Colm made his way back to the guild and drifted toward the library, the scent of parchment and dust greeting him like an old companion. Rows upon rows of towering shelves loomed before him, packed with tomes and scrolls from ages past. He wandered between them, eyes scanning the spines.

So many things. So many choices. He muttered aloud, voice barely above a whisper. I don't think I'm ever going to get used to all the books in here. A faint smile played across his face. I wonder how many of these are written by Jerry. The thought made him chuckle.

He strolled toward a familiar section, hand brushing lightly against the wooden shelf as he browsed. I wonder if there's another journal by Dorian. It'd be really interesting to read more about that. His fingers moved along the bindings until they landed on the same volume he'd read before—Dorian's journey, Volume One. He pulled it free, flipped through a few pages, then sighed. Still just the first volume... He returned it and kept scanning, to no avail.

Scratching the back of his head, he exhaled. Guess I'll have to find something else to focus on this time. With a shrug, he continued down another aisle, eyes wandering until a thick tome caught his attention: Classes in the Echoed Lands. Its leather cover was worn and cloaked in dust. As he pulled it free, his fingers left streaks along its surface.

He cradled the book in both hands, surprised by the sheer weight of it. Taking a deep breath, he blew the dust off the cover—only for it to launch directly into his face. A cloud of ancient grime surged into his nostrils, triggering a violent coughing fit.

Bent over and red-faced, he hacked and wheezed for what felt like an eternity, patting his chest as the last of the dust cleared his lungs. Then—behind him—a soft chuckle.

Colm turned, already wincing at the embarrassment rising to his cheeks. Emma stood there, arms crossed and a smirk tugging at her lips. She'd been the one to guide him to Dorian's journal during his first visit.

"Let me guess," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "You saw all that."

"Oh yeah. Big time," Emma said, her laughter finally subsiding. "Saw the whole show. You versus the Dust Elemental—you almost lost that one."

Colm couldn't help but sigh. "I know... don't know if I'd make it out next time", he said with a chuckle, trying to play off the lingering embarrassment. As the laughter faded, his expression softened. "Oh, and thanks again for helping me out last time I was here. Dorian's journal was an incredible read—it's a bit insane reading about how the system came about and everything he experienced. I was hoping to find the second volume, but no luck. So…" He held up the hefty tome in his hands. "I ended up with this one."

Emma's eyes lit up when she saw the title. "Oh wow, it's been a while since I've seen that one," she said, stepping closer. Colm handed her the book, and she flipped it open, fingers brushing across the worn pages.

"There's some good stuff in here about classes," she said as she skimmed. "And hey—knowledge is power. You never know what you'll be up against out there. I think this one was written by Jerry, actually. Know him?"

Colm nodded. "Yeah, I've talked to him a few times. He seems like a decent guy... rough around the edges though."

Emma let out a small laugh. "That pretty much sums him up. But yeah, good choice. This book covers a lot of what he's seen and the classes he's cataloged. Just… don't take it all as gospel. Everyone who writes these books has their own opinion, their own assumptions. It's all colored by perspective."

Colm nodded thoughtfully. "You know, I never really considered that, but you're right. There's so much information in here that's probably made the city stronger overall—but every author is still just a person. Bias comes with the territory."

"See? You get it." She smiled and handed the book back to him. "Actually, I just got back and was planning to do some reading myself. Care for a study partner?"

Colm blinked, caught off guard by the offer. "Sure. I won't complain about the company. Though fair warning—I'll probably be nose-deep in this thing the whole time." He lifted the book slightly as if to prove the point.

Emma grinned. "Sounds like a perfect afternoon."

She waved him off. "Don't worry—I'll be doing the same," she said, stepping over to a nearby shelf. Colm watched as she reached up, stretching slightly to grab a book from a higher tier, her fingers just barely brushing the spine before pulling it free.

Colm couldn't help but admire her. She seems strong, confident... powerful. There was a presence about Emma—quiet but undeniable. I'm not sure how to describe the feeling I get from her, but it's impressive. Almost tangible, like she's rooted deeper in this world than most. He blinked, realizing he'd been staring a moment too long just as she turned around.

"Been wanting to read this one again," she said, holding up the book.

Colm glanced at the title. "Time is an Illusion... interesting."

"Yeah. It was written by a high-level individual with a time-based class. It's dense, but has some really fascinating insights I've been trying to wrap my head around."

She walked toward one of the study tables, and Colm followed behind, clutching his own book. She continued, "I've read it a few times, but the concepts are difficult to digest. Doesn't help that the prose is so dry—feels like a lecture half the time."

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Colm nodded, sympathy in his expression. I wonder if there are any books about Spirit Warden… or summoning classes in general.

Just as Emma sat down, she motioned to the seat across from her. Colm was about to take it when something sparked in his mind. "Oh—wait. Do you know of any books about Echoes? Especially anything related to the Everfrost Ruins?"

Emma raised a brow. "The Everfrost Ruins? That's a bit out there—pretty close to the cursed zone. Got an interest in it?"

Colm nodded. "Yeah. A friend mentioned it, and... I don't know. The name stuck with me. Just feels like something I should look into."

She gave a small nod and flipped open her book. "Well, over there—" she pointed toward a distant section of shelves "—is where you'll find most of the Echo-related materials. That'll be your best bet."

"Thanks," Colm said, already heading off.

Okay, okay... he thought as he reached the indicated shelf, scanning titles and running a finger across their dusty spines. Everfrost… Everfrost… nothing yet.

His hand paused on a book that stood out—not for its flashiness, but for the opposite. Plain leather binding, almost too nondescript. The title etched faintly into the spine: Echoes of Brimhope Isle.

Doesn't sound like Everfrost... but maybe there's something here. He pulled it free, the weight of it oddly comforting in his hands.

"This one sounds promising," Colm muttered as he pulled the book free, brushing dust from the worn cover. With cautious optimism, he made his way back to the table where Emma sat, still flipping through her own tome.

He slid into the seat across from her and set the book down beside the one on classes. Emma glanced up, her eyes flicking to the new title.

"Good choice," she said with a nod. "I read that one a few years ago. It covers a handful of Echoes—nothing too specific, but it's got some useful insight. Broad, sure, but sometimes even the vague stuff fills in the gaps."

Colm nodded, thoughtful, and pushed both books toward the center of the table. His eyes moved between them, weighing the possibilities. Where to begin?

Eventually, he reached for the tome on classes—the one written by Jerry. Might be smart to understand what's out there… what others are capable of. Could give me a better sense of what I'm up against.

He opened the book on classes and dove in. Right away, he noticed how meticulously it was organized—classes were first sorted by tier, then alphabetically.

This is more of an encyclopedia than anything else, Colm thought, eyes widening as he scanned the pages. Holy shit… this really is a treasure trove of knowledge. Each class entry had a name and a short summary—concise, but enough to give him a feel for it.

Sure, it only scratched the surface, but the sheer volume of content was staggering. He flipped through the Tier 1 section, there were hundreds here and he spotted names like Warrior, Rogue—the kind of classic fantasy roles that made him chuckle quietly.

Moving into the Tier 2 section, more interesting names started to catch his eye—Pathfinder, Slinger, Shadowstepper—each with a distinct style. Then one stopped him for a moment: Weaver. That's what Luke is, he realized. It was described as an evolved mage, capable of threading multiple types of magic into more complex, layered spells. Makes sense. Definitely sounds like something he'd have picked.

He continued flipping until one name drew his focus again—Warden. Not quite Spirit Warden, he thought, leaning in as he read the summary:

The Warden is a defensive specialist who commands the battlefield through strategic positioning and protective auras. Tending to favor heavy armor and a steadfast presence, they excel at holding choke points, shielding allies, and anchoring the front lines.

Doesn't quite match my class… but there's overlap. He sat back in his chair. My phantoms are like anchors too. They hold space. They provide presence. The resemblance was enough to stir curiosity.

Turning to the Tier 3 section, the entries became fewer, more specialized. A few names stood out—Juggernaut, built around unstoppable strength and momentum; Echochant, a class that used audio as a weapon. Interesting… he mumbled, flipping forward.

Tier 4 classes were even scarcer—only around fifteen listed. And Tier 5? Just three. I wonder if any of these are Jerry's… he thought. I get the secrecy, but I was kind of expecting more.

Glancing up, he saw Emma still fully absorbed in her own book. Her brow was furrowed in focus, eyes darting across the page. What is it about time that's got her so locked in? Maybe it ties into her class somehow?

Curious, he flipped back through the book, searching for any time-related class entries. A few caught his eye, and he mentally bookmarked them for later.

Tier 2

Chronomancer – A spellcaster who manipulates brief windows of time to hasten allies, slow enemies, or rewind small mistakes. Their magic is fluid, reactive, and ideal for battlefield control in the moment.

Tier 3

Chronoseer – A visionary attuned to the flow of time. Chronoseers gain glimpses of near-future events, allowing them to preempt danger, predict enemy actions, and guide allies with uncanny precision. Their foresight bends probability in their favor.

Temporal Blade – A melee fighter who folds time into their strikes—blinking between moments, striking twice in the span of one heartbeat, or locking enemies in momentary stasis mid-swing. Precision and aggression combined with split-second mastery.

Tier 4

Eonbinder – A master of time's deepest currents. Eonbinders don't just act within time—they command it. They can lock enemies in temporal loops, extend moments of triumph, or anchor entire zones outside the normal flow. Their power isn't just to influence events, but to dictate when they happen.

I wonder if she has one of these? he thought, casting a quick glance toward Emma before returning to the book. He continued flipping through the pages, trying to mentally catalog each class. Better to know what people are capable of—what strengths they might hide behind a smile or silence. The more he read, the more he realized just how vast and varied the classes were. Combatants who bent light, mages who spoke to storms, and defenders who could reshape the battlefield. Even if the descriptions were short, they painted a vivid picture of a world teeming with potential—and danger. Colm leaned in, determined to absorb as much as he could. Knowledge might not win a fight, but it can sure as hell keep me alive long enough to learn how.

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