A running theme with the Academy inside of the game was that it was an absurdly, mind bendingly gigantic, with each room seeming far larger than the last and taking up even more space then it ever should have.
That was the nifty thing about magic; you could take a small closet and turn it into an entire suite with enough magic and funding, and both of those were things the Academy had in abundance.
This library was like a palace of knowledge cloistered away inside of the Academy, and where it should have only taken up two floors at most it was instead a five story labyrinth of books and scrolls waiting to be plucked from the shelves so that their knowledge could be utilized by whomever required it.
There was a soft buzz that filled the air from all of the people inside of the library, each one huddled around a table pouring over the information inside while conversing quietly about whatever they had learned.
So many people were already inside this area that I was somewhat worried I might not be able to get the thing I wanted, but at the same time it being this populated meant that finding the area I needed to search around would be a little easier.
Walking through this gigantic expanse of bookshelves and tables would be a task and a half though, and climbing those sprawling staircases up and down as I navigated to the specific area that held what I wanted would be more than enough for a daily exercise...
Situated right in front of me behind a gorgeous dark oak desk with books piled high around her was an older woman, her long grey hair pulled back into a neat bun while her thin framed glasses glittered from the floating light crystals that surrounded her.
A thin black shawl was draped over her shoulders, covering some of her vibrant red gown that shimmered with runes of power; despite being rather old she still radiated power and confidence, though it was all softened by her serene smile and gentle expression.
Approaching her and swallowing down my mild anxiety, I clasped my hands behind my back and cleared my throat, getting her attention so that I could ask "Excuse me, where exactly is the 'Novice Magical Theory' section? Specifically the... um... colorless section?", earning a motherly smile as she just turned slightly and pointed behind herself.
"All the way in the back, marked by the white star and golden wreath. Just walk straight this way and you'll find it. And... dear, please don't be embarrassed; you're at the Academy for a reason, and as long as you are learning something during your time here you'll be fine. Everyone starts at the same place, no matter what they want to say."
It was relieving to not be judged for asking where the beginner's beginner section was; colorless meant someone without an affinity to magic just yet and was typically reserved for those who had never even discovered magic in their life.
I had no idea how to use magic, no idea how to wield a sword or an axe, no idea how to brew potions... I was completely 'clueless' about these things besides the very basic theory behind it that wasn't really helpful when you were just given options to pick on a screen...
This would give me the time to pick the right books to check out for later as well as get the item I needed, which was all the way in the back of this library in that specific section; so after returning the librarian's smile I began to walk between these towering shelves and past all of the occupied tables, taking it all in and hoping it was still there.
There were many students and Professors mingling around the library, some of them here for some deep studying, others to just refresh some of their knowledge, and a seldom few that were making use of the sprawling library's quiet space to engage in some... 'conversing'.
The shelves were double - maybe even larger - my height and absolutely filled with all sorts of books, ranging from small booklets that were maybe a dozen pages total to many hundred - or maybe even a thousand - pages in length.
Everything was made from dark oak and accentuated with red and gold, giving the entire area a warm, cozy atmosphere that made you comfortable and calm; the wide variety of bindings on the books created waves of color all around that drew the eye this way and that, all while everything was illuminated by crystals that emitted a soft light.
My boots made little sound as I traversed the carpet path deeper into the library, and soon enough - after relaxing myself and just taking in all of the books around me - I found the area I was looking for, devoid of people and hidden behind many other larger sections.
A nice cubby that was about as large as my dorm room held hundreds of books, but without much hesitation I approached the far shelf and began reading the names on the spines, looking for the one that acted as a lever instead of being a real book.
Beyond stereotypical for a hidden alcove, but that was how stereotypes were earned; they were done so often and usually for a decent enough reason, and the idea of hiding something behind a bookshelf and using a book as the key to get in just made sense.
Also... it was objectively cool, so I wasn't at all complaining about that... though it was done rather well since I couldn't really find the book I was looking for, though that would make this too easy and not as hidden, wouldn't it?
I at least now knew that I could read the books in this world and wouldn't need to relearn a language, which was immensely relieving, while I also had a feeling that this would become one of my favorite spots in real life too since it was so damn cozy and 'isolating'.
Besides, it wasn't just books about magic or how to get better at something inside of this library; there were folk stories, romance novels, historical retellings and so much more on all of these shelves, and of course... there was a 'restricted' section as well as a smut section that I would inevitably find myself at.