AS PROMISED THE NEXT DAY ADRIA WALKS WITH AL TOWARDS THE LIBRARY IN TOWN AFTER DROPPING AN ENVELOP OFF TO A MERCHANT HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. IN ORDER TO AVOID CURIOUS ONLOOKERS ADRIA STERNLY INSTRUCTED AL TO FOLLOW HER AS OPPOSED TO GRABBING HIS WRIST. APPARENTLY WORD HAD SPREAD ACROSS THE SMALL TOWN THAT ADRIA NOW HAD A ‘BOYFRIEND‘, A WORD THAT ADRIA WAS DOING HER UTMOST TO SILENCE.

SHE WASN’T CONCERNED WITH THE RUMORS REALLY, SHE HAD HEARD RUMORS BEFORE, IT WASN’T UNCOMMON FOR THEM TO BE BLATANTLY FALSE, SO SHE WASN’T SURPRISED SUCH A ONE HAD GROWN. BUT SHE STILL WANTED TO SQUELCH IT BEFORE IT SPREAD TO THE WRONG EARS.

AL ON THE OTHER HAND NOTICED LITTLE ABOUT THE GAZES THE TWO WERE RECEIVING. INSTEAD HE JUST ANALYZED THE CONVERSATIONS OF THE TOWNSFOLK IN HOPES TO ADD THE WORDS TO HIS OWN CONVERSATIONAL SCRIPT.

"I HEAR HE CAME OUTTA’ HER BUILDING YESTERDAY TOO." HE HEARS A WOMAN SAY IN A HUSHED TONE TO A WOMAN SAT BESIDE HER ON A SUN-BLEACHED WOOD BENCH.

HE NOTES THE USE OF VERB AS WELL AS THE STRANGE TENSE WHEN REFERENCE TWO EVENTS IN A SINGLE SENTENCE. THE NOTES CHANGE A FEW OF HIS ALREADY PENDING UPDATES SO HE SIMPLY ADDS IT TO THE CHANGE-LOG WITH THE INTENT TO VERIFYING THE INFORMATION FOR INTEGRITY.

SEEING THE TOWN FOR A THIRD TIME AL BEGINS TO UNDERSTAND ITS LAYOUT. A SINGLE ROAD WITH SEVERAL BRANCH ALLEYS. THE BLACKSMITHS ALLEY BEING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE LIBRARY ALLOWED AL TO MAP NEARLY THE ENTIRE CITY IN ONLY A FEW SHORT TRIPS. A FEW OF THE ALLEY’S REMAINED BLANK SPOTS BUT FOR THE MOST PART AL HAD A CHANCE TO MEMORIZE THE SHAPE AND SIZE OF JUST ABOUT EVERY BUILDING IN TOWN. MOST IMPORTANTLY HE MEMORIZED THE WORDS WRITTEN ON EACH BUILDINGS FACE.

"HERE WE ARE. AS YOU WILL NOTICE A LIBRARY ALONE WASN’T SOMETHING THE TOWN COULD AFFORD SO THEY COMPROMISED." ADRIA SAYS PULLING UP TO A BUILDING AND POINTING AT THE STAINED GLASS COVERING HALF THE BUILDING. "ALTHOUGH IT WORKS OUT WELL, INSTEAD OF ROOM’S FOR READING YOU ARE ALLOWED TO JUST SIT IN THE PEWS ONCE YOU FIND A BOOK. THE PRIEST IS A NICE GUY TOO, HE SHOULDN’T BOTHER YOU MUCH."

AL LOOKS AT THE BUILDING TRYING HIS BEST TO MEMORIZE THE HUE OF EACH PANE OF GLASS BUT FINDING IT HARDER THAN EXPECTED DUE TO THE UNEVEN STAINING OF THE GLASS.

"EARTH TO AL." ADRIA SAYS WAVING A HAND IN FRONT OF HIS FACE. "COME ON. LETS GO INSIDE. I WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE LIBRARIAN."

ADRIA GLANCES AROUND BEFORE GRIPPING AL’S WRIST AND YANKING HIM INSIDE THE LIBRARY/CHURCH BUILDING. INSIDE HE IMMEDIATELY NOTED THE SAME SMELL THAT THE CHILDREN'S BOOKS HE READ OFF ADRIA’S SHELF HELD.

"HE SHOULD BE AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE." ADRIA SAYS GLANCING AROUND A DESK AND PEEKING BEHIND IT CURIOUSLY. SHE CLICKS HER TONGUE A BIT AND CALLS OUT QUIETLY. "MR. FRED, ARE YOU HERE?"

A SOFT SHUFFLING CAN BE HEARD AMONGST A FEW BOOKSHELVES IN THE INTERIOR OF THE ROOM. AL GLANCES IN THE DIRECTION OF THE SOUND ONLY TO SPOT A SMALL FIGURE LEAPING FROM A SHELF TO A NEARBY TABLE. THE CREATURE LEAPS FROM THE TABLE ONCE MORE AND GRACEFULLY LANDS ON THE DESKS ADRIA HAD SEARCHED BEFORE.

"MEOW." MR. FRED SAYS CASUALLY IN RESPONSE TO THE EARLIER CALL.

"DON’T BE SCARED AL, I KNOW IT'S A CAT BEAST BUT THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT. YOU COULD CALL HIM ROYALTY. ALTHOUGH HIS COMRADES WOULD CALL HIM A TRAITOR, HUH?" ADRIA ASKS THE CAT WITH AN UNDERSTANDING GAZE. "HE IS… WHAT, FOURTH GENERATION? WELL IN ANY CASE, HIS ANCESTOR WAS AN EARLY ATTEMPT AT RE-DOMESTICATING CAT BEASTS. HE IS SOMEWHAT MOODY SO DON’T BOTHER HIM AND HE WON’T BOTHER YOU."

AL LOOKS AT THE CAT WATCHING IT MOVE CAREFULLY. MR. FRED IN TURN WATCHES AL WITH SIMILAR CURIOSITY. THE TWO, ALMOST MIRRORING EACH OTHER, EXTEND A HAND TOWARDS THE OTHER BEFORE QUICKLY PUTTING THEM AT THEIR SIDES.

MR. FRED QUICKLY RISES AND LEAPS AWAY TO ANOTHER NEARBY SHELF AND STRUTS OFF. AL WATCHES ENVIOUSLY BEFORE RETURNING HIS ATTENTION TO THE BOOKS AROUND THE ROOM. HE HONESTLY WAS HAVING A HARD TIME PROCESSING THAT ALL OF THESE WERE DIFFERENT BOOKS.

"WANNA READ ONE THEN?" ADRIA ASKS NOTICING AL’S ATTENTION.

AL NODS AND PICKS A BOOK AT RANDOM FROM A SHELF. HE OPENS IT TO A MIDDLE PAGE AND BEGINS SCANNING THE WORDS.

"WAIT WHAT… WHY ARE YOU READING RANDOM GENEALOGY RECORDS FROM TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO? AND FROM THE MIDDLE OF ALL PLACES. DON’T YOU WANT TO READ A STORY OR SOMETHING? OR MAYBE SOMETHING ABOUT MEMORY LOSS OR…"ADRIA ASKS WITH A HAND ON THE PAPER TO BLOCK AL’S READING.

AL SAYS NOTHING JUST LOOKING AT HER BLANKLY ALMOST AS IF ASKING ‘WHY NOT’.

ADRIA COULD COME UP WITH NO EXCUSE SO SHE RELENTS AND RELEASES HIS BOOK.

"LOVERS QUARREL?" A MAN IN LONG FLOWING ROBES ASKS AFTER STEPPING THROUGH THE SHELVES SILENTLY.

"NO FATHER. HE IS JUST A FRIEND I’M HELPING OUT."

"FATHER?" AL ASKS LOOKING AT THE MAN WITH A CURIOUS EXPRESSION.

"SHE DOESN’T MEAN IN THAT WAY. I’M A PRIEST SON."

"SON?" AL AGAIN ASKS. GLANCING BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE PRIEST.

"HMM…" THE PRIEST SAYS RUBBING HIS CHIN AND GLANCING AT ADRIA WHO GRINS SHEEPISHLY.

"YEAH, I THINK SOMEONE MAYBE USED MAGIC TO ERASE HIS MEMORIES. HE’S KIND OF A MESS, I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO HELP HIM OUT. WHO KNOWS HE COULD BE SOMEONE IMPORTANT."

"RIGHT, RIGHT." THE PRIEST SAYS NODDING TO HIMSELF WITH A ROLL OF HIS EYES. HE BEGINS CAREFULLY PRODDING AL’S HEAD SEARCHING FOR BUMPS BEFORE HE CONTINUES SPEAKING. "WELL AS LONG AS HE DOESN’T MESS WITH ANYTHING HE CAN HANG OUT HERE FROM TIME TO TIME. MAYBE READING WILL HELP JOG HIS MEMORIES."

"THANK YOU FATHER!" ADRIA SAYS GRIPPING THE PRIESTS HAND AND SHAKING IT FIRMLY.

"OF COURSE. ITS A GOOD DEED YOU ARE DOING HERE HELPING SOMEONE IN NEED. GOD SMILES UPON YOUR ACT MY CHILD."

HE’S NOT WRONG.

AFTER ADRIA AGAIN THANKS THE MAN HE DISAPPEARS BACK INTO SHELVES TOWARDS THE CHURCH SIDE OF THE BUILDING WHERE HIS OFFICE SAT.

AL FLIPS A PAGE BEFORE SHUTTING THE BOOK WITH A SATISFIED EXPRESSION. HE RETURNS IT TO ITS PLACE AND GRABS FOR ANOTHER BOOK.

"GOT BORING?" ADRIA ASKS, UNABLE TO EVEN CONTEMPLATE THAT AL COULD HAVE FINISHED IT THAT QUICKLY.

AL SAYS NOTHING SO ADRIA ASSUMES HER THOUGHT TO BE CORRECT.

"I GUESS I CAN JOIN YOU FOR A BIT THEN." SHE SAYS PULLING A BOOK FROM ANOTHER NEARBY SHELF IN THE CRAMPED ROOM.

LIKE THAT THE TIME PASSED QUICKLY. THE ONLY SOUND WAS THE OCCASIONAL RETURN OF A BOOK BY AL. ADRIA HADN'T NOTICED BUT HE HAD CLEARED ONE ENTIRE SHELF IN THE TIME SHE TOOK TO FINISH HER SAPPY LOVE NOVEL.

PERHAPS THAT’S THE BENEFIT OF NOT FEELING ANYTHING FROM THE WORDS YOU READ.

ARGUABLY ADRIA HAD A BETTER EXPERIENCE. BUT AL WAS STILL PLENTY HAPPY. HIS CHANGE-LOG HAD GROWN ENDLESSLY. AT THIS POINT A FULL RECOMPILE MIGHT BE NECESSARY. HE DECIDED AFTER MOVING ONTO THE SECOND SHELF HE WOULD SPLIT HIS TIME BETWEEN READING AND RE-IMPLEMENTING A PLAN FOR THE NEXT RESET.

SUDDENLY LIKE A LIGHT AL REALIZED SOMETHING. HE WAS SATISFIED WITH THIS MASSIVE GAIN IN KNOWLEDGE, AND HE ALSO HAD IT THANKS TO ADRIA. HE OF COURSE KNEW ADRIA WAS AN IMPORTANT PERSON BUT HE HAD NEVER SHOWN HIS APPRECIATION FOR ALL OF HER KNOWLEDGE.

IT FELT STRANGE TO SPEAK WITHOUT PROMPT BUT HE FELT IT WAS IMPERATIVE.

"THANK YOU."

"HMM?" ADRIA ASKS PEEKING UP FROM HER BOOK. "OH, NO PROBLEM. IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE A DAY OFF."

AL, FEELING PLEASED WITH HIMSELF, TURNS HIS ATTENTION BACK TO THE BOOK IN FRONT OF HIM. HE FELT EXCITED FOR THE NEXT RESET, HE WANTED TO SHOW OFF ALL HE LEARNED.

"WANNA GET FOOD?" ADRIA EVENTUALLY ASKS NOTICING THE SOUND OF THEIR BEGGING STOMACHS.

AL NODS TO HER AFTER SHUTTING ANOTHER BOOK AND SETTING IT ON THE SHELF.

"READ ANYTHING GOOD?" ADRIA ASKS AS THEY STEP TOWARDS THE DOOR OF THE LIBRARY.

AL NODS RAPIDLY IN RESPONSE.

"GOOD. WE ARE OUT OF HERE MR. FRED, SEE YOU AROUND." ADRIA WAVES TO THE CAT BEAST SEATED IN THE CORNER WHO BARELY REACTS.

THE TWO STEP OUT THE DOOR WITH ADRIA LEADING THE WAY. THEY DECIDED TO HEAD IN THE DIRECTION OF ANOTHER POSSIBLE POINT OF INTEREST FOR AL. ADRIA CHOOSE THE LOCATION FOR LUNCH WITH THE VERY INTENTION OF SHOWING THIS SECONDARY DESTINATION TO AL.

AFTER WALKING A GOOD BIT OFF THE MAIN STREET OF TOWN THROUGH THE OUTER GRASSLANDS THE TWO ARRIVED AT A SMALL FARMHOUSE. ADRIA KNOCKED TWICE, THIS TIME NOT PROMPTLY OPENING THE DOOR.

A SHORT WHILE AFTER THE SECOND KNOCK A SMALL OLDER WOMAN OPENS THE DOOR AND GLANCES BETWEEN THE TWO GUESTS. "OH? WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU TWO TODAY?"

"I AM SORRY TO IMPOSE MRS. YILKIN I WAS CURIOUS IF YOU HAD ANY MORE OF THAT SMOKED MEAT? ME AND MY FRIEND WOULD CERTAINLY PAY WELL IF YOU COULD MAKE A LUNCH."

THE WOMAN THINKS ABOUT IT A MOMENT WITH A SMALL SMILE GROWING ON HER FACE.

"I SUPPOSE IT'S BEEN AWHILE. SURE, COME ON IN. I WAS JUST ABOUT TO START LUNCH ANYWAYS."

THE WOMAN INDICATES INTO THE HOUSE AT A LARGE TABLE.

"FOR NOW SIT DOWN, I WILL TELL TRAVIS WE HAVE COMPANY."

"I HEARD, I HEARD." A MAN GRUMPILY ENTERING THE BACK DOOR AND WIPING HIS BOOTS SAYS IN A HUFF. HE GLANCES OVER THE TWO BEFORE HALTING AT THE SHEATH STRAPPED TO AL’S WAIST. "OY, WHERE’D YOU GET THAT SWORD?"

"WE CAN LEAVE BUSINESS TALK TO LATER FOR NOW THEY ARE HERE FOR LUNCH SO COME SIT DOWN." THE WOMAN CHASTISES.

"MHM. FINE." HE SAYS FORCEFULLY, STILL EYEING AL CAREFULLY.

ADRIA DIDN’T SEEM TO MIND THE TENSE ATMOSPHERE SHE JUST SAT BESIDE AL CASUALLY ENJOYING THE SMALL HOMEY FEELING OF THE WELL WORN HOUSE. THIS ISN’T A STRANGE THING TO DO EXACTLY IN A VILLAGE LIKE THIS. TYPICALLY FARMING FAMILIES ARE THE BEST PLACE TO FIND A WARM MEAL IF YOU HAVE A BIT OF COIN TO SPARE. AND SEEING AS THE OTHER BEST MEAL IN TOWN IS NOW A NO-GO, WHERE BETTER THAN HERE. CALL IT TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.

"ALRIGHT EAT UP. WE HAVE FRUIT SALAD, MADE WITH AN ASSORTMENT OF WILD BERRIES AS WELL AS MRS. OAKLEY’S STRAWBERRIES, AS WELL AS SANDWICHES MADE FROM SOURDOUGH AND SMOKED BEEF. IF YOU ARE STILL HUNGRY AFTER THAT I CAN MIX UP SOME WHIP CREAM FOR SOME MORE FRUIT SALAD."

THE WOMAN SET OUT A WIDE ASSORTMENT OF PLATES. A DOZEN RICH EARTHY ROLLS AS WELL AS A FEW SAUCES FOR THE MEAT.

"WAA! LOOKS GREAT! THANK YOU SO MUCH!" ADRIA SAYS WITH WATERING MOUTH GAZING OVER ALL THE FOOD EXCITEDLY.

"THANK YOU FOR THE PATRONAGE. I NEEDED AN EXCUSE TO USE UP ALL THESE STRAWBERRIES ANYWAY SO YOU ARE A LIFESAVER."

"I WILL GLADLY TAKE THEM OFF YOUR HANDS." ADRIA SAYS MUNCHING A SPOONFUL OF FRUIT SALAD HAPPILY.

AL BESIDE HER HELD A PLAIN SMOKED BEEF SANDWICH AND WAS PREPARING TO BITE WHEN A ROUGH HAND GRIPS HIS WRIST AND STOPS HIM.

"NO, NO, NO." THE STERN MAN SAYS WITH A WAVE OF A FINGER.

HE GRIPS THE SANDWICH OUT OF AL’S HAND AND OPENS IT UP APPLYING A THICK COAT OF A DARK RED SAUCE. HE THEN SHOVES IT BACK TO AL.

"OH, TRUST HIM AL. HE IS DEAD ON ABOUT THAT SAUCE." ADRIA CHIMES IN NOTICING THE SCENE. SHE FOLLOWS SUIT AND PREPARES HER OWN SANDWICH JUST AS THE OLD MAN HAD.

AL AND ADRIA BITE INTO THE SANDWICHES SIMULTANEOUSLY, AFTER A BIT OF VISUAL INVESTIGATION ON AL’S SIDE. THEIR REACTIONS WERE NEARLY IDENTICAL. WIDE EYES BLENDING WITH BLISS. THE SAUCE HAD SPICE BUT DEPTH, SMOKEY YET SWEET, CREAMY BUT ALSO STONY AND HAND-MILLED. THE ENSEMBLE MIXED WITH THE CARAMELIZED MEAT AND SOUR ROLLS MADE A MEAL MEANT FOR A KING.

OR AT LEAST A VERY NON-PICKY PRINCESS PERHAPS.

SUFFICE TO SAY THE DOZEN ROLLS AND MASS OF MEAT TICKED AWAY QUICKLY, ROOM FOR DESERT CAME AND WENT AS THE THREE STUFFED THEMSELVES TO THE BRIM WITH LUNCH. THE ONLY ONE LEFT WITH ANY TABLE MANNERS WAS THE CHEF HERSELF WHO CUT AT THE MEAT CAREFULLY WITH A FORK BEFORE DIPPING IT IN A DOT OF SAUCE.

"SO THAT’S A ‘NO’ ON THE WHIPPED CREAM?" SHE ASKS GLANCING AROUND THE TABLE AT THE COLLAPSED GROUP.

"NO MORE." AL BEGS GINGERLY.

ADRIA SHARED THE OPINION BUT FELT THAT TO EVEN SPEAK WOULD LET SOME OF THE HARD EARNED MEAL ESCAPE.

"THAT’S RIGHT. NO NEED FOR CREAM. I’M TAKING THIS BOY OUT BACK." TRAVIS SAYS GRIPPING AL’S SHOULDER AND MANEUVERING HIM OUT THE BACK DOOR.

"MUST YOU REALLY?" THE WOMAN SAYS WITH A HALF FROWN.

"YUZU, HE CAME HERE WITH ONE OF THOSE BRAT’S BLADES OBVIOUSLY HE NEEDS TO PROPERLY LEARN HOW TO AT LEAST HOLD IT OR HE’LL GET HIMSELF KILLED." HE ANSWERS HALF OUT THE DOOR ALREADY. "NOT TO MENTION SINCE IT’S THE BRAT’S, IT IS PROBABLY CRACKED ALL TO HELL, NEED TO AT LEAST BE SURE IT'S SAFE TO USE IN A FIGHT."

THE WOMAN SIGHS WITH EXHAUSTION WAVING THE MAN OFF WITH A SPARE HAND. ONCE COMPLETELY GONE SHE PULLS A SMALL BAG FROM HER ANKLE. FROM THE BAG SHE RETRIEVES A PIPE AND SMALL PAPER POUCH FULL OF POWDER. SHE FIRST STUFFS A SMALL BROWN LEAF INTO THE PIPE FOLLOWING IT WITH A FINGERNAIL FULL OF POWDER. SHE STRIKES A MATCH AND QUIETLY PUFFS ON THE PIPE PAYING LITTLE ATTENTION TO THE HUNCHED OVER ADRIA.

"HOW ARE THEY DOING OVER THERE?" YUZU EVENTUALLY ASKS WITH A GLANCE AT ADRIA.

"YOUR DAUGHTER?" ADRIA ASKS THROUGH A YAWN.

"MHM AND MY SON." SHE ANSWERS WITH A SMIRK. "TRAVIS MAY BE STUBBORN BUT HE LOVES THE BOY NEAR AS MUCH AS MY YUI DOES. HE’S PROUD THAT GUNTHER RESPECTS HIS ART. MAYBE IF ANYTHING HE’S JEALOUS HE DOESN’T HAVE THE TIME TO PRACTICE LIKE GUNTHER DOES."

"YOU HAVEN’T THOUGHT OF SELLING THE FARM AND SETTING UP CLOSER IN TOWN? IT’D MAKE THINGS EASIER FOR YOU I BET." ADRIA SAYS LEANING UP AND WAVING OFF YUZU’S OFFER OF THE PIPE.

"MHM, I THOUGHT ABOUT IT A BIT BUT TRAVIS IS TOO STUBBORN HE WOULDN’T AGREE TO IT." SHE TAKES ANOTHER LONG DRAG FROM THE PIPE BLOWING A FEW RINGS BEFORE CONTINUING. "ITS TOUGH ON HIM THOUGH, THERE'S SO MUCH WORK ON A FARM AND WITH THE KIDS GONE ALL OF IT IS BACK ON HIM ALONE. TWENTY YEARS AGO HE COULD HAVE HANDLED IT BUT…"

THE BACK DOOR SWUNG OPEN RAPIDLY WITH A PANICKED TRAVIS.

"HUN. I… I THINK I BROKE HIM." HE SAYS WITH HEAVY PANTING AND A BLUE FACE.

THE TWO STILL AT THE TABLE LEAP FOR THE DOOR TO GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF JUST WHAT TRAVIS MEANT BY ‘BROKEN’.