He walked up to the front desk, noticing the librarian slumped in her chair, her head drooping as she dozed off. Ezra cleared his throat and rang the bell, causing her to jolt upright in alarm. She quickly ran her fingers through her messy hair, trying to regain her composure as she looked up at him.
"Yes?" she asked, her voice still thick with sleep.
"I'd like to borrow this book," Ezra said, sliding the book across the counter toward her.
The librarian blinked at him, then picked up the book, flicking through the computer system. Her brows furrowed as she scanned the screen.
"This book is not on the register," she replied, her tone clipped. She glanced at the book again, her fingers gently running over the worn cover. "This isn't listed anywhere in our archives."
Ezra felt a flicker of concern but quickly masked it with a calm expression. "It should be," he replied confidently, "Could you double-check?"
She hesitated for a moment, then sighed, clearly irritated, but began tapping away at the keyboard again. "Fine, I'll check manually," she muttered under her breath, her fingers moving with quick, practiced motions.
After a brief pause, she repeated in a weary tone, "It's not in our archives." She glanced up at him, clearly struggling to keep her eyes open. "Just leave the book here, and I'll get it checked out for you," she mumbled, her voice trailing off as she slumped back into her chair, the weight of exhaustion settling over her.
Ezra paused for a moment, watching the librarian slump back onto the desk, clearly exhausted. He felt the weight of the situation, but he wasn't one to let things go that easily. His eyes darted around the room, scanning the nearby shelves. His fingers brushed across the spines of various books, before landing on one that seemed almost identical—same width, same color.
His heart raced slightly as he slid the book off the shelf and quietly replaced it with the one he had originally tried to borrow. With practiced ease, he made his way toward the exit, the sound of the librarian's soft snores almost like a signal to him. His footsteps were light, barely making a sound as he slipped through the aisles and toward the door.
He made it back to his dorm and opened the door. The silence that greeted him was almost suffocating. Asli and Silas weren't present, and the room was eerily still as he stepped inside.
The Ember Games and the final yearly exams were nearing—just a couple of months away. It was a tournament between students in each year, where the strongest and most skilled would rise above, gaining not only prestige but opportunities for advancement. The competition was fierce, and for some, it would be the most important event of their academic year and lives.
He recalled the conversation he had with Milo a couple of days earlier as they sat on the field.
"Are you ready for the Ember Games?"
"Hmmm…"
"Don't tell me you don't know what that is," Milo chuckled, adjusting his round glasses that were a bit too big for his face. Ezra had started to enjoy the boy's company and considered him a friend.
"It's a tournament the school hosts every year. A competition between students of each year to determine who will be the best. It's a big event. All the leaders of the major houses come to watch, and it's broadcasted all over Nexus City."
Ezra sat listening, intrigued, as he picked at the grass.
"Who won last year?"
"Well, it's pretty obvious. Nora won from the first years, Rowan from the second years, Soren from the third years. Fourth I'm not quite sure. Same with fifth, but the sixth year it was Zayn."
"You know what makes it unique?" Milo continued, a slight grin tugging at his lips. "Only one person in the history of Blackspire carries the fact that through all six years, they've held the title.
Ezra raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Who's that?"
Milo leaned in, lowering his voice a bit, as if sharing a secret. "They call him The Huntsman. He's the only one who's ever won every year since his first. No one's been able to replicate that kind of record. It's what makes him legendary here."
Ezra's brow furrowed in disbelief. "Wait, so he's won every year? How is that even possible?"
Milo grinned, clearly enjoying the intrigue. "What makes it even crazier—he doesn't even have an ounce of resonance. Yet, he still managed to become a Resonant. It's like he defied the very laws that bind everyone else here."