The librarian of Kordell was infamous for two solid reasons.
The first and most glaring reason was her strict attitude towards noise. In the domain that was her library, she held utmost importance for silence.
It didn't help that she was a sound mage who could snuff out your voice if you were a decimal or two too loud.
Imagine if you were looking through books and you accidentally drop one. The already quiet space would deafen entirely as a silent cast would push you into a designated 'time out corner'.
A bit much if you'd ask me. We were nearly adults at this point.
Another reason as to why she was so notorious would be her frightening magical abilities. It was already impressive enough to be working with the difficult element of sound. But her prowess extended beyond her own choice of magic.
Gifted with powerful innate wisdom and processing abilities, the quiet librarian was unknowingly one of the most powerful entities that treaded these halls. Capable of multi-casting spells and silent casting, she was easily a Hero class individual if not for the limited power of sound.
But not everyone knew this, and certainly no students caught wind of this until a danger later in the plot had pulled her out of hiding.
But I knew this.
Finding myself deep in the library shelves and rummaging through books of all kind, I didn't care for the amount of noise being made. Although it must hurt one's ego to be put in the naughty corner at this age, there was something to gain in that specific space.
After visiting the dojo there was plenty of time left in the day for further exploring. Unlike the undercity of Caraine or Jye which held very little secret power ups, the grounds of Kordell held many.
It was in this library where a special kind of power up could be found. But first I needed to be put in the perfect position for it.
A rough drop of a book back onto the shelf seemed to do it.
Instantaneously and without any reaction from my blessing, I was pulled gently to the corner of reflection. Scoffing a bit, I proceeded to continue searching through books at a brisk pace.
But once again at the rough sounds coming from my general vicinity a burst of magic in the air dampened the noise as a figure seemed to walk closer to me.
Shrouded in the darkness from towering shelves and the dim lighting that accompanied the library, an elderly woman seemed to float towards me. Her smooth gait and the fact her legs were completely hidden by her long dress made it seem like some apparition ready to snatch my soul.
But I knew better than that...
I just had to pretend I didn't.
Jolting at her sight I pushed off the shelf and tumbled backwards onto the carpeted floor. A face of fear stretched across my face as my body trembled.
Coming into the light the librarian bore a face of annoyance. Her wispy grey hair hung by her sides as her frail limbs moved methodically. A sort of rhythm they obeyed.
An old crone that was in league with the founder of this establishment, her name was Geraldine Kan. 'Witch of Hollow'.
"....What could you possibly be searching for, making all this racket?" The witch's voice echoed despite the softness of it.
My body still shocked on the floor and recovering from her sight, my mouth opened but failed to respond to the simple question.
The librarian looked with disinterest at my fake fear. With a snap that rung in the air, I felt my body lift and prop itself on two legs.
"You first years are all wusses..." Geraldine grumbled in a low voice, the fact it was a quiet enough space for me to hear was lost to her. Or perhaps intentional. "This old woman isn't some ghost who's going to kill you, now answer my question."
"....W-What question?" I retreated from my tall posture and looked down.
"With all this noise your making, surely your looking for something specific in my library? Or are you deliberately making me waste my time?" Her face tilted down and looked with rising anger.
"N-No no, never!... Not at all." My voice rose in defence before falling to an acceptable range. "I was looking for a certain book that I thought might help me..."
Geraldine crossed her arms and looked unimpressed. Yeah, no kidding your looking for a book.
"It's called 'The discovery of mana: Translation of movement'"
Once my voice finished, another snap of the librarian's fingers brought out a floating book from the shelves. Grabbing it and flicking through to check it's contents, Geraldine shut it and readily handed it to me.
"Here."
"Thank you."
But as my hand reached out to grab it, the witch blinked in surprise. Her hand hastily withdrew with the book and flipped it open again, the pages riffling as she searched.
This time with a serious look on her face, I could see her eyes moving back and forth across a certain page. And for a moment, there was this pause of recognition.
Of course there would be, after all.
That book was said to be cursed.
It would be in the duelling club arc where this thing would find itself in the hands of a vengeful senior. After losing a bet to be Alicia Hanns' sparring partner, they hid themselves in the library to escape the embarrassment and humiliation.
But by chance they stumbled across this book that was cursed. The origin was foggy at best and the most realistic interpretation was that it was some plant by a dark organisation, but what was known was it's hypnotic abilities.
Which resulted in a really insignificant conflict to be blown out of proportion and negatively impact the main cast. But with it out of the picture, all's well that ends well.
"....I don't know what to say," Her wrinkled face scrunched as she faced back to me. "I owe you one boy. Take this as a thank you."
A blur of an object soared through the air before hitting me square on the forehead and landing with a thud on my hand. My quick glance revealed this item to be a small handheld compass.
"B-But I still need that book?" I mumbled. My feet shuffled and an exacerbated groan echoed from the ghostly woman. Irritation clearly evident with me.
"It's a book navigator," Her grey hair swished in the air as she turned to leave. "Just describe the book you want to it and it'll point to it's direction. If you need anymore help than that, then it's beyond me to fix your idiocy."
Watching the librarian leave in a haunting manner along the bookshelves, I released the smile I was fighting back for so long. Oh how the turntables.
It was Arthur that was supposed to get this one. But now that I had stolen it from him, it would finally be put to proper use.
What an idiot to be using it on actually studying.
There was a far greater use for this clearly hinted in the book but never explored.
One that would give me some semblance of reassurance.
I guess I'm now adding tomb raiding on my to-do list?