(15th floor, infirmary)
The air had a pungent smell of disinfectant. The sheets were somewhat rough, and very little light came through the curtains. Little by little, Jhossan began to regain his senses. His eyes quickly darted around the room to figure out where he was, which was difficult since his vision was somewhat blurred. Finally, at the foot of the bed, he noticed the obsidian wall with a white door. To the right, there was another door that led to some kind of office. The second door opened, and a woman in her thirties emerged from it. She had her brown hair tied back and was wearing a white coat, not unlike a doctor's, but the opposite of the heavy black robes the Obsidians usually wore.
"What... What happened?" Jhossan asked, somewhat disoriented, unable to get up. He was very weak. The woman looked at him casually, but was paying attention to his status. "Who are you? Where am I?"
"You're in the fifteenth-floor infirmary." She was reading from a clipboard. "Oh, very well." The doctor closed the clipboard and stood to Jhossan's right. "Now I need you to relax and stay still. I know it won't be easy, but make the effort."
The woman reached into her robe and pulled out a small metal plate. She held it in one hand and placed the other on Jhossan's forehead.
"You'll feel a little pressure and then a small electric current. Please try not to move." Jhossan looked at the woman, realising he couldn't move his body freely. "Trust me, I'm a Restorer. You'll be just fine."
"W-wait..." the mage pleaded weakly. "What is that?"
"This is a spell plate. Now, stay calm. Anksizdo: grenermeru." The words reverberated in Jhossan's mind, just like Rina's, though it seemed the Restorer hadn't mentioned them.
The runes and geometric shapes carved into the plate began to glow faintly, like a log succumbing to fire, just as her eyes flickered with a vibrant lime-green colour for a second.
"What is this feeling? I can't move." A sharp but mild electric current ran through Jhossan's body over and over again; every limb in his body felt that sensation for almost seven minutes, as if bathed in static electricity. "Gods. Why is it so hot?"
The Restorer's eyes remained open for the entire duration of the spell; her eyes glowed every other instant, and once the procedure was over, several geometric images emerged from the plate that made no sense to Jhossan, but to her, they were like simple texts.
"Excellent. You're as healthy as I could hope for. You gave us a scare last night, but we restored you within the Golden Minutes. You broke several bones, but now all you have left are some bruises on your hip and back." The plate was burned, as if it had been put inside a furnace. "In a day or two, you'll be bouncing around. I'll give you some medication for the pain and swelling. You'll be fine."
"What happened? How did I get here?
"You fell from your bedroom balcony and into the teahouse, three stories down, from what I could find. You don't look like you're a sleepwalker, now that I see it... But that's none of my business. Okay. I have other patients to see. An assistant will be here in a few minutes to see you and give you your medication. The sedatives will wear off shortly."
It was like a hangover, except Jhossan had never drunk before. But little by little, he got better. Half an hour later, his vision was completely restored, and he was sitting up in bed. Jhossan looked over the right wall; there was a window that allowed him to see the Restorer. There were only a few patients in the infirmary, which seemed to span the space of several rooms. After that half hour, a sound came from above, as if something was moving on the walls. It was very similar to the sound of the elevator the day before. The noise stopped in the office, and from the far right, a figure appeared, a man. The Restorer listened, they exchanged a few words that the apprentice couldn't hear, and they both walked out the door. The man was also wearing a gown, but his was black, and draped over his shoulder was a white gown like hers.
"This is Jhossan Lassango. You were there when he fell, right?"
"Yes," the man replied as he changed into his robe and pinned back the hair that covered his forehead with a brooch.
"H... hello," Jhossan greeted awkwardly. "Thank you very much. By the way, I've never heard your name."
"I'm Restorer Alondra Mayik. Nice to meet you. He's fine. Give him some painkillers and anti-inflammatories and discharge him."
"Of course. I'll take care of it."
"Thank you. I'll leave it in your hands. And send me the invoice when you take inventory of what we need." He turned to Jhossan. "Take care of yourself. Try to avoid these kinds of events. And excellent work last night, Jun. You're a good assistant. It's good to finally have another Restorer among us."
"Thank you, Al. I appreciate it."
"Jun?"
The Restorer left shortly after that. Jhossan was dumbfounded. Was this what Hueco meant when he said that upon descending, he would meet the man he was looking for? No, it wasn't possible for him to be able to predict the future, not according to what the apprentice knew. But… No, it wasn't important; now he knew the man who could guide him. Now… how would he do this? How would he approach it? He watched him for several minutes, his pacing, cleaning, arranging medications, and attending to the few patients who could be heard in the distance. He was so… ordinary. Barely recognisable due to his slightly sickly appearance. Finally, after half an hour, the assistant stopped by Jhossan's bed and opened the blinds to let in more light.
"Sorry, I'm late. It's been a busy morning. Here are the medications you should take."
"No, there's nothing to apologise for."
Jun didn't look at him directly, as he seemed more preoccupied with his work. But Jhossan did, just a little. He was pale, almost sick, and smelled of dust.
"I've written the prescription here. I don't think you'll need your bottles refilled, but if so, you can go to any apothecary in the Pyramid." He offered the note and the pill bottles to Jhossan, noticing his square glasses. "If nothing else ails you, you're free to go."
"Thank you... Jun?"
"Yes. Jun Sy Urquiza Grau. You're Jhossan Lassango, from the 18th floor. You arrived with the Ambarines yesterday."
"Did you see us?"
"We all saw you. Something like this doesn't always happen, and things get very boring for many of us."
"Yes, that makes sense. And you... Are you also a Restorer?"
"Something like that. Though not with Alondra's skill level." He sat on a bench near Jhossan's bed, still taking notes and inventorying the supplies.
"So... how do you become a Restorer? I mean... if I wanted to learn to be one. How would I do it?"
"The same way you become anything; you study the subject and practice it. When you get good enough, you gain recognition and a title as an Engineer, Restorer, or whatever." As he spoke, Jhossan tried to guess more about him, like his level, and finally noticed the earring in his right ear.
"Zero?"
"Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing. I'm just trying to get used to this place."
"You've barely been here a day. Don't push yourself. Although you should have some inclinations or tendencies by now, right?"
"Well... yes. But let's say I wanted to study something outside of my tendencies and ancestry. It's possible, right?"
"It's a very obvious question, but yes. Trends only facilitate certain learning processes. Although most people prefer to follow what's easier for them."
Jhossan felt very well, and he looked for any reason to stay in the infirmary for a while, chatting about relatively trivial things with Jun. Eventually, he got up and prepared to leave.
"I hope it's not broken."
"Oh. What are you talking about?" Jhossan asked as he finished dressing. "According to the Restorer, I don't have anything broken anymore."
"I meant your wand."
"My wand!" the apprentice shrieked.
Frantically, Jhossan searched through his belongings for his wand. He found it in a box Jun had set aside. The apprentice's heart leapt, and he hugged it like a beloved pet. The assistant looked somewhat puzzled, but didn't pay much attention.
"Take good care of it. It's quite valuable here, and not just anyone could repair it if you break it."
Those words echoed loudly in Jhossan's mind. Maybe, just maybe, Rina would be willing to trade the cold box for his wand. After all, it was a scarce commodity in the Pyramid, and it was unlikely an Amberinian would be willing to part with theirs unless they were in dire need. Yes… It could work. But then he remembered something.
"The boys! I forgot about them!"
Jhossan was dressing up when Jun spoke.
"The wounds in your left hand... they were not made by the fall."
The young mage stopped and turned to look at him; Jun was resting his chin against his fist, just like Hueco had done before, but Jun's eyes seemed deeper, darker. Jhossan would never be able to outrun those eyes; a broken amber set of eyes. It wasn't weird for mages to possess eyes of odd colouration, but this...
"He's... he's a monster..." thought Jhossan, his heart beating like a war drum.
"You saw him, did you not?"
Was Jun talking about the Yocan or Hueco? Jhossan didn't want to disclose too much information.
"Either way," Jun sighed as he stood up. "It's none of my business; you can do whatever you wish as long as you're able to. That's the main principle of the Obsidian Pyramid." The assistant straightened his clothes and asked Jhossan a question before giving him a final piece of advice. "Who showed you the Yocan?"
Jhossan didn't notice quite on the spot, but at that moment, Jun slightly flexed his left little finger.
"Rina. Rina Fermonsel." Jhossan replied without thinking. "What the hell happened!? I didn't want to reply!"
"I see." Jun kept his eyes on Jhossan. "At any rate, take this from me: do not perform spells you're not ready to cast, and do not stride where you're not meant to walk. This one time, I was at the teahouse, but it might not be the case next time.
Part 2
(18th floor, inner ring hallway)
The Obsidian Pyramid was not a place of worship; it was a place of working, of survival. While most of the magical practitioners of the era were beings of sense and rationality, it was true that religion could not be eradicated; over 76% of the magi believed in the holiness of the Core Principles, the Archons or the Archmagi. Others believed in the might of the Primordial Dragons. The Pyramid and Xafar had been through so many calamities through the centuries that the citizens had forsaken the religious path, and so the mainstream religions were often mocked by the Obsidians.
As Jhossan was rushing back to his room, the hallway was filled with arguing, shouting and swearing between Obsidians and Amberites.
Peace did not last a week.
While the discussion had extended to the whole floor, it seemed, at its core, it had reached physical levels; mages were pulling and pushing each other, and often you could hear an Amberite calling names to the obsidians.
"What could I expect from a damn barbarian!" Said a male voice. "You damn heathens! How dare you mock our Dogma?"
"Shut your mouth, fool!" Replied a female voice, a heavy-clothed obsidian. "What the hell do you think you're doing, extorting us?"
"It's not extortion, you bitch! It's called 'alms,' get it in your thick skull, barbarian!"
"You think you're some sort of hot-shot, huh!? I'll punch those teeth out of your snobby mouth!"
In the midst of this, two individuals were trying to get everything under control.
"That's enough with both of you!" A male voice broke through the clamour with a boom, it was Lloyd. "This is getting too far!"
"Cecilia, quit it already!" Another female voice said. As Jhossan finally made his way through, he found an obsidian girl trying to keep her friend from striking the Amberite man. "It's not worth it!"
Jhossan recognised the amberite men in an instant; Lloyd was a teacher assistant of a high degree and seemingly perfect notes, on his way to be a perfect scholar. On the other hand, Mathias had always been an obsessive religious guy who could border on the realms of fanaticism.
"Lloyd," Mathias was 17 years old, but treated Lloyd as his equal, "do you think this woman is in any place to refuse giving alms? This place is standing due to the Grace of Kita-Khor! They should be grateful we came!"
Cecilia, the obsidian girl, was close to eruption, but Elishel was doing her best to keep things from escalating. Still, no matter the effort, things could not be halted; every breath they exhaled seemed to only accelerate the hatred of the other. Lloyd lacked the bravery to put an end to things, and Elishel lacked the authority to make herself heard amongst the amberites. Then, yet another female voice broke through.
"What is happening in our Pyramid?"
Larika made her way through the crowd; the obsidians made sure to push people aside so she could walk in. Her calm face was a sight for sore eyes, but the way she walked made it seem she was in no mood for games.
"So? Does anyone want to speak first?" Everybody went quiet. Why? Lloyd outranked her in magical potency, and even he was silent. "No one? Okay. You, you, you and you, come with me. The rest, dismiss."
Larika had come in and put a stop to everything before dragging Lloyd, Cecilia, Mathias and Elishel to a separate room on the 17th floor. The place resembled a jury room, but as they walked in, the room rearranged itself into a large round table. Lloyd sat beside Mathias, while Elishel and Cecilia sat on the opposite side. Larika took a seat in the middle.
Cecilia wore heavy-duty clothes; she worked the mines in the lower floors; her hair was short and covered in soot, although it was meant to be a dark blonde.
Swiftly, Larika ordered Cecilia and Mathias to make their case; as it turns out, Mathias was looking for a place to set a shrine for Kita-Khor, one of the Archons that roam the atmosphere. But such practice did not exist in the Obsidian Pyramid. Because of that, he started demanding alms from the amberites, but since many had lost their money due to moving from one Pyramid to another, and supplying their dormitories, Mathias started demanding that Obsidians pay alms. However, they did not want to pay, nor did they want someone to establish a religion in their Pyramid.
From Larika's point of view, they both had their claims to be right; the Pyramid was now home to all of the magi, and so they had a right to exercise their faith, but there was also the case of locals not wanting to have some religion pushed on them forcefully.
"Mathias, I would like you to apologise," Lloyd asked his fellow amberite. "You must admit your actions were wrong, even if well-intended to save their souls."
Cecilia snorted, and Larika hushed her.
"Oh, I'm sorry these barbarians cannot understand---"
"Silence!" Larika's voice boomed suddenly. "You are not an inhabitant of this Pyramid, but despite your magical potency, I will not allow you to mock my kin, Mathias Wulberg."
"While I escalated things, I will not apologise, Miss Larika." Said Cecilia. She had crossed her arms. "Mathias had been spewing venom about us."
"I will not further apologise to this ignorant wench."
It was no use.
"In cases like this, we obsidians usually refer to a single course of action: a duel." Said Larika.
"Damn barbarians..." Mathias thought.
"Miss Larika," Elishel finally voiced in, her soft voice. "Don't you think that's going a bit too hard?"
"I agree with Miss Elishel on this one, miss." Said Lloyd. "I do not advise it."
"Yes." Said Mathias. "Besides, I'm a 4 rank, and she's a rank 1." He sighed and yawned. "I'd bust her behind within the first minute."
"On the other hand," a wry smile appeared on Larika's face. "This is a perfect opportunity for our people to test their capabilities. Wouldn't you say, Miss Cecilia?"
"Please, Miss. Let's not." Begged Elishel.
"No, no. Let's do this." Said Mathias. "I challenge the Cecilia harlot to a duel."
"Mathias..." Said Lloyd.
"Hold on. Obsidian duels can be intense." Said Elishel. "And whatever terms are offered, must be respected."
"I accept," Cecilia replied swiftly. "We'll fight tomorrow on the 10th floor at 10 in the morning. No restrictions."
"Who the hell do you think you are to make these calls?" Barked Mathias. "It's the highest-ranking mage who decides."
"As per Obsidian tradition, the challenged party gets to decide the terms of the duel." Said Elishel with a slightly coy expression.
"Those are archaic rules, Miss Larika." Said Lloyd. "Modern rules---"
"I know our ways may seem ancient." Said Larika, her eyes daggered at Lloyd. "But those are the ways of this Pyramid."
"Easy, Lloyd. It changes nothing." Mathias was cocky and daring. "Now, as wager... if I win, you will become my servant in the doctrine of Kita-Khor, my loyal servant in soul and body."
"Agreed," Cecilia replied without much care. Then, a smile grew. "But if I win... You shall become my blood-cattle for a year."
A shiver ran through Lloyd's spine. Larika just watched, and Elishel seemed downcast. Mathias was surprised and repelled, but he finally accepted. Neither Lloyd nor Mathias knew what "blood-cattle" was, but it sounded foul. Swiftly, the meeting was dismissed. There was not much left to do.
Part 3
(Jhossan, Maurol, Argy and Gonzaroc's bedroom)
The smell of burnt flesh had permeated every corner of the apartment. The children had opened the doors and windows to circulate the air, and Jhossan was using his wand to conjure a small gust to ventilate the place.
None of the inhabitants of the eighteenth floor of the Obsidian Pyramid seemed very happy about the new arrivals, but no fuss was made as an order from The Table asked residents to be patient with them. Even though it had been an order, a duel had already ensued.
"Are you sure you're feeling okay, Jhossan?" Maurol asked as he scrubbed the burnt remains of a steak from a frying pan. "Maybe you should take a nap."
"No, no. I'm fine. Just... clean."
"I told you we're no good for this," Gonzaroc complained as he cleaned another frying pan. "It's servant work."
"There are no servants here, Gonzo. We'll have to learn to live without those comforts. We've talked about it before." Argy replied, biting into an apple. "I think it'll do us good."
"Don't call me that. I don't like it."
"But it sounds cute!"
"Still!"
While the children were fighting, Jhossan's mind continued to wander over his recent experiences and how much he wanted to continue meeting new people and arcane dogmas.
"I want to learn them all!" He thought.
He had to talk to Jun again. He had to talk to Hueco again. But, first of all, he had to pay for the Cold Box. Besides, he had to find a job. Little by little, the truth of a life outside the reality he was used to was beginning to weigh on his head. On top of everything else… what would the children do all day? They couldn't be unattended all day. Now that he thought about it, he hadn't seen many children in the Pyramid. But that didn't matter to him; he had a deal to close and an assistant to convince. As soon as he had the chance and the smell had subsided a bit, Jhossan excused himself and left the room. He walked through several floors, watching his old classmates adjust to the new ones. Eventually, the apprentice came across a pair of familiar figures in one of the rooms on the twenty-first floor. Walking through the hallways, he realised that these rooms resembled storage rooms rather than bedrooms or classrooms.
"Fosha, what you're asking for isn't that easy. I'm not saying they can't do it, but it isn't going to be that simple," Larika's cordial voice replied. "On top of that, you're asking me to call off the duel... I won't even attempt to halt that."
Jhossan strolled outside the room, taking advantage of the open door. It was a lovely space, decorated with tablecloths and aged wooden chairs, as if it were an elegant teahouse. Lloyd sat at the table, slumped as if he were suffering from a heavy disappointment. Meanwhile, Larika prepared a tea of golden jasmine leaves.
"You have the space, and I bet you have the people. But I can assure you, very few residents of this Pyramid will have time to attend classes. People have to work." She returned to her place and placed the old china cup in front of him. "Besides, right now, that Mathias kid is upsetting a lot of people. Sugar?"
"No, thank you. And you're wrong. People have to study." Lloyd took the cup and sipped from it, careful not to burn himself. "I'm sure if we open regular classes, your residents will come and take them."
"If you're so sure, then why are you consulting with me? You should just do it."
"I don't know. I know my colleagues and students. But yours…"
"Be very careful what you say, Lloyd. There are more of us than you." Larika's voice was comforting and mocking the young assistant. "Don't you think you're jumping the gun? Go walk around the Pyramid, go out with someone, or just learn something about what we do here." Larika sighed. "Still, the duel comes first."
Larika and Lloyd sat there; the assistant scribbled in a small notebook, trying to map out a course of classes that would be relevant to him and other students.
"Lloyd, I'd love to discuss this further, but I think someone wants to talk to you." Larika stood up and walked to the counter where she kept the kettle and made a third cup. "You can come in if you'd like."
Jhossan's heart leapt. He peeked through the doorway.
"Excuse me. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"Don't worry, young man. Besides, I think this young man needs a bit of distraction." Larika offered him a seat and pushed the cup towards him. "Sugar?"
"Yes, thank you." Jhossan slumped in his seat, but in Larika's presence, he began to feel calm; something was reassuring about her presence, like some kind of close aunt who knew just the right thing to say to him. "I have a problem and I don't know what to do."
The apprentice began to sip his tea and recounted the events of his stay, avoiding mentioning Hueco. Lloyd listened attentively to the story, though he spent the first few sentences trying to remember who Jhossan was. Still, he was concerned to hear about his student's accident, but he was surprised to learn that he had been treated so promptly. On the other hand, Larika smiled happily upon learning that the Amberins were amazed by the Obsidians' abilities. To celebrate, she took a tin of shortbread out of a drawer.
"I don't know what to do, Professor."
"Don't worry. He doesn't know what to do either." Lloyd didn't respond to the supervisor's mocking words. "If my experience counts, I think you're both going about this the wrong way."
The professor and student turned to look at her, casually adding three sugar cubes to her tea.
"What I mean is, you" She briefly indicated Lloyd with her small spoon "are trying to make changes in a place that welcomed you and all your people in times of need without question. And you haven't even taken the time to learn how we live here, or to figure out what we know how to do. Do you realise how arrogant you make yourself look? You unilaterally decided we need to be taught, like we're barbarians. I suppose that Mathias kid got his mental attitude from somewhere close."
Lloyd remained silent. His tea had cooled, and while he didn't sense anger in Larika's words, he did recognise that they weren't entirely wrong; even if Lloyd didn't mean any harm, he did think he could educate them. And maybe he wasn't wrong, but what evidence did he have? No, this was the same mentality of superiority he had always had.
"And you, now referring to Jhossan, "have decided that an Obsidian will refuse to help you without consulting him."
"What if he says no?" What if he gets upset?"
"Then you talk to him about it; if he says no, you make him an offer; if he gets upset, you explain that you're interested in learning from him. Give yourself time to get to know him and reach a deal. Even if it's my dear Jun, he's rather rational when it comes to exchanges."
"And how do I do that?" the student asked, taking three cookies and dunking them in the tea.
"Yes, how do you do that?"
"Consider everything you know and understand, and find a way to present and offer them to the people you're interested in for the goods you want," the supervisor replied. "Some Dogmas are more marketable than others, but you can always sell your talents."
"But... It's not all buying and selling, right? We can't do that with everything." Jhossan wanted to make sure he understood the limits. But Larika was right; they knew nothing about how people operated in the Obsidian Pyramid.
"In this Pyramid, it is. Of course, there are certain limits, but essentially everything can be obtained through transactions, whether of goods or services. She took a cookie and ate it. Take Miss Fermonsel, for example."
"Who?" Asked Lloyd.
"Rina. Rina Fermonsel. She's a skilled Engineer and one of the most capable Artificers of her generation. She opened her workshop years ago with some colleagues, and they provide maintenance for people in the town and around the Pyramid, in addition to building things we all use. Alondra is a Restorer, and others use other Dogmas and find ways to make a living. The question is... what can you do?"
The meeting continued for half an hour, until the cup of tea and the biscuits in the tin were finished. Jhossan thanked them for the drink and left, leaving Lloyd behind to discuss more administrative matters with his hostess. Just as Jhossan was about to walk out, Larika said one last thing.
"It still hasn't been broadcast yet, but Mathias Wulberg and Cecilia Kinal will have a duel tomorrow. Be sure not to miss it~" Larika was cheerful about this, causing Lloyd's face to contort in some manner of upset grin.
Jhossan descended from that floor, walking through the rooms, strolling through the hallways, seeing how people lived their daily lives, and admiring how some of his classmates were beginning to familiarise themselves with the locals. Part of him was jealous, but the other took comfort in the fact that he had bigger plans in mind. But he couldn't help thinking about the fact that he didn't have any friends there. Despite the comfort he felt with Hueco, he couldn't consider him a friend because he didn't even know his intentions; he had spent so much time studying that he lacked real relationships. But here he could start over, here he could make new and true friends, those who would teach him new things, and those who would accept him just as he is. So, with the impression that this was his chance to become more social, and that he would have a chance to explore options he hadn't previously considered, Jhossan set his mind to become better in all and every aspect.
Part 4
(Obsidian Pyramid; -1 floor, the Craftsmen's Labyrinth)
The workshop sign was the same as last time, and thanks to his memory, Jhossan hadn't gotten hopelessly lost in that labyrinth of offices. From outside, Jhossan heard the engineers' hammering and the pistons moving. He already knew the three workers, but he still felt a little nervous about what he was about to do.
"Jhossan!" the twins shouted as they saw him enter, both resting on the counter, wiping the grease stains off their faces. "It's nice to see you here. What can we do for you? Is the Cold Box working okay?"
Watching them was still fascinating to him.
"No. I mean, yes... I mean, the box's fine. It's just..." The words knotted in his mouth, and his mind couldn't quite formulate its ideas. "Is Rina here?"
The twins turned to look at each other and then hooted mockingly.
"O Rina~" they sang. "You have visitors."
The engineer emerged from the back of the workshop, sweating and with slight burns on her gloves. She was wearing welding goggles, but took them off to get a better look at the visitor. Jhossan greeted him awkwardly. She removed her equipment and came around the counter. Seeing her undress her forging gear was quite a sight for Jhossan. If he had the chance, he'd like to spend more time with Rina.
"Hi, Jho. What can I do for you?"
"Rina... I have a proposition for you."
"Oh. My. Gods!" the twins shouted, moving away to better appreciate the moment. "He's going to ask her!"
"No! It's about the register. I was thinking about how to pay you, and I think I have an idea."
"You can take more time, you know. You don't need to settle this so quickly. I'm sure you have a lot of things to pay and sort out."
"No, no. I think this will do." Jhossan reached into his robes and pulled out a long wooden box. "I hope you're okay with it."
Rina took the box in surprise, while the twins watched, hoping some piece of jewellery was inside. But upon opening it, the surprise came from another source: Jhossan's wand lay inside, slightly crooked and well-polished brown. The Engineer didn't fully understand, but she didn't reject the box. Jhossan seemed nervous, and the sweat wasn't just coming from the heat of the workshop.
"I'm offering you everything I was the moment I arrived at the Pyramid."
"No way!" the twins shouted.
"Jho, no. We can't accept that. This is too much."
"What are you talking about? Rina, this is what I want, and it's the only thing I can offer you. I want a fresh start, and I want to learn how to do what you do. What you can all do. I can't do that when I have a magical shortcut at my disposal." He stared at the wand and remembered the day it was given to him. "I want to accept the lifestyle of this Pyramid. I can't do that if I still have the wand."
The Engineer took the box and noticed the way Jhossan looked at the wand; it was his entire world, everything he knew how to do, and his entire being. Rina closed the box and put it away, promising to keep it safe and leave it at Jhossan's disposal when needed.
There was no turning back now; from now on, the apprentice would have to use his cunning to acquire new knowledge that would allow him to tap into the power intrinsic to his being, and although Jhossan felt a strange energy inside, he also felt a surge of fear at parting with his wand. Rina recognised that look immediately and decided to give him a little push; she took off her apron and her gear and closed the workshop early. When Jhossan asked her why, she told him there wasn't much to do and that maybe he needed to rest a little and get some fresh air. So, the two went up to the ground floor of the Pyramid and walked to the far side opposite the entrance. Rina took the lead and, with a few cordial words, led Jhossan down a path on the hill toward the arboretum behind the Pyramid.
Jhossan's eyes widened in delight. Above them both, trees rose like arches, creating what looked like a tunnel through their canopy. The apprentice looked around, enchanted by the contrast between the usual heat of the central region and the freshness of the garden. The air was thick, yet rich and comforting. Birds sang in the air, and many insects moved about. The canopy kept out too much light, but there were so many bioluminescent plants that it was easy to see inside.
"This place is filled with magic," Jhossan observed. The air was filled with magical essence; every breath brought life to the visitors. "It's... beautiful."
"This is the Arboretum. The Druids started it long ago. It's a magical place."
"Yes. I know. You can see it from miles away!"
But Jhossan didn't understand what Rina said. It was different. She touched the surface of a tree and could feel its being, its almost imperceptible breath, its very life. Even as an Engineer, she couldn't deny the power of that place. It took the apprentice a while to feel it, but little by little, he began to. After a few minutes, Jhossan looked around and noticed a few figures approaching from the depths of that oasis. They were dressed in clothes that seemed to move, and even gave the impression of being made of moss. In the past, Jhossan would have felt terrified, but something about that place prevented that feeling, and Rina's relaxed presence brought him a little more calm.
"Rina, good morning," said the nearest figure, a man. Jhossan tried to see some of his features, but he was wearing an animal skull on his head as a helmet, the skull of an ox. "It's nice to see you here. And we see you brought a friend. Hello!"
"Arkhur, it's nice to see you. This is Jhossan, a new friend. He needed to relax, so I brought him here."
"No need to explain anything. Everyone is welcome here." Arkhur gestured, and the other three figures disappeared into the trees. "Still, you know the rules."
"I... I'm sorry." Jhossan apologised quickly. "I didn't mean to---"
"What? No, no. One of the only rules of the Arboretum is that you have to take off your shoes."
"No... I don't understand."
"I'll let you two chat for a while." Rina looked in the other direction, as if something had caught her attention. "I have to look something up. I'll be back shortly."
"You seem a little harried. Come, sit with me, Jhossan. Please take off your shoes."
The Druid led Jhossan along a path made by the footsteps of visitors. After a minute or two of walking, exchanging observations about nature, they reached a space between the trees, where some comfortable, mouldy stumps and a flat stone presented some sort of tea table. They both sat down, Jhossan fascinated by the comfort of the moss.
"How did you make this place?" The apprentice couldn't keep his face fixed in one place; there was so much he'd never seen before. "It's so... peaceful."
"Thank you very much, Jhossan. But we do nothing except preserve what we find in the region. This is a small sanctuary we protect, where we rest from labour on the Pyramid."
"I've never seen so many Druids before; there were only two at the Amber Pyramid... and they weren't very sociable."
"Well, yes!" Arkhur burst into laughter and proceeded to remove the ox skull. "Most Druids keep to themselves. We understand trees better than animals, and even more than people. So what's gotten you so stressed?"
Jhossan opened up to Arkhur and proceeded to confess everything, except for the existence of Hueco. He didn't know much about Obsidian society, but he assumed the existence of such a being would attract too much attention. Arkhur listened to every word that came out of Jhossan's mouth, paying attention to his every gesture and offering words of grace to try to ease the apprentice's burden.
"Am I crazy?" Jhossan asked, questioning his decision to offer his wand. "Did I make a mistake?"
"Were you feeling suffocated?"
Jhossan nodded, covering his face with his hands.
"Were you disappointed in yourself?"
Jhossan nodded again.
"Do you want to reinvent yourself?"
The apprentice nodded again.
"Then you did the right thing!"
"Do you think so?"
"Jhossan, you're still young." You don't need to define yourself by something as simple as a few years of training. You've discovered a whole new range of magic; understandably, you want to experience it. Arriving in a new place is the perfect opportunity to redefine yourself. In other words: chill."
Arkhur was an extremely friendly person, and his way of speaking managed to relax Jhossan through reasonable arguments. It was as if he were talking to an uncle or teacher who could guide him.
"Who knows? Maybe you'll become a druid one day! Just because you're good at something doesn't mean you have to dedicate your life to it."
All the stress his life in the Pyramids brought him disappeared in that small forest. In that instant, everything seemed full of possibilities; he was no longer just interested in improving what he already knew, but in learning about the new horizons that lay in the distance.
Rina peeked out from behind a fir tree, carrying a basket full of exotic fruits that Jhossan couldn't recognise.
"You seem to be feeling better now." Rina approached, offering a juicy red apple. "Have you made a decision?"
"Yes!" Jhossan took a bite of the apple, letting the juice run down his jaw. "I'm going to embrace this new phase of my life and take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way."
"I'm glad Arkhur helped you." There was something sweet about the Engineer's smile. It was peaceful and sincere. "Do you have an idea of what you want to try first?"
A part of Jhossan wanted to scream "you!", but reason prevailed. The expression on Arthur's face changed slightly; he became serious. Annoyed.
"Are you going to continue listening from there, or do you plan to join the conversation?" the Druid asked over his shoulder. "It's very rude to listen in on conversations you're not participating in."
"I apologise, Arkhur." Jun emerged from behind another tree, barefoot and with blades of grass in his hair. His clothing wasn't much different from Arkhur's. "Rina invited me to listen, and I didn't want to intrude."
"Even so, I detest that habit of yours."
"I apologise again. Jhossan, it's nice to see you again and in better health."
"How can we help you?" Arkhur asked, standing up and facing the newcomer. "Are you done with your business?"
"Hmmm? No." Jun looked different; Jhossan noticed him somewhat distant, distracted, and relaxed. "Rina wanted to talk, so it'll take me a while to finish my duties. I wanted to give Jhossan something."
Jhossan saw her friend and noticed she was excited. He stood up and wiped the remnants of juice with the sleeve of his robe. Jun approached the apprentice and extended his hand. After asking a few questions about his health, the Assistant Restorer reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a small card.
"What's this?" Jhossan asked. He took the card and read it. It had an address written on it: sixty-sixth floor, starting at 15:33.
"An invitation. You can come to the library if you'd like."
Jhossan stared at the card for a while, not paying attention to Jun.
"I'm not guaranteeing anything, but at least you can come in and take a look."
"But... I..."
"Rina told me what you're going through, and I heard some of what you were saying."
Jhossan finally looked at his face, warm and strangely comforting. He looked less sick. "I'd like to support you a little."
"So... can I come tonight?"
"Sure. As long as it's after that time, you can come whenever you want." Jun looked away and saw Arkhur. "Now, I need to go attend to my work."
"There are a couple of other things I need to discuss with you." Rina stood up and left the fruit basket with the apprentice. "Do you mind if I join you for a while?"
The Restorer assistant retreated into the depths of the forest, accompanied by the Engineer. Even in broad daylight, it was very easy to get lost in the woods. Jhossan stayed, staring at the card. As Rina stepped away, Arkhur gave her a reprimanding look; he was a little older than Jun, but had a much harsher expression, and their relationship had never been very friendly. On the other hand, Arkhur saw Rina as a person with misguided energy, and therefore appreciated every time she entered the Arboretum. Arkhur watched them enter the undergrowth. Once he sensed they were far away, he warned the apprentice:
"If you're going to see him, you have to take a couple of things into consideration."
"E-excuse me?"
"Jun is what we call a 'Miragee,' or an 'Alterer.'"
"A what?"
"He's a specialist in the Dogma of Perception. Although if you ask me, 'liar' is a perfect term for people like him."
Jhossan turned to look at him. There was something in his expression… contempt?
"It's not that I'm happy we have so few like him… but it's a real relief. You can't be too careful around them."
"Then…"
"Just be careful when you're dealing with someone like him. You never know what he's up to, and he always acts in different ways." Arkhur sighed. "You can't trust someone whose footsteps are silent by nature."
"Thank you very much for your insight, Mr. Arkhur."
"I cannot keep you from going, but if you do decide to go, at least listen to what I have to say. You must avoid a couple of things."
No… There was something else. There had to be something; Arkhur's vitriolic attitude had to come from somewhere, not just a different attitude depending on the context. However, the druid had brought up a point that Jhossan hadn't considered. As with any profession, Magical Dogmas shape the psyche of the individuals who study and practice them.
"The dogma of Perception is based on the deception of the senses. If Jun is a Miragee, then I'll have to be careful with everything he does at all times and not look him in the eye."
Jhossan had dealt with illusions before and knew of several ways he could protect himself from their tricks. He knew several such people who had come to the Pyramid with him. On that level, he wasn't really too worried about spending more time with Jun, but on the other hand, he didn't really know his personality, and now they would be alone on an entire floor, in the dark. Of course, Jhossan knew enough about this dogma, but... was he ready for what would come?
Part 5
(Jhossan, Maurol, Argy and Gonzaroc's room)
Jhossan took out all his notes and quickly reviewed them; he searched through his indexes and found those that described the Dogma of Perception. While Argy, Maurol, and Gonzaroc played with their articulated action figures, specifically the limited editions of Crab Man, Lizard Woman, and Goat Girl, Jhossan set about putting all the relevant notes into a briefcase. The door opened, and Philena entered. Maurol jumped out of bed, leaving Lizard Woman behind. Philena greeted him warmly. She was dirty and smelled of earth and dampness, as if she had been working in the fields. Her back ached, and her hands throbbed from using a shovel for hours.
"Hey, Jhossan." She approached, barely catching the apprentice's attention, and plopped down on one of the empty beds. "How are you?"
"Hey, Philena." The apprentice turned to greet her and found her lying down, and for the first time, he could see something through the folds of her tunic, easily capturing his attention. Without realising it, Jhossan stared at the swell of his companion's breasts. "W-what brings you here?"
"I wanted to see my brother! Besides, I wanted to see how you were doing. Have you found a job yet? Everything here is difficult, it's not like back home." Philena looked up and began rubbing her feet. Her whole body ached and stank of sweat and earth. "I don't know how they do it."
"I-I don't know." Seeing Philena dirty like that was mesmerising. Now that he thought about it, Jhossan had never seen someone dirty before he arrived at the Obsidian Pyramid. "I haven't looked for a job yet."
"I got one at the plantations and the Arboretum. Have you been there yet? It's beautiful, although somewhat dirty. My roommates did too, although most of them found work in workshops and shops."
Jhossan just listened to what she said and nodded silently, trying only to catch a glimpse of her legs or breasts, but failing each time; the tunic was too loose.
"What are you doing? I don't think you'll be able to finish your studies here. I haven't seen a library anywhere."
"I think I got one!"
Both the children and Philena reacted to Jhossan's words. They had already been wondering where he had been for those couple of days. Philena was always a good student, and her skills in the Natural Traditions, such as animal handling and earth mastery, had made her very inclined toward the outdoors. On the other hand, the children were just discovering their tendencies and ancestry, but at least Argy had begun to discover his affinity for some basic spells and alchemical formulas, which wasn't far from Jhossan's affinities.
The apprentice then recounted his encounter with Rina and how he had managed to meet Jun, trying to hide the details of his encounter with Hueco and his fall from the balcony.
"Wow, that's lucky," Philena murmured, finishing removing pine debris from her hair. "Mau, what have you been doing these past couple of days?"
Maurol froze; he had done nothing but play with Argy and Gonzaroc. If anything, Argy had been the one who had been reviewing his notes since they had to leave the Amber Pyramid. Of course, Gonzaroc's complaining made studying difficult, and they did nothing but use their wands to move their toys.
"Phile, are you working with Druids? Or Tamers?" Philena stood up to look at the Cold Box and nodded. "What are they like?"
"Actually... it's... kind of exhilarating." The student's face lit up, then simultaneously twisted into an expression of doubt and suspicion. "Did you know that Obsidians don't use wands?" Jhossan reacted to her words and stopped his studies, trying to hide the fact that he no longer owned a wand. "They use... other things. Cards, fruits, plaques, letters, and even geometry. Can you believe that? I didn't know that was a thing... I wonder what tomorrow's duel will be like... I confess I doubt that girl has any chance against Mathias."
Jhossan wasn't familiar with that variety of arcane foci; he'd seen Rina's silver hammer and Alondra's plaque, but he didn't know about all those other ways of expressing magic.
"It happened yesterday afternoon. I was sitting during my break when I heard a noise in the bushes in front of me."
Philena took a jug of water and sat down on one of the chairs, proceeding to tell a short anecdote.
(Philena's perspective)
From the bushes in front of me, the head of a four-horned fox emerged. It was beautiful, you know? I had never seen a real, live one. I was eating some fruit I'd picked, but when I made a move to offer it, the fox disappeared into the undergrowth. From behind, Lisardo, a simple Guiding Druid, came out; he had seen what happened and crouched beside me. He asked her if I wanted to pet the small animal, and I said yes, but the animal hadn't given me a chance to draw my wand. He laughed a little and took one of the fruits I was carrying, a purple pomegranate. Then, he took out a small knife and began to carve into the fruit's rind a series of geometric symbols and letters that I didn't recognise. It was very complex, but he did it fairly quickly, always smiling and without blinking. After a minute, he touched his throat and began making gestures over it, as if he were writing on his skin. It took what seemed like an eternity! I asked him what the hell he was doing, but Lisardo didn't answer. He raised a finger to ask me to wait a bit, then opened his mouth, and with just a small breath, the call of a four-horned fox emerged from his lips. I didn't understand how he did it without a wand; Lisardo could perfectly imitate the creature's sounds. After a few seconds, something else was heard. The bushes moved slightly, and the fox's antlers poked out. The druid made another noise, and the animal approached without hesitation and ate the fruit offered to it. Finally, as soon as it ate the flesh, a faint yellow glow briefly filled the animal's eyes. I knew it; Lisardo had charmed the creature, and now it was possible to pet it and look at it without fear.
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"I don't know how he did it." Philena wore an expression of curiosity and serious suspicion. "They don't use wands, Jhossan. But they still achieve very similar effects."
Jhossan saw the children; they had returned to their game and weren't paying attention. Except… for one of them. Argy. He had maintained his interest in the story and listened carefully.
"Phile. By pure chance… did you experience anything else during that process?"
"What? The witch looked at him with some doubt. Deep down, she was harbouring something. Jhossan's eyes were different. They were like theirs. Like an Obsidian's penetrating gaze, devoid of empathy.
"Did you… hear something?"
"You… you heard it too. Right?"
"I saw it."
It was like seeing the expression of someone reliving a trauma.
They wanted to talk about it at length, but they didn't want to do it in front of the children. Carefully, Jhossan took one of his notebooks, one of the few notebooks not filled with notes, and quickly began illustrating what he saw with Rina and Hueco while recounting the Engineer's magical process. But Argy was no fool, and while moving his doll to dissimulate, he paid attention to the lines Jhossan made. Of course, he couldn't guess what he wrote or drew, but seeing his behaviour was enough.
"A secret?" the boy wondered.
"It's too similar to what I heard..." A shiver ran down Philena's skin.
But then something happened; a fleeting doubt shot through the young sorceress's mind.
"Why didn't you use your magic to show me what you saw?"
But Jhossan didn't answer, and he didn't know how to explain that he no longer had his wand. The apprentice possessed two distinct magical tendencies: the Dogma of Expression and the Dogma of Transmutation. Because of this, Jhossan was known for using spells capable of capturing his voice and thoughts in written words, images and sculptures. But he could no longer do that. At least, not like before. Wanting to talk a little more, he signalled for Philena to accompany him to the terrace. Once outside, remembering that the Pyramid's walls mitigated the noise almost perfectly, Jhossan confessed that he had given his wand in payment for the Cold Box. From inside, the children didn't hear the long stream of insults and swearing that Philena hurled at him continuously. Of course, the residents of the upper floors on their respective terraces did and laughed at Jhossan's expense. And while Jhossan felt somewhat humiliated and had a bit of doubt about his choice, a large part of his mind was more than made up; being treated like a madman by his peers was something he had to accept.
"I'll show them. They'll see. Everyone will see."
"Do you have any idea what you just did?" Philena now assumed the posture of an older sister scolding her little brother. She moved around the terrace with impatience and anger, almost ready to slap Jhossan. "You just threw away part of your training, our culture!"
"Phile, you saw it. You heard it!" the apprentice replied. "In this Pyramid, they do magic we've never seen before. And I've found a teacher. Or at least I plan to."
"Oh, for fuck's sakes! Two days. In two days, you went from being a proud Amberin to an Obsidian fanatic!" Each one tried to raise their voice over the other. "What will your parents say when they find out? Our teachers? Think, Jhossan, think!"
"Don't even go there, Philena." Jhossan's expression suddenly changed, and he soon said something he would soon regret.
"You're making a mistake. You're throwing away the entire legacy of generations of our people."
"I trusted you when you were taken into Rehabilitation. Support me like I supported you back then."
Philena's face changed completely, and she took a step back; that was a dark period in her life, one that still haunted her at night, a period of self-destruction and self-loathing. She struggled to forget it every day, but Jhossan had reminded her of it, everything she suffered, and how he was there for her.
"It's not the same," Philena replied, her throat tight.
"Please. I need this. Trust me as much as I trusted you. Please."
It was a fleeting staredown. Philena had no words. Finally, she took a step forward.
"You know what? It's your life, do whatever the fuck you want with it. But don't come to me asking for help when everything gets out of hand." Her expression was stern. Would she be able to turn her back on him? "And you better not put your ideas in my brother's head. If his wand ever goes missing..." Her eyes said the rest.
They had reached a compromise of sorts. Philena turned and went back into the room, leaving the apprentice on the terrace. Her brother saw her; she was upset, her eyes red-rimmed, but he didn't say anything; he'd seen her like this before, and it never ended well for him when he confronted her. Trying to regain her composure, Philena approached her brother as she left the room and kissed him on the forehead, saying she had some things to finish and would see him later.
The girl's heart was beating like a war drum. She leaned against the wall by the door and went down the Pyramid, asking about the Engineer Jhossan had mentioned. On the other hand, the apprentice was shaken. What if it was all a mistake? What if what Philena said was true? What if his whim had gone too far?
"No… this isn't a whim, is it? I... I need this. It's the right thing to do. It's the best thing for me. Yes. That's it. Damn it. Why do I feel this way?"
The apprentice returned to his desk, trying to calm down. He took a glass of water and began reviewing his notes again. Time was so slow. Why? Why didn't he know a spell that could speed it up? Why had they forbidden it? But... Yes... Maybe the Librarian had what he was looking for. What he wanted. Just maybe the Obsidians allowed themselves what the Amberins forbade.
Part 6
The time had finally come. It hadn't been that long, but his eagerness had made him feel like it was an eternity. Jhossan grabbed a backpack and put in a couple of notebooks with notes on how to mitigate the power of illusions, as well as a notebook where he could take notes. But when he got up to leave, he found the three boys watching him intently. Maurol and Gonzaroc were looking at him with expectant expressions. But Argy... his face was different, and his eyes were watching him more closely. Jhossan knew it right there.
"He knows... How does he know? How did he hear us?"
Of the three, Argy had shown the greatest talent in the magical Traditions, but Jhossan had never paid much attention to the abilities the kid actively possessed. After all, Argy was a child. He couldn't be that talented. Jhossan understood. Had Jhossan paid attention, he'd known Argy had a grand tendency towards transmutations and elementalism; in combat, he had a greater initial talent.
"He won't let me go anywhere on my own. He knows something's up."
"We're bored!" Gonzaroc squealed with his high-pitched voice and rosy cheeks.
"Then read a book," Jhossan replied swiftly as he finished packing up a few more things.
"Right!" Argy reacted almost instantly, just before Jhossan realised his mistake. "But we don't have any books to read; all of them stayed in the other Pyramid." Jhossan turned to look at him. "You said you'd gained access to the library, right? Surely they have something for us."
"Well… — Back against the wall. Jhossan searched for an excuse, but none came to mind.
He had no way to escape them. Besides, it was just a library; they should be safe. And although Jun didn't give him the best of hunches, he didn't seem like a violent person. With that in mind, and hoping to be on time, Jhossan reluctantly took the children and set out in search of an elevator that could take him to the sixty-sixth floor.
The walk wasn't very lively for Jhossan and Argy; unaware of the silent discussion between them, Maurol and Gonzaroc conversed about the Crab Man's recent exploits, wondering if the hero could defeat the Lobster King. Jhossan tried several different elevators, but none took him past the fiftieth floor. To reach their destination, they had to climb the last sixteen floors on their own. At one hundred and twenty meters high, the ascent became difficult. It was very easy to run out of breath. Thus, despite the apprentice's attempts to be on time, they arrived at the sixty-sixth floor later than anticipated. That floor was perfectly circular; the black stone of the Pyramid had been carved with such mastery that it seemed to have been worked by a master craftsman.
"We're very high up," Gonzaroc said in awe. He grabbed Maurol and peered through the Pyramid's internal shaft. He couldn't see the bottom. He spat into the void for no reason other than pure mischief. "Do you think anyone lives here?"
"Don't do that!" Jhossan scolded him. "But yes. Supposedly, there are still people up here."
The entire inner floor was like the one where they slept; there were sixty-six doors distributed equidistantly throughout the inner ring. There was nothing written on the doors except for the number "66" carved into the strange material. Or at least... they couldn't see anything else. Not knowing how to proceed, and unsure which door was the correct one, Jhossan took the children and went through the door closest to the centre. The children followed him. If he had one, Jhossan would have had his wand ready for anything.
"Why am I so nervous? He's just a man."
Jhossan opened the door, and a chill greeted them. They stepped through the threshold and were overcome by darkness. In front of them lay a desk with a bell, a doorbell in the centre, next to a yellowish candle with an earthy scent. Jhossan looked around, trying to understand his surroundings, but everything looked the same.
"There are shelves everywhere, but I can't see any books."
Jhossan expected someone to emerge from under the desk. But no. No one was waiting for them.
"Maybe he got tired of waiting for me."
"I can't see the back wall." Argy was tempted to shine a light on the space, but thought it would be rude. "This place is empty."
"Hello?" Maurol waved to the air. "Is anyone here?" But the darkness didn't respond.
"What terrible service..." Gonzaroc complained. He looked around and noticed some aged wooden chairs near the wall next to the door. He took one and brought it closer to the desk.
They waited together under the shelter of the candle for three minutes. But no one arrived. Somewhat tired of waiting, Jhossan wandered around the library along the wall so he wouldn't get lost. Jun had to be somewhere around there. Argy approached and told him he didn't want to stay with the other two, that Gonzaroc drove him crazy when he got in a bad mood. Of course, this was an excuse; the boy also wanted to meet the librarian. So, the two of them ventured into the darkness, illuminated by nothing more than a few spheres of light that Argy conjured. The boy didn't ask why Jhossan didn't conjure the spheres himself, but the fact hadn't gone unnoticed. Although in reality, Argy was happy with any excuse to perform magic. On the other hand, Jhossan needed to find a new way to project his mana; without a wand, he could barely affect the air around himself.
The shelves were empty. Except for a few words describing the subject matter the books were supposed to cover, there was nothing in them. Little by little, the darkness and the curve of the path began to work against them; it seemed as if the path was lengthening, and that it was moving against the two, prolonging their search. Now and then, out of the corner of their eyes, they swore they could see shadows standing between the shelves, as if people were searching for books in the darkness. Argy grew nervous, and his headlights began to flicker faintly like a candle in the breeze.
"H-hey, focus," Jhossan emphasised, noticing Argy's fear as he gripped the sleeve of his robes. "This is good practice for you."
He, too, was afraid of what might be in the dark.
"I think there are people here," Argy squeaked in a low, trembling voice. He waved his wand toward one of the shadows, but when the light reached it, it was gone. "But I can't see them. The light can't reach them."
"It's the darkness, that's all. It's playing tricks on your eyes." Jhossan continued on his way, but he tried hard to hide the fear that was making his bladder tremble. "Don't slouch."
The path seemed to go on forever. They felt like they'd been walking for hours. Eventually, Jhossan noticed something, a presence. No… two! Two people were moving ahead of them, in the distance, walking their same route, moving away. Gently, Jhossan made Argy fall in step; they were visible in the darkness because one of them also had lights. One was taller than the other.
"What's going on?" Argy asked, picking up the pace.
"There are people up ahead."
"Oh, good!"
But after several minutes of almost running, they didn't catch up. Until...
"W-wait..." Jhossan stopped suddenly just as they passed another desk.
"What? Oh. They stopped."
"Argy. Do me a favour and raise your wand."
"O-okay." The kid did it. "Now what?"
"I-I think that's us up ahead." The shorter person of the pair in front raised their hand a couple of seconds after Argy. Jhossan turned to look at the kid, this time with a slightly bewildered look. The boy's eyes, a beautiful grey, looked at him shakily, then moved to what was behind his eldest, widening even further. With a wobbly finger, Argy pointed toward the desk.
"W-what's happening now?"
Turning around, Jhossan found the figurines Maurol and Gonzaroc were playing with. Jhossan grabbed Argy's wrist and started running, yelling for the children. He had lost them in the darkness. Tears began to well in his eyes, and Argy's bladder was no longer as effective. Finally, they both began to tire. They reached another desk, and Argy noticed something.
"No... they didn't take Maurol or Gonzaroc," the boy said.
"What?"
Argy pointed at the desk. The figurines again.
"We've already passed four desks, and each one had one of these."
"They weren't kidnapped." Jhossan felt as if his stomach was turning, risking vomiting everything.
"We fell into an illusion? How? When?" Asked Argy.
" When we left, the figures were in another position. I think we simply can't perceive them, nor they us. What a complete illusion. I didn't even realise when they tried to put us under their influence. I'm not sure how much of this place is real." Jhossan's worry matched his fascination; he was not aware that an illusion or a mirage could be this complex.
"And... how do we end it?"
"We know it's an illusion, and yet we can't break it. There should be something, an anchor present, that we could use to escape this."
(Back in the library's entrance desk)
Gonzaroc was tired; there was nothing to do. Even the figurines had lost their charm. Neither Maurol nor Gonzaroc had a clock, so measuring time wasn't easy. Besides, this place without external light gave a strange feeling of isolation. It was like a place outside of this world.
Finally, Gonzaroc had had enough.
"Hello?" The boy cried. "Is there someone in charge of this dump?!"
Gonzaroc moved the chair, dragging it and making it creak on the black floor, and rang the bell again and again. In the distance, the piercing sound of the bell caught the attention of Jhossan and Argy. The older apprentice's skin prickled, and the hairs on his neck stood up, his eyes widening. For a moment, he felt as if someone had walked between them, or at least passed too close.
"Whatever you do," Arkhur's words echoed in his head, that single, innocuous warning, "you don't want to ring that bell."
Terrified by the sound for a reason beyond his knowledge, Jhossan ran towards the sound, barely managing to grab Argy and pull him along. Why was he so afraid? Why did that bell give him such a bad feeling?
"How the fuck could I forget the damn bell!?"
It was like the unsheathing of a knife upon entering a dark room, like the scrape of something against your leg in the night water. It was a dread of what lurked in the darkness. The sound continued. Finally, after running along that endless wall and countless doors, he saw two small figures standing by a desk. It was Gonzaroc and Maurol! The first was ringing the bell as if that would make a difference. But… there was something else. A third figure emerged from the opposite side of the hallway.
"Stop!" Jhossan shouted, forcing the children to turn to look at them, somewhat annoyed by the shout, but ignoring the third figure.
Jhossan and Argy arrived hurriedly, with the former putting himself between the children and the figure. It was a pale, slightly hunched figure. Dressed in a black robe cinched at the waist with a belt, the person blurred into the darkness, barely visible. It was a different kind of clothing than usual; the lower part of the robe revealed his shoes and was open at the sides, and the upper part was a bit tighter than the Obsidians' usual robes. From where he stood, the individual looked more like a cultist rather than a resident of the Pyramid. It took Jhossan a moment to recognise him.
"Greetings, Jhossan." Jun's demeanour had changed slightly from earlier that day; his voice was a bit colder compared to when they had spoken in the arboretum, and his expression was a bit harder. "I apologise for the delay. A... matter came across."
"And what a delay!" Gonzaroc shouted from behind Jhossan, taking two steps to stand in front of him, but the older man pulled him back. "Who do you think you are, keeping us waiting so long?!"
"I offer my sincere apologies." He didn't seem very sincere, and the smile was very faint and rehearsed. He moved behind the desk. He took out a pair of rectangular reading glasses. "So, how can I help you?"
Argy stayed back. He couldn't see the librarian's hands. That man... There was something wrong with him.
"Is he casting another spell? I can't see anything..." Argy felt wary of the librarian.
"I'd like to take your word for it; I'd like to be able to read the books at your disposal."
"Oh, that's straightforward." Jun smiled again. "May I ask why?" He moved a few things behind the desk and looked over Jhossan's shoulder. "Has anything interesting happened in these few hours?"
Jhossan didn't answer.
"Very well." The librarian's mocking smile was maddening. Gonzaroc wanted to hit him. He shifted his eyes to look at the children, and on each one he lingered for half a second. Argy felt his blood run cold. But it was on Maurol that he lingered a little longer. "I see. Am I to understand that everyone wants access to these books?"
"Would that be a problem?" Maurol wasn't afraid of the librarian. If anything, he reminded him of one of the custodians at the Amber Pyramid. "Can we?"
"Of course!" Jun said happily. "I just need you to sign some waivers."
The librarian took a folder from behind the desk and placed four sheets of paper on the desk. It didn't say much, except for some manner of oath or words of responsibility and respect for the books kept within those walls. At the bottom of the sheet were two lines, one where the applicants would write their names and signatures, and another where the supplier would add his.
"…in exchange for the respect and care of the goods, resources, and materials provided by the inhabitants of the sixty-sixth floor, Jun Sy Urquiza Grau agrees to offer support, guidance, and precautions to anyone who takes these responsibilities seriously."
What was that calm in the air? What was that absolute seriousness? Jhossan looked at the children; Maurol and Gonzaroc had already signed the forms, certain they hadn't read them. In reality, there was nothing too unusual about them. Argy, on the other hand, looked more concerned; something caught his attention, but he couldn't do anything that wouldn't be taken as an offence. He would have liked to ask Jun directly if there was some spell woven into the ink or the paper fibres, but impossible to see with the naked eye. Was it safe to sign that paper?
"Mister Librarian," Argy finally spoke, about to write on the paper. "Will nothing bad happen to us if we accept?"
Jun looked at the boy in surprise; he hadn't expected anyone to ask him something like that directly to his face.
"Dear Argy. As long as you follow the rules, nothing bad will happen." The librarian seemed sincere in his answer. Was he?
"What are these specific rules?" Jhossan asked. He wasn't referring to the library rules. The two of them, from that moment on, were discussing the terms of a possible relationship.
"You will respect this space of learning and knowledge and those who find themselves in its quest. Finally, you will not remove books from here without my consent or without following proper protocol, nor will you damage the books or materials on this site."
There was no way to proceed without signing that form. Jhossan signed, understanding that point; if he wanted to advance in his new understanding of magic, those were rules he would have to live by. But Argy didn't agree; the librarian's cold eyes, set behind those glasses, seemed to lack a light the boy found in his friends. Perhaps he would sign the form in the future, but not now. Argy wanted to leave. What good would it do for a person willing to bewitch people with such a perverse illusion?
"I..." The boy said nothing more. He just handed over the unsigned form.
"Don't worry," the librarian replied with a gentle but practised smile. "You're free to accompany your classmates and stay here. If you have notes or books, you can study them here." He made a delicate gesture with his left hand, gathering his friends' papers. "Of course, they can share with you anything they learn here. But they can't give you any of the books."
The librarian put the papers back where he had taken them, and from one of the inside pockets of his tunic, he took out a metal plaque. Jhossan examined it carefully, surreptitiously placing himself between the librarian and the children. Jun tapped the plaque on the desk. Up close, the apprentice noticed the markings on the plaque; they were different from the ones Alondra had used, especially the geometric lines and still recognisable letters. But they seemed to be made in the same way and shape. He tapped it six times, and on the last one, the library lights came on; the shelves were now filled with books, some small, some large, some with beautiful, almost new spines, and others with tomes about to fall apart. Jhossan was very excited, but Argy couldn't see them.
"What did he do to me?" Argy kept wondering what else he had done to his head. "When did he do it?"
Every moment in the library, the question of what is real loomed over the boy's mind. Jhossan also had doubts, but having signed the contract gave him some peace of mind. Eventually, the four students moved away from the librarian after he guided them to certain shelves that might have something of interest. Before he knew it, Jhossan had a pile of a dozen books and notebooks on a table; now that the illusion had been removed to who knows what level, it was easy to see all the tables, notebooks, and pens available for visitors. Cold, dim lights abounded, making it easy to read. Still, darkness lingered toward the sky; looking up was like peering into the depths of nothingness itself.
"What is all this? What are these Dogmas? What are these numbers and figures?" Jhossan had barely opened a notebook and was already confused; he had never read such jumbled notes before, not about the Tradition itself, but about its execution. What stressed him most was how abstract it was to try to understand the Yocan. "Where do they get this stuff? Back home, there was no mention of the Yocan. But here, it's taken for granted."
The four amberites split into three groups: Maurol and Gonzaroc, Argy and Jhossan on their own. The first group was the most carefree; why would they be worried? Although it wasn't the ideal place they wanted to be, it had a surprising number of old storybooks and what appeared to be graphic novels with drawings and funny, irreverent, action-packed stories. Jhossan had commandeered a table and scattered notes, books, and notebooks belonging to himself and other students; he was crazed; it was as if each reading mocked him, as if those words, theorems, and corollaries were challenging him to try to decipher them.
Argy was last, and such was the similarity between all the shelves that he quickly got lost among them. The library was, by all accounts, endless. He cursed in his head; which books escaped his perception? How had they managed to hide them? Maybe, just maybe, the magic Jhossan had described was indeed incredible. Either way, Argy had one thing in mind:
"Miragees are terrifying."
Everything was beginning to change too suddenly for the newcomers. Argy, even in his youth, could see it; there was something different about Jhossan's gaze. In two days, he had become a completely different person.
"If that librarian were a bird," the boy thought, "he would surely be a vulture waiting for us to die."
In two days, Jhossan had become a person willing to sacrifice everything for a handful of clouds.