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The Archivist of Velmora: Chronicles of the Thirteenth Flame
The Archivist of Velmora: Chronicles of the Thirteenth Flame

Chapter III · Beneath the Shelves: The First Clash

“IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

Elric keeps watch in Velmora's sleeping library after midnight
Context Illustration Reading 1/47 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”
The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.
The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.
The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.
In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Archivist of Velmora: Chronicles of the Thirteenth Flame

Chapter III · Beneath the Shelves: The First Clash

Reading 1/47 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”
Line 2
The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.
Line 3
The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.
Line 4
The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.
Line 5
In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

knew verb US /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading ““IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.””

Collocations
YOU KNEW WHATA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
YOU KNEWA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 99

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

affixed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

arched

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

ask

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

back

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

bookshelves

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

ceiling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

chair

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

cloaked

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

creak

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

crevices

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

dark

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.

dim-intentionally

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.

dreaming

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.

dust

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

early

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

Elric

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

exhaustion

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

eyes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

floorboards

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.

glass

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

heart

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

hide

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

holding

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

IFconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

KNEWverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

knowledge

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

lamps

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.

leather

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

library

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

light

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.

like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

magical

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.

midnight

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

motionless

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

old

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

organism-breathing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

others

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

pillars

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

places

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

reached

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

restingnounUS /ˈresting/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

restless

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

room

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

sat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

second-floor

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

settled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

shifts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

sleeping

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

slight

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

slipping

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

slumbering

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.

solemn

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

someonepronounUS /ˈsʌmwʌn/

a person, without saying who

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

startle

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.

steadily

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

streams

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.

supporting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

temple

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The light from the magical lamps affixed to the ceiling was dim-intentionally so, as not to startle the streams of knowledge dreaming in the dark.

unaccustomed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

Valehart

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

vaulted

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The bookshelves reached the vaulted ceiling, cloaked in the dust of ancient knowledge, standing as solemn as the supporting pillars of a forgotten temple.

veiled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

Velmoraproper nounUS /vɛlˈmɔː.rə/

The ancient realm of memory magic and sacred archives.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

very

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

WHATpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading In the second-floor duty room, Elric Valehart sat motionless, his back resting against an old leather chair, his eyes veiled with the exhaustion of someone unaccustomed to sleeping early.

wooden

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

wouldn't

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading The Velmora library after midnight was like a slumbering organism-breathing steadily through the creak of wooden floorboards, the wind slipping through the arched glass crevices, and the very slight, restless shifts of books that had not yet settled into their places.

YOUpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “IF YOU KNEW WHAT you were holding in your heart, you wouldn't ask what others hide in their blood.”

Chapter Quiz

What central mystery unfolds in Chapter 3 (Beneath the Shelves: The First Clash)?

Shadowing Practice

Elric: “The knowledge sealed within Beneath the Shelves: The First Clash was never meant to be forgotten.”
Lyra: “Every flame in the archives remembers who lit it, and who sought to put it out.”