Disclaimer: I don't own Soul Eater.

A/N: I tried to be somewhat accurate with my depictions of the area around the library of Alexandria with this one. As always please leave a review if you like it.

Soul and Maka walked along the Egyptian coastline. The Mediterranean Sea to their left lapped gentle waves against the shore. They strolled leisurely along the concrete sidewalk elevated above the white sands of the beach. Seagulls soared and squawked overhead. The cool breeze carrying the salty scent of the ocean clashed with the warm midday heat keeping the duo refreshed and calm. Maka walked with her hands clasped behind her back. A wide grin was plastered on her face. She was positively giddy as they headed towards their destination. Her vibrant enthusiasm was only barely contained, a fact that Soul noted as they walked.

"You realize we're here on a mission and not a vacation, right?" He asked her. In response, Maka skipped ahead a few steps and turned around to face him. Her smile was bright enough to light up the sky were it nighttime.

"I know, I know, but it's just – can you believe it?" She exclaimed and threw her hands into the air. "We're actually going to the one and only Library of Alexandria!" She said shaking with visible excitement. "I've dreamt of coming here ever since I was a little girl!" She explained. Soul rolled his eyes in amused sarcasm.

"You know most normal girls dream of going to places like Paris." He said wryly. A glare from Maka however, led him to quickly change the subject. "What's so special about this library anyway?" He asked.

"This library is one of the oldest in the world!" Maka said going into full teacher mode. "It contains books and scrolls that were originally written hundreds of years ago. One could say they're even ancient. Not to mention they keep their collection updated with more contemporary books from authors all over the world, in almost any language you can think of!" She rambled excitedly. "Just imagine it!" She said with stars in her eyes. "Endless books as far as the eye can see, as many as you can dream of. You could probably spend a lifetime in there and still not read every book they have to offer." She said dreamily.

"Only you would consider a trip to the library to be this exciting." Soul lamented with his hands in his pockets. Maka turned to glare at him with pursed lips. Until Soul nodded his head, gesturing her to look ahead of them. "Hey is that it?" He asked nonchalantly. Maka turned to face ahead of them and saw a tall tower looming on the distant horizon, soaring above the many smaller buildings on the city's coastline. At the sight of it, Maka's eyes went wide with wonder.

"There it is! C'mon Soul we're getting close!"

"Woah, Maka! Hey!-" But it was too late. Maka had already grabbed her partner by the arm and dashed forward, racing to the library and dragging Soul along with her. They ended up sprinting the rest of the way to the library. Soul was breathless by the time they reached their destination. He spent several seconds huffing and puffing with his hands on his knees once Maka had released him of her demanding grip. Maka on the other hand was too awestruck to be bothered by the exertion.

Standing in front of them was an enormous rectangular building. The walls high and ancient, made of dusty stone bricks layered with painstaking detail. A large central wooden door marked the entrance, with a placard hanging above declaring 'Library of Alexandria'. Stained glass windows were interspersed along the walls, reflecting beautiful colors. But at its center was a humongous tower stretching high into the sky. It was easily several stories tall and commanded a distinct presence. At its top were a row of parapets, encircling the top floor of the tower. And atop the tower, a large spire protruded into the sky. Wrought iron bars twisted around each other to form a single pointed peak. Dark maroon tiles formed the roof of the lower buildings. Decorative and intricate masonry work lined the eaves of the structure, lending an air of sophistication. A large concrete pier stretched out into the sea before the entrance of the library. A mosaic of colorful tiles laid out on the ground to depict scholars of ages past, ancient knowledge, and various symbols of mankind's advancement.

Maka gazed at all this with fascination and wonder. So lost in amazement was she, that she hardly noticed when Soul walked up next to her. "Ok even I gotta admit, it's pretty impressive." Soul complimented. But the words barely recognized in Maka's mind. Instead she turned to Soul and uttered a single word.

"Picture." She said with conviction. Soul simply looked at her confused. But undeterred, Maka repeated herself. "I've gotta get a picture. Here get the camera and take a picture of me." She demanded, shoving her phone into Soul's hands. Bewildered but compliant, Soul followed Maka out to the pier and stood at the end so that both she and the entirety of the library were within frame. At Maka's insistence, he then proceeded to take several pictures of her in various poses in front of the library. She had one where she made a v sign towards the camera. In another she had her hands on her hips as she faced towards the library in a triumphant pose. In yet another, she sat smiling with her hands on her knees. After what seemed like an eternity taking various shots, at different angles, with different settings, Maka finally rushed back over to Soul.

"Ok now we gotta get one together." She explained. Soul looked at her confused.

"How are we gonna do that? We're the only ones here." He asked, wondering who would take a picture of them.

"Easy like this!" Maka said. She flipped the phone around into selfie mode and hooked her arm around Soul's neck drawing the both of them in close to the camera. "Say cheese!" She said aloud and snapped the picture. Maka smiling widely, with pure joy in her face. Next to her, Soul smiled his trademark toothy grin and held up a pair of devil horns with his hand. "Ok now just one more." Maka said sweetly, their faces still close together. Without warning she turned and kissed Soul on the cheek and quickly snapped the picture. The resulting image showed a flustered and blushing Soul. "Uncool." He muttered as Maka laughed at his expression. "Take it again, I wasn't ready." He demanded. Maka complied and this time took another picture where she kissed his cheek and Soul smiled warmly.

Their pictures taken, the pair walked hand in hand back towards the library ready to begin their search for the Medallion of Knowledge. However, before they could begin their mission they were interrupted. A voice called out from above and a sound like flames echoed behind it.

"Ah young love. How sweet, how innocent, how naïve." Said a computerized voice. Maka and Soul turned their attention upwards. To their surprise, hovering in the middle of the air with the aid of two turbines attached on his back, was a member of Pantheon.

"Dr. I" Maka said contemptuously, as the robotic man descended. As he landed, his jet back withdrew into his back, the turbines folding in on themselves and disappearing beneath the polished white chassis of his torso.

"Please, you must allow a man to introduce himself don't you know." He chastised. The red waveform representing his mouth vibrated with each word he spoke. "Greetings, my name is Dr. Isaac Asovamich. Certified genius. My friends, however, call me Dr. I" He said with a grand bow and flourish of his synthetic hands.

"We're not your friends. And we know all about you." Soul said threateningly.

"Ah yes! And I know about you both as well." He said pointing a finger towards them.

"Soul 'Eater' Evans, the weapon renowned as the 'Last Death Scythe' and musical prodigal son of the famous Evans family of musicians. Younger brother of Jazz virtuoso Wes Evans, you assumed a stage name and enrolled into the academy upon discovering your weapon abilities." He said while pacing leisurely back and forth in front of them. Soul's eyes narrowed and he grimaced as the robot man listed off his most personal information. "Your weapon form is that of a scythe. Additionally, you have special abilities granted by the black blood which flows through you, courtesy of a run in with the Demon swordsman. And lastly you have shown a remarkable talent for soul resonance management and wavelength modulation." Dr. I remarked sounding both impressed and condescending simultaneously. Then he turned and pointed at Maka who stood just beside Soul.

"Maka Albarn, daughter of Spirit Albarn the Death Scythe of North America and old Death's preferred weapon. Creator and Meister of the famous 'Last Death Scythe'. Your other notable achievements include killing the witch Arachne, defeating the Kishin, Asura, and being at the top of your graduating class at DWMA." He examined. "Notable abilities include a Grigori soul, quite rare. As well as an anti-madness wavelength, no doubt inherited from your mother Kami Albarn. Last but not least, you have been said to have a keen intellect, a highly analytical mind, and a streak of stubbornness." He said while tenting his hands together.

"No doubt you shall be my opponent in this trial." Dr. I observed.

"What are you talking about? What trial?" Maka asked, confused by the man's words.

"Oh how careless of me! Forgive me I shouldn't have assumed that you would know how this ordeal would work." Dr. I said condescendingly.

"You were sent after the Medallion of Knowledge, were you not? Did you think that the medallion would simply be out in plain sight? The medallions, all of them in fact, are hidden behind specific ordeals and trials meant to test the mettle of those who seek them. Only those that pass the test are deemed worthy by the spirit of the presiding warlord and allowed to seize the medallion." The pseudo-man explained.

Soul and Maka exchanged glances with one another. Although they knew the medallion would not be readily accessible, they had no idea they would have to pass some elaborate test to retrieve it. This was vital information that they had to relay to Death the Kid at the soonest opportunity.

"If you knew all this, why did you wait for us to arrive. Why not just take the trial yourself and get the medallion before we even got here?" Maka inquired accusingly.

"Everyone needs some fun in their life now and again." Dr. I said in a sing song voice. "As for myself I enjoy intellectual challenges, puzzles and the like. But it's always so much more enjoyable when you have a competitor. That's why I thought we could start the trial together you see. A race to the finish to determine who is more qualified to wield the medallion." He explained excitedly. Maka, shrewd as ever, saw through the man's words.

"You think you'll win." She stated matter of factly. Dr. I simply waved a finger at her.

"On the contrary, I know I will win." He said confidently. "You see my brain is a mechanical computer, meaning it can process information dozens of times faster than a normal human's. Additionally, I have more memory capacity than a regular person. Finally, I can connect to wireless networks with a mere thought. Which means I have the entirety of human knowledge literally at my beck and call." He said sinisterly, leaning in towards the meister and weapons duo. "Face it, you're outclassed and outmatched." He said lowly.

"We'll see about that." Maka replied smugly. "C'mon Soul." She said and walked past the android towards the library.

"Excellent! What sport." Dr. I proclaimed. "Let the games begin." He said.

The opponents made their way to the Library's entrance. The ancient wooden doors swung open widely and they made their way inside. The sight which greeted them upon entry stole their breath away. Dozens of bookshelves filled the interior, arranged in neatly ordered rows. The bookshelves were several meters tall and filled to the brim with countless texts. Lamps hung from the ceiling, illuminating the space along with the natural light from the windows. Particles of dust danced in the air where the light shone. The smell of books permeated the air. Golden plaques affixed to the bookcases directed visitors to the correct sections. Just past the entrance sat a rectangular pedestal. Upon that pedestal was a map and directory of the library. The building was strangely empty, save a for a few librarians who seemed to pay no mind to their presence.

"So how do we start?" Soul asked, looking around at the vast array of books. Maka was equally as perplexed. Isaac, however, wordlessly stepped up to the pedestal in front of them and the duo followed quickly behind. At the bottom of the map was a drawing of an open book inscribed within a circle. Isaac pressed the symbol which sank into the wooden frame. A moment later a cloud of golden light erupted from the pedestal. It swirled and shifted in the air in a dazzling display. The lights coalesced to form symbols and letters and numbers. Finally, the lights settled into a cohesive image. Floating in midair was a set of two complex equations. One equation was in front of Isaac and the other was in front of Soul and Maka.

"Ah a simple calculus equation!" Dr. I exclaimed. Soul and Maka looked from his equation to theirs. Although the exact numbers appeared to be different, the basic form seemed to be the same. "He's right." Maka said softly, recognizing the symbols and form of the equation. But they barely had time to begin analyzing the problem before an announcement from their opponent caught them off guard.

"And done! Well that was certainly an easy challenge. I do hope the questions become more difficult from here on out." The android said. Maka and Soul stared at Dr. I in shock. Hardly a minute had passed between the problem appearing before them and him solving it. It appeared he was telling the truth earlier. His computerized brain was indeed much more efficient than a normal human's. The golden equation disappeared from in front of him, as if sensing that he had come up with the correct answer. "Best of luck to the both of you." He said dismissively as he began to walk off. "I'm sure you'll need it." He laughed to himself. The duo turned to each other, shocked and bewildered.

"What are we gonna do? Maka I know you're smart but there's no way you can keep up with that!" Soul said worriedly. Maka however, grit her teeth and clenched her fists in determination.

"I'm not gonna give up that easily." She said resolutely. "Give me a pen and some paper." She asked. Soul handed over the items and watched as she got to work. Maka, being the academic that she was, had taken a level 3 advanced calculus course in college. She wrote furiously in hastily scribbled notes. The problem was exceedingly complex as she calculated differentials, integrals, and limits using her calculator. Several minutes passed by as she calculated the numbers. At last she double checked her math, ensuring that she performed all the correct steps. She circled her answer with an air of finality. "I got it!" She exclaimed excitedly. "The answer is 42!" She shouted.

The golden equation disintegrated before their eyes. It was an indication that they had correctly solved the problem. However, once the golden symbols dissipated, no further clues were given. The pair stood blankly for a second, waiting, hoping for something to occur. But the air was silent save for their breathing.

"Ok so… now what?" Soul asked exasperated. Maka frowned and looked back at the notes and equations she wrote down. "The number has to be the key." She said finally. "Whatever we have to do next it has to involve the number 42 somehow. What would be the point otherwise?" She reasoned. Maka observed the pedestal. The map that was displayed showed the layout of the library. It was broken up into floors and areas, each with a numerical code. But the numbers were listed in groups of 50. She had to count the rows of bookcases to determine which was number 42. When she found it she smiled triumphantly. "We need to go to row 42. Let's hurry." She explained. The duo dashed off following the map to the only clue they had so far.

Upon reaching the correct aisle, they stood between two enormous bookcases. Each one was several times their own height. But nothing stood out to the pair as being the next task. This aisle looked identical to the dozens of others they had passed on the way here. They looked around frantically for a clue but came up empty handed.

"What now Maka?" Soul asked. Maka glanced around nervously.

"Um – uhh…" She stuttered. She looked around at the numerous books lining the shelves. Under any other circumstance she would have loved to peruse them each individually. She would have loved to marvel at their hand bound leather spines and feel the pages flip through her fingers. But time was of the essence, and she couldn't afford such luxury.

"Maka!" Soul repeated insistently. "I know, I'm trying to think." She replied back hastily. Her mind kept coming back to the number 42. "There's gotta be something more to it." She said aloud, more to herself than to her partner. It was then that she noticed each shelf had an interval of numbers on them. Inspiration struck and she ran along the aisle searching for her target. "Maka did you figure something out?" Soul asked chasing after her. Finally, she stopped at one of the bookcases and peered high up to a shelf out of reach. Looking around she spotted a ladder on wheels and quickly ran to bring it over.

"I think so. It all comes back to the answer from the problem. It's the forty second book on the forty second shelf in the forty second row!" She answered excitedly. Climbing the ladder to appropriate shelf, Maka counted out the books until she found the one she was searching for. "Aha!" She exclaimed. She removed the book from the shelf. There, sitting behind the book at the back of the bookcase, was the same symbol from the pedestal. It was a picture of an open book surrounded by a circle. "Yes we got it!" She said victoriously. Now sure that she had solved the puzzle, Maka reached in and pressed the symbol.

The symbol glowed golden for a second, but then faded away. A look of confusion came over her face and she pressed the symbol again. However, the outcome didn't change. There was only a momentary golden glow before fading away again. Maka paused, confused. This must be the right spot, but nothing was happening. She looked around herself, but nothing had changed in the aisle.

"What's wrong?" Soul called up from below, holding the ladder steady.

"Nothing's happening!" Maka shouted back from above. Worried and confused, Maka again scanned the surrounding area but could find no other hints. She sighed and then looked at the book she had removed from the shelf. She flipped it over and looked at the front cover. The book was titled "The Golden Ratio: The Fibonacci Sequence" and the cover showed a peculiar image. A square photo made of increasingly smaller squares and a spiral whirling out from the center. Following her gut, Maka opened the book and flipped it to page 42. The same image as the cover was displayed on the page, with additional information underneath. An epiphany came to her as she read the description and studied the image more closely. "Soul I think I've got something!" She called out. She climbed up to the very top of the ladder where she could sit upon the top of the bookcase.

Looking back into the book she noted the sequence of numbers listed within the squares. The largest square was composed of squares 21 by 21. The spiral then flowed through to another square that was 13 by 13. The spiral continued in this fashion until it reached a single square. Maka looked up from the book and observed the rows of bookcases in front of her. She counted up the bookcases for as far as she could see where they reached the wall of the building. "21." She noted. Realizing the pattern that she stumbled upon, she counted 21 bookcases over and noted the intersection. From there she followed the Fibonacci sequence laid out in the book. In a matter of moments, she calculated the position that corresponded with the center of the spiral. Smiling with pride she quickly slid down the ladder, knocking over an unprepared Soul.

"C'mon I think I've figured it out!" She said excitedly while helping her partner to his feet. They dashed towards the location that Maka had mentally charted. They soon came out to the center of the library. The large central tower loomed above them. Rectangular openings in the successive floors let them see all the way up to the top of the tower and let in a beam of natural sunlight. Two spiraling staircases made of iron and steel twirled around each other and up to the floors above them. The space they stood in was relatively open and clear, only a few reading tables interspersed around them. In the center of the floor, directly under the tower was a large bronze statue. The statue was a large model of the solar system. All of the planets were present atop large metal poles and thin bronze loops depicted their orbits around the large central sun. Even the asteroid belt and Pluto were depicted.

Before the pair could begin looking for their next clue a voice interrupted them from their thoughts. "Ah so good of you to join me. I must admit I was worried you might not put up a stimulating challenge." Dr. I said from far across the way. He stood in front of some strange machine as part of the library. Levers and gears stuck out of the machine. A scale tilted to one side with the weight of several small blocks stood in front of said machine where Dr. I was arranging the blocks. The purpose of the machine seemed a mystery to both Soul and Maka, but Dr. I no doubt knew what he was doing. "Don't mind me. I was just having some fun solving this puzzle haha! Perhaps you'd like a head start on yours." He ridiculed. Maka groaned in anger and was about to tell the robot off but Soul's strong hand on her shoulder held her back.

"Don't let him get to you Maka. He's just trying to rile you up so you won't focus on what's ahead of you." He said wisely. Maka nodded and turned back to the task at hand. The bronze planetarium in front of them was obviously the next part of the puzzle, as evidenced by the same insignia of the book at its base. Upon pressing the symbol, a tremendous shaking was felt around them and the creaking, grating sound of gears being turned filled the air. A beam of intense light shone down from the tower directly into a slot in the Sun statue. At the same time an array of mirrors sprang up around them, haphazardly placed on tables, walls, display pieces and multiple other surfaces. At the other end of the room, opposite of where Dr. I was working, a red panel flipped over on a dividing wall. It was square with smaller concentric squares filling its space. In the span of a few moments, the noise and movement stopped. Soul and Maka were left standing among the various devices and contraptions.

"Ok so obviously we have to somehow get that beam of light to shine onto that red panel." Maka observed, pointing out the slot on the sun where the beam of light entered and exited. "Obviously…" Soul said in a deadpan voice as Maka approached the statue. On the back of the statue's base a turn wheel protruded outward. Next to the wheel a box inlaid into the stone displayed a tile with an image of a circle with a dot inside. "I bet if we – turn – this…" Maka grunted with exertion as she turned the obstinate wheel. The sound of grinding gears returned, and the Sun began to rotate clockwise. The beam of light which exited out of the side of the sun began to move with it. Maka began turning the sun so the light would hit the closest mirror. However, halfway through she realized that several of the planets were in the path of the light. "There has to be a way to move them." She said to herself.

She looked back down at the controls she had in hand. That was when she noticed a small gear next to the displaying window. She turned the gear experimentally and noted how the symbol on the tile changed. "Aha I get it now." She said. "What?" Soul asked. Maka turned to him and began to explain.

"Each of those symbols on the tiles represent one of the bodies in our solar system. The symbol that's being displayed probably sets which of the planets are moved." She elaborated. "But how do you know which one is which?" Soul asked. Maka waved him off, smugly declaring that she recognized the runes as classical alchemical symbols. Without further delay Maka switched the tile to display a circle with a cross in it. She rotated the turn wheel and the model of Earth began to move counterclockwise out of the path of the beam of light. Next, she selected the symbol for Saturn, an upper-case T with a sort of jug handle coming off it. That planet too began to move out of the path of the light. Finally, she selected the symbol for Neptune, a Trident, and moved it out of the way. At last, the beam of light shone straight through to the mirror, reflecting off it at an odd angle.

"Nice job!" Soul congratulated. "Thanks, but we're not through yet. We still have to adjust those mirrors to shine the light onto the panel." She explained. The pair then set to work adjusting the mirrors to the right angles. They soon discovered that among the many mirrors there were red herrings. Some of the mirrors didn't reflect to any other mirrors, which meant they had to reset. It was like taking the wrong turn in a maze. Several arguments developed as the two each blamed the other for these setbacks. However, by working backwards from their target, Maka was able to determine the correct sequence of mirrors and set about directing Soul to turn them. Just as they were about to turn the final mirror, they noticed Dr. I solve his puzzle and race off to his next trial.

"Dammit, we were so close to getting ahead of him." Maka complained as she turned the mirror into place. "Hey don't sweat it." Soul reassured her as the light beam hit the panel. "We managed to catch up to him, which means we're toe to toe." He said. With the red panel illuminated by the ray of sunlight, another cloud of golden dust dispersed from the panel's edges. The golden flecks floated upwards and coalesced into words detailing their next clue.

From there on Maka and Soul raced around the library, desperately solving puzzles of ingenuity, wit, and knowledge. One such puzzle had them finding books by famous authors based only on a quote. Another puzzle required them to rotate and slide tiles around on a board to form an image. The answer to each puzzle led them to their next task. Hours were spent looking up facts, finding books, solving puzzles, and answering riddles. But no matter how many they completed or how fast they completed them, Dr. I always seemed to be one step ahead of them. Maka was quickly being run ragged trying to keep pace with the computerized man. Her hair was becoming disheveled from her frequent habit of scratching her head when thinking. Bags formed under her eyes as her brain became tired from the many mental gymnastics she was performing. As she struggled with another riddle, she distantly heard Isaac cheer triumphantly, letting them know he was ahead once again.

"Uggh! I can't do it anymore! I just can't keep up with him." Maka cried as she collapsed against a chair. "It's like trying to compete against a race car with nothing but a bicycle." She said. "Hey, we can't give up yet." Soul told her. Maka glared at him tiredly. She was too exhausted even for a Maka chop. "That's easy for you to say. You're not the one doing all the thinking." She complained.

"That's because you haven't even asked for my help." He replied indignantly. "Not once have you asked about my opinion when solving these problems. You just charged on ahead and did it all yourself, as usual." He muttered. Maka scoffed at him. "What's that supposed to mean?" She said angrily. Soul crossed his arms and leaned over her.

"It means you never ask anybody for help. We're supposed to be a team, remember? But you've ignored almost all my suggestions." He said irritably. "Yeah well when we run across a puzzle with your area of expertise then I'll ask for your help. It's not as if you know anything about DNA anyway." She said, referencing their last puzzle.

"That's my point Maka. We don't have to know every single detail about everything. We're in a library. We can look it up." He replied defensively. Maka scoffed again.

"That would take too long and you know it." She said.

"Not as long as it takes watching you stumble your way through to the answer." He retorted.

"Well I'm sorry my brain's not a supercomputer!" She yelled standing up from her seat. The pair stared at each other angrily. Finally, Soul sighed in a defeated tone.

"Maka, I'm not criticizing you or saying that you aren't smart. But you don't have to know everything, you can't. That's why we should work together to get through this whole thing." He said more calmly.

"What's the use?" She said defeated, slumping against the bookcase behind her. "Dr. I, is probably already on his last test, if he hasn't found the blasted medallion already." She said.

Suddenly a strange flying robot appeared at the end of the row of bookcases where they stood. Maka and Soul immediately perked up and took defensive stances. However, the robot hardly seemed interested in them. It was a strange circular shape, with the same white chassis as Dr. I's body and a similar glowing blue camera eye. Two propellers on either side held the machine aloft, rotating this way and that to propel the little robot in all directions. Six mechanical legs were tucked up underneath it's body. They looked long and spindly. The duo watched as the robot scanned the bookcases with a wide blue beam of light. It moved from shelf to shelf quickly scanning the texts and documents in a methodical manner. It paid no mind to the two as it continued it's work and in a matter of minutes had completely scanned the entire row of books and flew on. Soul and Maka followed the droid and saw it head back over to where Dr. I was standing atop a table.

"Blast these infernal, illogical, puzzles. These imbecilic riddles are tiring. I'll just search this damn building from top to bottom searching for the answer. I won't be made a fool of. Dr. Isaac Asovamich is this world's greatest genius! I should have used this method from the start." Dr. I paced back and forth along the table speaking to himself. He waved his arms with each word he spoke. Despite his mechanical body, the pair could still tell by his body language that he was becoming irritated.

"Now's our chance." Soul said to his partner as they watched the doctor from a distance. "It looks like he's giving up on the puzzles and is just looking for the medallion. We can get ahead of him." Soul said excitedly. Maka smiled and nodded tiredly.

"Yeah, let's go." She said and began walking off. Soul looked at her confused. "But what about the last riddle?" He asked befuddled. Maka turned back to smile at him. "I solved it while we were arguing. The answer is harmony." She said simply. Soul grinned back before following after her.

The pair soon made their way over to the section of the library devoted to music. Along the walls were displays of various musical instruments, as well as books devoted to different music. Situated in the middle, above a grand organ, was the familiar marker of the test. Maka turned sheepishly to Soul.

"I – uh- I think I'll let you handle this one." She said embarrassed. Soul grinned back sarcastically. "Why I'd be delighted to help." He said sarcastically and got to work. Soul took a seat at the bench. He strummed his fingers across the keys experimentally. He noticed the pipes of the organs rising and falling as he played certain notes. Maka took a breather and watched as Soul played the organ and fiddled with the notes, trying to solve the musical puzzle that lay before them. Soul quickly picked up the correct notes he was playing and began an orchestral arrangement. In a few minutes he had completed the symphonic puzzle and another cloud of glowing words formed in front of them.

"To the top of the tower, you must climb. Another riddle, there you will find." Soul read the message aloud. "Uggh they're gonna make us climb to the top of the tower? So uncool." He complained. Maka however, stood up, reenergized, and dragged Soul away. "We're getting close to the end Soul; I can feel it." She said with determination.

The duo climbed the spiraling staircases leading up to the tower's top. They circled around and around, passing each floor. The climb was long and their legs tired more and more with every step. But the determination to see this ordeal through to the end carried them upwards and onwards. At last, they ascended the final flight of stairs and came out to a small balcony enclosed by the parapets. From their vantage point atop the tower they could see almost the entire surrounding city on one side. On the other, the ocean stretched out to the horizon. They looked around, searching for the next marker and found it etched into the stone wall of the balcony. Next to the marker was the other riddle they were told of.

"This old one runs forever, but never moves at all. He has not lungs nor throat, but still a mighty roaring call." Maka read aloud. She leaned back against the stone wall, contemplating. She sat in silence, thinking the riddle over in her head. She played with the words over and over in her mind, searching for an answer. But no matter how she tried she couldn't find an answer. She slumped down, defeated. Her back rested against the cool stone. Soul sighed and looked out over the balcony. Several moments of silence rested between them.

"Maybe…" Soul began hesitantly. "Maybe it's the ocean?" He suggested. "The tides always run but the ocean never really moves. And the waves always make a noise when they reach the shore." He reasoned. Maka hummed absent mindedly. She mulled over her partner's words thoughtfully. It made some sense, but it didn't seem quite right. She said as much to him. She felt they were close though. The answer was just out of reach. It was so tantalizingly close that it was if it danced just outside her head. But suddenly with a burst of insight, she grasped the answer.

"A waterfall." She said, standing up suddenly. Soul, startled by her movement, asked her to repeat herself. "It's a waterfall! Water runs down a fall but the falls themselves don't move. And they make a loud noise!" She exclaimed excitedly. Soul agreed with her.

"There's just one problem." Soul observed. Maka tilted her head, curious. "We're nowhere near a waterfall." He pointed out. Maka's sails deflated at the observation. It was true, the closest body of water they were near was the Mediterranean Sea. Around them, for miles in all directions, was only city scape. What was the meaning? She was sure that a waterfall was the only answer. But Soul wasn't wrong. There couldn't be a waterfall anywhere near them. Could there? Maka sighed and leaned over the balcony, next to Soul. She stared out at the ocean, watching the waves flow rhythmically in against the shore. Her eyes traced down, until they reached the pier. It was then that she noticed something odd.

"Soul?" She asked.

"Yeah?" He replied, not taking his eyes off the horizon.

"What does that look like to you down there?" Maka asked pointing at the pier.

Soul moved his eyes towards the edge of the pier. He observed the mosaic's colorful tiles and imagery in a disinterested fashion. For several seconds, he stared listlessly at the artwork. But a sudden flash of recognition came into his eyes as he saw what Maka saw.

"It's a waterfall." He gasped. True to his words, a run of blue tiles beginning at the edge of the pier and pervading all the way to the library's entrance mimicked the appearance of a waterfall. The many images of books, and machines, and philosophers all were contained in the so-called water of the mosaic. The colors shined and glimmered brightly in the setting sun. It gave off the illusion of a real waterfall as the colorful tiles sparkled and glinted.

Soul and Maka turned to each other. Huge smiles were plastered on their faces. They made a mad dash down the long staircase and out the library. Their robotic nemesis was too caught up in his own machinations to pay them any mind. He was too convinced of his own superiority to see the answer they had grasped. The duo raced out onto the pier, making their way to the pier's end. There, hidden amongst the many scales of the mosaic, was a familiar marker. Maka crouched down and lightly pressed it. The tile sank underneath her fingers. A moment later a familiar cloud of gold lit up the air. Its message was clear.

"Your final riddle." Maka read, shocked at the words. "A young man does not have it but thinks that he does. An old man does have it but can only give it away." She read aloud. She turned wordlessly to Soul, pleading silently for help. Soul put his hands on her shoulders reassuringly. "Come on you've got this Maka." He said. The meister nodded and closed her eyes, concentrating. She held her chin, deep in thought. She paced back and forth in front of the message.

"Wisdom," She said finally. She turned back towards the display of golden words and repeated herself. "The answer is wisdom." She spoke confidently. The golden message dissipated. The tiles on the ground began to shift and separate. A column of concrete and stone began to slowly rise up out of the ground. Inset into the pillar of stone, a bronze medallion. It's insignia, the same as the one they had seen all day throughout the library. A drawing of an open book. Maka picked up the medallion, a ribbon of red silk attached at its top. But most suddenly of all, another cloud of golden dust swirled out from around the concrete pillar. Only this time, instead of forming into a message, the cloud coalesced into a more human form. There, standing above them and glowing with a golden aura, was a vision of Eibon. His mask, cloak, and long fingered gloves were exactly as they appeared in brew. Before the two could even wonder at what was happening, they were taken by surprise as the apparition spoke.

"Congratulations," it said. "Wisdom is indeed the answer. For it is wisdom, that tempers the madness of knowledge." Eibon spoke. "Wisdom is what is needed to control knowledge, to apply knowledge. What this ordeal was testing was not strictly your knowledge, but instead your capacity of wisdom. You had the wisdom to listen to your friend, to apply logic and reasoning to your situations, and to use resources that were available to you." He continued. Maka could only stare up at the vision in awe. The medallion was still clutched between her hands, like a cherished treasure she dare not let go. "The madness of knowledge is one which can easily overwhelm. That is why wisdom is needed to choose which knowledge is necessary and which can be ignored." He explained. The glowing vision of Eibon began to disappear into the air. The golden flecks of light vanishing into the breeze. "You have passed my test. The medallion is yours." His final words echoed around them, leaving Soul and Maka alone in the dusk.

Maka turned back to Soul, the medallion in hand, and smiled tiredly. Soul placed a hand on her head. "Knew you could do it." He said warmly. But before they could celebrate further, a beam of red light intercepted between them. They sprang apart from each other and looked in the direction it came from, back towards the library.

"Nooo!" Came the shrill cry from Dr. Asovamich. His camera eye glowed a menacing red color and narrowed angrily. He gave off a furious expression despite having little to no facial features. His right hand had transformed into a pointed spire, a red glow and electric energy pulsing at its tip. "The medallion is mine! This is illogical! I am the superior mind! Me!" He yelled, the synthetic vocal cords straining and turning his voice into an inhuman scream. As Dr. I stomped forward menacingly towards the pair; his legs began to transform. His feet extended and turned into a three padded foot that lifted him higher. His legs became more canine like, with elongated joints. Various weapons and lasers sprouted from his arms and chest piece, ranging from missiles to guns.

"I will have that medallion!" He screamed insensate and launched himself high into the air. He landed just where the pair had previously been standing and lashed out with a red lightsaber. Soul and Maka were already prepared the minute he launched his attack. Maka spun Soul's weapon form around her deftly and adopted a defensive pose.

"You are a stupid, inferior, moronic, little girl! There's no way you could have reached the answer before me!" Dr. I shouted, swinging his blade with every word. Maka dodged the attacks swiftly, unwilling to try and defend against a sword made of energy. Instead she used the pole to vault over Dr. I's head. Landing in a crouch she swept her scythe out at the machine's legs. But Dr. I was swift too and leaped up into the air to avoid the strike. While midair he launched several small missiles from his chest and shoulders. The mini rockets sped down at Maka. But the meister easily dispatched them with a few swings from her scythe, only barely being pushed back by the force of the explosions.

A cloud of smoke burst from each of the missiles, obscuring her vision. Maka leapt out of the cloud, only to find herself face to face with dozens of the same flying robots as before. The flying droids had a ray gun positioned as a stinger. They fired simultaneously, forcing Maka to duck and roll out of the way. From a distance, Dr. I cackled maniacally.

"How do you like my I-bots?!" He taunted. But Maka was too focused to hear his words. Instead she slammed Soul's blade into a group of them, taking them out in one fell swoop. Another dodge as the remainders fired on her. She vaulted into the air again, kicking off a flying droid and backflipping through the air. She twisted midair and brought her scythe down straight through one of the I-bots. No sooner had she landed then she felt a painful sting burning onto her back.

Gritting her teeth through the pain Maka rushed for cover. But Dr. I rushed at her again, through the crowd of I-bots. This time his metallic claw scraped at her stomach as he tried desperately to swipe the medallion from her. Maka retaliated with a swing of her own and managed to cut a gash into his robotic chassis. The I-bots swarmed around their master defensively. But a swift swing decimated the remaining droids before they even had a chance to fire. Dr. I, now backed up defensively. He jumped back, putting some distance between them, and began firing with as many weapons as he had. But Maka closed the distance, expertly weaving in between the oncoming fire.

"No! This can't be! You can't! I. Am. Superior!" Dr. I wailed frantically as the meister approached. The blade of Soul's weapon began to glow and shift. The multi-color glow of her signature attack, the witch hunter, began to appear. Their resonance increased with every step Maka took. At the last second, Dr I. tried to deploy his jet pack to escape. But it was too late. With a triumphant shout, Maka swung the witch hunter down onto the robot. The burst of energy cleaved the machine in two and the resulting shock wave shattered much of his mechanical body. A shower of metal components rained down onto the pier. Dr. I's head crashed to the ground with a resounding thud. The eye of his camera lens went dark.

As Maka landed and surveyed the aftermath of the fight, she heard Soul's voice in her head.

"Is it just me, or was that too easy?" He asked suspiciously. Maka looked around at the scattered machinery before directing her attention up into the sky. She pointed a finger into the clouds as Soul resumed his human form. "Look, up there." She announced. High above them, just barely visible, appeared to be another round flying machine. This one had a small propeller twirling above, keeping it aloft, and two canisters attached on either side. But whereas most of the other machines had a white, reflective chassis, this one was see through. And inside of the machine looked to be a soul. But before the pair could chase after the errant machine, it disappeared from their view.

"I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of the good doctor." Maka said.

"Maybe, but now we're one step ahead of Pantheon." Soul said proudly.

Maka smiled and the two walked off with the sun setting behind them.

Trying to make up some of the puzzles and riddles in this chapter was pretty hard. Hopefully they didn't come off as too predictable or cheesy. As for Dr. I, the next chapter will hopefully give a better look into him but I hope he came off the way I wanted him to in this chapter. Leave a review if you've liked what you've read so far.