Chương 24: Chapter 25: Still Even More Discoveries

It's dark when we finally arrive back at the Enclave and stable our horses. I grab Xan and close the door behind us. There's so many thoughts crowding my head it's difficult to concentrate. Almost as if they're greased up and trying to slip away. The way people spoke about it in town was surreal. As if they knew about it, but weren't directly affected by it. Like they were discussing a story. Did I perhaps miss an entire subject on the Blood Sect?

"Ria? I wouldn't normally ask because truth be told I'm always a bit scared of you, but is everything okay?" There's genuine warmth and concern in Xan's voice, and I can't help a small smile.

"Fine. It's all fine." I'm really using that word a lot, and it's a complete and utter lie. Taking a deep breath, I steady myself before responding again.

"Actually—did I somehow miss an entire subject on the history of the Blood Sect or something?" Xan blinks across at me.

"What are you talking about? That's an old wives' tale—told to scare children into behaving. Told to keep us…" But they pause, and I can see the confusion and concern crossing their face. Because that's how it happens. That's what I just felt in the marketplace. That seeping sensation of memories fighting to come to the fore again. Xan's brow furrows with what I can only perceive as effort recalling previous events.

"Yeah, but also the blood golems who attacked us and made us move from the Western Enclave." Each word they speak feels like they've extracted it from their memories with great difficulty. It's like a revelation in the mind. Slow at first. Recollection hitting faster as the moments pass by. We did, in fact, fight members of this Sect. I distinctively recall our Prefect requiring truth serum for interrogations. Did Aarron still have one of them for questioning? What ever happened with that?

This doesn't seem to be something we should have collectively just let fall by the wayside. I'm appalled at myself for not addressing it. For not remembering to follow up. That's not like me. That's not even like Xan, as flaky as they can get sometimes. And it's definitely not like Aarron or Lennick. My quarters don't have anything on the collection of books Lennick uses, but I do have copious volumes of botanical texts. I don't like the direction my train of thought is going, and yet, it makes the most sense.

Nothing else explains why I don't even want to remember the Blood Sect. Why it actively seems to slip from my mind unless mentioned or brought up by someone else. Even then I don't have this urgency to know more—even though I should. And what I do know feels slippery, like it's escaping my grasp. I've only really dabbled in potions, poisons, or substances that effect the mind. But I know there are powerful options for that sort of thing. Forgetfullness. Memory hazes.

"Don't you think it's sort of strange that we got attacked by the Blood Sect and their blood golems, and yet, no one is talking about it? There's no urgency to find them, and we've been linked to them again—in an obvious attempt to discredit us." I'm thinking out loud because I have to. If I keep it in my thoughts then it doesn't seem real or tangible at all. It slips away like an eel in the water. I'm sure there is something I'm forgetting… ironically enough.

Xan's brow is scrunched and I can see that they're fighting through the same fog I only just came through. It's not that our memories are gone as such, it's just got this lack of importance shrouding it. The question remains how. I flip through one of my massive tomes, bound in green leather. It's got scribblings in the margins, clarifications on the effects the actual plants provide. It's the only thing I have left of my mother—because I'd taken it to school the day the house burned down with them in it.

Years of her notes combined with years of my own. There. Right there. Spider venom. The Geistersinne spider. This spider is of medium size, regularly found around pine trees. Characterized by its pitch-black body that almost seems to swallow light. While not deadly, the bite stings and causes auditory and visual hallucinations. The after effect of which leads to imprecise memory recollection.

Depending on the size of the spider and the severity of the bite, it isn't unheard of for the distribution of the venom to result in death. Caution should be used when attempting to milk this spider. It is advised that the alchemist utilize protective clothing including a breathing apparatus so as not to inhale the fumes. Warning: Do not utilize this venom as a recreational drug. Some budding Sage's have attempted to get high off this. The result has caused complete memory loss in numerous cases.

I blink at the words and only just realize Xan seems to be speaking to me.

"... do I have to think so hard to remember what even happened?"

"I'm not completely certain yet, but I think…" And that's just it. How can I say that out loud when I'm not completely sure yet? Instead, I take a breath and close the book.

"I need to talk to Lennick about this. Or maybe just go and see if I can find any new information on it."

"Oh no you don't." Xan stands in front of my door, arms crossed.

"You are not getting out of here to run and spend hours in the lab without at least giving me something to soothe my mind."

"The Sect must do something to make us forget. Or if not that, to not attach as much importance to their presence. Suggestive mind manipulation if you will. There, did that help?" I raise an eyebrow, waiting. Xan shakes their head.

"No. It didn't. But it'd make for a great story to tell around campfires." They pause for a moment and then speak quieter.

"This all sounds so fantastical. Are you sure this is…real?"

"You remember the blood golems, right?" But Xan holds up a hand.

"I didn't mean that. I remember that enough to know that it should have been more important to me. You know? But… Who would, no, who could do something like that?"

"Apparently this Sect can." I heft the book under my arm.

"Which is why we need to find out more about them. Or anything, really."

"There's nothing in the library." Xan says, another frown on their face.

"I searched the reference system, and looked in all the places I could think of. Ancient Magic. The Magic Era. Blood Magic. Magic without Power. All the sorts of things. I mean the search catalogue isn't the most accurate thing, but it's all I had." True. It's not like Xan knew to go into more detail when researching at the time. That they knew to use round about search methods. Because I've only just realized that myself.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. However, this rumor like myth has survived and whatever it did to get to a place where no one truly believes the Blood Sect are real… It's through some fine subterfuge, and a lot of this is not what you're looking for.

"Up for some library time?" I decide on the spot that it's better to go to Lennick when I have more proof. Or more of a detailed theory anyway. I'm going by myself, but Xan's company is always welcome.

"Thought you'd never ask," Xan quips, but it falls flatter than usual. My friend is worried. Not that I blame them. This Enclave boasts an amazing library. While we carry books between them when we move, most Enclaves—even while we're not using them—have a fully-fledged library. The newer books travel between when we move, while the older volumes remain. Unlike other orders, our library never closes. Assassins don't keep to any one timetable. Comes with the job. However, as we enter the library, I stop short.

Xan doesn't notice and greets Keliar fondly.

"Hey there mate. Roped in again?" Keliar grins, looking up from the book he's reading as he mans the checkout desk.

"Something like that. Love the smell of old books. Let's me earn some extra money while I research for upcoming potential assignments."

"I didn't realize we could do that," I say, genuinely curious. Keliar smiles. Like usual though, it never quite reaches his eyes.

"Well, you've always been the alchemy guru. If I had half the ability with poisons that you do? I'd be milking it for all it's worth." True—I never really looked at it that way. Alchemy has never been a job to me, just a way of life.

"Yes. But you don't have to teach Novices here. Do you?" This time our yearmate laughs.

"Not quite. Especially since I only ever sign up for the night shift. Not used to seeing you in here, Taria. Anything I can help you find?" It's clear that he wants to get back to his reading. I wonder what's so fascinating.

"Do you have anything on the fall of the Magic Era?" I ask, attempting to sound as nonchalant as I possibly can.

"Oh, and anything on Magical Botanicals or something like that?"

"You never stop honing your craft do you?" Keliar shakes his head as he needles me good naturedly.

"Give me a few… I think I've got a few old and rare Botanicals books that might have something in them. Can't guarantee it though. That's a long time ago now. Should probably be slotted in with the myths now." He jots something down on a piece of paper.

"That's the location… And give me a few." I can see him thinking, tapping his pencil against the desk in a distracting rhythm. It's odd that I never saw Keliar as studious. In fact, I always thought he was the more bloodthirsty of our year. Books just don't seem to fit the way I'd categorized him. Although, I guess it's where everyone writes down their findings, jots down their methods. Enough reading could allow for multiple different theories for him to test out.

Being here makes perfect sense if I look at it that way.

"Oh yes!" His eyes shine. I wonder if that's because he's glad he got the content I was after, or else, he read it and is excited about the contents.

"Here." he jots down another number.

"Now there is relatively little about the fall of the Magic Era, however there are a couple of diaries down this way of people who witnessed it. And several theories in these two books I noted here." I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Surprised I like books? Or surprised I like reading?"

"Both." I answer honestly. Keliar laughs.

"Reading is all I did as a child. Anything I could find. I can read fast. It's the best escape from everything." He sits back down and picks up his book, eyes riveted back onto the page immediately, clearly dismissing us. Learned something new about one of my sort-of friends. Acquaintance really. Yearmate. For some reason it makes me feel closer to him. I didn't realize other people were escaping things before they came here. It makes a perfect sort of sense.

Xan leads the way through the library, following the numbers on the note Keliar gave us. I've not been in the library much in my entire time here. What books I didn't already own in regards to plants and poisons, I smuggled from Lennick's quarters until he came to get them back. Plants are my thing. I make sure I know all about them. The stone in here is muted, not filled with as much zest for life, or noise like the rest of the keep.

Their information is kept closely guarded, though I'm sure I could coax it out of it. But the books… That smell of knowledge? It's all around us. It reminds me of my mother's study and work room. Filled with so much love and data, and so much potential for the future.

"Here." Xan stops and reaches up to pull two books down. Theories on the Disappearance of Magic and Magical Make Believe—the Loss of an era.

"That doesn't sound very promising." I take the books from them anyway.

"Any more?" Xan is reading the spines, some of which are so faded they have to pull them down so they can read the imprint since the golden etching has faded.

"Maybe?" I start inspecting the ones on the shelf below where Xan is occupied, trying to see if there's something interesting here. Alchemy—a Beginner's Guide is here in abundance. Another seventeen copies. With the ones given out to all the Novices and Recruits, I swear we have about sixty copies of it in total. Defining Features of Native Flora. Oh! My mother used to have that book. I quickly add it to the growing pile in my arms. Only just beating Xan to the two more they add to it.

"Those are about it, I think." They grimace, obviously as disappointed as I am. Still, four books are four more than I'd assumed we'd get.

"Let's get these to a table, and then we can go looking for your magical botanicals or whatever you called them." Xan grins, taking the sting out of the teasing. I think it's teasing at least. Though I don't take offense at it, I am aware that many others would.

"I think the botanicals could be here too." But then I realize it's just that introduction to Alchemy books.

"Nope. They're two rows over." Xan grins as we find a table and put our pile of books there.

"Don't make a mess for me to clean up, you two," Keliar yells from the front of the library.

"Make us," Xan yells back.

"Guess we're the only ones in here at this time of night," I say, definitely not a fan of the screaming in the library. About ten minutes later we're sitting back at our table with three books that might have something on the damned spider in it. To the outside observer, I realize it's odd to be looking into botanical books for spider information. However, spiders are always around botanicals. This spider is specifically fond of pine. Voila. We have a connection and a likely source of information.

I divide the books into categories, and finally get around to seeing what the last two books Xan picked are. The first is just like the others. It's generic and I'm already aware that it's going to be fully of supposition and conjecture. So is the second. But it's the book wedged in between the two that catches my eye. Sects, Segues, and Suspicions—how the Power Around us Died. The book is thin—perhaps a hundred or so pages. It reminds me more of a journal, even though its pages are printed and cut precisely.

The spine is too thin to hold the title or any reference information. And there is no library stamp anywhere to be found on it. Just like the botanicals book I brought in with me. Xan is engrossed in one of the other books they pulled down. Flipping through pages like they're obsessed. Not that I blame them. Being able to recall incidents, events, everything—it's my secret power. Well, I mean, apart from the whole magic thing, anyway. Having my mind meddled with sets my blood boiling.

I clutch the book, squeezing it to my chest. The whispers start up in the back of my mind like an incessant buzz of activity. Read. Know. Understand. Those three words over and over in my head. If nothing else, this book will have something.

"You okay?" Xan doesn't even look up from the book they're scouring the pages of.

"I'm good," I say, and mean it. Even if it's just one thing, it's more than we had earlier. Because now I'm certain that the Blood Sect will remain elusive until we figure out how it's staying out of people's minds. Gathering up the books, I head to the entrance again. Xan finally looks up and raises an enquiring eyebrow.

"I prefer studying in my room." I call back softy over my shoulder, and wait for Keliar to check me out. But not with the thin book. It has no library tagging on it. So I slip it in the pages of the massive book I brought with me. Something tells me it's not part of the catalogue. Yet it was meant for me. Xan stays at the front of the library, chattering to Keliar while I feign fatigue, activate my safety net all around me, and head back to my room. Just a whisper of a touch along the stone walls and…

I pause for a moment and take in the stone halls all around me, hewn out of the rock of a mountain. That's an impressive feat in and of itself. How did they manage this hundreds of years ago? The answer hits me like a cart of bricks barreling out of control. Magic. Earth Magic. Sure, they could have used rock picks and hacked away at the mountain for a millennia or so. But I don't see Nightshade doing that. I don't see anyone doing that. Not if they had another choice.

I make a note to myself to seek out the history of our Order and check if there's anything in there pertaining to Magic. But for now, I need to get back to my room and lock myself away from prying eyes. Lamplight flickers as I activate the one on my side table before closing the door. My quarters are sparse as far as I'm concerned, and that's okay. None of us have many belongings. Doesn't really go with the lifestyle. Sitting up in my bed, propped with pillows and my warm blankets, I feel slightly out of place.

It's rare that I allow myself downtime. Right now it's necessary. I place the book on my lap, and run my hand over the cover almost reverently. The gold embossing on the front of the book looks like it's been hand stamped. Not uncommon, but it makes me wonder just where the book came from. Because the interior isn't hand written even though it's obviously not mass produced like so many are these days. With the invention of the presses, they've been able to print up to ten copies at once.

Takes a fraction of the time. But all this just for one? Sects, Segues, and Suspicions—how the Power Around us Died. The pages aren't brittle like the centuries-old books Lennick gave me. Instead, they're soft, supple. Beautiful to touch. If you are reading this, then you know. You realize that everything you've been told to believe about the world is suspicious, if not an outright lie. If you are reading this, then you know. There are reasons and machinations at work that aren't obvious to everyone.

Shadows that work in the background, keeping Arralesh's rightful rulers from flourishing. And if you are reading this, then you know. You know the magic never died.