"Sweet."
Noah reached towards the glass case, his hand hovering just an inch above its smooth surface.
He hesitated, staring at the book inside. Was this all the protection it really had?
And so, he lowered his palm, testing the barrier.
The moment his fingers brushed the glass, a loud crackle of energy surged through it. Blue-white lightning arced out, striking his skin.
"Ah!" He jerked back, the sting shooting up his arm. The smell of ozone filled the air. He shook his hand, flexing his fingers to numb the burn.
"So much for subtle," he muttered under his breath.
The protective enchantment was powerful and reactive, possibly layered with elemental wards. Simply smashing the glass wasn't an option. But neither was leaving the book behind.
His gaze swept the room, taking in the tall, narrow shelves that lined the restricted section. Each was filled with old, dust-covered tomes, their spines cracked and fading.
