Page 217 of Librarian

“Lying, Librarian?”

“Absolute truth…” I trail off, leaving the motto unfinished.

“Is more dangerous than absolute power,” he quotes.

“We can watch her,” Pierce suggests. “Anthea’s always been too self-absorbed to accept a quiet banishment. She’ll stick her head above ground at some point. We have the resources to make sure she isn’t dabbling in dark magic again when she does.”

“If she wasnae your sister,” Jasper mutters. “I wouldnae be agreeing to this.”

Dakari surprises me by shrugging. “She was doing her best in a bad situation before. I agree. Give her the benefit of the doubt now that she’s out from under Isidora’s thumb.”

There are mumbles of agreement from everyone, some more reluctant than others. But in the end, what matters is the relief on Pierce’s face.

Sixty-One

Kyrith

It happens on the last day of their exams.

June is always the time of year where the Arcanaeum starts to grow quieter. It’s the tail end of exam season. Most of the students have disappeared, fleeing the Library for the summer until term restarts in October. That means there’s very little work to distract me as I wait for their return.

If I had the ability to wear a hole in the rug behind my desk in the Rotunda, I would’ve done so. Eddy, North, Lambert, Pierce, and Jasper have been gone for hours, their entire day consumed by two long papers covering arcane law and a practical in foundation level magic.

I’ve spent weeks helping them catch up on what they missed. Lambert, in particular, has endeavoured to learn some of the driest history topics known to arcandom.

The one good thing about magical exam papers is that they mark themselves, so they’ll know right away if they’ve achieved the grades they need to make it into second year.

Magic, please let them all pass.

A purple door swings open on my left. I turn to face it. Should I smile or keep my expression totally neutral, just in case? I breeze through my desk, heading for them before I can decide.

End-of-year exams at UAA are infamously tricky. Even if they weren’t, Jasper and Eddy didn’t join until midway through the year, and North and his twin have hardly even begun to adjust to magical society…But they all studied so hard. They deserve good marks.

Discreetly, I cross my fingers behind my back.

The sound of wheels clattering over tile disrupts my thoughts, and I frown, searching for the source.

A cart trundles into view, cutting between me and North as he steps into the Library.

I’m still getting over its appearance—the first real sign of the Arcanaeum functioning as normal since we were separated—when I realise that balanced atop it are…giant party poppers?

Then the bunting appears along the banister above. Bright red with gold letters boldly—and pre-emptively—proclaiming the Library’s congratulations.

It’s back. The Library is back.

Oh,thank magic.

“We passed!” Lambert crows, and I want to fall to the floor in relief, even though I can’t see him yet. “Passed!”

“Some of us better than others,” Pierce quips, stepping through after Eddy.

He stumbles the next half-step because Lambert is there, impatiently pushing his way into the Arcanaeum.

“Second year, here we come!” the Winthrop heir continues, arms spread wide. “Finally. Transmutation. I can ace that class, boss. You won’t have to tutor me.”

I’m so happy for them all that I don’t hesitate. I fling myself forward and?—

Slam solidly into his chest.