I could see the Security Office on the other side of the room. It blinked away as soon as I looked at it.
Students scurried this way and that like little rodents. Books floated from shelf to shelf, organising themselves or swooping away to whomever had requested them.
I felt a heavy swish as a large tome flew past my ear and down the stairs behind me.
Enid trotted close beside me. Her breathing was strained.
So was mine.
I don't think either of us was used to climbing so many stairs.
"Maybe we should've gone to the canteen," I murmured to her.
"It would've been easier," she agreed. "But we're here now."
"Hmm."
"Is something wrong?"
"I'm not sure." I scowled at the maze of shelves up ahead. "But it seems very busy in here, doesn't it?"
"I'm not sure," she said. "I don't really come here all that often. I'm an historian. I live on Level 9."
"Very sensible," I said approvingly.
Level 17 was primarily devoted to the philosophies of magic.
Now, I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I happen to think there's nothing wrong with philosophy. Some of my distant acquaintances have been philosophers. But the Guild's idea of philosophy was somewhat questionable.
For example, there was an entire section based on the exploration of why spells came in specific colours. Like, why were fire spells always red or yellow? To me, exploring that question was a ridiculous waste of one's life.
Fire spells are red, yellow, or white because that's the basic colour of fire depending on the temperature you're working with.
It's not a difficult reason.
Similarly, water spells are mostly blue or transparent.
You could accost any 5-year old in the street and demand they tell you why spells are the colour they are, and they will look at you like you're a blithering idiot because even they know it's a stupid question. Of course, you'd promptly get arrested right after that because accosting children is something only the mookiest of mooks would do.
So, it's best not to do that.
It's also best to consider carefully your steps in the Mage Guild's halls because they're very much mookier than even the mookiest of mooks.
Which is why I knew someone on Level 17 was engaged in some form of shenanigans. And I wasn't going to like it.
"We can't just stand here all day," Enid said, a little impatiently. "I have a class this afternoon. Given I am the teacher, it might be best that I attend."
"You're right," I said, tapping my cane on the floor.
I took two steps forward.
And the trap was sprung.
"Intruder Alert!" A loud piercing vice screamed. "Intruder! Intruder Alert!"
The books froze.
Then, one by one, they turned their spines to me.
"Oh dear," Enid said, crouching low and putting her hands over her head.
"Yes," I said tightly, as a thousand books quivered as though loaded on taut arrow strings. "Oh dear indeed."
"You might've scraped your way past Guile, Taran," a deep voice taunted from the shadows. "But I know your spells work by line of sight!"
"Ah," I tapped my chin as my brain tried very hard to place the name. "Head Librarian McGoggins. How thoroughly unpleasant to meet you here."
"The feeling is mutual, boy," McGoggins growled. "Now, I've called Security, and they're on their way. So, the best thing you can do for yourself is to get on your knees, put your hands on your head, and close your eyes."
"Why would I do that?"
"Because if you don't, I'll release the books!"
"Hmm." I wondered what it would feel like to be hit by a thousand books all at once. Probably not very good. "Aren't you worried about damaging them?"
"Not really," he called back, a little sheepishly. "It's only Level 17. They're just philosophy books after all."
"Well, I shan't argue with that."
"So, are you going to get down on your knees?"
"No," I said. "No, I don't think I will."
"I'll release them!"
"Yes, and…?"
"It'll really hurt!"
"I doubt it."
"Look, Taran, I'm serious. This is Gordon's version of the Telekinesis spell. Now, I know you've heard of it. It's pretty strong."
"Yes, I've heard of it."
"So, you know it'll hurt. Quite a bit, actually." He paused, probably for dramatic effect. "You see, Taran, words really can hurt you!"
"Yes, but they'd have to hit me first," I called to him. "And, I don't mean to be rude, but I'm sort of questioning your aim. Your spectacles are rather thick, Head Librarian McGoggins. Are you sure you know where I stand?"
"Presumptuous brat!"
Telekinesis was a power which lacked finesse. However, the Head Librarian was right about one thing.
It would hurt.
Quite a bit.
I glanced over my shoulder at Enid, who was still cowering by the stairs. "You might like to take cover over there," I told her, waving my cane to a heavy-looking shelf. "I'm not sure how long I will be able to hold back the wave. I think long enough to exhaust the Head Librarian, but we shall see."
McGoggins chuckled. An ugly chuckle. The kind of chuckle I liked to chuckle when approaching mooks.
"I won't lie to you, Taran," the Head Librarian purred. "I'm quite pleased you want to test my new spell. I've been waiting for this moment since you broke into my library."
"It's not a library," I snapped at him. "It never has been!"
McGoggins didn't bother to insult me any further.
He also proved he wasn't the gentleman he liked to pretend to be, by triggering the spell without giving me a chance to defend myself.
"Tch," I grunted. "The Guild is nothing more than a nest of mooks! S'mpp Nay'shunn!"
I hastily cast my spell.
A sound, like thunder in the distance, rumbled through the air as the lights in the Library suddenly dimmed. And in the shadows, glittering eyes which glowed with deep purple light opened to stare down at the battlefield of Level 17.
Thousands of eyes, their unblinking gazes darting this way and that.
And, in my head, my mind was split and torn as they fed me what they saw.
This was why void magic drove its practitioners insane. Many couldn't handle the overwhelming flood of unrelenting chaos that was a common result of its casting.
My countless eyes found what they were looking for.
Each squinted, focusing tightly onto their subject.
I winced as my stomach lurched with vertigo. Concentrating on so many points of view was nauseating.
The first wave of books shot toward me with a great flap of pages. I cast my second spell with a desperate roar before they could slam into my body.
"Numuruz'wyd M'ffz!"
Level 17 echoed with the crackle of space being torn and the moist slurp of a being whose entire existence centred on a desire to consume. I felt a heavy pressure as His awareness dropped onto me.
My vision wavered as he poked His curious ancient mind into mine to see what I saw through the countless eyes.
Was it His amusement I felt?
Or was it mine?
I held tightly to my determination to weather McGoggins' spell. Hoping that would preserve what remained of my sanity.
The holes I'd created swallowed books by the dozen. Flinging them into the depths of the void where a neutron star, flashed wildly as the books spun into its heart instead of one of His many mouths.
Even the Old Twit didn't eat books.
He is a monster, but he's not that much of a monster.
The pages of those books flared brightly and were vaporised in an instant.
But some made it through my field of portals.
I couldn't stop them all!
Their impact drove me back, and I stumbled awkwardly. Clutching my chest as the wave paused. The pain of being bombarded by books left me groaning.
With a moist smack of their lips, the void portals vanished at the same time.
I doubled over, panting hard.
I could taste blood. One had hit me in the face and split my lip. It didn't feel too bad, though.
"Still alive?" McGoggins called cheerfully. "That's a pity. Have you had enough now? Will you kneel, Taran? Or do you want more?"
"Hmph. This is Level 17." I sneered, wiping the blood from my lips. "The only way you could hurt me with this drivel is if you forced me to read it."
"Then it seems I'll need to get serious," he said. There was a hint of glee to his voice as the lights in the Library shivered from red to a bright orange colour.
"All Students please vacate the Library immediately," an ethereal voice announced smoothly. "The Library is undergoing reconstruction."
"You wouldn't dare," I gasped, taking an involuntary step back.
"You said it yourself, Taran," the Head Librarian crowed as the floor burst open to reveal every level above and below. Torn from every shelf in the Library, books were sucked into a giant raging column of air which howled as it reared like a living thing. Lightning crackled within its roaring heart. "These trivial volumes alone can't kill you. But how will you survive when faced with The Tornado of Tomes?"
***
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