Where the Nerds Meet

After Telian's lesson, the acolytes were granted a few hours of free time. Whilst the many chose to relax and wander the grounds, Riniock had only one destination in mind: the library.

 The library was so revered that an entire tower had been constructed to house its volumes, rising several stories high. As Riniock gazed up, the tower's pointed spire seemed to pierce the clouds – a fitting symbol for the boundless knowledge stored within.

 He approached the entrance, flanked by reinforced double doors and two vigilant guards. One of them raised his arm as Riniock drew near.

 'Library card, acolyte,' the guard commanded.

 'Here,' Riniock replied, holding out the card.

 The guard placed his fingers on the card, and a soft green light pulsed from it.

 'You may enter, but remember: once the card turns fully green, your time is up. If you fail to exit by then, someone will come to "escort" you out.'

 'I understand,' Riniock nodded. The guard released the card and stepped aside, allowing him entry.

 With a sense of anticipation, Riniock stepped through the doors into the heart of the library's vast knowledge.

 Crossing the threshold, Riniock entered a sanctuary that only those who cherished books as much as he did could truly appreciate. No matter which way he turned – left, right, or straight ahead – endless rows of shelves stretched into the distance, overflowing with records and tomes.

 His first task was to gather information for Gieller's written assignment. Yet, the tower's sheer size was overwhelming; even the first floor seemed vast enough to lose oneself in its labyrinth of bookcases.

 'Excuse me,' he said, clearing his throat to catch the attention of the woman behind the desk. She appeared to be the librarian – young, engrossed in her work, her head bent over a stack of papers. A pair of spectacles rested in her hand, and her lips moved silently as she read.

 Though her ears perked up at his voice, she made no immediate response.

 'Excuse me, miss,' Riniock repeated. 'Could I enlist your help, please?'

 Without lifting her gaze, she answered in a detached tone. 'Back end of the first floor, right side. There's an enchanted lectern. Speak to it, and it will show you what you're looking for.'

 Her words seemed designed only to dismiss the interruption, and Riniock sighed, accepting the direction.

 He followed her instructions, navigating the maze of shelves until he reached the far end of the first floor. Turning right, he found a spacious alcove. In its centre stood a pedestal, atop which rested the enchanted lectern. Another acolyte was already using it.

 Curious, Riniock paused, observing the acolyte's actions in hopes of understanding how the lectern worked.

 Though the person at the lectern was still an acolyte, he wasn't from Riniock's cohort. Standing before the enchanted lectern, the acolyte spoke clearly: 'Fire spells – low consumption.'

 Despite the vague command, the lectern stirred to life. A flurry of papers rose into the air, drawn to an unseen force. A quill floated beside them, swiftly scrawling out a list of options.

 From his position, Riniock couldn't make out the contents of the list. Only when the acolyte spoke again did he get a hint of what had appeared.

 'I want the third option – Ezial's Tome: Flowing Flames and Flying Fires. Show me where to find it!'

 The sheet of paper tore itself apart, the fragments vanishing into thin air. Almost instantly, another paper ascended, its large, clear letters indicating where the requested tome could be found.

 'That's…incredible,' Riniock thought, his eyes wide with fascination. As the previous acolyte stepped away, Riniock approached the lectern, eager to try it for himself.

 Riniock took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. He knew exactly what he needed. Their assignment required an in-depth analysis of the odh node Professor Gieller had shown them – its type, characteristics, and properties. But unlike his peers, Riniock realised he didn't need a general book on nodes. He already had a specific idea in mind.

 From the moment the professor revealed the node, Riniock had recognized it. His readings back home had once led him to a particular subject.

 'Odh nodes – fading,' he instructed the lectern.

 As before, the lectern responded immediately. A single sheet of paper rose into the air, and a quill swiftly inscribed just one title.

 'Show me where to find this book!' he commanded eagerly.

 The paper floated into his grasp, displaying clear directions. He turned away, weaving through the aisles until he reached the designated section. He paused in front of a towering bookcase, scanning the numbers until they matched the ones on his slip.

 'There it is!' he exclaimed, his voice tinged with excitement. As he pulled the book from the shelf, the paper disintegrated in his hand.

 He read the title aloud: A Guide to Nature's Departing – Fading Nodes of Odh by Oriphael.

 A triumphant smile spread across his face. This was exactly what he needed.

 Riniock wasted no time finding the nearest table and diving into his assignment. Since library books couldn't be brought outside the establishment, he needed to finish his work now, or risk using up another library card.

 Unrolling the scroll with his assignment questions, he began writing furiously, cross-referencing his observations with Oriphael's guide to ensure accuracy.

 'An Odh Node classified as "Fading" represents a naturally occurring cluster of energy that is undergoing a gradual depletion or dissipation process. This classification indicates that the node is losing its stability and potency, often due to natural entropy or external influences.'

 He scrawled the text quickly, glancing at his library card. The green hue had already consumed more than half of it.

 'I need to cover energy dissipation, diminishing output, visual indicators, temporal lifespan…' he muttered, listing key points in his mind. 'And I definitely have to mention the risk of instability – if it destabilises, it transforms into a different type of node entirely.'

 As he continued to read and write, the pieces fell into place. He began to understand why Professor Gieller had been so willing to share the odh node, despite Professor Rhetrick's insistence that such resources were rare.

 Fading nodes were destined to vanish. The college had little reason to hoard what was ultimately a fleeting resource. Allowing five promising acolytes to harness its final reserves was a logical choice.

 With renewed determination, Riniock's quill flew across the scroll. He would complete this assignment – and he would do it well.