With the help of a little magic, Aidan was able to control the pain pulsing from his stomach and arrive at the library just on time with Fabien.

It was a beautiful building set about fifty yards behind the main one. It was four stories tall and was more circular instead of square. Rather than keeping to what seemed to be the traditional gold and black standard, this building was pure black with silver undertones. Despite the gloomy weather, it managed to give off a very glossy shine.

The inside was even better. Unlike most libraries, this one was open and not constricted by different floors, cut off from one another by ceilings. The main floor was spacious and cozy, different bookshelves lined in what seemed to be a disorderly fashion. But Aidan quickly discovered that the shelves were built to have a round shape to them to match the structure of the library.

The ceiling was high and reached all the way up to the fourth floor. On the different floor levels was one platform that stretched across the open space and connected to the opposite side, allowing for the user to quickly cross over to the other side without having to walk the entire perimeter of the place. Small tables and chairs had been set up at odd intervals throughout the library to give people a nice, quiet place to read. A spiraling staircase hung close to the wall as it wound its way up to the highest level.

Before either had a chance to comment on the building, a woman with blinding white hair raced towards them, her face full of determination.

Aidan and Fabien shared a look before moving a smidgen closer to the other. When the woman stopped just short of knocking them over, her eyes widened and she let out a muffled gasp before taking two steps back. “Sorry,” she stated in a voice that didn’t sound sorry at all. “We’ll be working in the far back corner.”

Aidan barely heard her. He was startled by her eyes. Unlike Gerelda’s, whose eyes were fully black, this woman had glowing white eyes. It was a stark contrast to everything he knew about magic. Her clothing was simple. She wore a form-fitted, rose-colored dress with simple flats.

When she turned and started walking away, Fabien leaned over until he was shoulder to shoulder with Aidan. “Don’t ever let your magic reach your eyes.”

“Why?” Aidan whispered back, slightly curious about the process. He looked over at Fabien when he didn’t immediately respond.

“Your eyes are unique,” Fabien whispered back, his eyes locking on Aidan’s. In a louder voice he said, “It gives demons the chance to know what specialization you have. Not all of them are mindless beasts. Some are as smart as humans, if not smarter. Concealing it is the most logical conclusion.”

Aidan held Fabien’s gaze a second too long before he looked away. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

By the time the woman looked back, Aidan and Fabien had already caught up to her. She led them to a table hidden behind a tall bookshelf. Quite a few books were spread across the table, all a varying shade of faded brown. Most of the titles were illegible due to years of use by the university.

“Sit,” the woman commanded in a strong voice. It wasn’t flimsy or too high pitched. Aidan and Fabien sat down slowly before taking a look at the books splayed out before them.

“My name is Ignote.” The woman finally stated.

“It’s a pleasure,” Aidan automatically replied. 

Fabien remained silent. 

Ignote narrowed her eyes before grabbing a book and setting it in between the two men. “I’m expecting you two to read this book by the end of the week. I’ve already been assigned a long essay explaining the differences between light and dark angels and how shadows might form from the two.”

Aidan’s head snapped up at her words. “Shadows? What do you mean by that?” 

Fabien cast a sideways look at Aidan but kept quiet. 

“Shadows, Aidan, shadows. The most fundamentally important part of angels. Shadows. If angels are meant to have a strong concentration of light or dark magic, then what happens when shadows are created? Can shadows even be created? And if they can exist, in what way do they take shape? What’s the magical component behind a shadow where angels are involved? Does an angel even have a shadow?”

Aidan’s mouth had fallen open halfway through her speech before he quickly closed it. She was looking at him so expectantly as if he held the answers to her questions.

“Uh…so, in theory, angels—” He was immediately cut off by her indignant shout. 

“In theory? Do you even use your brain? Angels are out there. I can just feel it. The closer I get to my magic, the more I feel in tune to them. Do you understand?”

Aidan was at a loss for words. He hadn’t meant any offense, yet he regretted asking. “I think so.”

“Good,” Ignote snapped. “Don’t ever forget it.” 

Aidan let out a quiet sigh before flipping open the cover of the book that was given to them. The first page immediately jumped into whatever it was it had to tell rather than there being any sort of introduction or table of contents.

He cast a glance at Fabien and found his forehead crinkled in concentration. It was rather cu—

Aidan quickly looked away as he scooted his chair closer to the table, ignoring any and all thoughts that led in that direction. He came here to train and that’s exactly what he was going to do.

“Are we supposed to read this together?” Fabien demanded as he readjusted in his seat. 

Ignote gave him a look before picking up a book and opening it. 

Letting out a sigh, Fabien looked at Aidan before saying, “I’m a fast reader.” 

Aidan didn’t meet his gaze. Instead, he focused on the text before them and started to read.