Chương 64: Fragile Wings

With the library growing steadily busier, Lira found herself with far less free time for magical experimentation than before. Mornings were increasingly interrupted by wandering nobles using the library as a stage for dramatic disputes, while the afternoons now belonged almost entirely to Prince Lyth and his increasingly frequent visits. Sometimes Prince Aric and Sir Deren would also accompany him.

The book about the lost city of Almara seemed to resonate strongly with both of them, and they kept asking for more material on the subject. Using her divination spell, Lira managed to locate several additional texts in the upper floors, even if some required magical cleaning, while another needed near-complete restoration. She considered getting on the second prince's good side to be worth a few meals' worth of rations. Lira still managed to carve out small moments for magical study whenever possible.

The mana obfuscation fields covering her desk allowed her to experiment with minor spells in relative safety, provided she remained careful about timing. Yesterday's experiment had actually been surprisingly successful. Inspired by the fireball spell she had once found, Lira attempted to adapt the structure into something more appropriate for library use. The result had been an ink projectile spell. Kaldris. Maha. Tir. Tarasana. Velkor. Retrieval. Water. Ink. Pocket. Launch.

The first half of the spell gathered nearby traces of ink and rehydrated them using ambient moisture. The second half compressed the liquid into a dense sphere before launching it forward at respectable speed. The spell's practical utility remained questionable. At best, she could use it to blind an opponent. More likely, she would simply ruin their clothes. Still, Lira had been absurdly pleased when it worked.

Unfortunately, the successful test also left a large ink splash across the wall, which led directly to the creation of another spell. Kaldris. Tir. Asatan. Retrieval. Ink. Paper. A straightforward spell that gathered spilled ink back onto paper surfaces. With the attack and cleanup combination working together, Lira decided to start carrying several folded sheets of paper soaked in ink, then dried, inside her pockets. Under the right conditions, they effectively acted as reserves for rapid spellcasting.

Once the ink was launched, it could later be retrieved back into the paper for future use. Today's experiment was significantly less offensive. Or at least, that had been the intention. Pika. Asatan. Farshum. Mind. Paper. Manipulation. The spell was a more versatile variation of her summoning paper spell. Not only could she use it to move paper through the air, but she was currently practicing making origami with it as well. It was a surprisingly effective spell for training magical control.

The books Edward Emberborn donated to the library recommended similar exercises. The crane-shaped birds proved significantly harder for her to create than detailed calligraphy using her writing spell, largely because she had far less experience with origami than she did with handwriting and ink work. Lira yawned quietly as she finished shaping the fifth crane-shaped paper bird.

The small origami creations fluttered lazily above her desk under the influence of her spell before slowly settling back down onto the wood. It was getting late again. Somehow, she had once more managed to practice magic straight through dinner without noticing the time. She really needed to stop doing that. A human being could not survive indefinitely on nuts and occasional kitchen leftovers. She was not a squirrel after all. Still, nighttime remained the safest period for magical experimentation.

Once evening came, Prince Lyth would leave for dinner, leaving the library entirely to herself again. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. As if fate wanted to be contrary, Lira frowned sharply when she heard the sudden sound of rapid footsteps approaching the library doors. Who in the world would come here at this hour? The footsteps grew louder, hurried and uneven, followed by the sound of the doors opening abruptly. Lira immediately stood.

To her surprise, Celene entered first, followed closely by a woman wrapped tightly in a hooded cloak. The head maid looked visibly relieved the moment she spotted Lira still inside the library.

"Lira," Celene hissed quietly, carefully lowering her voice so it would not carry.

"I need your help."

"Help me hide Maren," she said in a pleading voice. Lira's attention immediately shifted toward the second woman. As they moved closer, recognition struck almost instantly. It really was Maren beneath the cloak. The young maid looked terrible. Her lower lip was split badly enough that dried blood stained the corner of her mouth. Black tear streaks had ruined the kohl usually placed around her green eyes, leaving dark smudges across her pale face.

Her hands trembled violently as she clutched the front of her dress closed beneath the cloak, desperately trying to hide the torn fabric underneath. Lira froze, then the shock vanished beneath a wave of cold fury.

"What happened?" she asked quietly.

"Who did this to you?"

"It was Prince Kavard," Maren whispered before immediately breaking down into sobs again. Of course it was. Lira felt her jaw tighten. Tessa had warned her about the First Prince very early on. At the time, Lira had not paid much attention to the warning. She rarely entered the main hall, avoided noble gatherings whenever possible, and frankly, she did not fit the kingdom's preferred standard of beauty anyway. Her orange hair and freckled face apparently did little to inspire aristocratic passion.

Plus, one look into her eyes was usually enough to convince even criminals to leave her alone. Maren, however… Maren was exactly the sort of woman nobles noticed. Long dark hair, striking eyes, a beautiful face, a gentle voice, and, more importantly, she looked vulnerable.

"You need to hide her," Celene said urgently.

"I tried getting her out through one of the servant gates, but the prince already has guards searching the grounds. They are looking for a maid matching Maren's description. The library was the only place I could think of where we might safely hide her." Lira's eyes narrowed.

"Why would he do that?" she asked.

"Has the kingdom truly rotted so badly that the First Prince can openly admit to assaulting palace staff?"

"No," Maren said weakly, forcing the words out between shaking breaths.

"I… fought back while escaping." Lira blinked. Maren lowered her head further.

"I think I broke his nose." For one glorious moment, Lira felt genuine admiration. Then reality returned.

"Oh no." Striking royalty was grounds for execution. Lira turned sharply toward Celene.

"I will hide her," she said immediately.

"But I need you to trust me." Celene nodded without hesitation.

"Do not return to check on her," Lira continued.

"You will be watched. If the prince's people notice you returning here repeatedly, they will become suspicious." The head maid looked deeply conflicted, but she listened.

"I will meet you tomorrow during lunch in the kitchens," Lira said.

"I will update you there." Then she stepped closer and lowered her voice even further.

"But do not come back here. No matter what happens. Understand?" Celene hesitated only briefly before nodding.

"Take good care of her," she whispered. Then, reluctantly, she left. Lira watched her disappear through the doors before exhaling slowly. Honestly, she was surprised by Celene. When they first met, Lira had assumed the head maid was a vain woman who cared only about appearances. The way she dressed and spoke had made Lira think she was someone much closer to Dalwin, a woman whose only claim to power was an old affair she had with the king. Instead, the head maid had proven again and again that she genuinely cared.

But contemplation about Celene's morality could wait for later. Right now, Lira needed to act fast. She turned toward Maren.

"Follow me." Keeping her movements calm, she led the frightened maid deeper into the library before slipping behind the tapestry concealing her hidden alcove. She pushed aside the disguised wooden panel and guided Maren inside. Thankfully, Lira had already relocated the truly dangerous materials. Her father's lexicon and the runic fire primer were hidden safely behind the false wall, while the remaining magical primers had been scattered throughout the upper floors days ago.

Paranoia was exhausting, but moments like this justified it completely. Lira sat the girl down on one of the chairs and handed her a waterskin along with the small pouch of candy she kept hidden among her supplies.

"Stay here," she said gently.

"Do not move around unless absolutely necessary. I will check on you in the morning." Maren nodded weakly while clutching the cloak tighter around herself.

"Hey, don't worry. You will be safe," Lira said with a reassuring smile.

"I will get you out of this. You can trust me." Lira quietly closed the hidden entrance and leaned against the shelf for several long seconds, thinking rapidly. She needed to move carefully now. Unlike Celene and Maren, Lira understood exactly what happened after a search began. She had spent years around criminals, scammers, and thieves. Once guards started hunting someone seriously, they stopped looking for people and started looking for clues.

Footprints, disturbed routines, changes in behavior, but more immediately, smell. If palace guards decided to bring hounds… Lira immediately turned toward her desk. She needed a spell for scent concealment. Now.