fairy Tales & Children's Stories sat near the floor, colorful and whimsical. Dragons, talking foxes, clever girls, daring boys—comforting stories that tucked into the minds of sleeping children like lullabies.

—

Despite the overwhelming collection, it was the Mythology & Folklore section that tugged at Elysia the most.

There was something timeless about it.

Some books were thick with age, their pages yellowed and delicate like pressed flowers. Others looked almost new, as though they had only just arrived—waiting patiently for her.

She stepped closer, her fingers gliding along the textured bindings, each one metallic beneath her touch.

A warmth bloomed in her chest.

She couldn't help but remember those long nights in her old life, as adult Cassandra, curled on her favorite couch with a heavy book and a blanket.

Back when the world felt too loud to bear, she would dive into legends and lose herself in their mysteries.

She paused at one title: The Weeping Seraph and the Crown of Shadows.

Then another: The Forgotten Gods of the Lithe Age.

Her fingers lingered over Tales of the Crimson Moon, its leather cover embossed with a cloaked figure standing at the edge of a blood-red sea.

A curious thought crossed her mind then. "Wait a minute. All these books... Were they also written by the author of this world or they're all just coincidences?"

She pondered on it for a while but shrugged in the end. "Well, whatever. It's not my business. As a wise person probably once said: Hakuna Matata. Or something like that."

She was a curious person by nature but she currently wasn't in the mood for flogging a dead horse.

Suddenly—

A whisper of wind rustled the pages of an open book nearby.

She turned, startled.

The library was empty. Silent. Yet the air felt thick—charged. Like the myths themselves were awake, watching.

"The f☆ck?" she muttered, blinking. "This place better not be haunted. I've already got enough on my plate. Adding a ghost case to it would be pushing it."

Shaking off the chill that ran down her spine, she reached for another book at random and cradled it like a fragile relic.

She opened the first page—

And a memory surfaced. Unbidden. Unwelcome.

Her brother's voice, laughing. "You and your silly fables. Honestly, you believe in this sorta stuff?"

She had giggled, blaming him for getting her hooked in the first place. The boy had a talent for spinning the most bizarre tales out of thin air—creatures that ate stars, queens who tamed the wind, cities that only appeared during eclipses. And she'd loved him for it… back then.

Now, in a world shaped by magic, where legends wore skin and myths had teeth… maybe the stories weren't nonsense after all.

Maybe they were omens.

She lowered herself into one of the plush armchairs nestled between the shelves, curling her legs beneath her.

The book rested in her lap as she read—page after page, devouring the words like a starving girl.

—

A few minutes in, soft footsteps approached.

Liliette entered, a neatly folded blanket cradled in her arms.

Elysia glanced up from the book. "Oh, Liliette. You've returned."

"Yes, Your Highness," she replied with a gentle smile. "I brought you a blanket, so you don't catch a cold while reading. The library's heating system is a little... temperamental at the moment."

She moved forward and carefully draped the blanket around Elysia's shoulders. The gesture was tender—quiet and almost motherly.

"Would you like me to prepare some fruit to snack on while you read?" she asked, fiddling with her fingers. Her gaze was earnest.

Elysia stared at her, blinking slowly. She instinctively noted her affection level—now 68.

Liliette had been nothing short of kind since they met yesterday. Sweet, even. And oddly devoted.

'And her affection level was already quite high when we met too…'

Why? Why was she the only staff member who didn't treat her like she was something unpleasant stuck under their shoe?

And more than that—why hadn't she ever tried to connect with the old Elysia before now? She could have been a light in this suffocating palace. A friend. A shield.

Was it safe to trust her now?

"I'm fine, Liliette," she said softly. "Thank you for offering. And… if you don't mind, I'd like to read by myself for now. If I need anything, I'll call for you."

Liliette looked downcast for a split second, but she masked it well with a graceful bow.

"As you wish, Your Highness."

And with that, she turned and left—her footsteps fading into the silence of the library.

—

After a few hours of reading, Elysia rose from the chair and stretched, a satisfying crack echoing from her shoulder.

She winced. "Okay, note to self—marathon reading sessions come with a price."

With the blanket still wrapped loosely around her shoulders, she stepped quietly past rows of towering shelves, letting her feet guide her deeper into the library's vast interior.

This was more than just curiosity—it was the first real chance she had to scout the place out for herself.

It was time for the side quest.

Elysia's eyes scanned the surroundings, looking for anything that seemed out of place.

She drifted past the Poetry section, then the Sacred Texts, trailing her fingers along the polished wood as her steps slowed near a quiet corner nestled in the far eastern alcove.

Fewer candles burned here. The light dimmed into shadow, like the space had been forgotten over time.

That's when she noticed it.

A tall mahogany shelf stood slightly apart from the others. Its edges aligned almost perfectly with the wall—but not quite. The base of the shelf was dustier than the rest, and there were faint scuff marks on the marble floor beneath it…like it had been moved before.

Elysia's brow furrowed. "Now, that's suspicious."

She glanced around—left, then right. The library remained silent, save for the occasional creak of the ancient wood settling into itself.

Perfectly alone.

Tightening the blanket around her shoulders, she walked up to the shelf and gave it a small shove.

Nothing.

She gritted her teeth and tried again, this time putting her whole weight into it. A low groan escaped the shelf as it began to budge, just a little. Dust burst out from underneath, and she coughed, waving it away with a grimace.

"Ugh, gross. This stupid thing has definitely not been moved in a long time."

After catching her breath, she pushed harder. Her muscles burned, and her fingers slipped more than once along the carved edges, but she managed to drag it just enough aside.

There.

A dark stone panel was revealed, with a single detail interrupting its surface.

A tiny keyhole.

Elysia's heart gave a little skip. She quickly knelt down, inspecting it, and brushing away the layer of dust. The opening was shaped like a rosebud—definitely custom, definitely deliberate.

She brought her hand up instinctively. "Winfred, can I have that key in my inventory?"

A faint shimmer answered her call, and in the blink of an eye, the small rusted key materialized in her palm. Bronze with curling etchings, the head carved in the shape of a blooming rose.

Typically, she would have gasped or flinched at what just happened—after all, it's not everyday objects spawn in a person's hand when they ask for it. But not this time. She needed to be stealthy.

'The key... It's a perfect match.'

She held it beside the keyhole, tilting it just enough to confirm what she already knew.

This was it—the entrance to the inner chamber where the Aerelion family's deepest secrets likely slumbered.

She could walk in right now. But no. Not today.

She wasn't prepared yet. Not mentally, not physically. She'd need time to plan, to make sure no one noticed her slipping in or out.

With one final glance at the lock, Elysia tucked the key safely back into her palm and stood up.

She gave the space a good long look, memorizing everything—the curvature of the arch nearby, the faded tapestry hanging above, the faint crack running along the marble tile a few feet away. Landmarks.

Then, with effort, she heaved the shelf back into place. It groaned again, louder this time, but finally settled with a dull thud.

Elysia stepped back, brushing dust from her dress and smoothing her hair.

"Secret entrance: discovered," she whispered under her breath, lips curling into a small, victorious smile. "And next time… the secrets in there will be mine."

'Mwahahaha—okay, that's enough.'

With that, she calmly walked away from the alcove, the warm light of the main library calling her back as though nothing had happened at all.