Elara Library

"Do you think I should get this thing wrapped up?" Luke asked Lila, looking at the still open knife wound in his left forearm. 

Lila shrugged, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt, but it'll be closed up soon enough anyway. If you focus on the wound while absorbing mana, it'll naturally flow toward it and speed up the healing. What's even better is now that you've reached Bet, the mana veins leading from your core veins to your arms are open."

Luke's eyebrows rose in wonder. "Okay, that's awesome. I'm going to try it right now." 

Without further hesitation, Luke focused his mana vortex, then followed the mana flow inward to his spinal mana veins. From there, he observed the mana flow up, then outward to the left and right. He saw the new mana veins, one running down each of his arms to his wrists. 

He focused on the mana flowing through his left arm. As he did so the flow sped up. He directed his attention solely to the wound in his forearm, and the mana responded, swirling around it. The wound, which had already stopped bleeding and healed a small amount back inside the Hollowtree Café, now closed more quickly. 

The feeling was odd; almost inhuman. It was both exciting and… just… weird. 

It was…surreal. A few minutes of intense focus went and Luke found himself feeling drained. 

He inhaled deeply, letting his body slump down onto a nearby bench. The responding medics and officers were just beginning to clear the area as he did so. He checked his arm and saw a bright pink scar on both sides. 

"I thought I'd be able to heal it up better than this?" he muttered.

"You're only at Bet," Lila said, "just give it time. Someday you'll be able to heal just about anything. We both will," she finished, smiling warmly. 

Luke nodded, taking in their surroundings. Eventually his growling stomach could no longer be ignored and he rose from his seat. 

"I'm starving," he said. 

"I'm not." Lila looked at Luke mischievously.

"Wait, you don't have to eat?" 

She shrugged, drifting along next to him. "Not really."

Luke shook his head, though he shouldn't have been surprised after everything else that had happened.

"So, where do you want to go eat?" she asked.

"Hmmm…" Luke hummed. "I was really looking forward to Hollowtree's coffee and pastries. How about the Vault café?" 

"I don't need to eat, remember? Anywhere you want is fine with me."

Luke nodded, "Vault café it is then!"

Together, the pair made their way northward through campus toward the vast library and the small Vault café inside. 

"What's this college called, anyway?" Lila asked.

"Really?" Luke sideyed her.

"Yeah," she said. "I don't know everything."

"Alright, alright. It's called Everhearth University," Luke began. "It's got a long history. Everhearth has been around since the late 1800s, started by this guy named Elias Everhearth. It was supposed to be just a little liberal arts college for the small mountain towns around here, but it grew fast. By the early 1900s, it was doing all kinds of cutting-edge science. Supposedly, during the Cold War, they even worked on top-secret government projects—though most of that's just rumor.

"Now it's a mix of old and new. There's a lot of historic charm, like Founders' Hall, but also modern facilities like the Westfall Research Complex and Eastwick Stadium. It's a great school, though I get the feeling it's hiding some secrets from its past."

Lila nodded in response. "Yeah, I can feel that."

"What do you mean?"

Her head turned toward him. "You said you get the feeling Everhearth is hiding some secrets. I said I can feel that too."

"That's an expression," Luke said. "It's not like a literal, physical feeling. Are you actually feeling something?"

"Oh." Lila's face showed an expression of surprise. "I'm still not used to your colloquialisms. And yes, I literally, physically, feel the higher-than-normal amount of mana concentrated around this campus and here in the Ozarks. That tells me that this place must have secrets, especially with some of the ancient runes I've seen carved into the campus buildings."

It was Luke's turn to show surprise. "Wait, what ancient runes are you talking about? You haven't said anything about that."

"Hold on," she replied. She stayed silent for a few minutes after that as they continued moving toward their destination.

Soon, the pair neared the Elara Library, hopefully it would be the place where Luke would finally be able to quell his angry stomach. 

The library was an imposing yet elegant structure of gray stone and glass. Towering windows framed the building, their stained glass catching the sunlight and refracting it into faint prisms that danced on the surrounding courtyard.

A broad set of stone steps led to the entryway, flanked by twin lanterns atop wrought-iron posts. Ivy crept along the lower walls, a living contrast to the sharp angles of the architecture. Students milled about, their voices low, as if the library itself commanded reverence even from the outside.

Lila pointed toward the library and spoke, "There, above those doors."

The air seemed stiller here, quieter, as though the library held its own gravity, pulling in those searching for knowledge—or perhaps something deeper. Lila's gaze lingered on the runes above the doorway, their faint patterns catching the light in a way Luke hadn't noticed before.

"It's just a building," Luke muttered.

Lila smirked, her eyes glinting. "You're starting to sound like someone who doesn't know how to see."

Lila floated up, just above Luke's shoulder, as they topped the stairs leading up to the entry. The thick oak doors loomed before them, framed by an ornate stone archway. Carved into the stone above the entry were faint, weathered runes, their patterns curling and interlocking like vines.

Luke crossed his arms and stared up at them. "Okay, I'll bite. What's so special about those?"

Lila tilted her head, a glint of amusement in her golden eyes. "You can feel mana now, can't you? Tell me, what do you sense when you look at them?"

Luke frowned and closed his eyes, focusing on the subtle threads of energy. A faint hum seemed to emanate from the runes—not a sound exactly, but a vibration at the edge of his awareness.

"There's... something there," he admitted. "It's not strong, but it's... steady. Like it's keeping something in place."

"Good," Lila said, clearly pleased. "You're starting to pick up on the subtleties. These runes are anchors, carved to stabilize mana flows in this area."

Luke opened his eyes, his brow furrowed. "How did they come to be here, and who carved them?"

Lila shrugged, "I can't be one hundred percent sure. It looks like something the Ancient Builders would have done, though."

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Ancient Builders?"

Lila smiled softly. "Like I said, I can't be certain. Maybe the builders of this university just brought the stones from somewhere else, and the runes are a coincidence. Either way, they are reacting to the mana density in the area."

Luke continued looking at the runes, trying to unveil some hidden truth with his eyes.

He gave her a skeptical look. "And nobody else noticed this? Nobody thought to say, 'Hey, maybe those glowing runes mean something'?"

"Humans are good at ignoring what doesn't fit into their neat little boxes," Lila said with a smirk. "But you're different. You can see it now."

Luke nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on the runes. The hum he'd sensed earlier seemed to grow stronger as he focused, like a steady pulse beneath the stone. "Alright," he said. "So what's next? Am I supposed to do something with these, or are we just sightseeing?"

Lila shrugged again, "I don't know. They could play a part in our journey, or not. I guess we'll have to wait and see."

Luke gave her a sideways glance. "You're loving this cryptic mentor act, aren't you?"

She laughed, the sound light and musical. "Oh, yes; yes I am."

"Okay," he chuckled, "It's time for food now."

The pair entered through the large oak doors into a library the likes of which Luke wouldn't believe existed if he hadn't seen it for himself. He loved the Elara Library, and spent a large portion of his free time in it.

Sunlight streamed through towering stained-glass windows, casting beautifully colorful patterns across the polished stone floor. Rows of mahogany bookshelves stretched skyward, each one packed with leather-bound tomes, cracked spines, and crisp new volumes, creating the unmistakable scent of aged paper and fresh ink.

It felt as if there was an ancient presence inside, a whisper of something long gone and yet still there at the same time. Luke had never really registered it on a conscious level before, but now it seemed obvious. He wondered what could be the cause of such a thing. 

Luke didn't just feel the presence though. Somewhere, on the edge of sound, a whisper brushed past his ear. A single, indecipherable word—just beyond reach. Luke's breath hitched as he turned sharply, expecting to see someone behind him.

But there was nothing.

No speaker. No source.

Just silence, stretching endlessly between the bookshelves. He shook his head, deciding to attribute it to his exhaustion.

At the center of the main hall, a massive iron chandelier hung suspended, its intricate framework resembling interlocking constellations. Warm golden light spilled from its hundreds of tiny bulbs, illuminating the vaulted ceiling, which was painted with an intricate mural of celestial scenes.

The library was alive with quiet activity, even during the weekend. Students and scholars shuffled through the aisles, their footsteps softened by thick rugs. A spiral staircase of wrought iron coiled gracefully up to the mezzanine, where more shelves waited, along with secluded study nooks tucked beneath arched windows.

Near the far wall, the Vault Café was nestled into a cozy alcove, its aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafting through the air. Overstuffed chairs and small tables were scattered around its perimeter, creating a haven for those seeking caffeine-fueled inspiration. The café's counter gleamed with polished brass, its menu hand-lettered on a chalkboard overhead.

Beyond the café, the library opened into a second, grander hall. At its center stood the Index, an enormous circular desk manned by librarians who directed visitors to the right sections or provided access to the restricted area known only as the Vault. A faint hum of technology blended with the rustle of turning pages, as digital terminals glowed faintly amidst the sea of books.

It wasn't just a library—it was a cathedral of knowledge, a sanctuary for learning. And somewhere in its depths, secrets waited, tucked away in dusty corners or locked behind unyielding doors.

As they walked through the erudite space, a faint ripple passed through the air. It was subtle—so faint that Luke might've ignored it if his senses weren't still sharpened from his fight earlier.

He hesitated mid-step, turning his head slightly. Nothing seemed out of place. The quiet murmur of students, the distant sound of a page turning, the clinking of mugs behind the counter. Normal.

Yet, Lila stopped too.

Just for a second.

Her golden eyes flicked toward the library's upper levels, her expression unreadable. Then, just as quickly, she smiled again and floated ahead as if nothing had happened.

Luke frowned. "What was that?"

Lila's smile was too quick, too polished. She didn't meet his eyes, and for the first time since they met, Luke noticed something unfamiliar in her voice.

Hesitation.

"It's just residual mana fluctuations," she said lightly. "This place is full of old magic. Come on, let's get you fed."

But he wasn't convinced.

As they neared the café, a cold draft moved through the library, causing nearby papers to flutter off a table.

Luke watched idly as one of the papers floated out in front of him and landed right in front of his feet. He stopped to keep from stepping on it. It looked like a page torn from an old book, the ink faded but still readable: "The Veil Wears Thin."

Before he could react, a student casually picked it up, not noticing the words or Luke's bewildered expression as they tucked it back into a book and walked away.

Luke swallowed, resisting the urge to glance back.

Nothing's there. Just a draft. Just a weird moment.

Lila's forced smile still lingered in his mind.

"Come on, let's get you fed." she had said.

But why did it sound like she was trying to distract him?