Page 32 of A Dusk Of Stars

But hey, nothing’s perfect, right? And I guess this is my life for now.

If I really am a shifter… It sends shivers down my spine, just thinking of the power, the freedom, and the independence I could achieve.

In three years, once I’ve graduated… No one will be able to take the Archivist job from me.

Chapter 12

It’s a stormy late September morning outside and the students stepping into the Library are still groggy from sleep, while I myself am having trouble containing my excitement. I’m standing in front of the Service Desk, waiting to finally be given my keys back.

IfCarrel ever decides to come out of the office and give them to me.

Impatiently, I shift on my feet. It’s been two weeks of sheer frustration — trying to do research on that symbol I saw, the one gracing the cover of the Lexarcanum book. I do remember seeing it somewhere and I have a feeling it’s old Norse, but wherever I look, I can’t find a single mention.

The only thing I did learn is that the Academy’s Old Norse Studies section is noticeably poorer than it was the last time I ventured into it.

So a couple of days ago, I simply had to come to the conclusion that I’ll have to wait to get my job back, so I can log into the backend and see if there’s anything I’m missing.

But today’s the day I’ll finally be crackingthatmystery.

When Carrel finally appears, I grab the keys with a huge grin on my face, making him let out a chuckle.

I settle in behind the Service Desk, breathing a content sigh when I log into the backend and start searching for more books that could lead me somewhere.

It makes me frown, when I see that all those books I felt were missing actuallyaremissing from the main database.

I click on one of them.

Moved to the Restricted Section, it says.

I keep checking book after book only to see the same thing’s happened with all of them.

It seems that they were all moved the day after I wandered into the Lexarcanum.

My eyebrows pulling down, I open a more detailed view to see who authorized this.

My frown only grows deeper when I see the same name showing up next to all the moved items.

Lorcan MacArthur.

***

My mind buzzing, I’m walking across the garden and straight for the Grimm Tower, when I spot Raven and Alaric sitting on one of the benches around the Dame Gothel statue, Alaric explaining something with choppy, animated gestures.

I slow down. Although I’ve only spoken to them a couple of times, I’m happy to see them and wouldn't mind saying hi, but I’m also eager to get this thing with Lorcan over with.

Before I can make up my mind, I see Alaric wave with a grin on his face and I walk over to them, smiling widely. “Hey you two. What's up?”

As usual, Raven just looks at me with those big black eyes, not saying a word even though she doesn’t seem uninterested.

“Raven and I were just talking about going to play cards in the Junkyard.”

I look at Raven, a smile still on my face, but she says nothing. “Sorry,” I reply as I turn back to Alaric, “I have stuff to do, but I’ll see you at Foundational later?”

This is the only class we’re in together. Foundational Magic Theory taught by Professor Byrne to all first-years, regardless of their bloodline.

Alaric nods and I move to walk away, but it startles me so much — when I hear Raven’s voice — that I stop midstep.

“Are you okay, Anna?” she asks in that flat, soft yet high-pitched voice of hers.

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