I pressed my palms to my temples, trying to comfort myself. Victor's voice lingered in the back of my mind. As though he knew more than he let on. As though what I had seen wasn't just imagination.
I swung my legs over the bed and sat up, my hair tumbling into my face. My body felt as though I'd had a full night's sleep, though I remembered nothing but that blurred, unsettling vision. Was this the effect of my regular meditation? Or had something else brushed against me, something that wasn't meant to?
I forced myself to move. Stretching my limbs, grounding myself in the ordinary, I clung to the small comfort of routine: food first, then thought. I ate what Victor had given me, though the taste barely registered. The food was strangely bland, anyway.
It was Sunday afternoon, and with no duties at the apothecary, I decided to spend the day in one of the four archives. I had heard that Mr. Dagron kept countless volumes in his private chamber, but those were forbidden to us-said to contain knowledge too dangerous for ordinary eyes. The Level One Archive, however, was open, with only one or two persons inside, and I hoped it might hold something useful for my own studies.
The Archive was housed in a solemn wing of the lodge, more similar to a academic library than a magician's sanctum. Rows of oak shelves rose nearly to the ceiling, crammed with leather-bound tomes whose spines bore the faded gilt of titles long out of print. The air smelled faintly of dust and old paper, mingled with the lingering tang of oil lamps. The place was eerily silent, broken only by the creak of my boots against the floorboards.
I walked slowly along the aisles, brushing my fingertips over the worn bindings as if the books themselves might guide me. Some had titles in different languages, but I searched for anything that spoke of traveling between realms, or of the vampiric beings so I would know how to deal with Nikolai.
At last, I gathered a small stack and carried them to an armchair tucked by the tall mullioned windows. Pale light fell through the glass, spilling across the pages in soft illumination. Settling in, I opened the first book.
The writings spoke of an invisible dimension, the so-called fourth dimension, said to exist alongside our physical world. According to these accounts, it was not some whimsical dream-realm where you might find yourself plummeting from an endless building or suddenly standing naked in public, but a hidden layer of reality overlapping our own, unseen except by those with the gift-or the curse-of Sight. Within it dwelled countless beings: some benevolent, some cunning, and others wicked beyond imagining.
The more I read, the more the words seemed to mirror my own encounters. Others had indeed slipped beyond the veil of the visible world and returned with stories of entities both wondrous and dreadful. I could not help but feel a strange shiver, realizing that what I had glimpsed was not mine alone to bear.
Hours passed, and I became engrossed in my research. The more I learned, the more I hungered for knowledge. The library had a way of drawing you in, of making time slip away unnoticed. The concept of dimensional traveling began to take shape in my mind, like how to separate one's presence from the confines of the physical world, how to navigate the realms beyond safely, and the dangers that awaited those who ventured too far.
So absorbed was I in the text that I did not hear the soft tread behind me. Only when a rich, resonant voice cut through my concentration did I start.
"Fascinating subjects you're delving into, Miss Montclair."
I looked up quickly to find Mr. Dagron standing nearby, a book in hand. His ash blond, tousled hair fell effortlessly over his piercing blue eyes that looked tired. Hastily, I closed the book before me and gave him a polite smile.
"Magister Dagron," I greeted, smiling.
He took a seat across from me, his gaze carried an intensity that was hard to ignore. His eyes lingered on the stack of books beside me, tracing over the titles I had chosen.
"Dimensional traveling and the study of negative forces," he remarked lightly, a small smile touching his lips. "Two fields that often cross paths in surprising ways."
I tilted my head, intrigued by what he said. "You know about these subjects, then?"
Mr. Dagron reached for one of the books and turned it in his hands as though it were an old acquaintance. "I do. To study dimensional travel is to glimpse the hidden scaffolding of existence itself. As for dark beings...well, one cannot truly understand light without acknowledging the shadows it casts."
There was nothing boastful in the way he spoke. His words flowed easily, with a quiet certainty that made me want to lean closer. I felt as though he wasn't merely repeating knowledge, but sharing fragments of lived experience.
"Have you... had personal encounters with dimensional travel?" The question slipped out before I could stop myself.
His smile deepened, but not in a way that mocked me. Instead, there was warmth in his expression, a faint gleam in his eyes as though he understood exactly what it meant to ask such a thing.
"A few, yes," he admitted. "It is not a pursuit for the careless. Stepping between worlds can be illuminating, even beautiful. But it also demands discipline, and a certain respect for boundaries most people never realize exist."
There was something in the way he spoke. His posture was straight but relaxed, hands lightly resting on the book, shoulders calm. That made it easy to settle into his words. His tone carried the same careful precision as a nobleman negotiating a delicate subject. Despite the weight of the topics, a strange sense of ease crept into me. I found myself listening deeply, as if the room had grown warmer and quieter around him.
I just nodded, absorbing his words. "And what about the study of dark beings?" I asked carefully. "Do you know much about them? Their history, their legends?"
His expression darkened slightly, a subtle shadow crossing his features. "Legends are easy to find," he said calmly, "but understanding them is far more difficult, especially if you haven't first learned the laws that govern our world." He paused, letting the weight of his words settle. "Negative beings like vampires, demons, and others, they exist in ways most cannot imagine. To study them is to study the nature of reality itself. They move through time and space differently than we do. Step into their realm unprepared, and you risk more than harm. Some may even seek to consume what makes you... human."
Despite the serious tone, there was no fear in his eyes. Only concern, and a quiet confidence that seemed to fill the room.
"Would you... share some of what you know, sir?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, my gaze fixed on him.
Mr. Dagron leaned back slightly, one hand lightly drumming on the book before him. "Knowledge is never complete," he said thoughtfully. "It's like pieces of a puzzle. You see parts, glimpses, hints, but the whole picture is always larger than you can imagine. Negative, daemonic beings are complex, just like the positive, angelic beings, each with their own motives, histories, and... peculiarities."
We were silent for a moment, as if we were thinking of what to say to break the sudden, uncomfortable silence between us.
"Perhaps," he continued, his gaze fixed on me, "we could exchange knowledge. A sharing of insights that might illuminate the path you're treading."
I felt my curiosity flare. "I would be honored to learn from your experiences, Sir Magnus."
He gave a faint, easy smile that softened the intensity in his eyes. "Sir Magnus is formal, but you may call me Magnus if you prefer. Among our circle, formality can be eased without losing respect."
I nodded, sensing the subtle confidence behind his words. It was strange how his presence could make the library feel smaller, calmer, as though time itself had slowed to accommodate our conversation.
Leaning slightly forward, I ventured further. "Sir—Magnus, what about other beings one might encounter while traveling the fourth dimension? Fey, satyrs, gorgons... perhaps even Krakens?" My tone was light, though my stomach fluttered at the thought.
He studied me for a moment, his long, rather hairy fingers drumming softly on the edge of his book. "The fourth dimension contains countless entities, each with their own laws and limits, depending on which region they lived. Some are harmless, some clever, and some... less forgiving. To encounter them without understanding their nature is to invite danger. Knowledge and discipline will protect you."
Magnus shook his head and smiled. "I've known a few magicians who were quite foolish to just travel around or experiment with rituals that cost their lives."
I swallowed, feeling a mix of curiosity and anxiety. Despite the gravity of his words, there was a calm, almost diplomatic authority in the way he spoke, as if explaining a delicate treaty rather than issuing a warning. Somehow, I trusted that under his guidance, even the darkest corners of the dimension might be navigable.
"If the fourth dimension contains countless inhabitants, then, how could they fit in there?" I asked. A small part of me felt that the question was stupid.
Magnus's lips curved into a small, knowing smile, his eyes sparked in amusement ."Ah, you have a keen appetite for knowledge, Miss Montclair. That is a quality I respect." He leaned back slightly in his chair, fingers tapping a steady rhythm on the table. "The fourth dimension is home to countless beings, each with its own nature and realm of existence. However, it is also far bigger than our world, and it contains infinite regions. To describe each of them is impossible."
I leaned forward. "And... are they dangerous? I've heard some can abduct people."
"Anything is possible," he said calmly. "The creatures you mentioned exist in the fourth dimension, invisible to the human eye. They do not think as humans do; their sense of morality differs from ours, and it can be difficult to understand them. Fairies are often pure and innocent, satyrs are... mischievously indulgent, gorgons dwell in the astral seas with snakes and eels entwined in their hair, and the Krakens inhabits the ocean's deepest reaches, acting as a guardian." He let out a soft sigh, as if recalling lessons hard learned. "Eventually, you may meet such beings once you are formally recognized in the Covenant, but know this-they can be dangerous. Even angels or gods can be dangerous if you are unprepared."
"How... how is that possible?" I asked, my heart beating faster.
Magnus's gaze softened slightly, as if gauging my understanding. "They can sense the spirit beneath the flesh. If you are unsteady, unpracticed, or simply curious without guidance, your very presence can draw their attention, and not all attention is harmless. Spiritual maturity, focus, and awareness are what a practitioner need."
I nodded slowly. Despite the weight of the warning, there was something oddly reassuring about the way he explained it, as though danger could be met with knowledge and caution rather than fear alone.
For a moment, my thoughts drifted to Nikolai. That was when I knew what to ask next.
I leaned forward slightly, eager to catch every nuance in Magnus's expression. Curiosity nudged me further. "And vampires, Magnus? Are they among the beings one might encounter in the fourth dimension?"
A shadow flickered across his face, subtle but noticeable, before the corners of his lips lifted into a faint, controlled smile.
"Vampires, yes," he said carefully, his voice steady and deliberate. "Fascinating, but dangerous all the same."
I asked him again, heart quickening. "Could a vampire manifest in the physical world? Could one... appear here?"
Magnus's gaze faltered just a fraction, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes. "Any magical being with sufficient power can manifest in the physical world," he replied, his tone growing more deliberate. "Such a manifestation is difficult and cannot be maintained for long. It demands strength, purpose, and control."
I caught a subtle shift in his demeanor, the faint tightening of his jaw, as if I had stumbled upon a topic he preferred to handle with care. Or perhaps, he was getting irritated with my endless inquiries. Still, my curiosity would not let me stop. "So... it's possible for a vampire to materialize here?"
Magnus held my gaze for a moment longer, the seriousness in his expression deepening. "Yes, Miss Montclair. It is possible, for any being regardless of their origin, to be visible. But it is not something to be taken lightly."
I tilted my head as I remembered Nikolai. He was quiet and did not move often, making him look like a ghostly statue in a corner of my small, hotel room. So far, he didn't do anything harmful towards me or anyone, but he rarely responded to any of my questions.
Before I could ask further, Magnus stood, his chair scraping softly against the floor. As he moved, a glint of metal caught my eye—a small pendant dangling from a thin chain at his collar. It bore the image of a scorpion, and beneath it, the faint engraving of the word "Dagenroth." I was not sure what it meant, for I had never encountered any spell like that. For a brief moment, it rested outside his clothing, and I instinctively wondered if it was some kind of protective amulet. He must have noticed my glance, or perhaps he simply moved naturally, for the pendant slipped back inside his vest as if he had stolen something and he was trying to hide it.
Or maybe, it was one of the rare amulets which should not be seen by anyone. I'd read some texts about such protective charms where if a stranger saw it, it would become ineffective.
His smile returned, though there was a faint tension to it. "I apologize, Miss Montclair, but I have important matters to attend to in my office. I appreciate our conversation, and I thank you for your time."
I nodded, sensing the discussion had taken an unexpected turn. "Thank you, Magnus, for sharing your insights with me."
Before I could respond, he was now out of sight, leaving me with a swirl of thoughts, questions, and that lingering curiosity about the scorpion pendant.