svetikya Page 139
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"Look there," Casalos pointed to the spires piercing the clouds, "viewing Candlekeep from the air, it's like a giant cake decorated with too many candles. Standing at the center is the most majestic Candlekeep Tower; the other towers are like ingeniously crafted branches and flowers, while the Candlekeep Tower is the trunk of a tree: strong, heavy, and far taller than the others."
Ravenna stared in awe at the distant cluster of buildings. "Was that building really built by the prophet Arando?"
"To be precise, it is unclear who originally built Candlekeep. In fact, the castle was built several centuries before the birth of the prophet Arando, and it already stood here around 200 BC. The prophet Arando came to this largely abandoned fortress in dr75 to study the writings preserved within, and made many prophecies throughout his life, most of which were subsequently fulfilled."
Toona stroked her silver hair and nodded gently in agreement: "After the death of the prophet Arandor, Candlekeep became a sanctuary of knowledge. Mages and scholars who came from afar revered and interpreted his prophecies, while also dedicating themselves to preserving all available knowledge. For nearly a thousand years, Candlekeep maintained neutrality and a low profile, seemingly forgotten by war and disaster."
"But unfortunately, when the catastrophe swept across the entire continent, no place was spared," Casalos added, his thoughts drifting back to the turmoil that had just ended. The earthquake had torn apart the walls of Candlekeep, and the tsunami, unable to scale the cliffs, had submerged Lion's Path, leaving Candlekeep an isolated island—fortunately, Candlekeep had no shortage of arcane spellcasters, whose magic quickly restored everything after the disaster, making this great library of Faerûn look brand new.
In Casaloz's memory, many tabletop RPG players would choose this place as their first stop to unlock their character cards.
"It's hard to imagine how much precious knowledge is hidden in those towers below," Ravenna exclaimed.
"Much more than you imagine." Casalos grinned, revealing a sharp curve that was hard for a human to achieve. "The scribes of Candlekeep made at least one copy of every scroll here, and rumors say there's a complete 'Mirror Library' hidden somewhere in Faerûn."
A look of surprise flashed in Tao Na's eyes. She was amazed by the otherworldly merchant's extensive knowledge: "The Mirror Library? This is the first time I've heard of it."
"It's just a rumor; no one can confirm its existence," Casalos replied casually, though some thoughts were brewing in his mind—if they could find clues about this Mirror Library, it would be a huge boost to the development of Dragon Territory.
Ravenna's gaze was drawn to a peculiar building at the end of Lion Road: "Those doors look quite special."
"That's the only entrance to Candlecastle," Casalos explained.
The two enormous city gates are at least three times the height of a standard human, made of a strange black metal that is immune to lightning damage and can block any divination spells attempting to explore the interior of Candlekeep. Both gates bear the Candlekeep emblem of 'Castle and Flame'. During the day, one gate opens to welcome visitors, while the other remains closed.
"How do we get in?" Ravenna asked.
"All a traveler who wants to enter Candlekeep needs to offer is a book—a book whose contents have not yet been included in Candlekeep's collection. The monks of Candlekeep call this admission ticket an 'entrance gift'," Casalos said casually, as if it were nothing more than a trivial matter.
Ravenna suddenly tensed up: "But we didn't bring any books!"
Casalos smiled mysteriously and pulled three beautifully bound books from his dimensional pouch at his waist: "Don't worry, I was prepared."
Ravenna's eyes widened: "What are these?" (The rest of the text appears to be gibberish and unrelated to the question.)
"An entrance ceremony." Casalos laid out the books in a row. "Postpartum care for sows," "Daily maintenance and common troubleshooting of TS250 series tractors," and "White Clean." Rest assured, Candleburg has absolutely never included these books.
Tao Na raised an eyebrow: "Are you so sure?"
“Even the wisest scholars in Candlekeep know very little about the world beyond the realms of Faerûn. While warriors, explorers, diplomats, and merchants have traveled beyond Faerûn, most have only visited one of these continents outside the well-known nations. And what about books from other worlds?” Casalos replied casually. “The point is, these books are enough for the three of us to enter Candlekeep.”
A sea breeze caressed their faces, and the distant spires of Candlekeep gleamed in the sunlight. The three continued along the Lion's Path, drawing ever closer to the ocean of wisdom that had guarded Candlekeep for millennia.
"You still haven't told me why you came here," Tao Na whispered as they walked. "I don't believe you just want to have a normal library flirtation with me."
Casalos sighed softly, "Two purposes. First, I need to become an arcane scholar of Candlekeep to enhance my arcane learning abilities; second, I am very interested in Mireem, the being with a peculiar form within Candlekeep."
"Miriam?"
"An ancient silver dragon spirit, bound here by the archmage Thors to protect the monks, buildings, and books of Candlekeep." Casalos's voice turned serious. "She has memorized all the books of Candlekeep. And she loves to talk; this is a rare opportunity for us."
Tao Na nodded knowingly: "So you want her to be your ally."
"Of course," Casalos's eyes flashed with ambition, "the more allies the better, isn't it?"
The female ancient dragon suddenly realized.
At the end of the Lion's Path, the great gates of Candlekeep were open, awaiting new seekers to enter this temple of wisdom. Two guards in white robes scrutinized Casalos and his party with wary eyes. These guards were not ordinary warriors, but professionally trained monks; their keen eyes seemed to see through any disguise.
"Once we're inside, it's best not to reveal our dragon identities for now," Casalos advised as a final reminder. "Candlekeep doesn't have a particular prejudice against dragons, but caution is always wise."
"We are just three ordinary scholars seeking the light of knowledge," Tao Na chimed in.
Casalos, maintaining the demeanor of Edwin Meredon, the merchant from Moonshadow Isles, calmly stepped forward: "We have come from afar to bring new knowledge to Candlehold."
"The entrance ceremony?" one of the guards asked briefly.
Casalos smiled slightly, took out "Tractor" from his pocket, and handed it over. Tona and Ravenna also handed over their books.
The guards took the books, a hint of doubt flashing in their eyes, but their professionalism prevented them from asking further questions. They led the three through the magnificent city gate and into a spacious inner hall.
"Please wait here. The registrant will check your admission documents." The guard gestured for them to sit on the benches in the hall.
The three waited patiently, while secretly observing the interior of this fortress of knowledge. The walls of the hall were covered with murals depicting scenes of the transmission of knowledge, and the intricate reliefs on the ceiling told the legendary story of the prophet Arando.
Casalos and Toona snuggled together affectionately. The barbarian, who had little emotional intelligence, didn't realize he was being a third wheel. He chattered on and on about the stories depicted in the murals, until a monk warned him that he should keep quiet inside Candlekeep.
Soon, an elderly man with graying temples walked slowly, followed by two young monks, each carrying three books.
"I am the librarian, Keldron," the old man introduced himself in a gentle, slightly hoarse voice. "The books you brought are quite...special. Candlekeep has indeed never included anything like them."
Casalos nodded politely. "It's an honor to contribute to the treasure trove of knowledge in Candlekeep. My sweetheart and I are currently on our honeymoon, and Candlekeep, this temple of knowledge, has always been one of the places we most look forward to visiting."
Tao Na softly echoed her husband's words, perfectly embodying the role of a happy newlywed wife. Ravenna, covering her mouth with her hand, stood to the side, resembling a loyal bodyguard.
"This book, 'Daily Maintenance and Common Fault Repair of TS250 Series Tractors,'" Kelderon picked up Casalos's book, his eyes gleaming with excitement, "describes the detailed construction and maintenance methods of an unknown advanced structure, which is of great significance to our research on structure technology!"
Casalos suppressed a laugh, maintaining a serious expression: "Yes, this is a... very special construct."
Kelderon turned to Tona's book: "And this one, 'Postpartum Care of Sows,' while the content is quite ordinary, is barely worth including..."
Tao Na smiled calmly: "In some areas, this knowledge can change the fate of an entire village."
The scribe shook his head noncommittally. What connection could a peasant who could never leave the village have with a noble scholar?
"As for this book, *Bai Jie*," Kelderon examined the books Ravenna had brought, "it's a narrative work with a unique style, its portrayal of the characters' inner worlds and emotional descriptions possessing great artistic value. It will be a valuable addition to our literary collection."
Such high praise made the barbarian, who had read the contents, blush slightly—she hadn't found any artistic value in the storybook, it was all... well, you know—regardless, she still nodded politely.
"In short," Keldron closed the book, "your admission has been accepted. From now on, you are granted the status of Seekers and may stay in Candlehold for one week (ten days)."
Just then, Keldron lowered his voice, his tone becoming serious: "However, I must remind you all that Lord Ulland, the Scroll Keeper, the highest decision-maker of Candlehold, has strict requirements for visitors. He is a lawful and good prophet and scholar. If you wish to obtain permission to enter the central castle, you must spend at least one evening having dinner with Ulland on his left and answering his questions."
It was called an inquiry, but it was really an interrogation. Everyone in Sword Bay knew about Urland's arrogance and disdain for others, but of course, Kelderon would never talk about his superior like that.
Casalos and Toona nodded in understanding.
Keldron continued, "There is only one absolute law in Candlekeep: 'Anyone who destroys knowledge, whether with ink, fire, or sword, will perish. Here, books are more important than human lives.' Lord Ulland enforces this law with exceptional strictness; it is best not to disobey him in any way."
"Thank you for your reminder and generosity," Casalos said sincerely.
Keldron beckoned, and a young monk stepped forward: "Solaran will be your guide during your stay in Candlekeep. He will arrange your lodging and meals and assist you in consulting the books."
Solaran was a young man in his early twenties, with short hair, a handsome face, and eyes that sparkled with a thirst for knowledge and aspiration, brimming with the vitality of youth. He gave a polite bow: "Welcome to Candlehold, three seekers. Please follow me; I will show you around this temple of knowledge and arrange your lodgings."
Following Solaran through the corridors of Candlecastle, Casalos and Toona, with expressions of curiosity upon first arriving, frequently stopped to admire the murals on the walls or inquire about the history of certain buildings, observing every detail and memorizing the layout of the architecture.
As Casalos ventured deeper, he sensed the powerful magical protection of Candlekeep—layers of invisible barriers, overlapping, reinforcing, and restricting each other, covered the entire complex, forming a massive magical structure similar to the elven "Maze."
Keep in mind that the Magic Network has only been restored for a short time now. Who knows how a weakling like Baal's son from the original timeline could have contributed to this labyrinthine multi-layered barrier... Perhaps it was another traitor?
"Candlecastle is protected by powerful multiple barriers; nothing can burn except for oil lamps and candles. Not a single piece of paper can be ignited within this castle," Solaran explained as they walked. "These barriers can also block teleportation spells and destructive spells, kill all mold and insects, and ensure that knowledge is perfectly preserved."
"It's truly impressive," Toona commented. "This environment is ideal for preserving books. Our private collections aren't kept as rigorously."
Passing through a magnificent archway into a spacious central courtyard, Solaran continued, "This is the heart of the castle, surrounded by guest rooms, stables, storerooms, a hospital, and several temples. We will arrange for you to have private rooms in the guest room area."
At the center of the courtyard stands the base of the Candlecastle Tower, a magnificent structure that soars into the sky, inspiring awe and wonder. The tower is surrounded by exquisite carvings, commemorating important events in Faerûn's history.
"That tallest tower is Lord Urland's residence," Solaran said, pointing to the imposing building with obvious reverence. "It is said that he kept many of his most prized personal magical artifacts and tomes there, even several original manuscripts by the prophet Arlando. But apart from a handful of great readers, almost no one has been able to enter."
"So, what is the purpose of your trip, the three of you?" Soralan inquired. "Candlehold possesses a vast library, covering almost all areas of knowledge in Faerûn. Knowing your interests beforehand will allow me to better assist you."
Casalos naturally linked his arm with Toona's, a knowing smile between them revealing the deep understanding between a loving couple: "My beloved and I both have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. To be able to immerse ourselves in the ocean of knowledge at Candleburg during our honeymoon is undoubtedly a rare and precious experience."
He paused for a moment, as if thinking, and said, "I am personally particularly interested in arcane knowledge, especially the research findings of the Candlehold arcane scholars. This kind of knowledge is not commonly found on Moonshadow Isle."
A flicker of surprise crossed Solaran's eyes: "Candlehold Arcane Scholars? That's a very special group; they dedicate themselves to studying the nature and fundamental principles of magic. If you're interested in that, I can introduce you to some of the current members."
"That would be perfect." Casalos nodded in satisfaction, just like any other curious scholar or tourist.
"I'm more interested in history and mythology," Taona added calmly, "especially accounts of dragons. There are many dragon legends in our hometown, and I'd like to compare accounts from different regions."
Ravenna expressed her keen interest in the art and strategy of war and hoped to consult relevant books—a background perfectly suited to her as a barbarian, and one that would greatly aid her cause of rebellion.
Solaran noted their requests and then led the three to the guest room area, arranging three adjacent rooms for them. The rooms were small but clean and tidy, each furnished with a bed, a desk, and a comfortable chair. The windows faced the courtyard, offering excellent views.
"I will pick you up tomorrow morning to go to the cafeteria for breakfast, after which you can begin your research," Solaran said. "If you need anything, you can ring the bronze bell at the end of the corridor, and someone will come to help you."
41. Fishing for Silver Dragon
After Solaran left, Casalos summoned the two women to his room. Toona sat on the edge of the bed, while Ravenna stood by the window, observing the courtyard below through the glass.
"I'll be dealing with Urland alone tonight. You two are free to do as you please and find books that interest you." Casalos took several items from his dimensional bag and placed them on the table. "Ravenna, this amulet has the power of linguistics fixed within it; it should be helpful for your research of strategy books."
The barbarian took the amulet, his rough fingers pointing to the runes on it: "This thing must have been expensive, right?"
"Compared to the grand undertaking you're about to undertake, this investment is nothing." Casalos then turned to Toona, "My dear, help me look for records about the Northern Dragons, especially those concerning the battle between two red dragons that ignited the entire Northern Sky, or information about the Druid Sanctuary and the Forest of Rebirth."
Tao Na got up and walked to his side, gently stroking his cheek: "Be careful of that old stubborn man. Although his magical abilities aren't great, his prophetic abilities shouldn't be underestimated."
"Don't worry, I'm fully prepared." Casalos winked.
After the two women left, Casalos headed alone to the banquet hall. As he walked through the corridor, the flickering light from the magical lamps on the walls made the murals recording the transmission of knowledge appear exceptionally vivid. He deliberately slowed his pace, carefully observing the arrangement of the protective magic arrays inside the building—the multiple layers of barriers nested together became even more tightly intertwined in the central tower, their mutual influences more complex and closer to chaos, forming a defensive system more reliable than the Elven Lock.
"They really went all out. The maintenance costs for a defensive array of this scale alone would be enough to build a mage tower."
Before the hall's entrance, a middle-aged man in a magnificent robe had been waiting for some time. The Scroll Guardian, Ulland, was thin, with a hooked nose and sharp gray eyes, exuding the aloof and disdainful air characteristic of top scholars. His robes were embroidered with intricate arcane runes, and several leather pouches filled with scrolls hung from his waist.
"Mr. Meredon, it's a pleasure that you've arrived on time," Ulland's voice sounded almost condescending. "Please sit to my left."
The table was already set with fine tableware and food—roasted lamb chops, mushroom soup, fresh bread, and a bottle of wine from Moonshadow Island. Casalos noticed that the glass in front of Ulland contained only water.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Lord Urland." Casalos sat down with the humility befitting a merchant. "The size of the Candlehold's library is truly breathtaking."
"Hmph, of course." Ulland sliced open a lamb chop, his movements elegant yet clearly disdainful. "We possess over 99% of the knowledge of the Forgotten Realms. But I'm curious, why would a merchant from Moonshadow Isle be so interested in the research of arcane scholars?"
Casalos was prepared: "The essence of business is to utilize limited resources to create more value and wealth, maximizing economic benefits. Magical knowledge often contains immense commercial value. I don't need magic's world-destroying power, but modifications to some minor spells are extremely important to me… For example, a preservation spell based on thermoregulation can increase the transport distance of perishable goods by more than three times, which means an exponential increase in profits."
"The greed of a merchant," Ulland scoffed. "But at least you understand the value of knowledge. Tell me, how well do you understand arcane magic? Don't tell me you only know merchant tricks."
In the time that followed, Urland's questions came at him like a machine gun. From basic magic network theory to complex super-magical techniques, from deciphering ancient runes to modern spell improvements, each question was tricky and professional. Although Casalos's spellcasting level wasn't high, his knowledge of arcane theory was absolutely unparalleled on the continent, and he easily resolved these questions.
"Interesting. Your understanding of constructs exceeds my expectations." Ulland put down his knife and looked at Casalos for the first time. "That book about tractors, the 'internal combustion engine' principle mentioned in it is indeed novel. Generating power solely from some black oil dug from the ground, without magic—this idea is worth studying."
Casalos remained modest: "These are just some minor tricks from another world, far from being true magic."
"Another world?" Ulland's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "You've been to other planes?"
"Doing business always requires traveling a bit further," Casalos replied vaguely. "The markets in Sigil have all sorts of strange and unusual things."
Ulland paused for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject: "Did you know that recently some dangerous ideas have been spreading in the North? Things like 'knowledge sharing' and 'the popularization of magic'—it's blasphemous to sacred knowledge."
"Oh?" Casalos casually took a sip of his drink. "I think knowledge is like a commodity; the wider it circulates, the greater its value. Monopolies can certainly bring huge profits, but they can also hinder overall development."
"Foolish!" Ulland slammed his hand on the table, splashing a few drops of water from his glass. "Knowledge is sacred; not everyone is qualified to access it. Let those fools master magic? They'll only use it for evil!"
Casalos shrugged noncommittally. "Perhaps. But I've heard that Waterdeep's recent reforms have been quite effective; the crime rate has actually decreased after universal education was implemented."
"That's because a dragon is suppressing it," Ulland scoffed. "Once that iron dragon dies, everything will return to normal."
The banquet continued in this tense atmosphere. Ulland tried to probe Casalos's true intentions from various angles, while the latter skillfully avoided all traps and occasionally even turned the tables on him. Gradually, the arrogant guardian of the scrolls had to admit that the merchant before him was far more interesting than he had imagined.
"One last question." Ulland wiped his mouth, his eyes suddenly sharpening. "What is your real purpose? Don't tell me it's just to consult a few books."
Casalos was silent for a few seconds, then gave a meaningful smile: "Knowledge itself is the goal, isn't it? Just as you guard Candlekeep, I am also pursuing knowledge in my own way."
This answer clearly surprised Ulland. He stared at Casalos for a long time, finally taking a silver badge from his pocket: "This is your pass to the central castle. Remember, books are more important than your life."
"I will remember it." Casalos took the badge, toying with it in his hand for a moment, completely ignoring the hidden surveillance spell on it: "By the way, I heard that Candlekeep has a special guardian?"
"Mirium." Ulland's expression became subtle. "An ancient silver dragon spirit bound here. She knows every book in Candlekeep, yet she can never leave. If you're lucky, you might encounter her."
"A bound guardian of knowledge, how ironic," Casalos mused.
"This is the necessary price." Ulland stood up. "Enjoy your time in Candlehold, merchant. Remember, I'll be watching you."
After watching Ulland leave, Casalos remained alone in the hall. It raised its glass and whispered to the air, "The first hurdle is cleared. Now it depends on whether Mirem is willing to show himself."
Meanwhile, Toona was perusing the thick chronicles in the historical documents section. Her fingers lightly traced the words that recorded the glory and decline of the dragon race, her silver eyes flashing with complex emotions. Open before her was a book titled "A Study of the Decline and Fall of the Iron Dragon Clan," the author's cold prose recording the Holy Land War that changed the dragon race's landscape—although she was here to help her mate Ratambirol seek knowledge, the Iron Dragon Casaloz was her lord, and naturally she would pay attention to the relevant content.
"I see. No wonder Casalos harbors such deep hatred for the chromatic dragons," she murmured to herself. "It's not just racial hatred, but a blood debt that has been passed down for tens of thousands of years. The Holy Land War of the Atheros has been over for far too long. And this book, I wonder who wrote it, manages to so profoundly analyze the feud between different subspecies of dragons... Hmm? Author's name: Kenneth... Okay."
Meanwhile, Ravenna thrived in the Strategic Literature section. With the help of her amulet, she greedily absorbed the wisdom within those military texts. From halfling guerrilla tactics to dwarven defensive strategies, from human knights' charge formations to kobold trap tactics, every art of war broadened her horizons.
"So this is how war can be fought!" Combining the general outlines and theoretical analyses of real-world cases Casalos had given her, she excitedly jotted down notes in her notebook. "The noble lords only know how to send peasants to their deaths, but they don't know that true tactics can allow the weak to defeat the strong."
As night deepened, the magical lights of Candlecastle remained bright. Within this temple of knowledge, three seekers from different backgrounds were searching for their own answers. Meanwhile, in a secret chamber somewhere within the central castle, a pair of silver eyes curiously observed these uninvited guests.
"Interesting visitors." The ethereal voice echoed in the secret room. "Especially that guy who calls himself a merchant, there's a familiar aura about him... Is he from the same clan? No, not quite. Oh well, I'll go meet him tomorrow. It's been a long time since anyone has piqued my interest."
Moonlight streamed through the stained-glass windows into Candle Castle, bathing the ancient building in a mysterious silver glow. In a corner, an orange cat lazily stretched, a glint of wisdom beyond its feline sensibilities flashing in its amber eyes.
"Meow~" it meowed softly, then disappeared into the shadows.
The next morning, Casalos rose early and, wearing the silver badge given to him by Ulland, headed straight for the central castle. The guards respectfully made way for him upon seeing the badge, without even conducting a routine search. Clearly, few could earn the approval of that arrogant guardian of the scrolls.