Ebony Mist -Original

Part XV: The Library

After cleaning up and getting something to eat, Alaura decided to take a break from painting. She walked the newly paintd garden, and went to take stock of all the canvases she had, planning what she could do with them. A week passed, and with every day, Alaura would paint something. Able now to utilize runes, as she would ask Yvette about the different runes. Always the woman was able to point to a mark somewhere on her body for the princess.

One day she spent on her room, another day she painted simple objects, splashing water on them expiramentally. All of them melted in the same manner that Xi had described the kitten as doing. One of them she placed close to a fire, and it wasn't long before it began cracking from drying too fast, and crumbled into flecks of paint on the hearth. This concerned Alaura, it meant her magic wasn't as she thought it to be.

In fact, one day it rained, and the courtyard turned back to the dreary dead piece of land it was before. Alaura spent the next day repainting it nice again, determined to at least see it remain beautiful as much as she could.

Once a day she also visited the druid, who still slept in his room, Yvette careing for him in his state.

All thought these days a single question bothering her. What was the price she must pay for this magic? Thinking back, wasn't that one of the two unbreakable rules the magic users at Everim Castle always mentioned? A conduit, and a price to pay. Obviously her conduit was her voice, or the paint and paper. Perhaps if there were a library, she could see if there was mention of someone before who had received the power of muse. Or even any of the other powers.

"Xi," Alaura called out to the empty hall where she had stopped in her pondering one day. There came no answer. "Xi?"

"Yes? What do you want," the demon cat snapped, appearing a little further down the hallway.

"Is there perhaps a library here?" she asked him. "And if there is, could you take me to it?"

"Of course there's a library! This way," Xi said, walking off. Alaura trotted to catch up, following the cat down the corridors. They walked deeper into the mansion than before, until coming to a set of double doors. Xi shook his tail and the the door opened on squeeling hinges. Alaura stepped inside.

The first thing she was aware of, was a large small grating sound, like scraping pebbles. In the middle of the floor was a pile of strewn books, while around the room were shelves stocked with books and scrolls. Shelves lined up along the floor as well, and looking up, Alaura saw two levels of balconies above with more shelves.

Alaura's heart leapt at the sight of all the books, her mind in awe and wonder at what all the pages help, what stories were told within the covers and scrolls. But then the realization of how much was there sank in as she looked around.

"I'll never find what I'm looking for," Alaura sighed, her eyes still scanning all the shelves.

"Well, don't worry, I'm sure the book keeper can help. Now, where is that chinchi? Abraham! Get out here you spoiled rodent," Xi exclaimed, jumped ontop of the pile of books and digging through it. He stuck his head through a hole between a few books. "Wake up, Abraham, you old man! Ow!" Xi shot back, stumbling off the pile and rubbed his nose with a paw. "He bit me."

"Of course I bit you, ghost light. It's rude to wake someone up from a nap," came a voice as the grating sound had stopped. Out of the pile climbed an odd looking creature. It was the size of a racoon with fluffy fur dappled red and white. It's paws were black, all four of them, the back two like a rabbit's, while the front two resembled the hands of a racoon. He had a small nose and mouth, but bit eyes, and great ears to match. On its face was a set of round spectacles, which it adjusted with a paw. "You deserve more than a good bite to the nose, you cat."