Requiem [Sirius the Jaeger]

Chapter 25 - Reasons

"On life's vast ocean diversely we sail. Reasons the card, but passion the gale."
~ Alexander Pope

The candle flickered as the cold wind entered the room. It calmed down once the breeze had passed, allowing me to read the words that were written on the old pages. Though I have read them at least a hundred times before, somehow they drew me in once again. Even if there were nothing more than ink sprawled on a dead tree, they were the only thing that managed to calm me down in times like these. Well, calming might not be the correct term to use here. It was more like they distracted me efficiently, so my mind wouldn't wander again. Nights like this one weren't rare and therefore, I had somehow grown used to them and the nightmares that drove me into the library in the first place. Although this may be the wrong word too. Memories is probably more fitting. Memories of flames and screams, of brunt flesh and torn limbs, of fresh snow and crimson blood.

I shook my head in order to get rid of the images forming before my eyes. I just managed to shake them off, I shouldn't let them back into my mind so soon. Instead, I dedicated myself to the book before me, enjoying the silence in the huge room. If only this place could always be as quiet as it is now. It would make things much easier.

However, even though it was nighttime, silence didn't last long. I looked up as I heard the sound of the door opening. I didn't move to look at the intruder, rather I trusted my other senses to reveal their identity.
The footsteps that came into my direction were quiet and light, rich in numbers too.
Short, doesn't weight much. Probably another child. Who would be up this late?
I faintly remembered the scent that they carried. Old pages littered with ink would probably be the best way to describe it. It was familiar, yet nothing that I could sort to a specific memory. Still, I knew that this smell was around me every day, even outside the library.

„Hello" The sudden voice startled me. I was so deep in thought about who this person is that I totally missed how they approached me. The girl had seated herself in the chair next to mine, looking at me with a smile that was already too cheerful for my liking. Who the hell is this happy at this hour?
I chose to ignore the strange girl, looking back down onto my book, continuing to read. Or at least I would do that if she wouldn't interrupt me again.

„What are you doing here so late at night?" Oh dear good, she isn't only cheerful, she's talkative too. What have I done to deserve this?
„Reading" was everything I said, hoping I would shut her up with that. Sadly, she seemed to take that as an invitation to talk even more.

„I can see that, silly. I mean, why at night? You could just read during daytime, like everyone else, yet you go here in the middle of the night. And you do that often too." I could practically feel her stare burning into the side of my head. I had the feeling that she wouldn't stop bothering me until I answered her questions.

„It's quiet."
„Huh? Isn't it quiet during the day too? It's a library after all."

At this point, this girl was starting to get on my nerves. All I wanted to do was to read in peace. Why can't things go my way for once? This time however, I decided to stay silent, hoping she would understand that I didn't want to talk. It seems she didn't.

„You aren't talking much are you? You don't say anything during the lessons either, yet my brother says that you're one of the best. At first, I didn't believe it, he says a lot of rubbish after all, but then I saw you during practice and you were so cool!"

Sighing, I turned my head to look at her once again. She was about as tall as me, but she had darker skin. Which wasn't hard considering my skin tone. With the lack of light in the room, her dark brown hair almost seemed black. Her eyes however shown bright, the candlelight reflecting in her emerald orbs. Sure enough, I faintly recall her from class, as she already annoyed me there. She was always talking too much, trying to start a conversation with everyone that came across her, only to be ignored. I almost pitied her while my attention shifted back to the book.