.:Delilah:.

"To victory! What an egomaniac" Lunar held her mug high in triumph.

Delilah stared down at the drink Lunar handed her, taking a sniff of it to confirm her suspicions. It was milk?

Mavrik had already pushed his mug to the side, ordering an ale which made Lunar laugh "More for me then."

The young tiefling woman laughed at the dry look Mavrik shot the feline woman, taking a sip of the strange choice of beverage.

"What's the phoenix on your arm?" She asked curiously.

Lunar glanced down at the insignia "the symbol of my god, Thume and the symbol of my order, Faceless."

"There's a god called Thume?"

"Yes, he's the embodiment of adventure, storms, the sea and vagabonds."

A thought occurred "you were reading about pirates in my book!"

Lunar chuckled sheepishly "I've spent a lot of time at sea, I couldn't resist."

Delilah nodded, poking at her cup "what does your order do?"

"Similar to you and Mavrik, we are trained to hunt down monsters and aberrations."

"I can't believe it was all summons and illusions, he was using people's lives for a game?"

"It certainly seems that way" Lunar licked the milk absently from her lips.

"Will anything happen?" Realising in horror that some real people had been there who may recognise her.

"No, I doubt it. It was an illegal activity. The people who were there will just slink into the shadows and pretend they never saw anything" the Tabaxi assured.

"Well, I best be off. It was good to meet both of you, The Faceless owe you for your assistance." She stood, placing a few coins on the counter before leaving without so much as a rustle or foot fall.

Delilah rested her elbows on the counter, tracing the rim of the empty mug "Nagas are huge."

Mavrik huffed in mild amusement "come on, Let's get some rest. I'm sure there's books on Nagas."

***********

Delilah walked through the vast rows of books in wonder, having lost track of Mavrik long ago. The arcane library was unique in the way knowledge was swapped and traded, despite it's name, knowledge in the form of books was free to be taken. So long as attendees left with the promise to share, spread, and provide future knowledge. New books regularly making their cycle back onto the dusty shelves, many often former occupants who found their way back after being passed by many hands. She pulled at any of the worn spines that jumped out, a curious smile tugging on her lips as she spotted a book detailing the preparation of seafood dishes.

"I wonder if they have how to prepare the dishes Mavrik mentioned" she whispered to herself, leafing through it.

"Can I help you?" her eyes fell on a handsome young man standing before her with a wide smile. Deep brown hair falling into his hazel eyes, his face still holding a boyish youth about it despite appearing to be roughly her age.

"O-oh uhm, could you tell me where the folk lore and faetales books are kept?" She requested, feeling shy under his gaze.

He grinned at her bashfulness "Of course, helping fair maidens through this maze is one of the few joys that come with working at this place" He bowed slightly, holding a hand out for the young woman to take.

Delilah laughed at his cheeky antics, giving in, placing her hand in his as he guided her.

"So do you often guide weary travellers while vanquishing dust bunnies?" She played along.

"Only the pretty ones" he shot back making her blush.

"And what do I call such a charming gentleman as yourself?"

"Lachlan, what do I call you?"

"Delilah" she grinned.

"Right, here we are. If you get tired of the valiant knights in those dusty books, you can always find me" smirk pulling at his lips as he placed a kiss atop the back of her hand.

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Delilah felt her heart flutter, the feeling completely new to her, she could only watch the young man stride away as she traced her thumb over the back of her tingling hand. Stupid and giddy smile stretched wide over her face as she twirled with a sigh, clutching the cook book to her chest.

She shook her head, humming under her breath, returning to her mission. Picking through the books for any stories that caught her eye.

"These don't look like arcane knowledge."

The familiar gravelly voice didn't make her smile waiver, flicking her hand at him in dismissal.

"Yes, yes. I was going to get onto that" She assured as he pulled the small pile of books from her.

"Come on Delilah, we can't carry half the library on the road."

She noticed the book tucked under his arm "What did you find?"

"A journal written by a witch hunter."

She nodded, following after him until something caught her eye. Delilah grabbed his arm, gesturing to the sign pinned to a notice board.

Missing:

Head Librarian, Arch Mage Tibolt Hensfield.

The familiar inked face of the theatrical elven man stared back at the two.

The pair exchanged a look, before her companion shrugged and continued forward into the next room. The book cases reached the ceiling, curving gently in a wide circle around them as they stepped inside.

She pivoted, trying to drink in every deep coloured spine. Mavrik lightly took her wrist, pulling her forward, clearly not trusting her to stay on their mission.

Not paying enough attention when he released a dusty book into her hand, she almost dropped it as she scrambled to adjust her grip on it. Reading the elegant golden inscription sprawled over its hard purple cover medicamentum.

He carefully piled on three more books, Delilah trudged after him trying to ignore her straining arms. Refusing to give him any satisfaction as she caught a ghost of a smirk on his lips when he laid another book on the growing pile.

"That should be a good start."

"Ya think. What happened to not taking half the library?" Delilah grunted, powerless to his amusement as he strode forward, clearly enjoying every moment.

"Come on, clearly you want to carry more."

*******

Relief, if her muscles could scream that is exactly what their first words would be as she heaved the books down onto the table, once they returned to the guest house of the manor. Hearing Mavrik's soft chuckle as he lowered himself into a chair and settled into the Witch Hunter's journal.

Her eyes landed on the cook book, scooping it up as an idea formed.

"I need to find Liesel and Rose."

Mavrik eyed her in surprise for a moment, before nodding "don't cause trouble."

"Me? Never!" She giggled practically dancing out the door, spring in her step as she bounded to the manor. Finding Rose walking back from the stables and waving to her.

"Rose! I was wondering if you and Liesel could help me with something."

"Delilah, it's lovely to see you. Of course, we'd be happy to. Is everything alright?" She led the young devil-kin in through the front door, guiding her to where Liesel was changing bedding.

Liesel looked up at the two, smiling with a knowing look in her eyes.

"I smell a scheme?" she chuckled.

Delilah pulled the cook book from her chest, suddenly feeling nervous. "I... I was wondering if you two would help me with a recipe in here. It's a fish dish that I've never prepared before and I thought it might be easier to do in the manor's kitchen."

The two ladies looked at each other, clearly drawing the same conclusion.

"Is this meal for Mavrik by chance?" Rose prodded mischievously.

Delilah flushed in realisation to what they were implying "N-no! Well... it is a dish he likes! But its not like that.. I just wanted to do something nice after everything he's done for me!" She hurriedly stumbled to explain.

Rose and Liesel burst into laughter, "we're just messing with you Delilah, of course we'll help you" Rose assured, placing a hand on the flustered young woman's shoulder.

"Come on, let's have a look" Liesel took the book as Delilah flicked to the dish. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully "Ah good choice, this one's fairly straight forward. You'll just have to pick up some haddock."

Delilah beamed, "right, I can do that right now! Thank you for this."

Liesel smiled endearingly "the best fish stall is the one in the market square, beside the fountain."

She nodded enthusiastically "right. I'll be back soon."

The energy in her step didn't cease as she hurried through the streets, scanning the stalls and drinking in the sights. Her eyes landed on the glinting stone fountain, staring down at the glistening water as the light threaded through the watery curtains. A second shadow joined hers. "Delilah?"

She turned with a bright smile at the familiar handsome face that greeted her.

"Lachlan! If I didn't know better I would accuse you of following me."

He chuckled, lazily sitting on the edge of the fountain "well, I would be lying if I said I wasn't hoping to see you again."

She looked down at her feet shyly, well aware she was grinning like a giddy fool.

"Hey, I was about to take a walk through the gardens. Why don't you come with me?" He invited, gaze never leaving hers.

Delilah felt her heart jolt, as if it was ready to leap out of her chest and run down the street hand in hand with Lachlan. Her mind snagging it mid thump when she recalled why she was in the town square in the first place.

"I'm sorry.." Feeling a stab as his face fell in disappointment. "I would have loved to, I just have something I promised to do right now" heart aching with regret.

"Well, what about later tonight?" Lachlan recovered, charming smile returning.

She nodded, heart feeling whiplash as it rose once again "I can do tonight!"

The dark haired young man took her hand in his, smile growing in triumph "meet me back here by the fountain after sun down" pressing a lingering kiss to her hand.

The devil-kin could scarcely hear his words over her own heartbeat, which thundered in nervous elation at the reality that for the first time in her life, a boy had asked her on a date.

"I have to go, I'll see you tonight" shaking her flustered feelings aside as she pulled away.

"I look forward to it."

Delilah bustled away, trying to steady her breathing and erratic heart. Haddock, haddock, haddock she repeated in her head like a mantra. Approaching the fish stall as she stared down at the scaled carcases laid out.

"Looking for something in particular missy? Everything was caught fresh this morning."

"Haddock if you have any? Thank you."

The fisherman smiled, nodding as he gestured to a large blueish fish with sail like fins.

"50 silver a piece."

"Three please" Delilah affirmed, handing over the coins and carefully took the wrapped fish.

Feeling weightless as she turned back towards the manor.