I verify that my internal energy is once again stable. In paranoia, I then use the same method as in the alley to locate the other end of the twist that I squeezed through. Finding it is significantly faster this time, as this side had no occluding folds keeping it hidden. The twist is extraordinarily different on this end. It’s incredibly wide, rather than that tiny little dot outside. It’s in the reverse direction compared to the entrance, pulling back on itself as if elastically desiring to keep the entrance forced shut. Is that why I had to fight it so much?
Alright, it’s similar enough to the outside. I’m confident that I can re-open it with another burst whenever necessary. Only much smaller this time. It’d be extremely dangerous to pass out in that alley where someone might come across me. Enough. Of far greater concern now is figuring out what the heck this place is.
It took a surprisingly long time to wake up, gather my bearings, and assure myself that it’s possible to escape back out. Therefore, it seems incredibly unlikely that the message about security coming is true. Or are the Tranas guards simply terrible and lazy? Besides that, the part about being the town lord of Tranas is clearly false. Why lie about something like that? Is it simply to intimidate trespassers like me? It doesn’t seem worth it since you might get in trouble with the real town lord.
Regardless of why, I should peek farther inside. Moving past the useless, hazy sentry and out of the foyer, I’m left speechless by the grand scale of the room beyond. Rows and rows of free standing shelves line the ground floor. Above, at least ten levels of even more shelves rise up around it on the walls, numerous enormous ladders raised up against them. Most awesome of all, every single shelf is completely filled with books. Red books, green books, blue books. Books with whirly bindings, books made out of stone. Many books with titles written in odd languages I can’t even read. This place is a precious miracle of sweet fortune.
A gigantic sun freely hangs in the center of the spacious ceiling, blanketing every corner of the room in a calm, warm light. On the ground directly below it, a comfortable looking, padded chair stands alone, save for a single small table directly next to it. A single book sits on the table alongside an inkwell and pen.
Eagerly scampering over the chair, this particular book definitely feels important. It reminds me of the one kept by that sad merchant in Vastra. For some bizarre reason, he decided to write to me about his stupid, big life. Why do these big ones do that? Should I be writing to my brothers about my experiences in the big ones’ world? I wasn’t left with the impression that any of them can read, so that’s probably a bad idea.
Stealing the far too large seat for myself, I open the book to the last page.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Was it all for nothing? Lawrence the all seeing has fallen from grace at the tower and clearly aims to take grip of the ladder again out in the towns. Despite my constant struggle, I fear that I may be the easiest target for such a monster. Every shadow I have gathered, every hidden space, every carefully planned ambush will be worthless against such a foe. He will definitely seek to steal my position over any of the others.
Oh? Is Garret dead then? That’d make sense and also explain the guards not showing up. Although, this Lawrence isn’t the town lord now either. Did Thomas also kill Lawrence and take his position? That’s a surprising amount of murder. No wonder they kill so many of us, it’s their culture.
I have spent so much time over the years in this dear little sanctum, researching, growing, and climbing. The thought of letting it simply disappear with me is dreadful, but allowing it to fall into Lawrence’s greedy hands is unacceptable. This wretched world allows for no named heirs lest you find another knife at your back. What is left? Destroy it? I don’t have the heart.
Oh, oh! It ends there. Does this mean that I’m really the only one left who knows about this place? Other than that now dead big one in the sewers. The ears. He somehow found all those clues on the map, but they’re mine now. I’ve stolen all the knowledge of this place away from the world. Do I dare plunder it as my sanctum in Tranas? What’s to stop me? Besides, I’d never be able to carry all these books out. Where would I even put them?
“You have illegally entered the private property of Lord Garret of Tranas. Guards have been notified and are on their way. Leave immediately.”
The voice continues its quiet, muffled warnings from the foyer. Annoying. First thing’s first. I need to get that stupid thing to stop so that I can think clearly. After reading Garret’s writings, I’m quite sure that no one’s coming, so why not take the time to kill that voice?
Eagerly scrambling back over to the entrance, I closely inspect the hazy image that’s producing the sounds. There aren’t any obvious sources of its light beneath it or immediately nearby. I empower my pupils, cycling through various different, known concepts until happening upon stable external magic.
Immediately, the figure comes to life with a web of details outlining its facets and forms. All the previously hidden weaves constructing it connect to a point on the wall near the exit into the main room. Looking closer, there’s a small, round stone embedded into the wall.
Placing a finger on it and attempting to expel a tiny pulse of stable energy, nothing happens. Of course, something’s wrong. Focusing inwards, I wonder what new incompetence my body has gotten up to now. It seems the energy is properly emitting from the core and reaches my finger, but the actual external transformation there fizzles.
Oh, am I not adept enough at using a finger yet? Instead, I wrap my entire hand on the surface of the gem and repeat. This time the hazy figure is instantly sucked back inside the stone, hopefully to never be seen again.
This is it. I’ve really claimed this place. It’s mine. It’s all mine. The only things left are fully moving in and then consuming every morsel of this gigantic dragon’s hoard of beautiful treasure!