"How did you get here?"
The clear voice rang out without warning, like a hand pulling Annan from a sticky mire. A Girl of thirteen or fourteen stood before the bookshelves, curiosity and questions glimmering in her clear eyes.
Was there still someone in Breeze City who didn't know him?
"I'm just looking around. My name is Annan."
"Fudot." The Girl raised her chin and studied Annan's face. "Are you new? Why haven't I seen you before?"
"It's my first time here," Annan said.
Another blizzard seemed to be closing in. Oil lamps and candles were lit around the Library.
"I'm an administrator for the lower grades. What do you want to read? Guide to Strange Creatures? Herb Identification? Beginner's Guide to Alchemy?"
Fudot named several books on species and alchemy. Annan ventured, "I prefer stories..."
"I thought your learning would be as impressive as your looks." With a hint of disdain, the Girl pointed toward a corner, then left the shelves without paying him any more attention.
As the Girl departed, the Library brightened again.
Annan put down the strange Sunken Land and headed where the Girl had pointed—the Library exit.
Well, he really hadn't come to the Library to study.
Annan spent a while looking for the librarian. During their chat, he learned that there was no administrator named Fudot here, nor any Girl of twelve or thirteen.
At the Mage Tower, Annan recounted what had happened to Michael and remembered the forbidden books in Mr. Victor's Basement. "Mr. Victor told me some knowledge is power in itself."
"More or less. The better your talent, the easier it is to sense. Remember the Book of Filth? That counts too."
As for whether the story was true...
"Who knows?" Michael said carelessly. "Our dreams might be stories that