Chương 247: Chapter 243 - The Veiled Library

Scarlett and her companions found themselves in a dimly lit underground chamber, its age-old stone walls sporadically illuminated by glowing green crystals, painting everything in hues of ghostly jade. It was eerily silent here, broken only by the soft echoes of their footsteps. Statues of ancient Zuver lined the walls, their impassive stone faces eternally watching. At the center of the chamber stood rows of bookshelves, obscured by a dark, purplish fog that seemed almost sentient, hinting at hidden knowledge.

Given this place's importance, it was smaller than expected. It reminded Scarlett of the more basic Zuverian ruins she had explored in the empire, rather than the grandiose architecture typical of the Rising Isle.

"Uh, where are we?" Allyssa asked in a low whisper.

"In the Veiled Library," Yamina replied.

"It's one of the Rising Isle's most hidden sanctuaries, home to perhaps the world's most extensive collection of rare arcane lore and esoteric texts."

"Oh…" Allyssa glanced at Scarlett, a hint of concern flickering in her eyes.

"And we've just slipped in?"

"It would be best not to dwell on the particulars," Scarlett said, dismissing the girl's worries about their unofficial entry. It was possible—perhaps even likely—that she would have gained access through official channels eventually, but the opportunity presented by Yamina had been too good to pass up. There was an artifact that she wanted here. Not one that she needed, but it would be good to get her hands on it if possible, and she doubted the Isle would willingly part with it if they knew of its existence.

Yamina, though, seemed different. Scarlett's eyes dropped briefly to the [Orrery of Dissonant Convergence] on her wrist, then moved to the wizard. Even with it aimed at Yamina, it didn't show more of a reaction than it had before. Since its presence went unnoticed by most, she'd decided to wear it to better get a grasp of its exact purpose.

"I assume we can explore the collection freely?" she asked, gesturing towards the stone shelves.

"Feel free," Yamina replied, her robe sleeves flowing as she motioned with her hand.

"I won't stop you." Rosa stood beside Scarlett, her gaze skeptical as she surveyed the shelves.

"You know, for supposedly being such a trove of knowledge, I can't help but note that there's a suspicious lack of books here." Yamina looked at her with a knowing smile.

"Are you certain about that?"

"Well, not when you ask me like that."

"Perhaps you would like a firsthand look?" The wizard nodded towards the closest of the fog-shrouded shelves. Rosa eyed the shelf with wariness.

"What, should I just plunge my hand into mist?"

"That would be a good start." Rosa narrowed her eyes, voice laced with mock suspicion.

"This won't result in some finger-eating monster latching onto my hand, will it?"

"It would be a first if it did."

"That's not a no." Despite her apparent unease, Rosa approached the shelf and gingerly reached into the swirling purple fog. The moment of contact seemed to surprise her, and she quickly retracted her hand, now holding an aged, black leather-bound book. The bard stared at the cover with widened eyes. Yamina stepped closer to her, reading the title aloud." Guardians of the Veil: Warding Against the Blazes." She glanced at Rosa meaningfully.

"An interesting choice." Rosa stayed quiet for a moment, then released a light, dismissive laugh.

"I guess I'm just naturally interesting… Not that I made any conscious choice here." Yamina chuckled softly.

"The Veiled Library does not actually let you choose. Instead, it presents the seeker with either the tome they most desire, or the one that aligns best with what they're currently searching for. It appears this book is precisely what you need at this moment." Scarlett noted Rosa's discomfort at that response and found it rather refreshing.

"All we need to do is reach into the shelf, then?" Shin asked as he walked up to the shelf as well, the interest clear on his face.

"That's correct." With a blend of anticipation and curiosity that one didn't often see in him, the young man extended his hand into the fog, withdrawing a thick volume filled with dense text on the cover.

"Fascinating," he mumbled, examining the title."'Regulations of Trade Routes: An Exhaustive Compilation, 8th Century'," Allyssa read.

"Only you would find excitement in what might be the dullest tome known to man." She shook her head, then reached into the shelf herself, drawing out a book. Her expression froze as she saw its title. Shin leaned over, reading it out for her." Elixirs of the Ancients: Secrets of the Alchemical Vanguard." Allyssa turned to Yamina, her voice a mix of thrill and disbelief.

"Is this real?"

"Every item within the Veiled Library is," the wizard confirmed. The girl's eyes sparkled with awe as she returned her focus to the book.

"This book is famous. My old teacher told me it was one of the most sought-after works in alchemy, with only a few copies in the entire empire. I've always wanted to read it." She sent Scarlett a hopeful gaze.

"Please tell me we'll have enough time for me to take some notes before we leave?"

"The Library grants copies of any tome it presents which last for a whole week," Yamina explained.

"You may keep this one." Hearing this, Allyssa's astonishment morphed into unbridled joy, her face lighting up with a radiant smile.

"I think this is what they mean by 'the pot calling the kettle black'," Shin said.

"Oi, you be quiet. Don't think being right gives you the right to be smug." Allyssa sent him a cautionary glare. She then looked to Fynn, who had hung back, showing little interest in the shelves. Her smile turned slightly mischievous.

"Hey, Fynn, why don't you give it a go as well? I'm curious what it gives you." Fynn gave her a disinterested look, then stepped up to the shelf and reached through the mist. What he pulled out was a hefty tome even thicker than Shin's. Its cover was plain and seemed to scream practicality, stamped with a single title: ' Fulton's Compendium on Human Engagements: Principles of Social Converse.' A stifled snort escaped Rosa, while Fynn examined the book with a frown.

"Who's Fulton?"

"Presumably, it's referring to Fulton the Hermetic Scholar," Yamina supplied.

"He was a renowned arch wizard here a little over a century ago. Apparently, he was most known for his reclusive nature and preference to avoid even other wizards." You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Rosa seemed to struggle to contain her laughter, and even Allyssa couldn't hide a grin. Fynn, however, seemed genuinely puzzled by the book in his hand.

"But I don't need this," he said. Yamina studied him quietly for a moment.

"Then perhaps the Library has misjudged your needs." She then turned her attention to Scarlett.

"Now, Baroness, would you like to try?" Scarlett looked from the woman to the fog that draped over the shelf like a veil. Up close, it looked a lot more uninviting than it had through a screen. There was definitely a part of her that blanched at the thought of pushing her hand into that. After having taken a moment to steel herself, she reached out through the veil, which felt like penetrating a cold vacuum.

Suddenly, something solid seemed to slot itself into her grip, and as she pulled her hand back, she found herself holding a leather-bound book. Her forehead knitted together as she examined the cover. It was completely bare. No title or anything. Flipping it open, she discovered that the pages were blank as well. Turning to Yamina, she found the wizard observing her with a thoughtful expression.

"What is the meaning of this?" Scarlett asked. The woman was silent for a few seconds before responding.

"It seems the Library doesn't possess what you seek." She reached into the shelf herself, retrieving a similarly blank book.

"Something we share in common, apparently." A small sense of disappointment washed over Scarlett. She'd hoped to uncover something related to the Anomalous One and its sealing. The Veiled Library had seemed like her best chance for that. Finding something to help in completing Arlene's quest would also have been nice, but maybe the Rising Isle didn't store their historic records here. Following Yamina's lead, Scarlett returned her book to the shelf and surveyed the rest of the chamber.

The exit, marked by a simple stone staircase, wasn't far, and there wasn't much else of note. Outwardly, this place seemed really unimpressive. Of course, she doubted Yamina would have brought her here if the woman thought there wasn't more to this place. Her gaze landed on a Zuver statue in the corner, a quill in its hand. She turned back to Yamina.

"The Veiled Library provides what it believes you need or want, correct? If so, I presume it is possible to refine one's request to influence the outcome?" Yamina nodded.

"It's possible, yes, though it requires practice."

"But you are capable of it?" The woman pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, the lenses catching the ambient light in the room.

"Naturally. Are you searching for something specific?"

"A text pertaining to the Zuver and the custodian of this library," Scarlett said. Tilting her head slightly, Yamina reached into the shelf, withdrawing a slender, aged book adorned with intricate Zuverian script.

"The Librarian's Final Word," she translated its title.

"Hmm, curious. I wonder if this is recorded in the archives? I wasn't aware the Library ever had a librarian."

"I have found several references to them in my own research," Scarlett said.

"It surprises me that you have not." Yamina shrugged, handing the book to Scarlett.

"I am not an expert on the Zuver. My focus lies elsewhere."

"So I have heard." Accepting the tome, Scarlett headed towards the statue in the corner.

"Magister Penney shed some light on your circumstances. It would seem there is far more to you than meets the eye."

"Perhaps so," Yamina replied with a nonchalant smile, following closely with the others.

"At the very least, that is one way of seeing it. I find that, often, complexity is more a matter of perception."

"That is true, I suppose. I am prone to overthinking myself." Scarlett stopped in front of the Zuver statue. It was taller than her, with protruding brows and elongated, elf-like ears.

"Many have scoured this library for secrets, to no avail," Yamina mentioned, joining Scarlett in examining the statue.

"Myself included." Scarlett glanced at her.

"Did the same not apply to the Astral Sanctum?"

"It did. I just thought I should temper your expectations about discovering anything new here."

"How considerate of you." Scarlett raised the tome in her hands, not bothering to open it as she positioned it before the statue. At first, nothing happened. Then, a glimmer lit up the statue's eyes, its hand opening to accept the book, which unfurled on its own. The statue then maneuvered its quill to the open page. Suddenly, the chamber rumbled, and a segment of wall to their right became transparent, revealing a hidden staircase.

Looking to Yamina, Scarlett found the woman watching the scene with an intrigued, but not surprised, expression. There was a brief period of silence where nobody said anything, broken by Rosa.

"By the light of Ittar's shimmering philtrum!" the bard gasped, pressing her hands to her face in disbelief.

"The wall just vanished! Like magic! I can't believe what I'm seeing!" Everybody turned to look at her. Rosa paused briefly before clearing her throat lightly and smiling.

"Sorry. The moment felt like it lacked a certain amount of flabbergasted shock, so I thought I'd provide it."

"…Ever the performer, Miss Hale," Scarlett said.

"I live to entertain, my Lady." Allyssa stepped up to pat Rosa on the shoulder.

"Hey. I appreciate your efforts."" Thank you." The group approached the newly revealed entrance, peering down the staircase. It was spacious enough for them to walk side by side, embellished with intricate carvings that spiraled down its walls, illuminated by the soft glow of green crystals, leading deep into the bowels of the earth. Rosa let out an impressed whistle.

"Looks like we have quite the descent ahead of us."

"That we do," Scarlett agreed.

"We should begin immediately if we wish to return before dawn." Taking the lead, she started down the stairs, which she suspected plunged even deeper than those in the Astral Sanctum. Fynn quickly moved past her to the front, while Shin guarded their rear, with the rest of the group nestled safely in between. As they descended, Scarlett cast a sidelong glance at Yamina, who still appeared unruffled by their surroundings.

"It almost seems as though you anticipated this, Senior Wizard Ward. That is curious, considering you yourself suggested the Library held no secrets."

"Please, just Yamina is fine," the woman replied.

"Or Miss Ward, if you care for the formalities. As for anticipating things, I truly had no idea what was here. I simply assumed that you would be able to uncover something."

"And what made you so confident? Is it the experiences in the Astral Sanctum, or does your confidence stem from insights shared by Dean Godwin?" Yamina seemed to consider the question for a moment.

"A bit of both, perhaps?" Scarlett paused briefly, scrutinizing her and wondering if there could be more to it, then she refocused on the path ahead.

"Earlier, the Library presented us both blank volumes. I believe I grasp the rationale behind why mine was empty, but why was yours? What question of yours is it that remains unanswered even by the Veiled Library?"

"That's a rather direct line of inquiry, Baroness. Might I expect you to share your secrets as well if I reveal mine?"

"Not at this moment, no." Out of the corner of her eye, Scarlett noticed a subtle smile on the wizard's face.

"In that case, I think I'll remain equally reserved."

"So be it." She was curious about what Yamina might be searching for. Presumably, it was something significant enough to warrant bringing Scarlett here covertly. Still, she wasn't quite willing to divulge anything about the Anomalous One or the fate of this world to Yamina when they'd only known each other for a few days. With Godwin, she'd at least had some insights into his character from the game. The group continued in silence until Allyssa broke it.

"So, what should we expect from here? This place seems a bit different from the other Zuverian ruins we've visited, but should we still expect a fight?" Everyone turned their gazes to Scarlett, including Yamina.

"…It would not surprise me if we did indeed encounter some resistance," she said.

"If so, try to avoid damaging the surroundings if you can." She looked at Yamina.

"Can you identify and detect any threats with your spells?" The woman waved her hand through the air, leaving a trail of blue light. Her brows furrowing slightly.

"Divination spells are obstructed here, and I don't think I will be able to deconstruct the wards responsible. We'll have to proceed further to see what I can do."

"Very well." Since Scarlett wasn't sure how capable Yamina was in combat, it was best to assume that their party would be doing most of the work. As they descended further, Rosa sidled up to Scarlett, leaning close to her in a whisper.

"Hey, just checking. In case we do run into trouble, should I hold back on using my special charms, or are we pretending those don't exist right now?" She nodded quietly towards Yamina, who had her head turned away from them at the moment, examining some of the wall inscriptions. Scarlett considered the wizard for a bit. She had a hunch that Yamina finding out about Rosa's particular constitution wouldn't be a problem, but it was probably best to play it safe.

"For the time being, keep to your normal charms."

"Understood, boss lady," Rosa replied with a mock salute. Eventually, as they neared what seemed to be the bottom of the passage, Yamina spoke up.

"I'm curious," she said, turning to Scarlett.

"How many locations like this one are you aware of on the Isle?" Scarlett regarded her evenly.

"…It is difficult to say. There are some I have encountered only in passing references, so I cannot be certain they exist. There are also those that might have already been uncovered by the wizards here." The woman mulled this over.

"Along with the Veiled Library and the Astral Sanctum, I believe you also mentioned the Hall of Echoes during your initial discussions with Grand Wizard Hartford. The council is working under the assumption that you hold the secrets to all three. Is that correct?" It seemed like the woman really was privy to the Isle's council meetings.

"Possibly," Scarlett replied.

"Even just the possibility is an intriguing one," Yamina said.

"The Hall of Echoes has always been a particular fascination of mine, despite its irrelevance to my field."

"Then should luck be on our side, we might explore whatever it may hide in the future." Scarlett was planning on visiting the Hall of Echoes eventually, considering its significance in the game. But that would have to wait, though.

"For now, let us focus on what lies ahead. We will soon see what the Veiled Library has to show us."