Private Tales The Middle of the Beginning

[Rob Yew]

A burst of light and sound filled the College of Elbion library, quickly followed by a muffled, “shit!” And an immediate end to the sudden commotion.

The librarian got up from his desk, angrily twirling a mustache. He thought he’d told those no good students to stop playing pranks in the library. There were a number of senior students studying for exams in here, after all. He could practically see their minds shattering with anxiety at this sudden new torment in their crucible.

However, on rounding the corner he was surprised to find only a lone boy clutching a book.

“Galen?” asked the librarian.

The dark haired youth gave him an apologetic smile. “Sorry um… what was that noise? Weird right? Anyway can I uh check this out?”

The librarian frowned at the tome. Very old. Yes very old indeed.

“The Book of the Middle,” he murmured, reciting the title. But he couldn’t remember there ever being such a book in the library. Impossible. He knew every tome, scroll, and parchment in here. And when he opened it, there was nothing. Nothing on any of the pages.

“Is this a joke?”

He did not find it amusing. Served them right for letting a penniless lowborn study here, what did they expect?

 

[Xayah]

Galen

Cadver Debabaric was not the most agreeable of fellows, much the less for a librarian just shy of tenure at the College of Elbion. To his credit, he'd conduct his job with the utmost sincerity and high-brow posh expected of any intellectual. Tie in that he had at least seven generations of Debabarics' that crossed the threshold of distinguished academia meant that much like the majority of the academic staff, he would nurse his collection of prejudices and bigotry.

Dealing with yet another penniless lowborn apprentice anywhere near his tenderly managed scrolls, tomes, and parchments was enough to prompt a tick at the corner of his lipid, grey eyes.

Xayah's shoulders rising in an inquisitive inhale of breath, her large almond-shaped eyes curiously following Cadver as he berated a student. She was here to drop off a delivery, a trio of scrolls from the Great Library Library of Lazular, and typically, it was typically a standard affair. If she could quickly finish her deliveries, perhaps she'd have time to explore the city.

Meddlesomeness got the best of her, and Xayah took a few steps forward, the jingle of her gold, chandelier earrings giving a pleasant chime. The light stones caught the twinkle off her nose ring, a burnished tiny circlet along her right nostril. Her long hair was in a thick plait, slinking down her back, the riding robes she wore a flash of vibrant carnelian, umber, and ochre, embroidered with intricate designs of the sun, twin moons, and stars.

She'd pause just shy of a nearby corner, catching sight of whom Cadver gave a cluck of his tongue, looking down at Galen from the hump of his hooked nose.

"You are wasting my time, not to mention causing a disturbance in the library." His thumbs ran the length of the pages, ruffling the seemingly empty sheets, his upper lip curling in distaste.

Do not get involved, Xayah, she warned herself. Just a typical conversation between a student and a librarian. Nothing new.

Xayah had an unfortunate penchant for butting herself into another's business. With luck, this conversation would end and she could complete her delivery.

Maybe. Hopefully.....