Children of Gambit

Our walk toward the second library stretched longer than I expected. The school was absurdly large—almost like a town of its own. Buildings lined the path, their towering forms casting long shadows under the morning sun. A light breeze rustled the neatly trimmed hedges bordering the walkway, carrying the faint scent of damp earth from the gardens.

A few students passed us, their voices hushed in the stillness. From the shoulder badges they wore, it was easy to tell they were club members.

Keith finally broke the silence, hands tucked in his pockets as he glanced around. "So, the only ones on campus are those who moved their club activities to the morning?"

"Seems like it. You're getting observant," I said, my voice laced with amusement.

Keith scoffed. "Observant is a big word. I'm nowhere near as perceptive as you are."

"Stop the flattery. Besides, you owe me. Thanks to you, I have to hike across the entire school just to get to this second library."

"Relax, we're already here."

Keith's voice carried a smugness that made me glance up, and sure enough, there it was—a massive stone structure looming ahead of us. The Second Library stood on an elevated ground, its weathered stone walls adorned with creeping ivy. Behind it, a rugged mountain loomed, almost as if nature itself had placed it there to guard whatever secrets lay inside.

I let out a dry chuckle. "It's the second library, all right."

Despite my outward indifference, a small spark of curiosity burned beneath my dispassionate gaze. The size alone hinted at the vast collection of knowledge hidden within, but that wasn't why we were here. Somewhere inside, a passage was waiting to be found.

We climbed the worn stone steps leading to the entrance. The massive oak doors let out a faint creak as Keith pushed one open. My eyes flicked to the hinges—dark smudges of oil clung to the metal. Someone had gone through the trouble of reducing the noise.

Interesting.

"What are you waiting for, Klein? C'mon!" Keith's excitement barely contained itself.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming," I muttered, my tone deliberately dull in contrast to his energy.

Inside, the library was a world of its own. Dust particles floated lazily in the beams of golden light filtering through stained-glass windows. Towering bookshelves stretched toward the high ceilings, their wooden frames carrying the scent of aged parchment and ink. Chandeliers, their brass frames dulled by time, hung in eerie stillness. A few solitary students sat at scattered tables, hunched over books, the scratch of pens against paper the only sound breaking the silence.

Near the front desk, a woman in her late thirties adjusted her glasses, peering at us as we approached.

"Good morning, Miss Deborah," Keith greeted, his voice carrying its usual charm. "How was your weekend?"

Miss Deborah gave him a tired but warm smile. "Ah, Keith. It was brief, but I made the most of it. A little time away from work does wonders."

Keith handed over his library card, his ever-present grin still in place.

The librarian inspected the card before flipping open a fresh book, its pages crisp except for a single date scrawled in neat ink. Keith jotted down his name in the visitor's column before handing the book to me.

I stepped forward, placing my own card on the counter. Miss Deborah studied it for a moment, then looked up at me with a knowing glint in her eyes.

"Is this your brother, Keith?"

"Yeah, ma'am. He's been here pretty often these past two weeks." Keith smirked, eyeing me as if expecting me to say something.

"He certainly has," Miss Deborah mused. "Always taking books like a little scholar."

I shifted my gaze away. "Not sure 'scholar' is the best word for me."

Her playful chuckle followed. "Well, I hope you both find what you're looking for. Just don't go to the west side of the library. The cataloging there is… inconsistent."

My fingers twitched slightly at her words.

Again?

That was the second time we'd been warned about the west side. Something about it didn't sit right with me.

Keith, however, nodded easily. "Understood. We won't take too long."

As we stepped past the desk and into the labyrinth of bookshelves, Keith turned to me with a cheeky grin. "Ain't Miss Deborah hot?"

I shot him a blank stare. "Are you projecting your thing for older women onto me?"

"Honestly? Based. What guy doesn't like older women? They're the best—"

"Why?"

"Think about it, man. They've got wisdom, life experience, and getting to know them is like solving a mystery."

Before he could continue drooling over his daydream, I unceremoniously tossed my bag at him. It hit his face with a dull thud.

"Hey! What was that for?"

"Hold my bag," I said flatly. "If you want me to figure this out, I need to be comfortable. That thing is killing my shoulders."

Keith groaned but slung the bag over his shoulder anyway. "Fine. So… how do we find this passage?"

I turned to him, blinking. "Wait. You don't even have a clue where it could be?"

Keith smirked, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Nope. But I got you, don't I?"

I ran a hand down my face. "I swear to God—"

"Relax, Klein. Think of it as an adventure."

I sighed, already regretting this. "Whatever. Let's just get going."

As I started down one aisle, Keith hung back for a moment, his gaze narrowing slightly.

"Going where exactly?"

This was going to be a long day.