71 – Morning After

A knock at the door.

Alexandra pried her eyes open, and took in the room around her. Pale light streamed through a narrow window, catching on the large, smooth grey stones that made up the wall. There was an empty desk in the corner with a chair, and a wardrobe, also empty.

She pushed herself from the bed to stand up and paused. She had a bed. A real bed. With bedding and a pillow even fluffier than what she had on Earth.

The person at the door knocked again.

She stood up, and opened it. In front of her, two men: Louis, and a grizzled old man wearing blue robes. He had a beard on the long side and hair shaved close to the skull.

“Miss Alexandra,” he said. “I have been tasked with showing you around.”

Her stomach gurgled.

“A tour which will include the refectory.”

Still in a morning daze, she licked her lips and nodded. “Erm, okay. I’ll follow you.”

“Very well. My name is Qafit, and as you can see by my robes, I am a Platinum.” He walked in the corridor where her room was located.

She followed.

“Sera didn’t wear one.”

“These robes are only mandatory inside the Iron Library. In the field, we favor more practical attire.” He gestured at his robes. “As you can imagine, while comfortable, these are not great to fight in.”

Qafit took them through a courtyard. The sky was clouded.

“It’s going to rain,” Louis said.

“It often does, in Kator,” Qafit answered. Then, he pointed at a tower jutting out of the building ahead. Made of the same stones as the walls of Alexandra’s room, it was wider than a city block. “This is the Iron Library. Where all the knowledge of Laika finds its way.”

Alexandra looked up at the tower, and up again. It never seemed to end until it disappeared into the clouds.

“It’s even more impressive than I heard,” Louis said. “Can we browse its content?”

“The first four floors, Iron to Gold, are accessible to the students of the Iron Library’s academy. Since you enrolled yesterday, you may enter.”

Alexandra raised her brows and looked at Louis. “You enrolled?”

He nodded. “I did. Everyone would. Alexandra, this is the Iron Library.”

She swallowed. “Okay.”

Her stomach gurgled again.

Qafit seemed to be aware of the malediction of infinite hunger, as he cut the tour short, instead explaining in superficial details that they were inside the academy section of the Iron Library, where people came from all over the world to study, and that the Keepers resided on the other side of the tower.

The refectory was accessible through a series of courtyards and arches. It was a large hall, supported by massive stone pillars. Light entered from wide, stained glass panels that seemed enchanted as it was brighter inside than outside. Rows of wooden tables and benches filled the space.

Some tables were occupied, a group of teenagers in grey and orange robes took the far corner. Closer to Alexandra’s age, white and yellow robes ate alone.

The serving table ran the length of the kitchen wall.

“It’s self-service,” Qafit said. “Eat as much as you’d like. Miss Alexandra, you’re free to wander the academy bar obvious restrictions. I’ll come pick you up for your meeting with the Magus.”

“Restrictions?” she asked.

He shrugged. “Don’t barge into classes. Read the signs. Just common sense.”

She picked up a tray and worked down the table: a meat, braised and dark, a grain she didn’t know the name of, and normal looking bread.

She and Louis sat at an empty table, and dug in.

The meat tasted like duck, with the consistency of beef. She chewed fast. There was a faint sweet note underneath the savory exterior. She speared another piece with her fork, then tore a piece of bread.

“This is great,” she said, mouth half-full and sending some crumbs flying at Louis.

“They must have high-level chefs.”

Alexandra tried a spoonful of grain. She only took it to fill her stomach, but it was surprisingly tasty, with a nutty aftertaste.

“Are you ready to talk to him?” Louis asked, voice low.

She paused mid-motion, a spoonful of grain in front of her mouth. “No. Not really. But I can’t push it back any longer. At least, it doesn’t seem like he wants to hurt us.”

“Maybe he doesn’t.”

“Maybe. We’ll see what he has to say. I thought you’d be more reserved, seeing how you acted when I told you I was a heroine.”

Louis shook his head. “I thought so too. But it’s as you said. You’re not her, and he isn’t either. It’s common knowledge that the Magus and the Legate don’t see eye to eye.”

“So he’s convinced you.”

“He’s convinced me that I should seize this opportunity,” Louis said. “It’s the Iron Library, Alexandra. I know you don’t understand what it means, but trust me when I say this is the best place to progress our skills.”

“What did he say to you? Specifically.”

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Louis turned his fork over. “He gave me hope.”

“Hope?”

“Yes. More than I thought I’d ever find.”

Alexandra set her spoon down. “That’s not what I asked.”

Louis met her eyes. He didn’t look away, but he didn’t answer either.

She picked her spoon back up. “Okay.” She shoved more grains down her throat. “We’re here now. There’s no going back.”

Louis finished his plate and made to stand up. “I’m sorry. I have to leave first. My first class starts soon, and I need to pick up my robes before that.”

Alexandra waved him off. “Sure. Go. I could eat, well, forever, so don’t wait for me.”

She’d yet to look deeper into Curse Unraveling, but she already knew that using her new skill to get rid of the malediction wouldn’t be that simple.

She pulled up the skill while she ate.

Curse Unraveling – 1:

This skill provides a framework to reverse engineer curses.
Each level increases your ability to decipher curses.

She pushed a thread of mana toward her stomach.

Nothing.

She let the thread go and picked up another piece of meat. That was something she’d have to bring up to Raymond.

“Excuse me.”

Alexandra looked up. A girl dressed in white robes stood at the edge of her table, tray in hand. She was about her age, maybe a year younger, freckled, round-cheeked, and wide-eyed, with brows arched high enough that she looked perpetually curious.

“I don’t mean to intrude, but I noticed you were eating alone, and I—” she gestured at the mostly empty hall around them. “So was I. I’m Willow.”

“Alexandra.”