No matter how many times I had to search through the tomes I always found another ‘hidden’ section of books. I had been trying to learn all books in it since I first started working at the tomes, trying to make it easier to find and return the texts people asked for, or that I wanted to read. But people constantly misplaced books, and Lunar refused to maintain a constant ordering of things: she would shift books of a particular category- or theme, or maybe just ones that started and ended with the same character- around the alcoves, putting them wherever her whims demanded.

There were alcoves dedicated to the arts, cooking, music, some even mentioned pyre. But everyone who knew craft seemed not to care to share their experience. Our tomes had much to it, not all of which I fully understood, but it lacked craft. Or, at least, enough to piece together even the basics. I’d been through the tomes thousands of times. I didn’t know every book, but I’d be damned to have missed any on craft. I’d heard the Kingdom of Fire taught it- even to ashen like me. But you needed to be skilled. They were common amongst embers, it would be common for all if it didn't cost a tides wage for the average villager.

After searching all reasonable areas where the last book could have been, I moved on to the less reasonable places. It took until my arms started to tire from the ones I was already carrying for me to see it, tucked away in the philosophy area of the Tomes. Fearing Edric's annoyance, and already scarred by tantrum from other young Embers, I yanked the book from its vice and rushed back to the study.

With my fear and haste sparking my senses, I jerked to a stop before colliding with the girl, apparently birthed from a mound of books splayed on the floor. Neither, however, were able to prevent my eyes falling on her and staying fixed for a bit too long.

“Are you alright?” she said, her voice bright yet gentle. Her aspen eyes were still tumultuous, but steadying to rest like waves post-crash. She recovered quickly for how close it was. Lunar, my sister, once said that aging is just getting better at being still. Her and this girl both seemed too good at that. Then again, Lunar also said age should be a matter of experiences, not time.

“I... I’m fine. Do you need any uhm, help?” I don't remember the last time I had talked to a girl, that's if you don't count Vema and Lunar, which I don't. There were none at the orphanage, and I stayed clear of the Holy sisters. I forced myself to look away, but her gold locks and delicate figure were just as distracting as her face. Very. She seemed like she must have grown up pampered- flicking through book pages and tutors alike.

“…”

She didn't respond. The silence was starting to make me feel uncomfortable, growing pricklier by the second. My curiosity trumped my awkwardness causing my eyes to search for hers. I wasn’t able to catch them straight away. She was busy staring at the stack of books in my hands. When her gaze finally set on mine there seemed to be a slight shine this time, a small fire alight. “you’re studying for the selection too?” she finally asked.

The selection was a test held by each of the five major Kingdoms within Yerebia. The ember Clan ruled over Tomov, my village, so I'd have to pass their tests and trials. You'd usually take it in your sixteenth year. Do well and you'd set yourself down a path of power- both physical and societal. Someone with no backing like me usually couldn’t even dream of getting in, regardless of how much they wished to. It was the door to leading the armies within the templar or ruling cities. Only nobles like the ones I assisted within the Tomes, and those with some sort of discipleship could muster up the resources and time to study and train for it. That meant she likely had some background.

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“No no, I just work here, I didn’t…I didn’t mean to disturb you,” I tried to leave before I could falter anymore in front of her, but something tugged at my arm.

She had grabbed my sleeve. "Sorry, I'm really clumsy sometimes, Father says it's a curse." She sighed, "But I still don't understand why you have books on government, languages and land? and even some Deante too! Are you a traveller? Are you with a master? Does he… does he know much of fire?"

I thought the question odd, which made me more nervous, unsure which one of us was more disorientated. “I’m finding books for the son of ascetic Heliar.” I said firmly, or at least I tried, hoping it'd calm her.

A wave of recognition crossed her eyes. but he doesn't need anything advanced like Maurelius?” Her eyebrows lightly furrowed. I was intrigued by how she knew him but I guessed Heliar was big enough of a star in the village for his son, Edric, to be fawned over too. And Edric's physique from all the combat training probably didn't hurt with the younger women- the older too really.

The book she named was a text on one of the more advanced selection exams. Someone like me really shouldn't be interested in it, nor be able to read, for that matter. And it was too advanced for Edric. "err, I..." Unsure of what to say, my mind scrambled for a response. "It's for another noble," I lied.

She measured the truth of my words with her eyes. They danced across my face, flashed to my hands and posture before burrowing their way through me.

"lie." Came the verdict, and also a soft grin.

I couldn't really explain why or how but her smile made me scared. And bold. And warm. "I enjoy books too," I conceded.

The scan was quicker this time, more playful. "maybe truth." She said, then she proceeded to hold me in silence. Awaiting my response to her non-question.

"I thought maybe reading them could be useful to me someday..."

" for the testing then? so you are an ember?"

"...likely not,"

"what? You don't… so you're an orphan?"

"Was, Lady Vema took me and my sister in here." I waited for the usual scoff or slander. It always followed when embers found that out. Reading was all but reserved for the wealthy, or at least the not impoverished, which the majority of the village seemed to be. Me and lunar were rarely considered beyond workers, masked by our literacy, so the embers never bothered considering us more than they needed to.

"Oh, but you're still an orphan, just one with a home I suppose," The comment took me aback. An odd attack, but consistent with embers I guess. My lips split, yearning to weave a defence, I wanted to defend the family Vema built between us and lunar, it wasn’t whole, but it worked.

"I don't... I guess," I murmured.

She held us in silence briefly. And I feared that she was preparing more verbal spears to prod me with. “When you finish it, we can discuss it, no one in father’s court has anything fresh to say about it," she said, her lips curling high. At the advent of the smile something bubbled inside of me. Along with an unforeseen desperation not to let it pop.

Without a bye or a name, she withdrew back into her nest of books. I spent a moment dazed before straightening at the thought of the wooden haired boy left waiting. I made haste, alone once more. Except with my mind left to tease me with the bright-eyed girl's essence: speculations on what herbs it had; where they came from; and other facts of small use.