The Arcana Library
The Arcana Library is the grandest repository of knowledge in all of Aurelia, spanning an expansive campus of interconnected reading halls, lecture rooms, scriptoriums, and magical archives. At the heart of the grounds stands The Grand Archive, a three-story central building that houses the greatest collection of books, scrolls, and magical texts known to exist. The library is a place of study, mystery, and legend—scholars, mages, and seekers of forbidden knowledge travel from across the world to gain access to its secrets.
Exterior & Grounds:
The library grounds stretch over several acres, enclosed by high stone walls covered in creeping ivy and arcane sigils. The air always smells of parchment, ink, and the faint trace of magic, no matter the weather.
A statue of Miras the Eternal Scholar, a legendary mage who helped found the library, stands at the entrance. In his hands, a book levitates on one side, while a quill hovers in the other, symbolizing the eternal quest for knowledge.
Pathways of marble and enchanted stone wind through the gardens, where magical lanterns float along the walkways, illuminating the grounds with soft, ethereal light. Several small pavilions act as outdoor study areas, with enchanted benches that warm in the winter and cool in the summer, offering scholars respite as they pore over their studies.
The Grand Archive (Main Building)
The three-story centerpiece of The Arcana Library is a breathtaking structure filled with architectural wonders. Its towering spires are etched with intricate arcane runes, glowing faintly as if the building itself contains a living energy. The Grand Archive is divided into three primary levels:
First Floor: Public Records & Common Lore
Open to the public, this floor contains histories, trade logs, maps, and cultural knowledge of Aurelia. It is a bustling area where anyone may come to find information on the common lore of the land. A massive floating directory in the center magically guides visitors to sections of interest, ensuring they can navigate the vast collection with ease. Several study halls with magical soundproofing allow scholars to work in peace, shielded from the noise of the many visitors.
Second Floor: Arcane Studies & Restricted Access
This floor houses spell tomes, alchemical research, and advanced magical theories. It is only accessible to those with academic or guild credentials, ensuring that only qualified individuals can study its contents. The Hall of Arcane Discoveries on this level displays relics and objects of historical magical significance, including items from long-lost civilizations and rare enchanted artifacts. Scholars and mages can often be seen deep in study, dissecting theories or experimenting with new spells.
Third Floor: The Vault of Elders (Highly Restricted)
This secure, warded level contains forbidden magic, ancient prophecies, and lost knowledge. It is a place of great mystery and danger, and access is strictly controlled. Only the Head Librarian, Librarian Meadowbrook and select, trusted scholars have permission to study these texts. The Vault itself is surrounded by powerful wards and magical defenses, ensuring that no unauthorized individual can approach. It is said that the library itself defends this floor—only those deemed worthy by the magic within can proceed. Many rumors swirl about what secrets lie within, but none have ever dared to challenge the protection of the Vault.
The Silver Fists: Guardians of the Library
To protect its knowledge and artifacts, the Arcana Library is guarded by the Silver Fists, an elite order of warriors renowned throughout Aurelia for their unwavering discipline and dedication to the defense of magical knowledge. Clad in blue cloaks, the Silver Fists serve as both protectors and enforcers of the library’s laws.
Their primary responsibility is to ensure that only those who are deemed worthy are allowed access to the most restricted sections of the library, such as the Vault of Elders. They also monitor the many researchers and mages who come to study, ensuring that none attempt to abuse the library's vast resources for personal gain or darker purposes. It is said that the Silver Fists have an ancient bond with the library itself, and they can detect when knowledge is being misused or when dangerous spells are being attempted.
The Silver Fists are highly trained not only in martial combat but also in magical wards and counter-spell techniques, ensuring they are prepared for any threat that might arise. Their blue cloaks, emblazoned with a silver sigil, are a symbol of their elite status. As silent and vigilant sentinels, they move through the halls with an almost ethereal presence, always observing and ready to act should any threat emerge.
The Silver Fists are regarded with a mix of reverence and fear, as their mandate to protect the library sometimes means they must intervene in delicate matters. However, the people of Aurelia understand the necessity of their presence—after all, the knowledge housed within The Arcana Library is not just any knowledge; it is the most dangerous, powerful, and precious lore in all of the known world.
Together, the Arcana Library and its Silver Fist protectors stand as pillars of magical knowledge and academic pursuit, ensuring that the arcane secrets of the world are preserved for the future, safeguarded against those who would seek to misuse them.