The Spirit Wilds: Magic of the Green Sage (Fall of the Sages Book 1), стр. 5

The spirit inclined their heads and faded into the door of the library, evaporating until there was nothing. Then there was a hum that made Bishta’s ears pop. She covered them on instinct, but realized that was the magic coming down to allow her passage. The massive doors unlocked with a click and swung open with an ominous groan.

Bishta sighed and steeled herself. It was time to get to work.

The inside of the library took her breath away. Stacks of books three stories high with ladders and stairs leading all over. Rows upon rows of texts going in either direction. Hundreds of rows. She walked between the main rows of three-story stacks until she came to a guardrail and looked down.

The library went down another ten levels at least, the hub being a large circular chamber. Bishta was at a loss for words. As she studied each level, she noted that there were doorways that led off to gods-knew-where. Other wings? This place was beyond immense, it was otherworldly. The library was legendary, but she hadn’t expected this.

Light streamed in through skylights built into the vaulted ceilings. Where the light couldn’t illuminate, torches and sconces were lit, as well as chandeliers. Must be magical, undying flames, because she doubted there was anyone here to maintain the light. The contrast of light and shadow made everything seem even larger.

She had no idea how to find what she wanted. One could get lost in this labyrinth and never see the light of day again. As much as Bishta wouldn’t have minded that fate ordinarily, because she could die happy reading all these books until the end of her days, she had a mission and it couldn’t be delayed.

It took a moment for her to ponder a solution before she thought of something. She cupped her hands over her mouth. “Hello? Aga-Kalar? Can you assist me?”

Perhaps it was a foolish request, but she knew guardian spirits often had multiple responsibilities. Hopefully, this one did as well.

“We can assist you,” the spirit said, suddenly behind her. Even though she had a feeling they were coming, Bishta still couldn’t keep herself from nearly jumping out of her skin. I need to get better at controlling myself, she thought with a scowl.

She composed herself, smoothing the seams of her cloak. “Yes, good.”

Aga-Kalar was a helpful host now that she’d gained entry, she had to admit. They showed her to the section she was looking for: demons, old gods, and how to commune with and summon them. Not exactly common knowledge. Summoning and controlling spirits was easy and straightforward and something that almost any sage could do. But demons, real demons from the other planes, was another matter all-together. They were entities of pure malice and destruction, and controlling them wasn’t easy.

But Bishta intended to do it anyway.

If Aga-Kalar had an opinion on the subject matter she was interested in, they didn’t voice it, which was fine by her. She didn’t want to know and she didn’t care about what they had to say.

They waved their arms and muttered something, a spell that she couldn’t make out. All of a sudden, she was lifted off her feet. It felt like she was underwater, floating, weightless, free. She and the spirit hovered over the ten-story pit of books and shelves and slowly descended all the way to the bottom. Down here, the shadows of the top levels blocked out the light from the skylights above, so only the sconces lit the way, dark and moody.

There were four doorways. Once her feet were back on the ground, Aga-Kalar motioned to the one directly across from Bishta. “The answers you seek are that way.”

“Thank you,” she said, and was actually sincere. Then the guardian spirit inclined their heads and faded away again, leaving her to her devices.

Bishta spent forever in the library poring over the books, searching for the answers she sought. She learned so much of what she wanted, and even more on things she had no interest in. And yet there was more still, so much more, impossibly more. It was doubtful she could ask Aga-Kalar for help because she wasn’t even certain what it was that she needed. She had an idea, of course. She knew what she wanted to do to achieve her goals, but some of the specifics alluded her.

But when the hours had grown long and her eyes began to grow weary, she found the perfect book, filled with everything she could ever want.

“Tes’leve Ikkon,” she said, reading the title. Treatises on the Dark, Spirits, and the Other Planes. She read one page, two, a hundred, and then almost the whole thing in several hours, her eyes wide and smile wider. Yes, this… This was what she needed.

The hours turned to night. She took notes on some scrolls she found and stuffed them into her pack. She was about to pack the book as well, but then she thought better of it.

“Aga-Kalar?” she called. With a breath, she braced herself for their inevitable appearance.

“How may we serve?” they said suddenly behind her. Bishta flinched again, but it wasn’t so bad.

Composing herself, she turned to them, though she was sure she looked a mess after her journey and the many sleepless nights and endless walking. Oh, how she needed a bath.

“Am I allowed to take a book with me once I leave this place?”

“No, you may not. All pieces must remain in the library. Attempting to steal from the library will have dire consequences.”

She’d expected as much. It would be too easy if she could just take anything she wanted with her, wouldn’t it? Of course, in the libraries of Al-Sevara and Masrataa, the wealthy could check out books and return them, though the knowledge there was a lot less dangerous than what she had before her.

“Okay, thank you, spirit,” she said with a nod. The guardian whisked away. There was no