Usually, I handle everything here in the library. I don't want to disappoint anyone."
Arsh woke early. He washed quickly and dressed, tucking the photographs and documents into his jacket's inside pocket. As he opened the door, he nearly bumped into Mes.
Mes's eyes were bloodshot, with heavy dark circles beneath them. It was clear he hadn't slept a wink. Before Arsh could speak, Mes scratched the back of his head, looking sheepish.
"Well… I couldn't really sleep. I ended up staying in the library all night, researching those artifacts from the exhibition."
"Why couldn't you sleep?"
"…It's the first time I've been sent on a field assignment. Usually, I handle everything here in the library. I don't want to disappoint anyone."
Arsh could see the source of Mes's thoughts. Because he saw himself as a burden to these people, he worked harder than anyone else. He spent most of his time in the library, helping with Professor Reiner's research, or handling correspondence and budget matters with other teams Arsh had not yet met. Yet
.because of his frail body, he believed that he was a burden.
"Don't be ridiculous. You are great help. Even I can see that though I am not here more than for a week"
He wasn't sure whether his words would make Mes feel better, but he wanted to say something kind. The effect of his words became apparent soon enough in Mes's eyes, which lit up shyly.
"Thank you."
They went downstairs together and ate the sandwiches Madam Hilda had given them while waiting for the others. Shortly after, Bera and Walter arrived, and they climbed into the carriage waiting at the door.
The library was in the Oldcastle district. It took them about twenty minutes to get there. Despite the early hour, the streets were filled with men rushing to their jobs, all dressed in gray and black. The sky was cloudy and dark, a gloom that was reflected in the crowds below. They moved through the streets like drifting rain clouds, forming an endless stream of movement.
Soon, the carriage came to a stop at the entrance of a street. They all stepped out. Since Arsh didn't know exactly where they were headed, he followed the others a few steps behind. The street soon opened into a square. Buildings that clearly dated back several centuries encircled the square, and at the very center of the square stood a tall clock tower rising above.
Mes slowed his pace and began walking side by side with Arsh.
"Carriages aren't allowed in this square. This is the State Archives building, and right next to it is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The building across from us is the library."
The building Mes pointed out was the grandest of all the other buildings facing the square. The entrance was at the top of high steps, framed by tall columns. On the pediment they supported, Arsh read the words: Symran Royal Library.
A little farther ahead, they saw Mr. Herman waiting for them at the top of the stairs. After a brief exchange of greetings, they went inside together.
In the main entrance stood a massive globe, and an information desk was encircling it like a crescent. Herman approached two elderly women seated behind the desk and spoke quietly to them.
One of the women nodded, rose from her chair, and disappeared into one of the corridors leading away from the main hall. A few minutes later, she returned with a short, fat man in his fifties and a thin young man by his side.
"Good morning, Herman. You've arrived," the short man said when he saw him.
"I've done as you asked and locked the exhibition hall. The library will be closed today due to maintenance. Peter will come in the evening to collect the keys. If you finish earlier, use the telegraph and let us know," he said, gesturing toward the reception desk.
Then, noticing Mes, he turned his attention to him.
"Ah, Mes, you're here as well. You haven't been stopping by much lately. Once you're done, come see me—I have some manuscripts I'd like to show you."
"I'll be sure to visit soon" responded Mes politely.
"Now, let me take you to the hall."
"Who is he?" Arsh whispered to Mes.
"He is the manager of the library, Mr. Lewis, and a friend of Mr. Herman," Mes replied in the same hushed tone. "He is not a part of FFSD, but he is on quite good terms with us, so he is always helpful."
Mr. Lewis and the young man he had addressed as Peter led the way. They passed through wide corridors lined with glass display cases and stopped in front of a door.
"Peter, the keys."
Peter pulled a key ring from his pocket and handed it to the manager, who then unlocked the door.
The exhibition hall was a fairly spacious area. The ceiling reached all the way up to the roof, and from where they stood, the library's other five floors were visible like Professor Reiner's library. However, the difference in scale between the two libraries was beyond comparison. Remembering how astonished he had been the first time he saw Professor Reiner's library, Arsh now thought about how foolish that reaction had been.
Inside glass display cases, numerous ancient artifacts were arranged at intervals, lined up side by side. Arsh wasn't entirely sure, but the artifacts here seemed to be from Yulanis. There were many pots painted in black, pieces of jewelry with obsidian, and various other objects whose purposes he didn't know.
"Actually, this place is part of the library. So we've sealed off the doors leading to the study areas and the library on the right so no one can enter. It was all we could do. I have a meeting now, and the staff will be leaving with me. You can begin your investigation." Mr. Lewis said.
Once they were left alone in the vast hall, Mes had already begun working. After Herman repeated his warning, 'Don't split up', Walter followed closely after Mes.
Arsh then turned to the others and signaled that it was time to begin.
"Let's start."
Arsh nodded and took out photgraphs from his jacket's inner pocket. First he took the photo of the night guard. He had been looking at these photos since last night so he had almost memorized their faces. He focused again.
"Jerry Archer, Where is he?" he murmured to himself.
But it didn't work. There was no golden thread when he opened his eyes.
"What happened?" Herman asked when Arsh stared into the empty space for a while without saying anything.
"I can't find him. There's nothing…"
"Could he be dead?" Bera asked in his usual calm tone.
"That's possible," Mr. Herman confirmed. "No one's heard from him for over a week."
Arsh picked up another photograph. This one belonged to a cleaning worker.
"Anna Davies. Where is she?"
This time, he tried to focus as much as he could. But when he opened his eyes, the result was the same.
He looked at Bera and Herman, then shook his head in disappointment.
The next photograph he picked up belonged to the librarian he had found the night before.
"Bill Heather. I found a golden thread connected to this man last night. Maybe it'll work again."
"Go ahead," Mr. Herman said.
Arsh closed his eyes once more and focused.
'Bill Heather. Thirty-five years old. Night guard for five years. Around one eighty. Clean-shaven, drooping eyelids, prominent smile lines…'
This time, he felt hopeful.
"Bill Heather. Where is he?"
The moment he opened his eyes, he suddenly felt an overwhelming amount of strength being drained from his body—far more than he had expected. It felt as if he wasn't searching for a single person, but for thousands. Golden threads spread throughout the entire building, twining around the walls, the shelves, and every object around him.
With the sudden loss of strength, he felt as though he had stopped breathing for a moment. He lost his balance and fell to his knees.
'This is too much—too much,' he thought. When he closed his eyes again and severed the connection he had formed in his mind, he felt air return to his lungs.
His mind was reeling. Then he began to hear voices calling out to him.
"Arsh… Arsh, what's happening?" He could hear Mes's anxious voice.
A few seconds later, Arsh recovered enough to collect his thoughts and focus on his surroundings again.
"What just happened?" Mr. Herman asked, helping Arsh up from the ground together with Bera.
"I'm not sure. All of a sudden, the golden threads that guide me spread everywhere, covering the entire building. There were thousands of them."
"Can you sense what that means?" he asked.
Arsh thought for a moment but couldn't give an answer. It seemed he still hadn't fully grasped his ability.
"But you said you could find him yesterday. There was only one golden thread then. Today there are thousands of them, yet you still can't find him. Something feels off," Herman said, thinking about what Arsh said.
"Actually, I feel like something's off too. You know, the walls, the ground… I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something dangerous about this place." Walter said, agreeing with Herman.
"Let's do our research first. Arsh, don't push yourself. You used too much power all at once."