For studying such subtleties, there's only one place—the royal library.
The royal library greeted me with solemn silence. The cold grandeur of white marble, polished to a mirror shine, reflects the scant light from tall lancet windows—it gleams like the bones of an ancient beast that died but still wants to seem important. Shelves of dark precious wood stretch to the very vaults—surely from species that grow in protected forests and cost more than a soldier's yearly pay. They extend to the ceiling like arms holding the whole world.
Here stand massive oak reading tables, arranged so that every seeker of knowledge can seclude themselves with their book. The air is imbued with the scent of ancient folios—old leather bindings, parchment, centuries of dust, and something elusive that can be called the breath of wisdom. Here it smells of knowledge accumulated over centuries, wisdom that has outlived kings and wars.
Honestly, I'm trying to distract myself from yesterday. I didn't even go to training—I don't want to see anyone, don't want to answer questions or endure sympathetic looks. The faces of my comrades, their cheerful shouts, and the clanging of weapons would only provoke a fit of misanthropy. Let the book on magical pouches become a temporary anesthesia in this swamp of self-reflection.
I wander between the stacks, resembling a labyrinth where it's easy to get lost not only physically but also in the flow of others' thoughts. Steps sound muffled on thick carpets, tall windows pour soft light on ancient tomes—silent guardians holding more than I'll ever know.
And there it is—a small book in a worn brown binding: "On Magical Containers and Their Properties." An unassuming volume without frills, but with a promising title in slightly faded gold.
I carefully remove it from the shelf. The pages have yellowed with time, but the text remains clear, scented with dust and the hopes of previous readers. On the first page, in beautiful handwriting: "To all seekers of knowledge who are not afraid to peer into the mysteries of the universe."