Page 5 of Tempest Blazing
I found myself oddly grateful for Theron's support. He hadn't defended me because we were close—his focus had been entirely on the threat to the Library and the logical inconsistencies in the others' responses. That objectivity, that professional distance, somehow made his backing more meaningful. It suggested I could trust his judgment, even when personal feelings weren't involved.
"You handled that well,"Moriyana said quietly once the others were out of earshot."Better than I expected."
"I felt like I was on trial," I admitted.
"In a way, you were." Elara's glamoured features softened with something like sympathy. "I'm afraid that's likely to continue for some time."
My heart sank. "What do you mean?"
Elara glanced around, making sure they were truly alone, then stepped closer. "I had hoped to discuss this in our interview session for the Oral History Project, but I think it's best if we postpone that for now."
Disappointment hit harder than it should have. But I nodded in agreement.
"The political climate is... volatile. Your existence as a human Rider has created significant divisions within the supernatural community. The Omnium Council is split into factions, and your situation has become a focal point for larger debates about integration and tradition."
"Factions?" I asked, though I suspected I already knew the answer.
"Three main groups," Elara explained. "The Integrationists—like myself—who believe humans and supernatural beings can and should work together as equals. The Traditionalists, who want to maintain the old ways and see human involvement as contamination. And the Swing votes, who could go either way depending on how events unfold."
"And right now?"
"Right now, the Traditionalists see you as proof that integration has gone too far. They're pushing for what they call 'protective measures'—policies that would essentially segregate humans from supernatural society again." Her expression darkened. "Some are even discussing ways to... correct... bonds they see as mistakes."
My blood turned to ice. The torn parchment in my pocket seemed to burn against my skin. They didn't just want to separate humans from supernatural society—they wanted to sever the bonds that connected us.
"I see," I said carefully.
Elara studied my face with those uncanny eyes. "Be careful, Tess. You have allies, but you also have enemies who see your very existence as a threat to everything they believe in. Don't trust everyone who claims to be on your side."
With that cheerful warning, she squeezed my shoulder and walked away, leaving me alone with Moriyana in the restricted section.
"She's right, you know,"Moriyana projected quietly."About being careful. What happened here today—it's just the beginning."
I pulled the torn parchment from my pocket, unfolding it with shaking hands. "I need to show you something."
Moriyana's golden eyes widened as she read the fragment about the Concordance Matrix."Where did you get this?"
"I tore it from the intruder when he escaped. He was carrying information about severing magical bonds." I met her draconic gaze. "He was also wearing Guild insignia."
The silence that followed was deafening.
"You didn't tell them,"she observed.
"I didn't know who to trust. I still don't." I folded the parchment carefully. "Someone inside the Guild is working against us. And now they're planning to increase security—security that might be compromised."
"Moriyana," I said slowly, a thought occurring to me. "Why didn't the Library stop him? It shifts and moves so easily for me—surely it could have trapped the intruder?"
The dragon's expression grew thoughtful."The Library's power requires balance, child. Just as there must be balance between order and chaos, between Alaia's harmony and Sovrax's discord, so too must the Library maintain equilibrium. It cannot simply impose its will without consequence."
"But it moves for me," I said, confused.
"Yes. Because you naturally embody that balance."Moriyana's mental voice held a note of wonder."The Library responds to you because your very nature harmonizes with its purpose. You don't command it—you exist in concert with it."
I remembered the memory I'd witnessed about balance, how crucial it was. But I hadn't realized it went so deep, hadn't understood that this principle was woven into the very fabric of magical reality.
"I didn't know balance was so... fundamental," I admitted.
"Few truly understand it. And fewer still can embody it as you do."Moriyana's golden eyes held mine."Your presence here isn't just impactful, Tess. The Library doesn't merely like you—it needs you."
