Dusty Old Tomes

The library.

Seth wasn't one to spend much time gazing over dusty tomes but the events of the previous evening were inescapable to him. It was a phenomenon that he couldn't explain with what limited knowledge he had at his disposal. Besides, Seth was not an expert on non-human creatures or forest dwellers. The only thing he was an expert on was the way of the lance and how to care for a wyvern.

So there he was, wandering the castle library during breakfast hour like a lost lamb. He didn't even know where to begin searching for what he wanted, or even if any hypothesis he had would give fruit from any book he grabbed. All he knew was that Sin was something of a forest or a water creature that had an affinity for music that no one else could hear.

If that was the case then why even bother playing, he wondered.

Seth dismissed the thought. If Sin played then there must have been a reason for it, if only for his own enjoyment. Still, that didn't explain why no one else could hear or see him for that matter. Determined, he wouldn't leave the library until he had a handful of books to search through in his private quarters. He began collecting various volumes of every possible subject related to the other: nymphs, ghosts, sprites, violins, and then finally, sirens.

He recalled Sin's words the night before, dismissing his first prediction, but Seth figured there might be something related to them. He couldn't snuff out a feeling in his gut that he wasn't exactly wrong about this. By the time he felt he had everything, he had collected a total of seven books, almost too heavy for him to carry.

Seth heaved the stack of books and dropped them on the receptionist's desk. "I'll be borrowing these for a few days," he declared.

The old woman who had hardly paid him any attention glanced up from a parchment she had been writing on with a large feather quill and adjusted her glasses. A bit perplexed, she glanced at the tomes and then back at Seth. "These are all for you?" she croaked. "Rare to see one of the King's knights do any reading."

"I'm not a knight. I'm a wyvern rider," Seth corrected her, proudly.

"It's all the same to me." She put down her quill and began to examine each book, one by one. "I'll need your name for records."

"Seth, Madame."

"Seth. Wyvern Rider..." She began to make a note of each book title and their respective categories, and even a description of the man before her. "...and you're checking out so many books on magical creatures? Sure you don't want to take a book of fairy tales with these? Why the sudden interest?"

"It's for the witch hunts." A lie, and one that made little sense. "Erh- that is," he caught himself and raised a hand in protest against his own words. "Some of us think it's not a witch at all. So we're looking into other possible causes for the plague spreading about. Some think it might have to do with poison in the water."

The librarian only stared at him coldly before taking another note. "Suit yourself," was all she said.

Seth felt awkward as he slowly began to collect his books. "I might return later this evening. Will you still be here? I might need help finding something."

"So long as I'm awake then I'll be here, Sir Seth. Everyone who needs me simply calls me Lilith. Ring the bell if you can't find me." She pointed to a small golden bell beside her.

"Thank you, Lady Lilith. I'm in your debt."