Chapter 42 Spectral Library

Chapter 42 Spectral Library

"What is that place?" I froze. "The academy library isn't called that."

"Spectral Library is the school's old archive. A lot of forbidden texts are kept there. It was sealed ten years ago," Darius explained. "There are strange rumors about the place. A student wandered in by mistake and vanished that same night. People say the ghosts got him. After that, Spectral Library was declared off-limits."

I considered this. "But Elara told me she found this card at the Bloodthorn Grass factory... If we can find out who it belongs to, maybe we can follow the trail and find more clues about whoever's behind the factory."

I looked up and met Darius's eyes, about to speak, when Chloe's voice cut in, sharp with complaint. "I knew it! Royce is so petty, he's definitely targeting us!"

I asked in surprise, "You ran into Royce?"

When Chloe saw us, her eyes brightened, then her face fell. "Yeah. We were just about to find you guys to talk about it!"

Rena picked up the story. "Royce stopped us outside the auditorium and criticized our outfits in front of half the school, saying we dressed like this just to get attention and that it was ridiculous."

Her mouth tightened. She was clearly furious.

Luke didn't say anything, but his face looked just as unhappy.

I frowned. "That's way too much."

The outfits all three of them were wearing had been carefully chosen. Even the matching jewelry was specially prepared. There wasn't a single thing wrong with their appearance from top to bottom.

But in Royce's mouth, it became improper and attention-seeking.

This Royce was really petty.

"Forget it, let's not talk about it. Just mentioning him kills the vibe."

Chloe waved her hand, then noticed the card in my hand and looked slightly surprised. "Isn't that a Spectral Library card? I heard the school collected all those back ages ago. Where did you get this one?"

"Elara gave it to me."

I held out the card.

"Elara?" Chloe frowned disapprovingly. "What's she up to now? Even though she saved us at the last moment at the Bloodthorn Grass factory..."

"That's enough, Chloe." I gently interrupted her. "Elara did things wrong, but she's been punished too. At the end of the day, she wasn't acting of her own will."

Chloe thought about it, nodded, and pivoted back. "So you two are planning to go to Spectral Library?"

Luke said quietly, "The academy sealed Spectral Library a long time ago. No one's allowed in."

Darius's tone was calm. "So now is the best time."

He tilted his chin slightly toward the auditorium stage. "The academy leadership and most of the students are here right now. There won't be many people around Spectral Library."

I nodded firmly. "Exactly. We'll go now."

"We'll come with you." Chloe immediately prepared to move.

"No, Chloe. You have something more important to do." I stopped her. "I need you to stay here and help distract everyone else. If we all disappear together, it's bound to raise suspicion. Plus, if you stay here, you can tip us off anytime."

Luke nodded in agreement. "Vanessa's right."

Chloe readily agreed.

Before leaving, Rena reminded us, "You have to hurry. There are only two hours until the award ceremony. If you don't make it back, it'll definitely raise suspicion."

"Got it."

Darius and I didn't delay any longer and turned to leave.

We carefully avoided the crowd and slipped out through the back door of the auditorium.

After running all the way to the art gallery, I was out of breath.

"Two minutes. Let me catch my breath."

Spectral Library had two entrances.

One was the sealed main entrance, and the other was a hidden door inside the gallery.

Darius had told me about this entrance on the way.

Since we didn't know what the situation inside the library was like, I needed to stay in the best condition possible.

Darius nodded and looked around, staying alert.

After a quick rest to recover my strength, we entered the gallery together.

Various paintings in different artistic styles hung on both sides of the gallery, each one enchanted.

Viewers only needed to channel a thread of magic into a painting to step inside it and experience it firsthand.

This was my first time here, but there was no time to look around properly.

I followed Darius to a magnificent painting of a library.

"Is this what Spectral Library looks like?" I asked.

"This is Spectral Library during its glory days." Darius held his left hand in front of the painting, and the sigils on the back of his hand glowed deep purple.

He took my hand with his right. "Let's go."

As his words fell, I felt everything spin around me.

When my senses returned, I was already inside Spectral Library.

Compared to the magnificent library in the painting, the Spectral Library before me was filled with a musty, abandoned atmosphere everywhere.

"I didn't expect Spectral Library to be so run-down inside."

I looked at the bookshelf beside me, which held only common books.

"Where are the forbidden texts?"

"Deeper inside... A construct is coming. Hide first!"

Darius grabbed my hand and quickly ducked behind a bookshelf.

A six-foot construct walked past the bookshelf with heavy footsteps and stopped where we had just landed.

My heart leaped into my throat, my breath catching.

Fortunately, the construct only paused for a moment before continuing forward.

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Let's keep going."

Darius and I moved forward carefully, stopping from time to time to avoid patrolling constructs.

Darius suddenly stopped and steadied me at the same time. "Watch out."