The library at Austramore was a place of quiet grandeur. Towering shelves filled with ancient tomes and scrolls stretched toward a vaulted ceiling enchanted to resemble a starlit sky. Lanterns floated gently between the rows, casting a warm, golden glow that made the space feel both vast and intimate. For Soya, the library had always been a refuge, but tonight it felt like a battlefield where he was about to confront the unknown.
Eliza led the way, her steps purposeful as they approached the librarian''s desk. Madam Lorelei, a stern woman with silvery hair and sharp features, looked up from her parchment as they arrived.
“Good evening, Madam Lorelei,” Eliza began politely. “We’re looking for books on magical creatures, specifically basilisks.”
Lorelei’s pale eyes narrowed slightly. “A peculiar topic for first-years. The Whispering Archives contains the most comprehensive texts on basilisks, but I assume you’re not looking to break rules?”
Eliza shook her head quickly. “Of course not, ma’am. We’re just trying to learn more after today’s... field trip.”
The librarian’s expression softened slightly, though her tone remained brisk. “Section M, third row. You’ll find some general resources there. And remember, no loud conversations.”
“Thank you,” Eliza said, already steering the boys toward the indicated section.
As they weaved between the towering shelves, Davonte leaned closer to Soya and whispered, “You think she knows something? She had that look—like she wasn’t surprised at all.”
Soya shrugged, his mind too preoccupied with the basilisk skin and the events in the grove to speculate on the librarian’s reactions. When they reached Section M, the three of them set to work, each selecting a few promising titles to bring back to a nearby table.
“Magical Predators of the Southern Hemisphere,” Eliza announced, setting down a thick, leather-bound volume. “This one should have something useful.”
Soya picked up a smaller book titled Terrifying Terrors: A Beginner''s Guide to Deadly Creatures. He flipped through the pages, scanning for any mention of basilisks.
Davonte, meanwhile, had chosen a book called Beasts of Legend and Lore. “This one’s got everything from manticores to drop bears,” he said, grinning slightly. “I’ll start with the B section.”
The three worked in companionable silence for a time, the quiet rustle of turning pages and the faint hum of magical lanterns the only sounds. Soya felt a small thrill of accomplishment when he finally found a detailed entry on basilisks in his book. He skimmed the text, his finger tracing the lines as he read aloud.
“Basilisks are serpent-like creatures known for their deadly gaze, which can petrify or kill with a single look. Their venom is highly toxic, and they are considered among the most dangerous magical creatures. They typically inhabit arid regions and are rarely encountered outside their natural desert habitats.”
“Nothing we don’t already know,” Davonte said, frowning. “But why would one be in the grove?”
Eliza tapped her quill against her notebook thoughtfully. “That’s the real question, isn’t it? Basilisks don’t migrate like birds. They’re territorial and usually don’t leave their burrows unless...”
“Unless what?” Soya prompted.
“Unless they’re forced to,” Eliza finished, her tone uneasy. “Or unless someone brought it here.”
Davonte snorted. “Who in their right mind would bring a basilisk to the grove? That’s like inviting disaster.”
Soya shivered, the idea sending a chill down his spine. He flipped to the next page, where a small illustration of a basilisk curled around a pile of bones caught his eye. Beneath it was a section on basilisk behavior and reproduction.
“They don’t just roam around, though,” he said. “It says here that basilisks need specific conditions to thrive—like arid climates and access to underground burrows. The grove isn’t exactly ideal for them.”
“Exactly,” Eliza agreed. “Which means this isn’t just a random occurrence. Something—or someone—made this happen.”
The weight of her words hung in the air, and Soya felt the knot of unease in his chest tighten. He looked up from his book, his gaze drifting toward the far end of the library. In the dim light, the shelves seemed to stretch endlessly, their shadows deep and impenetrable.
“Do you think we should tell someone?” he asked hesitantly. “The professors, maybe?”
Eliza shook her head. “Not yet. We don’t have enough information to go on. And besides, they probably already know more than they’re letting on. If they wanted us involved, they’d tell us.”
Davonte leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “So what do we do? Just sit here and wait for another basilisk to show up?”
“No,” Eliza said firmly. “We keep looking. There has to be more—something we’re missing.”
Soya nodded, though his heart wasn’t in it. The weight of the day’s events was pressing down on him, and the flickering lanterns above seemed to cast more shadows than light. Still, he picked up another book, determined to contribute.
As they continued their search, a faint rustling sound caught Soya’s attention. He glanced up, his gaze drawn toward the farthest corner of the library. For a moment, he thought he saw movement—a flicker of something dark and swift—but when he blinked, it was gone.
“Did you see that?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.
“See what?” Eliza asked, not looking up from her book.
Soya hesitated. “Nothing. Probably just my imagination.”
Davonte gave him a sidelong glance. “You’re not going to start seeing basilisks in every shadow, are you?”
Soya managed a weak smile, but his unease remained. He turned his attention back to the book in front of him, forcing himself to focus on the neatly printed text. Yet, the feeling of being watched lingered, prickling at the edges of his awareness.
Soya flipped through yet another book, his focus wavering as the repetitive descriptions of basilisk anatomy and habitats blurred together. He sighed, glancing at Eliza, who was engrossed in her notes. Davonte was leaning back in his chair, twirling his wand idly as he skimmed through a section on venomous creatures.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“This feels like looking for a needle in a haystack,” Soya muttered, closing the book with a soft thud. “We’re not finding anything new.”
Eliza frowned, her quill hovering over her notebook. “Maybe we’re looking in the wrong place. If the professors already know about the basilisk, there might be something in the library they don’t want students finding easily.”
Davonte raised an eyebrow. “You’re suggesting we check the Whispering Archives? Pretty sure Madam Lorelei would love to catch us sneaking in there.”
“No,” Eliza said quickly. “Not that''s the restricted section. But there might be overlooked books in the older sections of the library. Places even the professors don’t visit often.”
Soya hesitated. “Do you think we’d actually find anything useful?”
Eliza shrugged, already standing and gathering her notes. “Only one way to find out.”
The trio ventured deeper into the library, their footsteps muffled by the thick carpet lining the aisles. The air grew cooler, and the glow of the lanterns dimmed slightly as they moved away from the main reading area. Here, the shelves were older, their wood dark and polished to a faint sheen. Dust motes danced in the faint light, and the scent of aged parchment was more pronounced.
“This place feels... different,” Davonte said, his voice low as they stopped near a crooked shelf labeled Obscure Studies.
Eliza scanned the spines of the books, her fingers brushing over faded titles. She paused, her brow furrowing as she pulled a worn, leather-bound volume from the shelf. The title, stamped in gold lettering, read The Enigmatic Ecology of Basilisks and Other Magical Serpents.
“Found something,” she announced, setting the book on a nearby table. The cover was cracked with age, and the pages inside were yellowed but intact. Eliza flipped through the contents, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the text.
Soya leaned closer, catching sight of a name written in elegant script on the title page: Authored by Professor Lenara Byrah.
“This was written by Professor Byrah?” he asked, his voice tinged with surprise.
Eliza nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Makes sense. She’s an expert on magical creatures. This could have everything we need to know.”
“Or it could be one of those dry academic texts that’s impossible to read,” Davonte quipped, leaning over to peer at the pages.
Eliza ignored him and began flipping through the chapters, her movements growing more frantic as she progressed. “Wait... something’s wrong.”
“What is it?” Soya asked, his stomach sinking.
“The pages,” Eliza said, holding up the book. “They’re missing. Whole sections have been torn out.”
Soya took the book, his fingers brushing over the ragged edges where pages had clearly been removed. The gaps were irregular, with several chapters missing entirely. One of the chapters, titled Basilisk Behavior in Unnatural Habitats, was almost completely gone, save for a few fragments near the beginning.
“Someone didn’t want anyone reading this,” Davonte said grimly. “But why? It’s just a book about basilisks, right?”
“Not just any book,” Eliza corrected, her tone sharp. “This is written by Professor Byrah. She’s one of the leading experts on magical creatures. Whatever was in here might explain why a basilisk ended up in the grove.”
Soya’s mind raced as he stared at the missing pages. The implications were unsettling. Someone had deliberately removed this information—possibly to hide something important.
“Do you think she knows?” he asked. “Professor Byrah, I mean. Do you think she knows her book is damaged?”
Eliza hesitated. “I don’t know. But if she does, she’s not telling anyone.”
Davonte crossed his arms, his expression serious for once. “This is bigger than we thought, isn’t it? Whoever tore out these pages doesn’t want people asking questions.”
Soya nodded, a chill running down his spine. “So what do we do now?”
Eliza closed the book carefully, her eyes alight with determination. “We keep looking. If the answers aren’t here, we’ll find them somewhere else. But we need to be careful. If someone’s trying to hide something, they won’t take kindly to us digging around.”
The trio fell silent, the weight of their discovery settling over them. Soya glanced at the book one last time before they returned it to the shelf, its missing pages a stark reminder of how much they still didn’t know.
The library’s quiet atmosphere was broken only by the soft rustle of pages and the occasional creak of a chair. Soya, Eliza, and Davonte sat huddled at their table, their earlier discovery weighing heavily on their minds. Despite the calm surroundings, an undercurrent of tension kept their voices low.
“We can’t just leave it like this,” Eliza whispered, her fingers tapping anxiously on her notebook. “Missing pages? Basilisks in the grove? It’s all connected, and we’re in the middle of it.”
“And what do you suggest?” Davonte asked, his tone laced with skepticism. “March up to Professor Byrah and demand answers? She’d probably tell us to stick to our textbooks and leave the adults to handle it.”
Soya frowned, his gaze flicking toward the dimly lit aisle where they’d found Byrah’s book. “What if we’re not the only ones asking questions? Someone went through a lot of trouble to keep those pages hidden. Maybe they’re watching her too.”
Eliza nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. “If that’s true, then we need to be careful. We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. Instinctively, they fell silent, their eyes darting toward the source of the noise. Two figures emerged from the shadows, their voices low but distinct as they moved deeper into the library.
Soya’s heart skipped a beat as he recognized Professor Byrah’s sharp tone. She was accompanied by another professor—a tall man with a thin frame and a stern expression. The pair stopped near a bookshelf just out of sight, their words muffled but still audible in the stillness of the library.
“I’m telling you, this is the thirtieth incident,” Byrah said, her voice tight with frustration. “Thirty basilisks in regions they have no business being in. And that’s only the ones we know about.”
The other professor’s response was quieter, but his tone carried a note of urgency. “The patterns are troubling, yes. But without more evidence, we can’t jump to conclusions. It could still be a series of isolated anomalies.”
Byrah scoffed. “Isolated? When they’ve all appeared in areas with no natural connection to their habitats? The deserts, the marshes, even the coast—none of it makes sense. Someone or something is moving them.”
“Careful, Lenara,” the man cautioned, his voice dropping even lower. “You’re treading dangerously close to accusations. If you’re wrong—”
“I’m not wrong,” Byrah interrupted, her voice fierce. “You saw the signs yourself. The skin in the grove wasn’t just a random molt. That basilisk was placed there.”
Soya’s breath caught in his throat, his pulse quickening as he exchanged a wide-eyed glance with Eliza. Her hand gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles white. Davonte looked equally tense, his silver eyes narrowing as he leaned closer.
The professors’ conversation continued, but their voices became too faint to decipher. After a few moments, the sound of their footsteps faded as they moved further into the library. The trio sat frozen, the weight of what they’d overheard sinking in.
“Did you hear that?” Davonte whispered, his voice barely audible. “Thirty basilisks. Someone’s moving them.”
“And placing them,” Eliza added, her brow furrowed in thought. “This isn’t just a coincidence. It’s deliberate.”
Soya swallowed hard, his mind racing. “But why? Why would anyone do that? Basilisks are dangerous—they could hurt people, destroy habitats. What’s the point?”
“Could be a test,” Davonte suggested grimly. “See how wizards respond, test the limits of their defenses. Or maybe it’s just chaos for the sake of chaos.”
Eliza shook her head. “Whatever it is, it’s bigger than us. But if the professors are already investigating, maybe they’ll find answers before anyone gets hurt.”
Soya hesitated, his gaze drifting toward the aisle where Byrah had disappeared. “Do you think she knows more than she’s letting on? She sounded... sure of herself.”
“Of course she does,” Davonte said, crossing his arms. “But she’s not about to share that with a bunch of first-years.”
Eliza nodded reluctantly. “Still, we need to keep our eyes open. If we notice anything unusual, we document it. Quietly.”
Soya agreed, though the unease in his chest remained. Whatever was happening, it was clear that their world was far more dangerous—and far more complicated—than he had ever imagined.
The library remained quiet as the trio resumed their search for answers. The weight of what they had overheard hung over them like a storm cloud, but they knew they couldn’t stop now. There was still so much they didn’t understand.
Eliza flipped through a book titled Runic Wardings of the Southern Hemisphere, her brow furrowed in concentration. Davonte was skimming through an old journal that detailed basilisk behaviors, though he looked more frustrated with each page he turned. Soya focused on jotting down notes, his sketchbook open beside him with a half-finished drawing of the basilisk they’d seen in the grove.
After a long stretch of silence, Eliza suddenly straightened in her chair, her finger tapping the page in front of her. “Wait a second,” she said, her voice sharp with realization.
Both boys looked up, startled by the shift in her tone. “What is it?” Soya asked, setting his quill down.
“The rune,” Eliza said, her green eyes bright with excitement. “The one we saw next to the lake. Remember how we just noted it down and moved on? We didn’t think much of it at the time because it didn’t seem connected to the basilisk.”
“What about it?” Davonte asked, closing his book and leaning forward. “It was probably just a leftover from some old spellwork.”
“No,” Eliza said, shaking her head. “Runes don’t just appear randomly, especially not ones like that. It wasn’t a ward or anything standard—it was too deliberate. And think about it: there are only a few people in this entire castle who specialize in runes.”
Davonte’s eyes narrowed. “Professor Wirruna, obviously. She’s the head of Runes. And Professor Blackthorn.”
“And Salem,” Soya added quietly, recalling the reserved student whose talent for runes had been mentioned more than once. “He’s known for it.”
“And Sage,” Eliza said firmly, her voice tinged with suspicion. “We can’t ignore him. He’s Sevrin’s shadow half the time, and he’s been acting strange ever since the basilisk showed up.”
“But why would Sage—or anyone, for that matter—put a rune near the lake?” Soya asked, his brow furrowing. “What could it even do?”
“That’s what we need to figure out,” Eliza said, flipping to another section of her book. She scanned the page quickly before continuing. “Runes can have all kinds of effects depending on how they’re drawn and powered. Some can be used to summon creatures, while others can act as anchors for magic or even distort natural habitats.”
Davonte let out a low whistle. “So you’re saying that rune might be tied to the basilisk somehow? Like it was put there to bring it to the grove?”
“It’s possible,” Eliza said, her voice steady but serious. “And if that’s the case, it means someone deliberately brought that basilisk here. This wasn’t an accident.”
Soya felt a chill run down his spine. The idea that someone within the castle—someone they might have passed in the corridors or sat near in class—could be responsible was deeply unsettling. “But who would do something like that?” he asked. “And why?”
“That’s what we need to figure out,” Eliza said, determination hardening her features. She turned the book around to show them a diagram of a rune similar to the one they’d seen. “This one is used for containment, but if you alter it slightly, it can act as a summoning marker. The rune by the lake had some of these elements, but it was incomplete. Almost like it was interrupted.”
“Interrupted?” Davonte echoed. “You think someone was in the middle of setting it up and got caught?”
“Or maybe they left it unfinished on purpose,” Eliza suggested. “To throw people off or to avoid detection.”
Soya stared at the diagram, his mind racing. “If Sage or someone else from the castle was involved, wouldn’t the professors notice? They’re the experts.”
“Not if they’re careful,” Eliza said grimly. “Runes like this can be hidden in plain sight if you know what you’re doing. And if it’s Sage, he’s had plenty of time to practice.”
Davonte leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “So what do we do now? Go tell Professor Blackthorn that one of his sons might be summoning basilisks for fun?”
“No,” Eliza said firmly. “We don’t have proof—just suspicions. But we do need to keep digging. If we can figure out what the rune was supposed to do, it might give us a better idea of who’s behind this.”
Soya nodded, though the unease in his chest remained. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to come together, but the picture they were forming was anything but reassuring. He glanced at the shelves around them, wondering what other secrets the library held—and whether they were ready to uncover them.