Keeper's Oath

Chapter 19: Books and Guardians

"Absolutely not!" Ritter spoke loudly, staring hard at Hope from behind his square glasses. "Guardian isn't coming here to teach the two of you how to use your powers. I don't think that would be such a good idea, honestly. Everyone is on red alert lately thanks to the attacks."

Hope and Livius were sitting on the seats in front of Ritter's office. The Shadowlight had heavier bags under his eyes than she remembered yesterday. She assumed that due to the attacks, he wasn't getting enough rest like during the holidays.

"Knowledge isn't here to teach us." Hope began hoping that she could talk sense to Ritter. She knew that Ritter only wished to protect them from Guardian. Even if Guardian had made her uncomfortable last time, he still could help them learn. Hope only wanted to protect others now, she had been protected long enough. "Guardian said that he could teach us. There needs to be a stop to these attacks."

"That's what Knowledge is doing right now." Ritter said flatly. Hope wished to argue against him but then he continued. "You two have recovered from your ordeal... for the most part. Now maybe it would be wise to teach you two how to use Shadowlight magic?"

"No, I mean yes... eventually but right now I feel like Livius and I have to be able to use our guardian forms. It will be better for everyone." Hope still tried but Ritter looked like he wasn't having any of it.

Ritter rubbed his eyes and then sighed.

"How about this? We can go and ask Ronald if he would be willing to teach the two of you how to do guardian stuff." Ritter then got up and walked towards the door. Hope and Livius exchanged glances.

"I don't think it would matter who we learn it from." Livius said with a smile while Hope wasn't looking that happy. She wished that Knowledge would be here but he wasn't. The young woman was starting to grow antsy just being in one place. She was worried that Knowledge had abandoned her. "I'm sure he'll be back soon, Hope."

Livius patted Hope's shoulder. It seemed that he was able to tell what was on her mind. The young guardian nodded to the man. The three exited Ritter's office and went down the stairs. It was then that Ritter took the lead and was heading towards the general idea where Hope knew the library was located at.

They went past the dining hall and the guest rooms. Hope could hear Hari sniffling quietly in one of the rooms that was next to Livius' room. She wondered how she was holding up. Hope imagined that she was going through what she had first been through when she woke up as a guardian. There had been so much confusion and wanting to go back to her home.

This was her home now. That's what Hope had accepted and she assumed that Livius had accepted it as well. She was sure that he still missed his family just like she missed her family.

The two went around the corner end of the hallway. To their right, Hope saw a large wooden door that had a gold doorknob. Ritter went towards the handle and twisted it. He slowly opened the heavy wooden door.

Right away, Hope could smell the scent of strong coffee lingering in the air. She saw bookshelves everywhere. They were filled tightly with different books. At a glance, the large room seemed to be a maze as the bookshelves created walls and pathways.

Ritter went in first. Hope followed along with Livius. The walls of bookshelves went on for a while until Hope saw different paths. The Shadowlight went straight away. Both Hope and Livius gazed up at the shelves upon shelves of books which surrounded them. It took them a bit more time until there came an opening from the bookshelf hallway.

There was a wooden desk that was surrounded by piles of books. Behind the desk there were tall rectangular windows which let light in. Between the windows there were more bookshelves which were filled as well. Hope wondered if they had just ran out of room for all the books. She looked around to see more piles of books on the floor but they were stacked up.