The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

C22 - Judgement

Chapter 22 – Judgement.

Lightning flashed through the pitch-black night and briefly outlined the city outside, followed by a fierce boom of thunder that rattled the stone floor of the room. The storm raged on beyond the darkened windows lining the walls, the patterned stained glass rattling noisily with the deluge of raindrops assaulting it. The repetitive sounds echoed endlessly amidst the empty atmosphere of the deserted library within.

Shadowed bookshelves stood solemnly amidst the vast, empty room, arrayed in rows down the length of the rectangular space, accompanied by hanging ladders and tucked-in stepstools that allowed for better access to the vast troves of knowledge cradled within. Carpets of luxurious red rested on cold stone underfoot, trailing between the bookshelves towards deserted reading spaces and empty reception desks standing vigil amidst the pattering rain. Darkness gripped the silent library in a bitter chokehold, subjecting the space to the company of nobody save the chaos of the brewing storm outside.

"BIEN! Why haven't you done anything?!"

The squealing shout bounced off the vaulted ceiling, rivaling the thunder outside in its intensity. His eyes wide in shock and horror, the hat-wearing normin called Bienfu hopped forward on the table while raising his paws incredulously into the air.

"If what you've said is true," he cried, "then Velvet, who's just recently returned, is going to go head-to-head with a full-powered Shepherd all by herself! That's pure craziness, even for her!" Outside, another rumble of thunder resounded across the night sky, shaking the foundations of the castle itself while punctuating the normin's statement.

The shirtless seraph he had addressed leaned back against the stone wall behind him, crossing his arms. "You haven't been following her like I've been, Bienfu." Zaveid replied, giving the normin a serious look. "Trust me, that Shepherd means more to her than just some ordinary tool for her to use in saving Maotelus. The same can be said for what the Shepherd thinks of her as a supposed Lord of Calamity."

"So it's fine if they duke it out?" Bienfu shot back incredulously. "No way! If there's anything I remember about Velvet, it's that she doesn't take half measures. Letting her settle things with a Shepherd is just asking for trouble!"

Zaveid's expression darkened. "I know."

He glanced away, staring past the table Bienfu was standing upon. Another flash of lightning occurred outside, briefly illuminating the vibrant colors of the books arrayed upon the shelves and of the red carpet layering the floors beyond.

"This is just something that those two need to sort out by themselves." The wind seraph's words were simple and blunt. "...If one of them dies, then they die."

Bienfu stared incredulously at him. "Wh-what?! You're so cold, Zaveid!" he yelled. "I thought you had more heart than this – don't you care for people you once knew?!"

Before Zaveid could respond, a different, feminine voice rang out above the pattering of rain on windows, drawing their attention.

"Clearly, he does."

The two seraphim turned to find another normin calmly pattering on the plush rug towards them, a hefty-looking tome almost the size of herself in her grasp. Grimoirh perfunctorily adjusted her glasses with her free paw as she came to a halt on the floor before the two of them.

"Grimoirh!" Bienfu greeted in surprise, tilting his head down at the newcomer. "I thought you said you were gonna look into Leo's research?"

The other normin let out a long-suffering sigh, giving the two a sharp look. "Well, the two of you were making sucha detestable racket," she grumbled, "there was simply no way for me to reasonably pursue my studies."