The Great Hero is a Schoolteacher

The University’s library was a bookworm’s dream: rows of books, smelling of old wood and leather, ran from the floor to the ceiling, with walkways halfway up. All these bookcases surrounded a central rotunda where students read quietly, seated at dark wooden desks under a glass dome. Catalin walked to a huge book, possibly heavier than her, chained to a frame near the center of the room.

“This is the index,” she whispered, respecting rules that I suspected were a fixed point in time and space, in all the libraries of all possible worlds across the multiverse. “Can you describe what you want to see? I’ll look it up.”

Why did I let Princess Nigella keep the copy of the symbol? I should have brought it with me.

“There’s a drawing that we think might be a magic glyph. The pattern’s quite complex, so I don’t think I could describe it, but I can draw it if it’s all right to you.”

“Of course, Great Hero Al.”

Catalin fumbled through her bag and pulled out cheap-looking paper and a thin graphite stick. I drew the symbol from memory, then handed everything back to her. She gave it a long thoughtful look.

“How close is it to the original?” she asked.

“It’s the exact same one. Absolutely accurate.”

She raised an eyebrow, but she didn’t comment.

“Let me take a look,” she just said.

She gave the sheet of paper to Chess, who kindly held it in front of her while she opened the heavy index with both hands. She looked at my drawing a few times, checking parts of it, then moving to another page, shaking her head and starting again. Sometimes, she coughed softly.

Then she pointed a line with a cheerful “Aha!”, looked around us, extended a hand towards a bookcase, and said there was only one known occurrence of a similar symbol, in a book, over there. We followed her to a massive bookcase and helped her go through every row until we found the right volume.

“Now, I have to flip through it and hope the reference is easy to find,” she concluded.

“Doesn’t the index tell the page number?”

She had the sweetest soft laugh. “Every book in this library is referenced in it and that’s enough of a feat! Do you know how many times new pages had to be magically added to this index?”

“You mean it wasn’t always that big?”

“It keeps growing.”

A librarian shushed us from the other side of the room, so we sat at a desk and Catalin began to read, coughing every now and then.

Some time passed. Students came and left while Chess and I chatted in low voices.

“Am I really expected to marry her? We’re both women and all…”

“If the union was frowned upon, it’d rather be because you’re a human and she’s a Zimeon.”

“But I didn’t even mean to…”

Chess shook their head.

“There were witnesses and the proposal was valid according to Zimeon tradition. I understand this is an awkward situation for you, ma’am, but I have no easy solution to offer.”

I looked sideways at Catalin, who was deeply focused on a book, studying for my sake.

She didn’t need to do it. She could have shown us the place and left us, or just watched as we looked up our own information. How seriously is she taking this whole engagement thing?

“I’m not ready, Chess. I only just got divorced, and I must relearn to be my own person, before I end up married again.”

They shrugged.

“An engagement can always be broken, ma’am.”

“But at what cost?”

I put my chin on my hand. Five brats had seen me propose to Catalin, and at least one of them was probably related to one of King Esthar’s closest advisors. I could only imagine the damage on my reputation if I abandoned my fiancée. What sort of hero would I be, then?

“There it is!” exclaimed Catalin.

She showed me a page filled with text. Even though I was technically able to read it, it took me an effort, either because the writing system was new to me or because the print was really small. I squinted over the book.

The description of the symbol seems to match what I saw on Kossi’s neck. But what does it say here? A stained-glass window in… a house? By Lake Mera?

I looked at Catalin.

“Are you implying the only known occurrence of this glyph is a decoration in a private building?”

She nodded. “It seems so. May I know what it is?”

We may have been engaged according to Zimeon tradition, but I couldn’t trust her with such crucial information. Even Chess, who had Princess Nigella’s trust, had no idea of the real nature of my quest. I bowed my head.

“Look, Catalin, I’m sorry, but it’s a secret. Many lives depend on it. Right now, I can’t tell anyone.”

“I understand.”

She wrote down some notes on her cheap paper, then sighed.

“You’re the Great Hero Al, after all. You have demons to hunt and a kingdom to protect. I can’t expect you to share everything with me.”

Catalin’s bright red hair hid her face as she looked down at the desk. Was she sad, or just trying to trick me? I put a hand on hers, and she startled.

“Yes?”

“You’ve been very helpful and I appreciate that. But as you said, I’m on a mission to protect the kingdom, and to be honest, I can’t answer your question. I don’t know what this glyph is. That’s why I’m investigating.”

I took another look at the page.

“I saw Lake Mera on a map and it looked quite large. Does the book mention a more precise location?”

Catalin flipped the pages, her face bright with excitement.

“Yes! It belonged to Turoch Garnet.”

“Who?”

“A famous wizard. He’d go there to study in peace and quiet, so I guess it’s rather secluded, north of the lake, across from Merumo and the main commercial roads. But the book was printed forty years ago. The building may not be standing anymore.”

“Thank you, Catalin.” I stood up. “Chess, will you take me back to the palace, please?”

The young woman paled as I left my seat.

“Can I come with you, Great Hero Al?”

I frowned.

“Because of what happened earlier? You don’t have to stick with me, Catalin. You said you wanted to keep studying, so study and become an expert at magic, all right?”

She stood up, with fists under her pointy chin and pleading terracotta eyes.

“Please! I have a final assignment to submit, but I’m ahead of schedule, and if you’re going to a house that used to belong to Turoch Garnet, I want to see it too! I beg you, don’t leave me behind!”

“Silence in the library!” interrupted a librarian’s voice.

As Catalin mouthed the word “please” once more, I wondered how much magic she already knew, as a freshman. Could she help me on my quest?

And then a new coughing fit shook her thin body.

She’s sick. Maybe fresh air will help.

“Come with me,” I said in a soft voice.

Alicia, you’re a softie. It’ll be the death of me someday.

Chess had the seal on their sword removed, then the three of us walked back to the palace. We did get into the courtyard, but the guards barred Catalin from entering the royal residence. She was unknown, and a commoner, and a Zimeon.

“She’s a student at the University of Magic Arts!” I insisted.

“Gray robe means first year. Anyone who can pay the tuition is allowed to attend first-year courses, Great Hero Al! We can’t just let in all freshmen from the University!”

Catalin put a hand on my arm.

“It’s all right. I can stay outside. I’m used to it.”

“Well, I’m not. Chess, will you stay with her, please?”

“Of course, ma’am.”

I left them both, walked in through the main door as my status allowed, and went straight up the east staircase to Princess Nigella’s apartments. I knocked. A servant opened. It took me a few minutes to get a promise that the princess would come down to help me with a little situation that even the Great Hero Al couldn’t sort by herself.

I went back outside. We waited together, on a bench, in what was left of the garden burned by Kossi’s flames.

Catalin’s looking at me in awe again. This is getting ridiculous. And yet… She does have a beautiful smile.

After a while, Princess Nigella walked out of the palace and straight to the bench. We stood up to face her, and she glanced at us with a severe face.

“Let us walk.”

She went to the chapel, and then followed the parapet where I’d caught my first glimpse of Kossi. Catalin, Chess and I went after her. If we kept walking, the guards behind us would stay out of earshot, provided we didn’t speak too loudly. That was probably what the princess was looking for: minimum privacy she couldn’t have inside the palace.

As we walked, her gaze lingered on Catalin, who shuddered and came closer to me, possibly for protection. I reached for the young woman’s hand as if she was one of my four-year-old pupils. Princess Nigella immediately frowned.

“What happened?”

“This student’s name is Catalin Robi. She helped us find a reference at the library.”

“Only one reference?”

“There was nothing else in the index. It leaves us with one lead, that we’ll need to check on location.”

I told her about the wizard’s house near Lake Mera. At first, Catalin was too intimidated to speak, but once the princess encouraged her to provide additional information, she was happy to add details. The approximate location of the house, on the northern shore of the lake. The person it had belonged to.

“As far as I know, Turoch Garnet died without an heir.”

“You are correct,” confirmed Nigella.

She looked at the sky. The sun was setting behind the roofs of Carastra.

“We should not ponder for too long. Time is scarce if we want to avoid a bloodshed.” Then she seemed to remember we weren’t alone. “Miss Robi, I suggest you go home now. I need to discuss important matters with the Great Hero Al.”

Catalin shook her head.

“Please, Your Majesty, I would like to come along!”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Turoch Garnet was a great wizard and visiting his place would be like a pilgrimage to me. I’m sure I can make myself useful!”

Princess Nigella rand both hands down her face. “Why would you, a freshman at the University of Magic Arts, participate in a dangerous operation?”

“Because…”

She’s about to tell the princess that we’re engaged! Disaster incoming!

“Because she knows where I’m going and she knows it’s secret!” I said as quickly as possible. “This is my fault, Princess. I got Catalin involved, and now, it’s better for her to stay with me, for the sake of our mission.”

Princess Nigella squinted at me. “Do you think these words you just said, Al?”

“I do. I promise Catalin won’t hinder me in any way.”

Besides, I wouldn’t be in this situation if someone had taken the time to tell me about Zimeons and their traditions. Now, we have to roll with it.

The princess walked in silence for a while. Possibly upset, quite probably thinking. Then she slowly nodded.

“If you need to reach Lake Mera soon, I think I have a solution. I know someone from Merumo who is currently staying in Carastra and who claims to be my friend. He comes from a family of Tibun merchants, but he has a boat of his own, and it is much faster than the commercial ships his father operates. I will ask him for a favor.”

“Does he owe you one?”

Princess Nigella shook her head. “I can only hope he will accept to leave tonight, out of friendship. I will probably pay for this sooner or later, but this is for Brealia, and for Kossi, and for you, Al.”

The way she gazed at me suggested that I’d be in serious trouble if her friend’s favor cost her too much.

Don’t be mad at me! I didn’t summon myself, nor did I cast a spell on a fire-breathing dragon! Right now, I’m using all my limited power to try and save everyone. If a Tibun merchant extorts tax benefits from you after giving us a lift to Merumo, it’s a small price to pay.

“I won’t disappoint you, Princess. Thank you.”

She raised a hand to silence me.

“You will thank me later. Chess, will you escort the Great Hero Al and her new friend?”

“To Merumo? Why not, Princess? If it can help me prove my worth…”

“There lies the problem, Chess.” Princess Nigella smiled sadly. “This mission has to remain swift and secret, as it goes against my father’s decisions. He must not hear of it until it is over, and depending on the outcome, you might never get any recognition for your sacrifice.”

The cadet drew their sword and looked at it for a while. Then they sheathed it again, a determined look shining in their emerald green eyes.

“I’ll do it, Princess. Even if the king disapproves. I’ll go on this mission for you, for the Great Hero Al, and for Prince Sorosiel.”