It went to the library

I yawned. I noticed I was in the middle of a pile of sleeping women. I tried to wiggle myself free but Celeste whom was sleeping next to me woke up.

“Good morning my Lady,” she said. She began shaking the other girls immediately. “Wake up everyone, our Lady is already awake.”

“Oh no! You don’t need to wake them on my account,” I said.

Celeste bowed. “May I speak my mind my Lady?”

I nodded.

“I understand that you are a humble Lady and would not wish to disturb their rest but I believe you would regret this decision. Each sister here would feel profound regret if they were to discover you let them sleep for their own sake when you are already awake.”

“How come?” I asked.

“The Lady of the Night is the one of the highest honors we receive. This is your first time being our Lady. Each sister has been eager since last night to show you the proper level of respect we hold for you. Especially in the light of your hesitation and how quickly you were chosen. A sister whom is allowed to sleep will feel you did not trust them to assist in your day.”

“Oh man,” I said. “I suppose you make a reasonable point.”

Celeste still remained on her knees before me. The silence was a bit awkward. “Is there anything else?”

“You told me not to wake them. I was waiting for you to issue a new order my Lady.”

“Oh! I guess, wake them up then,” I said.

This place was tricky. I could see why Master thought I might wanna relay on Celeste or hide in his room. Though, I didn’t wanna do that last part if it would make the girls feel worse.

The sisters all began rubbing their eyes. Marianne stood next to me. “If there is anything you would like for breakfast my Lady. I shall prepare it immediately.”

“A folded egg and some toast with jam would be lovely.”

“Right away,” she said with a smile before walking off.

The rest of the girls stood before me on their knees. I rubbed the back of my head. “Celeste, this seems very different from when Victoria held the title.”

Celeste looked at Victoria who stood up. “I had precise goals. So I sought out the girls to whom I wished to see. Plus, I have been the Lady of the Night in the past. If you wish to know, I can assure you, the first time I was chosen, every sister acted as we are now my lady. We all wish to be available for you.”

I placed my hand on my chin. If possible I would love to give them each an order, but if I was being honest, I didn’t remember each of their roles. I didn’t want to give them busy work. I snapped my fingers.

“Freya, and Sofia. I want you to assist Marianne in the kitchen. Everyone else. I want you to enjoy your breakfast and relax so that you will be ready for future actions. Freya, and Sofia, do ensure that Marianne does not prepare her own breakfast. Oh and Celeste, once yours, mine and Victoria’s breakfast has been finished, please bring all three to the library.”

“As you wish my lady!” all the sisters said in unison.

I walked with Victoria and waited for her to submit her own request for breakfast. Once she had I spoke up. “I want to see the library. Show me please.”

“Of course my lady,” she said. The walk wasn’t actually that far. It was on the ground level which was nice. I was almost expecting myself to gasp when the door opened. Like this would be the cliché fairytale moment when the library was as tall as the sky with rare tomes. I would have certainly been excited for that.

But it was not to be. Perhaps my standards were too high to expect that. I had been to the grand archive before actually, so it would have been a tall order for this to be better. Though, even ignoring that, this library was… in development. Many shelves were empty. Many others not even half full. That wasn’t to say it was small or that it was lacking books. The castle walls acted as bookshelves and there was space for tens of thousands easily.

“I do apologize if it is not as grand as you would have intended. Master has instructed me to try and improve it, but I have not made enough success yet.”

“Oh nonsense. I cannot comment on your quality when I did not see the before,” I said. I walked over to a desk and saw an old book that was left in a state of partial repair. I slid my finger along the knew spine. It was excellently cared for. “Oh, this is a five hundred year old book, the diary of an old wizard. I remember reading this when I was younger.”

“That is impressive my lady. That journal is quite rare. It is hard to imagine a child reading it,” Victoria said.

“I didn’t say I was a child at the time.”

She tilted her head. “You are young now though? Do you mean to say you read it recently.”

I shook my head. “I am older than I look,” I said. I walked around the library and noticed the various topics. Every subject but magic. “Is there a reason there are no magic books?”

“They are too pricy,” she said.

“I can give you one, but I would require something,” I said.

Celeste entered the room with a tray and three plates. “Breakfast is served my Lady.” She set the table after Victoria moved her work from the desk.

“To speak to your earlier comment my lady. You do not need to trouble yourself for me,” Victoria said.

“Hmm, you hadn’t heard the terms yet,” I said.

“Oh?” Celeste asked.

“I need, chalk, a stack of paper and someone’s diary,” I said.

“I can gather those for you my Lady but I do not have a diary myself.”

“I do,” Victoria said pushing up her glasses. “I will give it to you freely. I do not expect anything in return.”

I took a bite of my eggs. Delicious! Marianne was a certified genius! I looked to Celeste. “Would I be wrong to assume that refusing a gift from the Lady of the Night would be rude?”

Celeste smiled. “You would not be mistaken my Lady.” She glared at Victoria.

“My apologies my lady. I graciously accept your gift.”

I smiled. You know, this kind of rocked! It was a lot simpler to go with the flow with Celeste or Victoria were giving instructions, but I kind of liked giving instructions too. Once breakfast was finished, Celeste gathered the paper and chalk. Victoria brought her diary.

I began drawing some symbols on the ground. Honestly this is a symbols that should be in the library anyhow. So I didn’t feel bad. As I got closer to finishing it, Victoria gasped.

“I recognize that symbol!” she said. “It is on the door to the forbidden room in the grand archive.”

I snapped my fingers. “Right you are, but it is only half the symbol. The other half is on the inside of the door.”

“My goodness, may I ask how you know that my lady?” Victoria asked.

“I seen it.”

Celeste placed her hand on her cheek as she looked up. “As I recall, only the king, the head wizard and the head warrior have permission to enter that room.”

“That’s right,” Victoria adds on. “My lady. How do you know what is on the other side of the door of such a promising place?”

“Celeste already said,” I replied while finishing the second circle.

Victoria and Celeste both seemed stunned but I didn’t mind. I was working. I began channeling mana into the completed circles. “This symbol is for the God of Dedication, and this one,” I said pointing to the other. “His wife, the Goddess of Knowledge. Dedication protects the forbidden library. In exchange he seeks new knowledge that he gifts to his wife. But since I know what is in the forbidden archive. He will also grant my request to summon said knowledge to me.”

I placed the stack of paper over the dedication symbol and the diary over knowledge. And a moment later was a flash. It was disorienting but it ended without any issue.

“What… please my lady, explain what happened,” Victoria asked.

“We traded, your diary, for this,” I said picking up the stack of papers and handing it to her. “My mentors notes on magic.”

Her hands trembled as she held the unbound papers. “From the forbidden archive? I…” she slumped to her knees unable to speak.

“But the diary is still here my Lady?” Celeste asked.

I nodded. “Knowledge doesn’t care about the material, only unique knowledge. This ritual fails if you offer something she already has.”

“Are you sure this is okay my lady?” Victoria asked. “This is forbidden knowledge?”

I shook my head. “Nah, this is the intent of the archive. So we can summon what we need. That is why we so rarely go there. Only to add new text. It is certainly true that some of the documents there are dangerous. But my mentors notes are not. I only ask that you bind them with the same care you have treated the books you have repaired.”

Victoria stammered for a moment. “I shall treat this with fair more care! I swear it my Lady!”

“I am happy to hear it.” I turned to Celeste. “How many people in the estate can use magic?”

“My Lady, Lillian and Master. So three.”

“Shame,” I said. “This circle can only be triggered by mana. So only magic users can activate it. As long as the chalk doesn’t smug, we can repeat this ritual again and again.”

Victoria dropped to her knees. “I have a request my Lady. May I please accompany your bath tonight?”

“Uh… okay. I shall need to tend to some other activities. So, I shall leave you with binding your new book.”

Once we left the library Celeste snickered. I turned to look at her. “Shall I explain my Lady? I believe you don’t understand the significance of her request.”

“I don’t, so yes please explain.”

“She is so happy she wants to return the gesture, and the only way she imagined was in the bath. Likely with her tongue.”

I stopped in my tracks and turned to look her square in the face. “You mean, she plans to-”

“Yes,” Celeste said.

I turned as red as a tomato. “Wait, don’t you pick wash duties! You could assign someone else.”

She shook her head. “You already gave her permission. I cannot speak against our Lady of the Night.”

Ahhhhh! Why! Well… frick.