Chapter 31: Library Comes to Life


    The morning sun filtered through the small window of Abel’s room, casting a soft, golden light on the wooden floor. He stirred awake, feeling the stillness of the day. No class was scheduled, giving him ample time to focus on other matters. Today, his agenda was simple: head to the library early for his daily task and, hopefully, gather more information about uniqueness, mana accumulation, and the use of magical entities as catalysts.


    After freshening up, Abel left his room and made his way down the winding hallways of the Stone Tower. The air was unusually quiet today, the usual bustling of recruits preparing for their tasks noticeably absent. It gave the Tower an eerie sense of calm, as if it was holding its breath.


    As Abel walked, he mentally recapped his goal for the day—uncovering more about what made the creatures around the Tower unique, and more importantly, how that knowledge could aid his path toward becoming an Apostle.


    Reaching the library, he was greeted by the familiar smell of aged paper and dust. Marcella stood at her usual spot, a serene expression on her face as she attended to some of the magical books that floated lazily nearby. She glanced up and smiled warmly when she saw Abel.


    “Morning, Abel,” she said in her usual calm, motherly tone. “For today, I need you to take a look at the underground section. Things have become a bit… disorganized down there. After that, just continue as usual.”


    Abel nodded, slightly apprehensive. The underground section of the library had always given him a strange feeling, but he pushed the thought aside. He knew Marcella wouldn’t send him somewhere unsafe—at least, not without warning him first.


    As Abel descended the narrow staircase into the underground section of the library, the air grew cooler and carried a weight of ancient knowledge. The faint light from the torches along the walls flickered, casting long, dancing shadows that seemed almost alive. The creaking of the wooden floor above was barely audible down here, and every step felt heavier, as though the stone beneath him was soaking in the sound of his movements.


    The underground section of the library was vast, and its shelves were taller and more densely packed than those above. A strange, musty scent hung in the air, mingling with the scent of old parchment. Abel had been here once before during his previous task, but he had never spent much time in these forgotten corners.


    He began his work, organizing the books, many of which looked like they hadn''t been touched in years. Their leather covers were cracked, and some of them had titles written in languages he didn’t recognize. There was something different about the books here—an energy that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He couldn''t quite place it, but something about this place felt... alive.


    As Abel worked his way down the long aisle of shelves, something caught his attention. There was a faint rustling sound coming from one of the upper shelves, like the sound of paper fluttering in the wind. Abel paused, eyes narrowing as he scanned the rows of books above him. One book seemed to be sticking out slightly, as though it had been placed there haphazardly. Its spine was a deep, shimmering black, and faint symbols glowed along its cover.


    Curious, Abel reached up and pushed the book back into place. But the moment his hand touched the spine, the air around him shifted. A sudden, soft wind blew through the underground section, despite there being no windows or open doors. The torches flickered violently, casting erratic shadows across the stone floor.


    Then, without warning, the book clicked open with a soft thud, releasing a faint, inky mist from its pages. The mist swirled and danced in the air, quickly taking the shape of shadowy figures. Abel stepped back, his heart pounding as the figures multiplied, forming long, flowing silhouettes. They hovered for a moment, seeming to observe him with invisible eyes, their forms shifting and undulating like smoke.


    For a moment, Abel was frozen in place, unsure of what to do. The shadows didn’t seem aggressive, nor did they make any sound. They merely floated, watching him in silence, their formless bodies flickering like shadows cast by firelight.


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    And then, just as quickly as they had appeared, the shadows dispersed. They shot across the room, merging with the darkness between the shelves, slipping into the narrow spaces and corners that Abel couldn’t reach. He spun around, trying to follow their movements, but they moved too fast—darting through the air like swift phantoms. Within seconds, they were gone, swallowed by the deep shadows of the underground library.


    Abel stood there for a moment, his breath shallow as he tried to process what had just happened. There was no sign of the book or the strange mist anymore. Everything appeared exactly as it had been, save for the lingering feeling that the air was now somehow... different.


    The only sound in the room was the faint crackle of the torches. Whatever had happened, it didn’t seem to be a threat—just an odd, otherworldly occurrence that left him feeling both awed and unsettled. The shadows were harmless, but their sudden appearance had reminded Abel that the magic of the Tower was unpredictable, even when it wasn’t dangerous.


    Abel shook his head, trying to rid himself of the unease that lingered in his chest. He knew the Tower held secrets far beyond his understanding, but something about the way those shadows had disappeared made him wonder if they were watching him—or if they had simply been released from their long slumber.


    He took a deep breath and continued his task, though the eerie stillness of the underground section now seemed to press down on him even harder.


    He got to the regular work on the first floor, quietly reorganizing the books. As he did, he couldn’t help but think of Gravedigger’s words from the night before—about concentrating mana within oneself, or using a powerful stimulant to spark the breakthrough into becoming an Apostle. Gravedigger had used an ancient magical bone for his ritual, which had given Abel an idea—perhaps the secret to his own path lay within the creatures and magical entities mentioned in his knowledge book. If only he could understand how to channel their power…


    Just as Abel was shelving a particularly large tome, he overheard two recruits talking a few shelves away. He paused, listening carefully.


    “…the trade happening tomorrow on the first floor,” one of them said in a hushed tone. “I heard it’s going to be huge. Everyone’s bringing something. Artifacts, creature parts, even books.”


    “Yeah, I’m definitely going,” the other replied. “Who knows what we could find there?”


    Abel made a mental note to attend. If magical items or creature parts were going to be traded, it might offer a chance to acquire something valuable for his studies—or even a piece that could help him with his breakthrough.


    Finishing his task in the underground section, Abel returned to the main library. He found Marcella still attending to her floating books, her calm demeanor unwavering. Approaching her, he hesitated for a moment before speaking.


    “Marcella, is there a section in the library that talks about creatures and their uniqueness? Specifically, how they use mana or how we might use them as catalysts?”


    Marcella’s brow furrowed thoughtfully for a moment. “You’ll want to check the Bestiary section,” she said after a pause. “There’s a particular set of volumes on magical creatures that may have what you’re looking for. Just be cautious. Those books have a habit of changing their order when you’re not looking.”


    Abel nodded, giving her a grateful smile. He navigated through the twisting shelves until he found the Bestiary section. It was a vast collection, filled with knowledge on various magical creatures—some Abel had heard of, and others that seemed straight out of a nightmare. He browsed through several volumes, pausing at entries on creatures like giant spiders with venom that could dissolve steel, or flying serpents whose wings emitted a strange hum that could entrance their prey.


    Finally, after flipping through several more pages, he found a small section that mentioned uniqueness. The passage described uniqueness as the point where a creature’s mana was most concentrated—the core of its power. In many cases, it was a physical part of the creature’s body, such as a fang, a bone, or a piece of its hide. The more potent the creature, the more powerful its uniqueness, and in some rare cases, this part could be used to fuel magical rituals or enhance a person’s mana.


    Abel’s pulse quickened as he read further. This was the piece of the puzzle he had been missing. Gravedigger had used the ancient bone’s uniqueness to achieve his breakthrough—could Abel do the same with another creature’s essence?


    Satisfied with what he had learned, Abel carefully closed the book and placed it back on the shelf. He couldn’t shake the excitement bubbling inside him, but he knew there was more to uncover. Tomorrow, at the trade, he might be able to find something—or someone—that could further his understanding.


    As he left the library, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the stone floor of the Tower. He made his way back to his room, thoughts racing. Tomorrow’s trade could hold the key to his next steps, and he was determined not to miss it.