Chad shook his head in disbelief. "Secret magical librarians. Of course. Why not?" He paused, a thought occurring to him. "Wait, is that why you wanted me to take over your creative writing seminar? To prepare me for this?"
Emerson nodded, a hint of pride in his eyes. "Partly, yes. Your analytical skills and ability to see patterns and connections are crucial for understanding and navigating the magical world. And your writing skills... Well, let's just say that words have more power than most people realize. You can use words to influence others."
“Influence… Bas used the same word.” Chad sat back, trying to process everything he'd learned. "So, what now? What's my role in all this?"
Emerson leaned forward, his expression serious. "Your role, Chad, is to prepare. To hone your newfound abilities and your analytical skills. We don't know exactly how events will unfold, but we believe you'll play a crucial part in protecting the library and the knowledge it contains. I can see that you appreciate the significance. But do you understand what an honor it is?"
Chad nodded slowly, feeling the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. "But how? I'm just starting to learnabout all this magical stuff. How can I possibly be ready on time?"
Emerson smiled reassuringly. "You won't be alone, Chad. You'll have the support of the League, and of course, my continued guidance. And don't underestimate yourself. You've already shown remarkable progress in a short time."
Chad took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. "Okay. So, what's next? More psychometry practice?"
"Actually," Emerson said, rising from his chair, "I think it's time we took your training to the next level." He walked over to a large oak bookcase and pulled out a thick, leather-bound volume. "This book contains exercises for developing clairvoyance. I want you to start working through them, alongside your psychometry practice."
Chad took the book, feeling its weight both physically and metaphorically. "Clairvoyance? You really think I can do that?"
Emerson nodded confidently. "I do. And more importantly,youneed to believe you can. Remember, Chad, belief is a powerful force in magic. Your own doubts can be your biggest obstacle."
Chad nodded, trying to push aside his skepticism. "I'll do my best."
"Good," Emerson said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Now, I think that's enough for today. Go home, rest, and start working through those exercises as soon as you can."
Chad nodded and tucked the book under his arm. As he turned to leave, a thought struck him. "Professor, one more question. You mentioned that words have more power than most people realize. What did you mean by that?"
Emerson's eyes brightened. "Ah, now that's a lesson for another day. But let's just say that a well-crafted phrase can be as potent as any magical spell. Your skills as a writer may prove more valuable than you know."
With that cryptic statement, Emerson ushered Chad out of his study. As Chad walked down the hallway, his mind was buzzing with everything he'd learned. Magic, secret artifacts, potential disaster. It seemed as if an attack on knowledge was in the offing!
How long did he have to prepare? Was three years enough? Did Brianna’s inadvertent revelation of the future mean he had to take over for Emerson? When was this attack supposed to happen?
He needed to talk to Brianna.
As Chad walked back to his apartment, his mind reeling from everything he had learned, he pulled out his phone to call Brianna. He needed to process all of this, and she was the only one he felt he could truly confide in.
The phone rang several times before going to voicemail. Chad frowned, a twinge of worry creeping into his thoughts. It wasn't like Brianna to ignore his calls.
"Hey, Bri, it's me," he said after the beep. "Just had another session with Emerson and... well, I really need to talk to you. Call me back when you can, okay?"
He ended the call and continued walking, the weight of the clairvoyance book heavy in his bag. As he approached his apartment building, a familiar figure caught his eye. Brianna was sitting on the steps, her posture tense, her eyes wide.
Chad quickened his pace, concern flooding through him at the sight of Brianna's distressed expression. As he approached, she stood up, her eyes darting around nervously.
"Bri? What's wrong?" Chad asked, reaching out to steady her.
Brianna grabbed his arm in her tight grip. "We need to talk. Inside. Now."
Nodding, Chad fumbled for his keys and led her into the building. Once inside his apartment, Brianna paced the living room, rubbing her hands over each other.
"Bri, you're scaring me," Chad said, setting down his bag. "What's going on?"
Brianna took a deep breath, visibly trying to calm herself. "I had a vision, Chad. A bad one."
Chad felt his stomach drop. "About the Library of Congress?"
Brianna's eyes widened. “The what now?”
“I was trying to get in touch with you because Professor Emerson told me about the catastrophe I’m supposed to prevent. The responsibility… It’s huge! If you foresaw Emerson’s death in three years, and I have so much to learn…”
