The Librarian's Daughter (Ryuji Suguro x Reader)

2) HE ESPIED

𝐻𝐸 𝐸 𝒮 𝒫 𝐼 𝐸 𝒟

A huge hall that was stuffed with books came into view and got closer with every step the two males took. An enormous chandelier hung down from the ceiling and illuminated the room with a gentle, yellow light. Several candles gave the vast room a soft touch, but the many aisles wouldn't take away the eery feeling this underground library held to it. Wooden ladders that leaned on the bookshelves showed, however, that even down there was an occasional hustle and bustle of people trying to get their books.

"The Underground Library is the pride of the Japan branch. It stores all of the documents we have on exorcism and the history of this branch," Lewin spoke as he and Ryuji walked through the main hall that came right after the entrance wing. In the middle of the room stood multiple desks where people could calmly hold down to their jobs. "At least it should." The Arc Knight put more emphasis on the last word as if he was trying to say even this library couldn't provide every information they needed.

"There aren't many people around, that's for sure...," Ryuji remarked as he peeked into one of the various corridors, one eyebrow up.

"It's very seldom to find people here at the same time," Lewin replied and a small smirk crawled up on his face. "But there's someone who's always here. We can go greet her if you want."

Her?

The older male soon took lead, only for the younger one to follow. They walked towards one of the aisles that was at the back of the big room and turned left. Ryuji wouldn't really have thought to see someone like this here. More like, shouldn't librarians or keepers be old, grey-haired people with golden reading glasses that almost fell off their wrinkled faces everytime they hushed for the guests to be quiet?

It appeared the 'room' they found themselves in was just a corner of the main hall. A girl around Suguro's age was silently painting an image with black ink that leaked out of her pen feather. She didn't seem to notice the two people that were standing not far from her and continued drawing quietly.

"Oi, (Name)," Lewin Light's voice echoed through the room which made the startled girl perk up.

"Lewin, it's you!" A smile spread across her face, the feather still in her hands. A fresh drop of ink splattered down on the painting.

"You haven't showed up in a long time," the girl expressed her upset as she put the drawing utensil aside. "But I guess someone as important as you must be busy all the time," her eyes occasionally drifted to Ryuji since she hadn't seen him before. "Did you get yourself an apprentice or what?" She looked kind of curious now.

Lewin didn't say anything, so Bon guessed it was his turn to introduce himself now. "Ryuji Suguro, nice to meet you." The male made a small bow. "I've been Light's apprentice for some time now."

(Name) smiled at this and decided to give a proper introduction herself, too. "It's a pleasure to meet you, too. I'm (Name) (Last Name) and...," her voice trailed off as if she didn't quite know what to say about herself - her gaze went down to the drawing.

"... she's painting illustrations for many books on exorcism. That's all she has ever done and probably ever will," Light continued with a slightly mocking tone to his voice. The girl's eyebrow twitched at this.

"Lewin...," she turned her head towards the older male, "please don't say that."

"Right. Sorry."

Ryuji got pretty confused by their conversation. How long did they know each other? Anyway, the boy grew quite curious - a girl around his age that had so much talent she could illustrate famous exorcism books? Well, it wouldn't be that much of impossible. Right?

"You must have had mashō then, right?" He stepped a bit closer to the table to get a better look at the drawing, but not to close - he didn't want to make her uncomfortable by breaking her intimate space. When he saw the ink painting, Ryuji's eyes widened. It truly was a terrifying sight, even for an aspiring exorcist. A monster with a wide open mouth, teeth splattered across the face, held items in its hand Bon couldn't assign with anything he knew. It stared directly at the viewer and stylistic movement strokes gave the whole picture a bewildering dynamic.

"I haven't."

These words were all it took to completely confuse Suguro now. "What?!"

A dark sensation spread across the room and the girl's smile faded slowly. Lewin took a few steps forward to get a look at the picture himself.

"Is this an interpretation of Asmodeus?" He put a finger on his chin, mustering the ink image. (Name) nodded slowly and swallowed before answering. "Yes."

It was mere than a whisper.

Ryuji didn't want to pry any further, seeing how uncomfortable the girl suddenly grew. But she wasn't that kind of person to leave someone stumbling in the dark - since she knew it all to well herself.

"Well, you know," she looked into Bon's brown eyes as she slowly answered with a soft voice, "I am the worldwide only known person to be completely unable of seeing demons. I must have gotten so many temptaints," she laughed sadly which strangely made Ryuji's heart clench, "I can't even count the attempts anymore."

Even Lewin seemed a bit upset now which was rather unusual for him. Bon hadn't even realized before the girl had bandages wrapped around her arms, but it wasn't that visible if one didn't notice it since her long-sleeved clothing hung down far enough to cover them.

"Well, I must finish this drawing soon," her tone of voice changed and a small smile made its way up her face again. "I wish you much look at finding your needed information. If you need help with anything, just call for me." And with that, she acted like the two of them haven't even talked to her in the first place and quietly continued drawing, humming a melancholic tune.

"Thanks (Name). Good luck to you too," Lightning spoke as he waved with his hand and began to stroll off. Ryuji muttered something like 'goodbye' as well and the two of them were almost out of the aisle, as...

"Lightning!" (Name)'s voice could be heard again. "Yeah?" Said male peeked around the corner.

"Say, do you see that ... that thing back there too?" The girl pointed towards an unilluminated corner of the library as her finger trembled just the slightest bit.

"No (Name). I don't see anything." The male looked quite somberly as he watched the empty corner. He just knew this too well.

Just too well.