Steep, narrow stairs made of polished stone led to the entrance of a rectangular building without any windows. The only flaw in the white walls was a silver-plated door, which reached the height of the third floor of a normal building. In fact, the entire structure, although extremely simple, was overwhelming. The Gelenweith Library, often referred to as the Unconquerable Treasury of Knowledge, was enormous, especially considering that its size was not apparent from the outside.
Darius yawned loudly. He had had a rather unpleasant week. Although perhaps that was an exaggeration; it had simply been very tiring. He had been mainly occupied with handing over his previous duties to the intelligence office staff and the assigned members of the Azure Guard. Long hours poring over papers were not the most pleasant, especially when they stretched into the deep night. Fortunately, he was able to devote his mornings to his student, who was becoming increasingly anxious about the fast-approaching exams. It didn't help that Bleist kept repeating ad nauseam that Draco knew everything he needed to know and shouldn't worry too much, but the dragon knew better. The magician had no intention of arguing with the boy and simply changed his tactics and taught the dragon topics outside the scope of the exams. It couldn't hurt, and it would certainly help. Draco also had other worries, mainly Gizel, who had not shown up since the unpleasant end of the ball at the Crystal Palace. On top of that, there was also the matter of letters, or rather the lack of them. The dragon wrote to his aunt and to Jeviev. The former replied, but the elf... Draco did not complain to his master, but it was clear that every morning he hoped to receive a reply from her. Darius did not know whether he should take any action in this matter, so he decided to consult with those wiser than himself. He wrote to his mother and Madame Nasua. He did not expect a quick response, but he was sure it would be specific and helpful. Darius had another worry. Over the past seven days, he had watched the dragon's struggle with the lycanthrope twice more. Each time, the terrifying spectacle left him with a mixture of many vague emotions. Although they all boiled down to what he had seen in the nightmare that had haunted him after the first clash. All night long, he had run through an abandoned house, pursued by a blood-drenched red dragon and a raging green lycanthrope. What was terrifying was that he could not use magic in his dream. He shuddered at the memory.
-Colonel?- Bleist looked back. Standing by the carriage was a young Guardsman assigned to him as a secretary for the duration of the handover of his official duties. Neither Darius nor his aides were pleased with this arrangement. Especially since, for formal reasons, the soldier also served as an aide-de-camp, which prevented Captain Evis from accompanying the Earl in the performance of his duties. The Colonel was also well aware that the Guard reported everything in detail to General Leigher. It seemed that this was the price of his tense relationship with his superior. - Are you all right, sir?
- Yes, I'm just tired, Rex.- Darius tried to wipe his dry eyes. He had already wondered several times whether he should ask Dr Herpetes for help, but so far he had put it off, feeling that the doctor would scold him for overworking himself.
Bleist turned and headed up the stairs. He had never understood why the entrance to the library was so high up. The answer to that question was probably in the library itself, but finding it could take the life of more than one historian. With a gloomy expression, he quickened his pace; waiting would not reduce the amount of work he had to do.
When he reached the top of the stairs, he slowed down so as not to bump into any of the swirling visitors. Fortunately, there was no crowd today, and he found himself inside without much trouble. Crossing the threshold, he glanced at the door. The huge gates seemed to be covered in silver, although Bleist knew that they were actually covered with extremely small symbols designed to protect the interior of the library. And there was a lot to protect. Gelenweith was the largest and one of the oldest libraries. Tens of thousands, millions of items were stored on shelves stretching from the ceiling to the floor hundreds of metres below. The sight of these endless shelves and the footbridges suspended between them was both extraordinary and terrifying. Draco would have liked it, he thought, trying to walk down the middle of the stone alleyway without a balustrade.
-Excuse me.- He addressed a monk passing by in a simple brown habit. The clergyman had his hood removed, so he was no longer a novice, and the lack of a visible symbol of divinity indicated that he had not yet been ordained as a cleric. The monk stopped and looked at Darius.-I am looking for the Reverend Triven.
-I will take you there, Colonel.- The monk turned and headed deeper into the library.
Gelenweith was managed by the order of the goddess of knowledge, Imenelith. It was also the central site of her cult in Atlantis. Her temple surrounded the library, and the main altar was located in line with the entrance to the building. Darius visited the library quite often, as it was here that all official documents were collected, serving as the state archives. In addition, the members of the order of the goddess of knowledge always showed kindness and helpfulness to all those seeking answers.
Belist snapped out of his reverie when the monk stopped. They were in the centre of the main floor, if you could call a footbridge hanging over an abyss that. In front of him stood a pillar-shaped bookcase with countless drawers. Stairs wound around the column, stretching up to the ceiling and down to the foundations of the building. On their floor, a high counter was placed around the pillar, behind which stood several priests and priestesses. The monk pointed to a tall, elderly priestess with a stern expression.
-Thank you for your help.- Darius bowed to the clergyman, who bowed back and quickly went about his duties.
-Colonel Bleist, I have been expecting you.- The priestess spoke coldly before Darius had a chance to approach her.
-Thank you very much for agreeing to help me, Reverend.- Earl bowed respectfully.
-We have gathered all the documents you requested.- The priestess turned and moved towards a break in the counter.
-I'm very sorry, Reverend, but...- Darius stepped towards the counter. The priestess stopped and turned around without any visible change in her expression. -I have a private request.
-I'm listening, Colonel, we are here to help those seeking knowledge.- The priestess slowly approached Bleist, looking at him inquiringly.
-I would like to have a word with you in private, Reverend.- Darius said to the Guard lurking behind him.
-Of course, Colonel.- Rex, barely concealing his dissatisfaction, moved out of earshot.
-Do you remember, Reverend, when I asked you about the work on lycanthropes a few years ago?
-I remember, Colonel.- The woman lowered her voice, glancing around.- We were unable to help you then.
-Without a specific question, only a general description of the problem, I didn't had high hopes.- In accordance with a promise he had once made, Darius tried to solve Kei's problem, but unfortunately, he was unable to find any helpful information at the time.- This time, I will be more specific.
-I'm listening, Colonel. - The priestess remained unchanged. She had always been like that, as far as Darius could remember. She seemed to be a bastion of calm or a living statue.
-Are there any works by Nikos of Itea in the library? Especially those from the series Rare Diseases and How to Treat Them?- The book known from Draco's description seemed to contain a lot of very useful information. Of course, Bleist trusted his student and his memory, but caution dictated that he check it himself. Especially since he was a little concerned about his protégé's safety and wanted to make sure that the risk the boy was taking made sense.
-Please wait.- The priestess turned towards the pillar and stared at the column intently for a moment. After a while, she moved up the winding stairs, and Darius had to focus his gaze on her, because it seemed that the drawers in the unusual bookcase were jumping from place to place. The priestess stopped almost two floors higher and confidently reached for a drawer slightly above her head, pulled it out and quickly glanced through several volumes placed there. She took out one of the books and headed back.
The priestess stood in front of Darius again and spread the volume out on the counter. For a moment, she leafed through the pages covered with tiny characters.
-Nikos of Itea.- She read, pointing her finger.- A vampire historian who initially studied the history of wizard wars. After the death of his wife and daughter in a vampire blight, he abandoned his previous work and began researching rare diseases and ways to treat them. He published several books on the subject. Unfortunately, he died in a maritime disaster. All of his medical studies were published under the collective title Rare Diseases and How to Treat Them, with subsequent volumes bearing subtitles referring to the race they described.- The priestess's finger slid down the column and then to the next one on that page. - Indeed, one of these works deals with lycanthropes. Unfortunately, it is not in our collection.
-And the part about dragons?- Darius leaned in a little closer. The pages of the book were written in such small letters that to him they looked as if they had been painted over.
-Hmmm...- The priestess looked through the historian's bibliography once more. - I regret to say that we do not have that one either.
Bleist thought for a moment. He didn't expect to learn much, but the information about the historian himself was a good start to his search.
-Thank you very much, Reverend.- The mage bowed.
The priestess opened the book at the very end, where there were still blank pages.
-It seems that you are not the only one who has inquired about Nikos of Itea, Colonel.- The woman remarked, adding a note at the very end of the records.- One of the researchers staying at the temple was interested in this historian. It is possible that he will know something about the books you are interested in.
-Could the Reverend pass on my request for a meeting?- Darius was glad that there was still a chance he might find out something.
-Of course, Colonel.- The priestess scribbled a few words on a blank sheet of paper she took from under the desk. With a quick movement, she summoned a novice with a hood pulled deep over his head and a veil over his face, whispered a few words to him, handed him the written page, and sent him away with a gesture. - I will inform you when the answer arrives, Colonel. - The priestess turned and left the counter. - Now, please follow me.
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Darius rubbed his tired eyes and moved on to the next report. He had requested all official and unofficial correspondence concerning disputes between the army and the Watch over the past year, and he almost regretted not narrowing down the time period. Priestess Triven led him to one of the private reading rooms, where stacks of archival documents had already been prepared. Bleist did not expect that so many disputes could arise between two military organisations. He found almost everything from crude jokes to jurisdictional disputes to beatings. It was strange that no one had taken this seriously before.
-From bad to worse.- Darius muttered, thinking of the piles of papers lying on his desk in the Luminous Palace.
-You're doing well, Colonel.- Rex organised the documents already read by the Earl, noting on his list those that had attracted Bleist's attention.- We should be able to get to last December by evening.
Darius did not reply, afraid that he would not be able to hold his tongue and say one sentence too many. He was tired of reading more documents devoid of any deeper meaning. In addition, he had to compare reports from the army and the Watch on an ongoing basis, and in doing so, he had the impression that each time the counterparts described completely different events.
-God's punishment...- Bleist did not specify which god he was referring to, fearing that the deity would take it personally. That was all he needed. -Did everyone really just turn a blind eye to any problems?- He complained to himself.
-It seems to me that the colonel has not been interested in the situation in the capital for a long time.- Rex put down the papers he was holding and looked at the earl.- This situation has been common knowledge for a long time, although it is uncomfortable and disregarded.- The Guardsman assumed that the question was directed at him. - Until something irreversible happened, the superiors had no intention of getting involved. Considering that both the army and the City Watch did not have many opportunities to interact, it was thought that everything would work itself out. Well, that's what they thought... -He glanced gloomily at the piles of documents.
-I always end up with the worst job.- Darius picked up another page.
Before he could read anything, there was a knock at the door. Bleist got up before Rex could move, walked over to the door and opened it.
-I apologise for disturbing you, Colonel. - Priestess Triven stood a step away from the door. - I bring a reply from the scholar we discussed. Count Veson was extremely pleased to hear that you were also interested in Mr Nikos from Itea and is eager to speak with you.
-Thank you, Reverend.- Darius glanced behind him. The table was still covered with documents, and he even had the impression that there were more of them than when he first saw them.- Did the honourable count specify the date of the meeting?
-No. The count is currently working in the reading room a few floors below. He invites you to come when you have time, Colonel.
Bleist did not hesitate. He turned to the Guard.
-Rex, please finish organising the documents and take a break. We will continue when I return.- The disconsolate adjutant merely nodded.
-In that case, I will show you the way.- The priestess did not wait for Darius and immediately set off down the corridor.