Page 150 of Akarnae

“Those from Eanraka’s bloodline will always be granted access to the Library,” Darrius said. “But when Aven was disinherited, the Library no longer recognised him as a descendant, and that’s why he needed you to allow him permission to enter.”

“Which I did,” Alex muttered unhappily.

“You had little choice in the matter,” Darrius said. “But unfortunately, it means he can now access the Library anytime he wishes.”

“What?” she gasped. “But—but that means… What does that mean?”

“It’s okay, Alex,” Darrius soothed. “He can cause little damage without you. He’s still exiled from Meya, and only one who is Chosen can open that particular doorway for him. I’m not sure if even I would be able to do so, with my Library accessibility more limited than your own. That isn’t to say he hasn’t tried to overpower me and force my hand, but we headmasters are covered by additional protection—including the wards around the academy and the Lockdown protocol. The safety of our students is of the highest priority, and the Library seems to agree.”

“I wondered how that worked,” Alex admitted. “The wards and the Lockdown, I mean.”

“I couldn’t tell you even if I tried,” Darrius said. “I have no idea how it works, just that it does. It’s some kind of security system the Library has set up. The Communication Globes are also Library-designed, which is why they work so efficiently, even during the Lockdown—or when a quick getaway is needed from, say, a New Year’s Eve Gala.”

Alex shook her head slightly, feeling a headache coming on.

“I do believe we’ve moved from our original topic,” Darrius said, steering the conversation back around. “We were discussing your ability to influence your Library destination.”

“I never really got to choose where I went,” she protested quickly.

“But you can see now that you had some influence over the events?” Darrius asked, and she nodded, albeit reluctantly. “Then I believe we have the answer you’ve been searching for.”

“The answer…?”

“Didn’t you want to find a way home?” Darrius asked. “Isn’t that why you’ve wanted to meet with me all year?”

“Oh.” Her head felt muddled, but she eventually realised what he was getting at. “Are you saying I could have gone back to my world anytime I wanted? That I could have just… made a doorway appear?”

He nodded and sent her a smile of approval. She found herself wishing he was more irritating, or just downright unpleasant. But despite his deceit—or his ‘withholding of certain information’—she still really liked Darrius. It was hard to stay mad at him, as much as she would like to.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

“That you’re too nice,” she said. “It’s annoying. I’d very much like to be angry at you, but I can’t because it’s me who I should be angry at. I can’t believe how unobservant I am. Not just with you, but with the Library too. If I’d figured out that I was influencing it, then… well, let’s just say I might have had a lot more fun and a whole heap less heart failure.”

Darrius chuckled lightly and, as always, it was a comforting and peaceful sound.

“At the same time, I can understand what you said about everything I would have missed out on,” she continued. “The things I’ve experienced, the challenges I’ve overcome, the friends I’ve met along the way—none of that would have happened if I hadn’t been here.”

Alex thought of her blossoming friendship with D.C. She thought of her amazing Kaldoras break with Jordan and Bear and the entire Ronnigan family. She thought of the things she’d learned just by being at the academy; how they’d shaped her identity and built her character.

Her memories led her to a single question, “Darrius, if I open a doorway to my world, will I be able to come back?”

“I certainly hope so,” he said with a laugh, “or else I think Karter will find a way to circumnavigate distance and space to drag you back on Monday for your lesson.”

Alex looked at him blankly. “My lesson?”

“He didn’t tell you?” Darrius asked, his eyes still sparkling with amusement.

“Tell me what?”

“Karter has agreed to train you for three days each week over the summer to bring you up to speed in your Epsilon Combat class.”

Alex almost fell off the couch. “What?”

“Something about you caught his attention,” Darrius said. “He has—finally—admitted that you just might belong in his class. He’s seen your potential and is willing to help develop it. It really is an honour, Alex, one I doubt many can claim.”

“Honour, my butt,” she murmured. “He’s just going to use me as his own personal punching bag since he won’t have any other students around for the entire summer.”

“I fully believe Karter will treat you fairly,” Darrius said. “And I also believe Combat is a skill you’d do well to refine, especially in light of recent events.”

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