A Dreamer's Knight

Chapter 27 - Memories

One entered the Library only to find the floor deserted. He stopped himself from calling out for the elder Dreamer. The library books have always been a bit temperamental, and some of those thicker tomes can really hurt.

As he approached the desk, One's eyes caught on the black leather bound notebook that lay upon the counter. He was curious, but like many of the Elsewhere, One had more than one bad experience from carelessly picking up strange objects. Still, curiosity won out in the end, as it so often does. After a quick glance around the Library turned up nothing more than a stray biography flapping around one of the ceiling lights, he sidled closer to the notebook and carefully opened it with one of the many pens lying on the counter. There was nothing mind-blowing inside: just a small pen in the holder and a pad of paper currently half-covered in neat writing.

The squeak of a doorknob made him look up from the notebook. He quickly closed the book moments before a door in the middle of a shelf of historical accounts swung open to reveal Teach and the Dreamer known as Karma.

Little sister to Fate and Luck and wife to Teach, Karma is every bit as pretty as the other so-called 'Destiny Sisters'. A very modest woman, she wears long, serviceable dresses and speaks in a soft voice that can be heard over the loudest shout. If not the most kind and gentle of the Dreamers, she is second only to Mom.

Teach was in the middle of a conversation with his wife as they entered the Library. "I thought it was a little strange too. Fascinating, of course, but definitely odd to think that given the right circumstances-"

Teach stopped, spotting One. For just the barest of instants, One thought he saw a note of surprise in Teach's face.

Abandoning the notebook, One approached the couple. "Hey, Teach. Hey Karma."

"Hello, One." Karma said kindly as she walked past One toward the private sections of the Library.

One waited until she had shut the door before turning to Teach. "Where did you two just come from?"

Teach answered, "Vinta. I wanted to see Mikaen for myself."

Ignoring the mild indignation that came with the knowledge that Teach was checking up on him, One asked, "Well? How am I doing?"

"Assignment's going well, I'd say. He was with Tirinia."

One snorted. "That was the idea, wasn't it? Speaking of which, I've got a question about the assignment."

"Of course. Anything I can do to help out."

"Finish the assignment for me." One replied.

Teach chucked. "Nice try. What's on your mind?"

One pulled the list Teach had given him from his pocket and set it on the desk, "If I'm reading this right, I'm almost done."

"Perhaps, or perhaps there's still something else left to take care of." Teach shrugged and started to sort through the stack of borrowed books left on the counter, "Remember, this list is just a guide. I know how much you like to improvise."

One picked it up and looked at it again. "Says I just need to keep an eye on him for one more day. How much improvisation am I really gonna need?"

Their eyes met in the ensuing silence. One quickly raised his hands and said, "Never mind; forget I asked."

"Speaking of forgetting, have you spoken with Teria yet?"

One glowered at Teach. "Cute. No, I haven't."

"Why not?" Teach asked, seeming genuinely confused. "I mean, who better to help stimulate those memories back into place?"

"I know." One said as he sat down on one of the chairs at the counter, leaning forward so that his elbows rested on his knees, "It's just ... how do I tell her?"