So the auction was tomorrow?!
I could see all my plans evaporating in front of my eyes.
This meant we only had today to prepare! I had to select my final readings very carefully.
As if that wasn't enough, the auction was in the morning, so there wasn't even a chance to use the Core Partition tomorrow as well. Though I suppose that if I went into my Core Partition at 11 PM, I could maybe do two hours in a row, using the following day's hour too. I'd never tried it before, but the logic seemed sound.
Ah, this was a mess.
Llewellyn and I talked things over as we made breakfast.
"What do you make of it?" I asked.
Llewellyn flipped the omelette he was cooking, looking pensive.
"I don't know what to think," he said. "They probably suspect KARMA has got wind of it, but if they just cancel now, they won't be able to get rid of the artifacts, let alone make any money. They probably want to minimize losses. Besides, if they've really planned something, they might not want to miss this opportunity."
My thoughts precisely.
"Any ideas on what we should do?" I asked.
I'd hoped we'd be able to finally do that training session today, but it looked like our priorities had changed again.
"We could spend some time learning in my Core Partition," Llewellyn offered, "since I have extended access. But I doubt it'll be as effective as yours."
Oh! I hadn't even thought of that.
But would that help? This wasn't like cramming before the exams. I wasn't exactly sure what I could learn the normal way.
And I definitely couldn't let him see I'd been focusing on Blood Magic—that was out of the question. So what could I even focus on that could be helpful? More on Destabilized Artifacts' behavior, maybe?
"We need to focus on what we can actually control," I said, reaching for some butter. "We know the layout. We know where the exits are. But we don't know what other artifacts they'll have besides the bull ornament."
Penguin chirped from where he sat on the counter, surreptitiously dropping bits of fruit for Lumos, who wagged his tail. Then he seemed to think of something and chirped again, looking at me questioningly.
"I didn't forget," I said. "So yes, you're coming with us too. But I need you to stay hidden unless absolutely necessary."
Penguin waddled quickly in a small circle, maybe to shake off some adrenaline.
"At these events, they often scan for artifacts at the entrance," Llewellyn said. "Sometimes they make people hand things over. What do you want to do if they detect Penguin?"
Shit. I hadn't thought of that.
"They shouldn't though, right? TAPESTRY said he doesn't show up as an artifact at all."
"Hypothetically," Llewellyn said.
I scratched my head. "Then I'll go out, send him home, and come back in."
Penguin chirped immediately in protest.
"Hey," I said. "I know. Don't look at me like that; I also don't want to send you back. This is only an emergency plan. I'll send you to join Lumos if necessary—how is that? So you won't have to wait for us alone."
Penguin chirped even louder.
I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. It's not like we'd have any other choice.
"I mean it," I said, scooping him up. "We don't know how ruthless these people are and I don't want you getting hurt."
Penguin was still throwing a small tantrum, but there wasn't much I could do about it. I wasn't about to hand him over for them to hold in storage somewhere. With how dangerous that place was about to become, there was no telling what would happen, and I didn't trust them not to steal him.
"Alright," I said briskly. "How do we do this Core Partition thing today? Yours first for as long as we can, then we go to sleep in mine when we can't focus on anything anymore?"
"Sounds like a plan," Llewellyn said, collecting the plates and putting them in the dishwasher. "Give me ten minutes and I'll be ready to go."
***
We landed in Llewellyn's Core Partition with both Lumos and Penguin in tow.
The salt breeze hit my face immediately, reinvigorating my groggy brain. Just like last time, the familiar seaside town could be seen up close with its empty streets, but it looked different in daylight.
Penguin chirped and hopped out of my pocket, immediately transforming into a sugar glider and gliding toward Lumos, who barked excitedly as Penguin landed. They both followed us. After all, we were here for a study session; there was no reason to send them to a safe place this time.
"So," I said, looking around. "Library?"
Llewellyn nodded and started walking, his coat fanning around him. I fell into step beside him.
Through the window of a patisserie I spotted a self-decorating cake. The tailor's measuring tape tried to snap at me again as we passed, and Llewellyn waved it off without breaking stride.
We turned down a side street I hadn't explored before. The buildings here were taller, more imposing than the cheerful shopfronts.
"This is the biggest library," Llewellyn said. "And the most comfortable. There are smaller branches scattered around and many bookshops, but this has the most comprehensive collection. Besides, we can just ask the Core Partition to materialize the books we want."
I stared. "You weren't kidding about having libraries."
"I told you I explored."
I grinned.
Though… after last time, I had to shake my head to stop my mind going there. It wasn't very effective. I knew we were here to study, but…
I yanked Llewellyn into a kiss, then walked past him and pushed through the doors.
"Alright," I said. "Let's take a look inside."
***
This place was stunning. Honestly, I was a bit taken aback. It didn't look anything like your generic city library and looked more like something a king would have had built.
Bookshelves stretched toward a vaulted ceiling, spiral staircases could be seen here and there, and there were reading nooks tucked everywhere—window seats with cushions, alcoves with leather armchairs...
I let out a breath. "Okay. This is impressive."
We watched Penguin and Lumos look around, Lumos sniffing at a wooden decorative table.
"System," Llewellyn asked. "Where is the Destabilized Artifacts section?"
***
We both sat on a sofa with a stack of books, while Penguin and Lumos napped on the cushion between us.
An elegant coffee cart positioned itself nearby with coffee, tea, and snacks while we skimmed book after book.
Llewellyn pulled out a thick volume titled Destabilized Artifacts: Behavioral Patterns and Predictive Models, but that looked like something that would go over my head completely. I needed something I could actually use.
After skimming through a few texts on containment methods, I changed tactics. Maybe I couldn't focus on Blood Magic here, but there was something else I had eyed last time.
"System," I said. "Do you have books on glyphs of power?"
Llewellyn looked up at me.
"That's not a bad idea," he said. "I'll have some books on Geometric Casting instead. Something that might work against a Legendary-level Destabilized Artifact."
The System dumped a pile of books on the small table next to us.
Last time I'd already learned Blood Glyph Techniques for Cornering Hostile Targets, so now it was just a matter of memorizing more advanced glyphs. Granted, I'd used none in practice, but I was sure I could make it work.
Still. There was something I really needed to check.
I waited for Llewellyn to be particularly engrossed in one of his books before stretching and standing up.
"I'm just going to walk around for a bit," I said. "I want to see if anything jumps at me from the shelves."
Llewellyn nodded. "Go ahead," he said.
As soon as I turned a corner, I asked, "System, where can I find the Blood Magic section?"
***
I found a remote nook and sat down. I calculated I could be gone for about twenty minutes, at most, before Llewellyn came looking for me, so I had to be quick.
I skimmed a few books before zeroing on one that had what I wanted to know.
Blood serves as a conductor for Magic. The practitioner's own blood carries their unique magical signature, allowing for precise and powerful effects that standard Elemental Magic cannot achieve.
I turned the page.
The question of whether blood other than the practitioner's own can be used is complex. In theory, any blood containing magical residue can serve as a conductor. However, using another's blood introduces difficulties. The foreign magical signature may conflict with the practitioner's intent, producing unpredictable results.
Damn it. I'd hoped this wasn't the case and I could just get animal blood from a butcher shop or something. Though that would have been creepy as hell. Looked like I could only reliably use my own blood.
Historical records indicate that some practitioners achieved stable results with blood willingly given by individuals with compatible magical signatures. The key factor appears to be consent and compatibility rather than simple availability.
Hell no. Not an option.
Though I suppose I could give Llewellyn mine if he knew how to use it.
I heard footsteps approaching and I shoved the book back onto a shelf quickly, moving to a different bookshelf entirely and picking a book at random.
Llewellyn appeared a second later.
"Found something?" he asked.
"Just browsing," I said.
Llewellyn looked down at the book in my hands and paused, eyebrows raised.
Huh? I looked down at the book I was holding too, and—
"Stirred and Undressed: An Illustrated Guide to Aphrodisiac Drinks and Rope Play."
What!!!!
Llewellyn pulled the book out of my hands and crowded me against the shelf, looking ready to pounce. His eyes had gone dark.
"Didn't we say only water for you from now on?"