Conversation with Zena

Lila found herself in the heart of the University District Nalisibury, the cobblestone streets echoing with the distant sounds of academic debates and the scratching of quills on parchment.

The 'Academy of Science and Magic' is at the heart of Nalisibury. It attracts students from all corners of the Empire. The 'Threefold Towers' are enthroned on the roof of the academy, where the three directors of the academy have their offices.

The Archive of Hidden Writings is located next to the Academy. It is an architectural masterpiece made of old stone blocks that looms over the campus. It is an archive where rare books and mysterious manuscripts are kept.

The Archive of Hidden Writings is notorious for its stringent safety protocols. Only those with the proper clearance can access the hallowed halls, and even then, they are accompanied by stern-faced guards armed with enchanted crossbows.

Outside the academy grounds, there is a huge main square. On this square stands a statue of the legendary Magister Arion, who founded the academy. The statue is rich in detail and shows him with his hand raised as if he is summoning the elements of magic. The wooden chairs around the square are popular places to study and discuss.

Another trademark of the district is the Old Waiting Tree. It is an ancient oak tree that is said to have a secret connection to the old gods.

The Old Waiting Tree stood in the center of a small, cobblestone-paved square, its gnarled roots breaking through the ground like the fingers of an ancient being reaching out from the earth. Its branches stretched out like arms yearning for the sky. It was said that those who sat beneath its boughs and spoke their deepest desires aloud would find their paths illuminated by the moon's soft glow. Students and locals often gathered here, hoping that the whispers of the ancients would guide them through the tumultuous waters of knowledge and fate.

The residential area of Nalisibury was a quaint collection of townhouses and apartments, each one built with a touch of academic flair. The buildings were adorned with intricate carvings of mythical creatures and mystical symbols, serving as silent sentinels of the wisdom contained within their walls. The windows, tall and narrow, let in the soft light of the enchanted lanterns that lined the streets, casting an eerie glow that danced on the pages of the scrolls and manuscripts that lay open on the desks inside. The smell of ink and parchment permeated the air, mingling with the scent of herbs and spices from the nearby apothecary shops.

As Lila approached Zena's lodging, she took in the simplicity of the building. It was a stark contrast to the grandeur of the rest of the district, a small stone house with a thatched roof and a wooden door that looked as if it had seen better days. The windows were shuttered tightly, giving no glimpse into the secrets that lay within. A small garden, now brown and dormant in the grip of winter, surrounded the house, the only sign of life being the occasional twitch of a leaf as the wind played through the skeletal branches of the trees.

With a deep breath, she stepped up to the door and gave it a firm knock. A moment later, she heard shuffling from within, and the door creaked open.

Zena was a woman of medium height, with hair as dark as a moonless night that fell over her shoulders in wild, unkempt waves. Her eyes had a golden tone and seemed to shine with a fierce intelligence. Her skin was pale, almost translucent, and her features were sharp, as if they had been chiseled by an artist. A purple scar ran through her left eyebrow.

Who are you?" she snapped.

"I've come to talk about the 'Elemental Codex,'" lila said, her voice calm and measured.

Zena's eyes narrowed, and she stepped aside, allowing Lila to enter. The room was sparsely furnished, with only a single desk, chair, and bookshelf crammed with dusty tomes and scrolls. The floor was bare except for a threadbare rug, and the air was thick with the scent of aged paper and candle wax.

"Take a seat," she offered, gesturing to the chair with a grace that seemed out of place amidst the clutter. "Would you like something to drink?" Her voice was smooth.

Lila sat, eyeing the shelves. "No, thank you. I'd rather get straight to the point. I know you've been searching for the 'Elemental Codex.' Since it has disappeared, the only logical thing to do is, to look for those who would be suspicious... So what can you tell me about it?"

Zena paused, her eyes darting around the room before returning to Lila. She spoke with a precision that was almost mechanical, as if every word had been carefully chosen from a vast mental lexicon. "The 'Elemental Codex' is a compilation of ancient spells and knowledge, much of it forbidden. It is not something one simply finds, but rather something one seeks with the purest of intentions. Or," she added with a hint of a smirk, "the darkest of desires."

"Then why did you ask about it? I was told that you showed up several days in a row and asked for the codex." Lila asked directly.

Zena leaned back in her chair, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "I assure you my interest in the 'Elemental Codex' is purely academic. I've been working on a paper for my course at the academy, a historical analysis of its significance on the current magical climate." Her golden eyes glinted as she spoke, hinting at a depth of knowledge that was not entirely academic.

"Is that so?" Lila's voice remained steady. "Well, I'm afraid I need something more concrete than academic curiosity to satisfy my own... inquiry."

She paused briefly before continuing. "What exactly is your connection with Eileen Wilson?"

Zena's smile thinned and she leaned forward, her eyes suddenly shining intensely. "Miss Wilson is a sort of... Mentor," she said carefully. "We have a common interest in preserving ancient knowledge. But why do you ask?"

Lila studied Zena's face, looking for any sign of a lie, but the woman's expression remained as unreadable as a book written in a dead language. "I've heard that she has a deep interest in arcane arts, in addition to a certain connection to you, who has asked for the codex several times. Quite a coincidence, don't you think?"

Zena's eyes narrowed, and she leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Miss Wilson is indeed fascinated by the arcane, but she is not the only one. Many in this city seek such knowledge. And as for my inquiries, they are as I've said, for academic purposes only."

Lila remained unconvinced. "Then you wouldn't mind telling me where I might find her, would you?"

Zena's gaze flitted to the shadows in the corner of the room. "Miss Wilson is a... Private person. Her property is heavily guarded and only certain people come in contact with her. But," she paused, "I can arrange a meeting. Just return tomorrow at the same time. She will definitely be there."

The promise of a meeting with Eileen was more than Lila had hoped for. She nodded curtly. "Very well. I shall return tomorrow."

....