Chapter 4
Tess
As I followed Pippa's bright red, electric Fiat along the narrow, unmarked road, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement. We'd been driving for about ten minutes, winding our way through the outskirts of Drakehaven.
Pippa steered her tiny car up a road flanked by towering pines. Their leafy branches created a canopy overhead, dappling the pavement with sunlight. I found myself holding my breath, anticipation building with each turn.
"It's beautiful here," I murmured, my gaze sweeping over the natural beauty surrounding us.
Suddenly, the scenery shimmered and changed in an instant, leaving me gasping. My car passed through some invisible barrier, and we were driving toward a breathtaking sight.
Before me stretched a magnificent castle, its stone facade kissed by the golden hues of the setting sun. Grand spires soared towards the sky, crowned with dark slate roofs. Solid walls, large windows, and sculpted stonework spoke of a fortress meant to last through the ages.
Almost as striking was the towering wrought iron fence encircling the grounds. Intricate metal vines were adorned with life-like iron roses in full bloom. Their petals glinted as if touched by morning dew.
"Wow," I whispered, enraptured by the sight. The child in me who had loved fairytales wanted to pinch herself to prove this was real. After years of dreaming about magic and wondering if I'd ever experience it firsthand, here I was, driving towards a castle straight out of a fantasy novel.
My heart raced as we approached the gates. Was this really happening? Was I, Tess Whittaker, about to step into the legendary Dragonne Library?
We parked outside the grand iron gates. Up close, the metalwork was even more stunning, the "vines" seeming to creep and curl before my eyes. Strange, considering it was iron.
As I stepped out of my car, a sudden realization hit me. "Oh no, Pippa! What about Whiskey? I can't leave him in the car."
Pippa's eyes widened for a moment before she broke into a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Tess. I've got the perfect solution. Leo, our guard, he's actually a lion shifter. He loves animals and would be more than happy to look after Whiskey while we're inside."
I blinked, surprised. "A lion shifter? Is that... safe for Whiskey?"
Pippa laughed. "Absolutely! Leo's a big softie when it comes to animals. He has a special area set up for pets of visitors. Whiskey will be pampered like royalty, I promise."
Relief washed over me. "That's... actually amazing. Thank you."
We retrieved Whiskey from the car, and I hugged his carrier close as Pippa led me to a discreet guard booth tucked amidst the trees. The guard greeted her warmly before his shrewd gaze settled on me. The way he carried himself—confident, self- assured, subtly intimidating—made me certain he was no mere human guard.
"Tess, this is Leo. He's one of the guards here," Pippa's voice broke through my musings. "And he'll be taking care of Whiskey for us."
Leo nodded in greeting, his gaze raking over me in swift assessment before softening as he looked at Whiskey. I suppressed a shiver, feeling suddenly exposed under that penetrating stare. His eyes narrowed slightly, as if he could see right through me.
"She's with me," Pippa added, giving Leo a pointed look. "And this handsome fellow is Whiskey. Think you can keep him company for a bit?"
Leo's stern expression melted into a warm smile as he peered at Whiskey. "It would be my pleasure," he said, his voice a deep rumble. "Don't worry, little one. We're going to have a great time."
As I hesitantly handed over Whiskey's carrier, I couldn't help but marvel at the strange turns my life had taken. Here I was, entrusting my beloved cat to a lion shifter at the gates of a magical library. The absurdity of it all wasn't lost on me.
Pippa hooked her arm through mine, guiding me toward the gate. With a gentle creak, the iron gates parted. We stepped onto the grounds, and the instant my foot touched the earth, a strange tingle of awareness rushed over me. My hair stood on end as a faint hum of energy thrummed through my body.
Nestled in the heart of the forest, the library looked like a castle pulled from the pages of a storybook. Massive trees stood with their roots deep and limbs stretched protectively over the structure. "Welcome to the Dragonne Library," Pippa said with a wide grin.
As we strolled along the path, I couldn't help but comment on the level of security. "Seems like they're really serious about protecting their books," I remarked, thinking of the ward, the fence, and the guard at the gate.
Pippa laughed. "Not just books, Tess. Dragons take knowledge very seriously."
I halted in my tracks. "Wait, what? 'Dragonne' isn't just a cool name?"
Her laughter echoed through the forest again. "Nope. This library was created by dragons long ago to collect and protect knowledge."
My heart pounded with excitement. I had always loved dragons; their strength, their wisdom, their majesty. To be in a place they had built was amazing.
"But it's not that hard to get access as a supe," Pippa continued, leading me up a flight of steps. "Mostly academics come here, though. It's not exactly on the bus route."
I nodded, understanding the practicality of it all but still awed by the grandeur. "But a guard? Seems like overkill."
Pippa glanced back at me, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Who said he's just protecting the library?"
Before I could ask what she meant, we stepped into the library itself and I lost my breath.
The interior was nothing short of majestic. Towering bookshelves lined every wall, stretching so high they seemed to kiss the ceiling. Stained glass windows bathed the room in vibrant hues of crimson and gold, illuminating ancient texts and leather-bound tomes.
I was entranced by the grandeur of it all. I had always loved libraries, but this was beyond anything I had ever imagined.
Pippa led us into the foyer, explaining the layout of the library. There were multiple wings, with each floor within a wing containing books specific to one race. The East Wing, second floor, for example, housed texts pertaining to shifters.
Now that Pippa had explained the library's organization a bit, I noticed that each floor had an elaborately decorated door that seemed to indicate the race that section was dedicated to.
The door to the Shifter section was carved with beautiful and dynamic images of various animals. I could see bears, deer, wolves, and many others, all moving seamlessly and in harmony with one another. It was stunning.
"And over there, that's the Human section." Pippa pointed to a large wooden door on the first floor, with "Humanity" carved along the top. Below the text was a beautiful tree carving. Each season was represented on it. From spring's budding leaves, through summer's lush canopy, to autumn's vibrant colors, ending in winter's stark bareness.
My eyebrows knitted together in surprise. "Wait, they have a section for humans? But we're not... you know..." I trailed off, unsure how to phrase it without sounding ignorant.
"Supernatural?" Pippa supplied, chuckling softly at my discomfort. "Yeah, we get that reaction a lot."
"But why?" I pressed on, genuinely curious.
Pippa leaned against a bookshelf, her red hair catching the light from the stained glass windows. "Dragons don't discriminate when it comes to knowledge," she explained. "They value all of it. Every race, every culture, every bit of history... it's all important to them."
Just then, a frazzled staff member burst into our path. "Thank the goddess you're here, Pippa!" she exclaimed. "Wesley was attempting to organize books and... well, let's just say a book took flight and now it's in need of repair."
"Wesley again?" Pippa sighed, an amused smile tugging at her lips. "I'll take care of it. Tess, feel free to explore on your own."
I waved her off. "No worries. I'm basically in heaven."
I watched Pippa disappear through the ornate double doors, a look of fond exasperation on her face as she rushed off to deal with the latest library mishap.
Despite her harried exit, I couldn't help but smile. There was something utterly charming about this place—the way it seemed to hum with ancient secrets, the scent of aged paper and leather mingling in the air.
With Pippa gone, I found myself drawn deeper into the library, my fingers trailing along the spines of books older than civilizations. Each tome seemed to whisper its secrets, beckoning me to unlatch its cover and dive into the knowledge within.
Suddenly, an unseen force tugged at me. It wasn't physical, more like a gentle suggestion in my mind, urging me forward. I followed, winding through the stacks. The shelves seemed to lean inward, guiding me along an invisible path.
"Hello?" I called out softly, a mix of curiosity and nervousness in my voice. "Is someone there?"
No one answered, but the pull grew stronger. I turned a corner and found myself facing a pair of intricately carved wooden doors. Elaborate dragons adorned the frame, their scales rendered in exquisite detail.
My heart raced as I reached for the iron handle, the metal cool beneath my fingertips. The door swung open with surprising ease, revealing a spiral staircase beyond.
As I climbed, the air thickened with an unseen charge that danced across my skin. Light appeared above, a warm, flickering glow that beckoned me onward. I emerged into a circular chamber, the ceiling arching high overhead in a masterpiece of stained glass. Dragons soared across the domed expanse, their wings outspread and scales shimmering with every imaginable hue.
But it wasn't the artistry that stole my breath away. It was the presence I felt surrounding me, ancient and wise. The room itself thrummed with anticipation, and I knew, with a certainty that defied logic, that the library was aware of me.
"Hello?" I called out again, my voice barely above a whisper as I turned in a slow circle, taking in every detail of this sacred space.
The circular chamber was a marvel of beauty and craftsmanship. Instead of bookshelves, the curved walls were lined with intricate alcoves and niches, each one holding objects that seemed to pulse with barely contained energy. Crystals of various sizes and colors dominated the collection.
The air itself felt different here—thicker, charged with an energy that made my skin tingle and my hair stand on end.
A warm resonance bloomed within my mind, like the embrace of a long-forgotten friend. Words were not spoken, but emotions and impressions eddied through me—curiosity, welcome, and a hopeful eagerness.
"I... I'm not sure how I found this place," I admitted, flushing. "The door, it seemed to call to me, and then the stairs appeared..."
Amusement blossomed within me, a sense of childlike delight at my wonder. The presence brushed against my consciousness again, and I finally understood—I had been invited here, summoned by the intelligence that was the Dragonne Library itself.
Just as I was beginning to process this incredible realization, movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. I spun, my heart leaping into my throat, only to be met with a sight that stole the very breath from my lungs.
She was magnificent—a dragon larger than any I had imagined, her sinuous body a tapestry of rust and gold. I stood frozen, awe and disbelief warring within me.
The dragon regarded me for a long moment, her eyes ancient and wise. Then she dipped her regal head in greeting. Her voice resonated within my mind, rich with power and gentle authority.
"Be at peace, young one. You have been summoned to this place, though I confess, even I did not foresee the circumstances that would bring you here."
I swallowed hard, finding my voice. "You... you know who I am?"
"Indeed I do, Tess," the dragon replied, amusement coloring her mental tone. "I am Moriyana, Grand Luminary of the Dragonne Library. It is my sacred duty to safeguard the wisdom and lore of our kind."
As I struggled to process this, the Library's presence intensified around us. A peculiar resonance thrummed underfoot, raising the fine hairs on my arms. Before my eyes, a nearby shelf shimmered, its surface becoming fluid. From within, an object slowly emerged—a fist-sized quartz crystal, its facets glinting with inner light.
"It seems the library wishes to share something with you," Moriyana observed, her mental voice tinged with curiosity.
Guided by an instinct I didn't fully understand, I sat cross-legged on the floor. The crystal drifted down, hovering before me at eye level.
"Dragons do not record our lore as your kind does," Moriyana explained, settling herself more comfortably. "We use what we call Flameborn Lore—memories and experiences preserved in crystalline form, to be relived and shared across generations."
I nodded, mesmerized by the gently rotating crystal. "How does it work?"
In response, a violet flame bloomed at the tip of Moriyana's claw. "Allow me to show you," she said.
When the flame touched the crystal, the quartz blazed with sudden, intense light. I instinctively raised an arm to shield my eyes, but the light didn't burn. Instead, it enveloped me in a warm, welcoming embrace.
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, like a dam bursting in slow motion, the light expanded outward. I felt myself falling, tumbling through a kaleidoscope of light and shadow. An exhilarating thrill rushed through me as I surrendered to its pull.
A vast expanse unfolded before me—swirling energies and colors stretched to infinity. As I watched in wonder, celestial bodies took shape, moving in precise, stately arcs across the cosmic canvas.
"Sovrax," a voice whispered in my mind. Somehow, I understood—this was the realm of Order, the cosmos in all its grand, clockwork perfection.
Before I could fully grasp it, the scene shifted. Another realm blossomed into existence—wild energies in constant flux, creation and destruction in an endless dance.
"Alaia," the voice intoned. The realm of Chaos, untamed and ever-changing.
I witnessed their intricate interplay, the delicate balance between stasis and change. This, I realized with sudden clarity, was the very heartbeat of existence.
As the vision faded, I felt myself rushing back, as if plummeting from the heights of the cosmos. I gasped, every nerve tingling with residual energy, my lungs burning as if I'd forgotten to breathe.
Moriyana's consciousness steadied me as the room rematerialized around us. The ancient dragon regarded me patiently, allowing me time to collect myself.
"What... what was that?" I finally managed, my voice hoarse with awe.
"That, my dear Tess, was the Creation," Moriyana replied, her mental voice gentle. "The birth of existence itself, as dreamed into being by the Eternals, Alaia and Sovrax—the living embodiments of Chaos and Order."
I sat in stunned silence, trying to process the enormity of what I'd just experienced. Moriyana allowed me this moment, her presence a comforting constant in the wake of such cosmic revelations.
"How..." I swallowed, my throat dry. "How was that possible? It felt so real." I pressed a hand to my chest, my heart still racing beneath my palm.
Moriyana's mental voice carried a hint of warmth, pleased by my curiosity. "Flameborn Lore is more than a simple story, Tess. It's a living memory, an experience preserved within the crystal and awakened by our flames. You didn't merely hear about creation—you witnessed it firsthand, albeit briefly."
I shook my head, still reeling from the experience. "But why me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just... me. A human trying to make sense of all this."
Moriyana's laughter resonated in my mind, rich and deep. "You sell yourself short, child. The Library chose you for a reason. It sees potential in you—a spark that could grow into something remarkable."
I looked up at the ancient dragon. "You really think so?"
"I do," Moriyana replied, her mental voice gentle but firm. "Perhaps you would consider a proposition."
I looked up, curiosity piquing through my lingering awe. "What kind of proposition?"
"Would you be willing to take up the position of Archivist of Human Magical Interactions? To serve as our bridge, our emissary to the mortal realm?"
I blinked, shocked. "Me? But I'm... I'm nobody special. Why would you choose me?"
Moriyana's laughter, rich and resonant, filled my mind. "You underestimate yourself, child. The library does not extend its invitations lightly. It sees in you a potential that perhaps you yourself have yet to recognize."
Me, an archivist? An emissary? The idea seemed absurd, yet I couldn't deny the thrill of excitement that raced through me at the thought.
"The choice is yours," Moriyana continued, her mental voice gentle. "But know this—should you accept, you won't be alone. The Library, myself, and all who dwell here will guide you, teach you, and... welcome you as family."
Family. The word echoed in my mind, stirring something deep within me. How long had it been since I'd felt like I truly belonged somewhere? I looked around the chamber, at the crystal still hovering nearby, at Moriyana's patient gaze.
For the first time in years, I felt a sense of purpose, of potential. But was I ready for such a monumental change? Could I really be what they needed me to be?