Quinn poured over her map in her office, determined to understand exactly how maps of the damn universe worked. Try though she might, even four months in, it was still difficult to grasp the sheer magnitude and scope of an entire universe.
She maneuvered the projection made my by her console as she walked around her desk, trying to pinpoint just how close the book with Narilin's rivals was to the location Escadril was recovering at. It didn't appear to be too far away, but then again, walking through a door to anywhere in the universe sort of tended to skew ones perspective on distances.
Aradie nudged her head with a wing and cooed.
Quinn shook her head. "No. I have no idea why I'm trying to figure this out when it just is what it is. All I can say is I hate not knowing."
Aradie made a sound suspiciously like a chuckle. It earned her a pointed glare from Quinn. "If you don't want to help, you can go back over on your perch."
Images flashed in front of Quinn's eyes. Of forests filled with trees so tall she couldn't glimpse the top of them. Houses in and around trees, not cut into them, but a part of the entire wooded life around them. All filled in together, making it a simple natural habitat bustling with life.
"You could have shown me that in the first place you know." Quinn grumbled at the bird. Still, it was helpful. It gave her an idea of the area they'd be going to, even if it didn't tell her anything about the Salosier and their familial interactions. She didn't want to go in blind.
Aradie hooted this time, with a little chirp at the end that sounded oddly like an exclamation mark.
"I know, I know... just Narilin never really seems to like me much. And I don't have the energy right now to expend on trying to make her." Quinn was feeling decidedly grumpy. It was probably time for a nice sugar donut. That sounded like it'd hit the spot perfectly and help take away all the stress she was feeling. For five minutes anyway. But that short amount of time would at least be filled with bliss.
Another short sound from Aradie and Quinn shooed her off her shoulder. "Go get her then if you think she wants to help."
Aradie shot out of the room leaving but an image in Quinn's mind in her wake. One of Narilin and Escadril when the book doctor was so much younger. There was an air of vulnerability surrounding her, as Escadril sat going through books with her. Wonder in both their eyes at the knowledge in front of them, the materials. A sensation of deep understanding and love for what they did best exuded from them.
Quinn decided Narilin was the best person to take her after all and turned her attention back to the maps overlaid on one another.
The Jezishian solution to Maladies of the Mana Pathways - a beginner's guide, and the Mattinaman balance between mana and energy - explained for the beginner were sitting oddly close to the locations of the other two dimensional books they had yet to retrieve. Both the Parsneauvian Theory of Spatial Dimension Manipulation and the Crown and Fall of Pocket Dimensions Due to Spatial Interference were maybe, from what Quinn could tell, a quadrant away from each of the others.
It might not mean something, but it could mean everything.
Maybe.
She sighed and let herself shuffle around to sit in her oversized chair. With Aradie missing from the top of it, the whole room felt rather lonely.
Not that she had to wait long. Aradie entered the room shortly thereafter hooting softly with a triumphant ring to it. Sometimes Quinn wished the owl would just talk to her like she had on several occasions before. But it seemed Aradie was very selective of when to use human speech since she could mostly communicate effectively through speech, emotion, and images.
"She'll be along soon then..." Quinn muttered and pushed herself up from the desk. "You know. I think I have enough time to go and get myself a donut."
Without waiting for Aradie to respond in any way, Quinn took off for the Culinary branch, hoping Cook simply had some donuts waiting for her. After al, they'd become a definite favorite of pretty much everyone in the Library. They tended to keep them on hand these days.
She walked through the crowded dining hall, making a note to herself to expand it, and finally entered the glorious culinary branch. Frankly the scents and tastes became evident as soon as she passed through the gorgeously carved archway making her mouth water and her hunger rise up a notch.
"Ah. Librarian." Cook said without looking up. "I hope this day finds you well."
Quinn had a definite soft spot for Cook. There were so many aspects of life in the Library made easier by their presence. The homesickness constantly curbed because of small culinary delights that reminded her of good times and the past in a way that didn't make her regret so many things.
"This day finds me quite well. Thank you," she found herself swinging to the formal when she was around Cook.
"Excellent. I take it you are hungry then?"
Quinn nodded emphatically. "I'm actually almost starving."
Cook paused what they were doing and looked her up and down. Quinn could have sworn they raised an eyebrow, even though their golem features didn't always allow for such adjustments. "I do not believe that you are starving, but I seem to recall you have not yet eaten today. If the Library activity from earlier is any sign, I am betting you used up more energy than you should have given the fact you have not yet eaten." They gave her a disapproving look.
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Quinn had the grace to feel slightly embarrassed. It wasn't the first time they'd had the conversation about making sure she had the physical energy to perform magic as opposed to just magical energy and mana. "Sorry."
"No need. I will begin to make sure breakfast is brought to you wherever you are at the same time every day." Cook didn't sound put out, but instead like a grandparently figure.
For just a second Quinn was reminded of Milaro and she smiled. "Thank you," she said, hoping her response came across in the genuine way she intended.
"Of course. Must keep you healthy and strong. We need you." For just a second there Cook was more serious than Quinn had ever seen them.
They turned around and picked up a bag, holding it out to her.
Quinn took it, opening it to look inside. Nestled in the folds were two donuts separated from what looked like a quiche. It smelled heavenly. "Thank you, but how did you know I was coming."
Cook actually chuckled. "Aradie informed me as soon as you left the office. Now you should get back because I believe you have a visitor."
"Thanks again." Quinn said, reaching forward to give Cook's arm a quick squeeze.
"Anytime." Cook said as she dashed off.
One of these days Quinn would find the time to sit down with cook and chat, or help, or even learn to cook herself. The culinary branch fascinated her. It filled her with hope as she bit into one of the donuts. Imagine getting the books for the medicinal and alchemical branch and opening it too. So much more life came to the Library whenever they opened a branch. Or at least, she assumed it would work the same way once they opened another.
She dashed into her office, just ahead of Narilin who she could see walking that way and overtook before she could reach the door. Quinn plopped the food on her desk and turned to greet her visitor, hoping that Narilin was in as good a mood as she'd been they last time they'd encountered one another.
"Librarian." Narilin said with a bow of her head, but a smiled played on her lips showing genuine contentment at being where she was. At least, that's how Quinn interpreted it.
"Thanks for coming." Quinn said, motioning for her to take a seat across from her.
"Aradie said you needed to see me. Might I ask what this is about?" Narilin seemed mildly curious but also slightly cautious.
"Ah. Yes. I will be traveling to the Feshpa-Alin region to visit with some people I'm quite sure you're acquainted with." Upon mention of the region of space, Narilin stiffened somewhat. Quinn kept her eye on the Salosier, but continued anyway. "They have a book we need for the alchemical and medicinal branch that they're refusing to give back due to some sort of feud with your family? I'm not interested in the feud, that's not something for me to involve myself in unless it brings harm to the Library. That being said, I need that book. I was wondering if you might have some insight for me into the situation and how I could best approach them."
Narilin paused. It wasn't a frozen pause, but a thoughtful one where Quinn could tell she gave the request serious thought before answering. It took a full on moment, not just one of those people refer to when they mean seconds.
"It is difficult for me to elaborate on, Librarian." It had to be the first time Quinn ever heard Narilin hesitate fully in what she was saying. So she waited for the book doctor to continue.
"Our families have always been rivals. It is common amongst the Salosier. We push each other to greater heights and use rivalry to develop our current and discover new skills. The Jenishu clan... my own family line have always had a proclivity for book repair. Our abilities have been able to save magical tomes for millennia. It is what we do. It has always been what we are known for."
She paused for a moment as if gathering her thoughts. Narilin still seemed hesitant to speak, as if she didn't want to air dirty family secrets to anyone. Quinn understood the sentiment and wanted to give her enough time to let the information out on her own.
"The Balisor clan has always been specifically good with the binding of books, with the coaxing of the most out of all aspects of hardiness when it comes to maintaining histories and cycling through years of notations." Narilin paused again, but this time continued faster. "The thing is... a few generations ago, one of the Balisor married into the Jenishu clan. This resulted in the Jenishu clan taking on some of those specific skills and now we have surpassed where we were. Our own line is second to none in any aspect of book binding, maintenance, care... Our affinity with the trees even exacerbates the connection we have to the books we care for."
She turned fully to Quinn an eagerness radiating in her features. "As you know the Library isn't the only Library, it is just where we keep the most potent of tomes, it is where we regulate the magic of the universe. Being a Librarian or assistant Librarian or even the book doctor as you call me is the highest my people aspire to. This is the accumulation of everything we have ever worked for, coming together in a harmony I never realized we could achieve."
"And this is why the Balisor people are holding onto the alchemy book?" Quinn asked. She suppressed the groan she wanted to let out. There was no logic to the whole fiasco, so she didn't understand them wanting to withhold a book in order to perhaps get the Librarian's attention? That didn't even make sense when she was available at the Library most of the time.
"I could not imagine there would be another reason. Although this does not ingratiate them to the Library I cannot imagine another reason. If they wanted to talk to you, they could have just requested an audience."
For such a trivial thing to delay them opening a branch? Still, at least this one looked like it would be easier to get than the others. As long as whatever they wanted to say wasn't somehow connected to the Sólem.
"I would gladly accompany you if you feel that will help, Librarian." Narilin said, serious again.
"I'd appreciate that." Quinn said, and meant it.
Narilin gave a rare smile, small though it was and stood up. "When do we expect to depart?"
Quinn paused for a second. "I'm not sure yet. Maybe tomorrow..." she did feel bone weary. A good night's sleep would help.
"Very well. I will make sure to instruct Jane for my absence and be ready." With a brief incline of her head, Narilin practically floated out of the room.
Quinn watched her go, a thoughtful frown on her face, trying to figure out just how uncomfortable it'd be to travel with Narilin without Malakai as a buffer.
Images flashed in front of her eyes, causing her to stumble, as Aradie showed her a new visitor approaching. Another suppressed groan later, Quinn righted herself just in time for the brief knock against the doorframe.
"Arnekai." Quinn said as politely as she could. "What brings you here?"
The darigháhnish leader gave a half-smile before entering. She wrung her hands together, the first sign of discomfort Quinn had ever seen her exhibit. Then she turned to face Quinn, determination in her gaze. "I need you to help me heal my son."