• Closed • The Book Thief

[Kori'än]

21st of Saun, 721 - Library

Even with one of the suns finally starting to disappear behind the horizon, the blazing heat of Saun was bothersome. Kori'än had never quite liked the heat, not even when he could just dive into a lake in the middle of the forest to cool down. Perhaps he was just used to the cold, or perhaps the excessive warmth was just bothersome to him for no reason at all. Regardless, he felt the discomfort of the remaining sun over his head, rays shining on streets in front of the University, the strange circle of bright stars that had been there since the start of the season still clear around it. Scalvoris was a strange place, indeed. The white tunic he was wearing was light, but not light enough to be comfortable. He could roll his sleeves up, but despite the fact that most in Scalvoris didn't seem to mind his appearance, Kori'än would rather keep himself hidden as much as possible.

He looked at the library, trying to ignore the urge to turn around and leave. After working the entire day over Tallash's notes, he just wanted to go home to rest. But apparently, he should be making an effort to meet people and get in other's good sides. It wasn't like he didn't want to help, he just didn't want to talk with anyone. With a heavy sigh, Kori'än rolled his eyes to himself, before walking inside the Library ― the place already starting to empty. Just like every time before, Rose perked up.

"About that thief problem you told me about," he quickly interjected, cutting her usual chatting before it could start and get out of hand. He wasn't even sure he'd call that a thief, considering that whomever was getting the books returned them after a few days, but the librarian had called them a thief. "Do you still need help with that?"

"Oh, are you going to help?" Rose smile widened, and she leaned forward over her table. Kori nodded, taking a small step back.

"I'll... try. Perhaps I can stay in the Library after closing time, see if I can catch whomever is doing this." Well, catch was perhaps not the best word. Kori'än doubted he could best anyone in a fight, but he'd think about it when he got there. The woman's smile dimmed a bit, though, and he realized that she didn't exactly trust him with the Library. He cleared his throat. "It'll be easier to catch whomever is breaking in if I'm inside."

"Well, yes, but..." For the first time since he had met Rose ― although, admittedly, it hadn't been that long ago ― she trailed off.

Oh, well. He tried. Could that even be count as trying?

[Woe]

It'd taken a lot of finagling, but Woe had managed to extricate himself from domestic issues, long enough in order to pursue his studies. His professor, the odd one that nobody could quite figure out, had tasked him with finding a few specific tomes from the Library of Scalvoris. How it'd escaped the library of the Viden Academy was beyond Woe's understanding, but he supposed some subjects were too nebulous for the stuffy academics of the Academy. Even so, he browed through the library with some trepidation, not sure if he'd find anythin gthat Migh would find to be useful.

Abrogation, in particular among the Academy mage researchers, was a guarded topic. True to the nature of those sorts of sparks, Woe was all too aware that his own spark could be a jealous one. Prone to fits of locking down his other magics, when it was able, and just making a mess of things.

So Woe was at a loss when it came to finding the book he'd need. It was called "Fractive Effects of Abrogative Fields". That was the most important item for him to find, he'd gathered from what his professor told him. It'd be essential to the other branch of his studies, of which Woe had confided. Fractive Studies were an interest to Woe, particularly with the events that had occurred earlier last Cycle.

It was then, he overheard, and couldn't help but as the librarian had a very loud voice, a conversation between Rose and a young man. A man who looked to be of Eidisi extraction, although it wasn't easy to tell.

He looked to him, and furrowed his brow. Rose then said to Kori, "Well... I could let you in, but I'd need another witness to vouch for you, someone upstanding... someone..."

Woe thought to duck behind a shelf, but he knew she'd spotted him. "Mister Morandi! He can help!"

Mortified by the attention, Woe approached tentatively, toward the two at the counter. the young man and Rose. He looked to him, and nodded in greeting, "I'm Woe Morandi. Good to meet you. What's this about a missing book? Perhaps I can be of assistance?"

Rose perked up at that, and looked beside herself. "Oh yes, Mister Morandi... the book... Let me look. It was called "The Fractive Effects of Abrogative Fields"... Have you heard of it? I have no idea who would steal such a book... but."

Woe thought it too serendipitous, to have been looking for a specific book, only to find that it happened to be missing, stolen by someone. That was the reason for Migh's sending him after a copy? Woe sighed, and turned to the young man, "Well, I can help you both find it. You can keep the proceeds of whatever Rose is offering, but I'll need to borrow the book... if it's okay with Miss Rose?"

Woe said, turning from the young man to the Librarian. Rose clasped her hands together, "Of course, Mister Morandi. If you find the book, you can reserve the copy. Keep it as long as you need it, so long as you return it in time!"

Woe nodded, and then turned to the young man. "Well, I suppose we ought to get started?"

[Kori'än]

When Rose called for someone, Kori'än actually took a step to the side, as if running at the door wouldn't be absolutely childish and ridiculous. Instead, he took a deep breath, holding it in and turning to the newcomer. A tall and thin man ― taller than him, not something he saw all that often ―, that Kori'än would've thought to be a human, if not for the white and short hair. He scratched lightly at the side of his thigh before nodding quite stiffly in return, glad that he hadn't offered a hand to shake or something. "Kori'än," he said in return, before clearing his throat. "Yes. Nice to meet you as well." Could he leave already? He had already forgotten why he had even offered to help―ah, right. Be part of the community. Build a home. Be nice to people.

Damn.

On the flip side, it would be useful to have some help from someone who was apparently more familiar with Scalvoris than he was ― if Rose's willingness to trust Morandi was any indication, at least. And also because, if Kori'än was being honest, he had no real idea where to start. And someone who seemingly had an idea of what the book was about since Kori'än couldn't even understand the title itself. Maybe the other would know who would be interested in such a book.

"Right." He turned to Morandi when the other spoke to him, rubbing the back of his neck and thinking about where to start. Maybe he should've done that beforehand, but then, how was he supposed to know he would be investigating with someone? Well, one step at a time. He could do this. "Rose said that whoever is stealing the books returns them after a while, and it has been some time since this last one has been stolen. She is also 'pretty certain' that no one can sneak out with a book while she's in here, so it must be happening after she closes the library." Although Kori'än had been slightly annoyed at the 'pretty certain', starting with the assumption that Rose was right would be easier. Besides, since this issue had been going on for some time, and the books were being returned, time didn't seem like an issue. "So I was just thinking of lurking around until the thief shows up."

As he finished sharing his thoughts, he realized this could take a while, and that the other was probably looking for a quicker solution. Kori'än didn't mind taking his time, but he wasn't doing this alone anymore. "Or... Well. You seem to know what the book is about," the words came out stilted, slow. He hated admitting so forwardly that he had no idea what 'fractive effects' and 'abrogative fields' meant. But if he wanted help, withholding information due to pride wouldn't do any good. Well, he didn't exactly want help, but―Focus. "Do you have any idea who would be interested in it?" He frowned, as something else occurred to him, and he added, quickly. "Thanks for your help."

The words felt foreign and weirdly unfamiliar, and Kori'än felt like groaning in frustration.