Eldritch Guidance

Chapter 99 – Tour Of The Archive

Alan had just stepped into the imposing, ancient halls of the Arcanium Archive. The air inside was cool and carried a faint scent of aged parchment mixed with something faintly metallic, likely the traces of countless magical tomes within. He was alone, as Sere had somewhere else she needed to be.

He had come with a purpose: to reconnect with his Sleuth-Hawks team and offer his assistance, however small it might be. Joe had been firm about Alan taking time off from the investigation, insisting he focus on his recovery. "You’ve done enough," Joe had said just days ago, his tone unyielding but laced with concern. "It’s all paperwork and bureaucracy from here on out. Nothing you need to stress about."

Alan, however, wasn’t convinced. Healing had consumed his days long enough, and his arm and hand were almost entirely mended. To him, sitting idle while his team pressed forward felt unbearable. Even if all he could manage was sifting through documents or filing reports, he needed to feel useful again. The thought of contributing, no matter how small, was enough to bring him here, back into the fold of the investigation, and perhaps closer to closure.

As Alan entered the reception area of the Archive, his eyes immediately fell upon Sandra, one of the head librarians, engaged in a quiet but animated conversation with Victoria, a junior librarian. Sandra's presence at the front desk struck Alan as unusual—she was typically stationed deeper within the Archive, overseeing restricted sections or handling high-priority tasks.

Then, the realization hit him quickly: Joe and the rest of the team weren’t here. If they had been, Sandra would have been with them, given that Joe still lacked the clearance to access the books Sorin had borrowed. It was a bureaucratic headache Joe had avoided dealing with, brushing off the matter rather than submitting the necessary paperwork for an access level upgrade. Alan had started to notice a pattern with Joe—it wasn’t just a mild aversion to forms; the man outright despised them.

He could almost hear Joe’s voice in his head, grumbling about red tape and “fucking paperwork.”

Alan then began to approach Sandra.

Alan: “Um, Miss Sandra, can I speak with you for a minute?”

Hearing her name called out, Sandra paused mid-sentence, her words trailing off as she turned her attention toward Alan.

Sandra: “Alan, are you here for Joe? If you are, you have missed everyone already. They all just left a little while ago.”

Alan: “I figured. I wanted to know if everything is going well, and if they made any interesting progress.”

Sandra: “It seems that the rest of your team made a very interesting discovery about the investigation. I would tell you, but I think it is something you have to hear from them.”

Alan: “Oh, OK. Um, I’m also wondering if I can still get that tour of the archive you offered me from before.”

Sandra: “Of course! I’d be happy to,” she said before turning towards the other librarian. “Victoria, could you handle that thing for me?”

Victoria offered a quick, understanding nod before closing her ledger with a soft thump. Without a word, she turned and walked away, her footsteps barely audible against the polished stone floor.

Within moments, she disappeared into one of the adjoining aisles, leaving Alan and Sandra alone amidst the quiet reception area.

Sandra: “Now then, if you would follow me.”

Alan complied and followed closely behind Sandra as she led the way. They passed through the same towering enchanted doors that had greeted him on his first visit to the Archive. The doors shimmered faintly, their runes pulsating with a quiet energy.

They stepped into a long corridor lit by floating arcane candles that emitted a soft, steady glow without producing any heat. The ethereal light cast flickering shadows along the intricately carved walls as they made their way toward a massive chamber filled with rows upon rows of towering shelves. Each shelf was packed with tomes, scrolls, and bound manuscripts.

The sheer size of the area took Alan’s breath away. It dwarfed the university library he had once considered vast. His awe deepened when Sandra casually mentioned that this particular chamber was dedicated solely to enchantment magic. She explained that similar chambers existed for each school of magic, each one just as expansive. The realization left Alan speechless. He had known the Arcanium Archive was the continent’s largest repository of arcane knowledge, but no description or rumor could have prepared him for the overwhelming scale of it.

They continued their tour, moving from chamber to chamber. Each room showcased the incredible depth and quality of the Archive’s collection. Along the way, Alan noticed the occasional re

Alan: “It’s… because I’m trying to be an archmage someday. So, I’m looking for ways that I can go about doing that.”

Sandra: “Well, you're half right about that. Coming here is the right course of action if that's your goal. Almost all mages in the west that became archmages have at some point come here to the Arcanium Archive. But, I think you might have a slight misconception. There’s more that goes into being an archmage than gathering power. It’s an academic pursuit. A path of a lot of research. Every Archmage is a master of a very specific area of magic and is supposed to be peerless in that area. If you're planning to research the magic of archmage to become one, that means, surpassing them in their field. Which is a tall order, I wouldn’t recommend.”

Alan: “What should I do then?”

Sandra: “Focus on a specific area of magic, the more obscure, the better. If you're trying to excel in an arcane field to the level of an archmage, it would be easiest if you went for one where there is no recognized archmage of it. When I was working with Dakka, the Grayscale headmaster, he became an archmage from his study of . An obscure subcategory of enchantment magic. Much easier to be recognized for his achievement in that narrow field, rather than if he became an archmage of general enchantments.”

Alan: “Oh, really? So, even archmage Dakka had to go for a subcategory of enchantment magic to be recognized. Who’s the current archmage of general enchantments, then?”

Sandra: “That’s… complicated. Let’s not worry about that. Anyway, you should ultimately pursue what type of magic interests you. Back in the day, I was really talented when it came to alchemy, and might have tried to become an archmage. But, my passion for reading led me here instead. So, Alan, go where your passion lies.”

Alan: “I’m not sure… yet”

Sandra: “Well, that’s fine. There’s a whole archive for you to explore and find out,” she said with a smile.

After their conversation, Sandra offered a thoughtful recommendation. She suggested Alan start with a foundational book on general magic, a comprehensive guide covering the principles and practices common to all schools of magic. Alongside it, she recommended him a second tome detailing the remarkable achievements of Archmages throughout history. The latter delved into their groundbreaking contributions across various arcane fields, designed to inspire and perhaps help Alan discern which path might align with his own talents and interests.

Taking her advice to heart, Alan wandered through the Archive until he found a quiet, secluded corner. The private study area was furnished with a sturdy oak desk and a high-backed chair, surrounded by towering shelves that seemed to absorb sound, leaving the space steeped in tranquil silence.

He settled in and opened the first book, its crisp pages exuding the faint scent of parchment and ink. For hours, Alan immersed himself in the dense text, forcing himself to focus despite the occasional pull of fatigue. The general magic tome was rich with insights he had overlooked in his earlier studies, while the accounts of Archmages’ accomplishments ignited a spark of curiosity and ambition within him.

As the Archive’s enchanted candles began to dim slightly, signaling the approach of evening, Alan finally closed the last book with a sense of accomplishment. Though his mind was heavy with information, he felt a newfound clarity about the possibilities before him. With quiet resolve, he returned the books to their proper places before stepping out into the cool evening air, ready to head home and reflect further on his future in the arcane arts.