3 back to the archives

Eva opened her eyes and once again found herself her in the mysterious library.

"Maybe I'll come here every time I pass out?" she murmured.

Eva walked to the familiar desk with the open book and leaned forward to read.

"Eva Hartley lost consciousness and returned to The Archives for a second time, her body was being tended to in Ardenshore by Miss Fifer."

Once again a chill travelled down her spine. Setting her discomfort aside, Eva wandered down the aisles of mighty bookcases, stopping once in a while if a certain cover caught her eye. Unlike what happened when she touched the book on the table, the other books had no reaction.

Sliding out a book with a solid gold cover, just like all the other books she opened this one was written in a different language that she couldn't read. She sighed and put it back.

Turning around a corner, she found a large wooden desk in front of a wall filled with clocks. The surrounding space hummed with the ticking, a welcome break from the complete silence of the rest of the library. The desk's surface was stacked high with loose papers. At the front of the desk was a strange domed object. Eva was confused for a moment but a memory of Katherine's surfaced, reminding her what it was — a desk bell.

Eva pressed down on the protruding nob. A crisp ring echoed around the library. She waited in silence for something to happen. Just when she had given up, the soft hoo sounded from behind her.

She turned just in time too see a majestic grey-brown owl glide out from one of the aisles and expertly landed on the desk. It's sharp claws scraped the surface, leaving deep gashes in the wood.

The large owl hunched over and spread out its wings. It hastily kicked away the offensive papers on the dusk, creating a clutter-free perch for itself. Once satisfied, the owl folded in its wings, straightened its back, and stared at Eva with unnervingly intelligent glossy black eyes.

Katherine's world was based on science and technology, and thus her memories proved fruitless when it came to magic related subjects. Eva, on the contrary, had a better magical education than most commoners since her father used to trade in artefacts. Although she had never seen a familiar herself, she knew they existed. Perhaps this owl was one such animal with human like intelligence.

"Can you take me to books I can read?" She tentatively asked.

The owl's deep black eyes stared at her, or perhaps they stared through her, it's gaze was so sharp and deep that she couldn't be sure. In the prolonged silence of their eye contact, Eva began to doubt her first impression of the owl. Was she hallucinating the glint of understanding in its eyes?

Suddenly, the owl spread its wings and cooed three times. It launched itself off the desk and glided into one of the nearby rows. A smile spread across Eva's face and she ran after the magnificent owl. Her laughter echoed around the halls as she gave chase.

After minutes of flying, the owl perched on a wooden peg that protruded from the side of a bookshelf. It cooed three times and stared down at Eva to let her know it's task was completed.

She jogged to the nearest shelf and read the first title that came into sight 'The Divinity of Flowers by Queen Delphine.' It was a famous book written and published by the by the current Emperor's great grandmother. She was the figure who started the trend of appreciating flowers which had continued into the current monarch's reign, not to mention had become a huge part of Ardenian culture. When Charlotte had taken etiquette classes, reading this book was a requirement because it detailed the language of flowers and the occasions in which it was appropriate to give and receive flowers - something all highborn ladies had to know.

Eva sat cross-legged on the floor as she flipped through the familiar book. Having to sit through these lessons with her sister used to bore her to death, but for some reason the lengthy descriptions of the meanings of each flower read like a novel.

She finally turned the last page of the book. As expected the chapter on roses made no mention of blue or black roses.

The owl was still perched overhead. It's big eyes were closed and it's neck was tucked in, causing its shrunken neck to be shrouded in the soft and fluffy feathers that were usually hidden beneath the outer layer of brown feathers. It looked so relaxed that Eva felt bad about waking it up again.

"Excuse me, Owl." She found it was awkward to talk to an animal, especially if she didn't have a name to address it by.

"Can you take me to some books about dyeing flowers?" She called up to the perched owl that was eyeing her.

"Please." She added quickly, feeling that the owl's stare felt particularly grumpy.

The owl raised his majestic wings and glided down a different row. Eva smiled brightly as she ran after it.

The books the owl led her too this time were not in the Ardenian language, they weren't even from this world. These books were from Earth and were all written in English, Katherine's language which she had gained the ability to understand.

A while later after she had finished reading as much as she could about the different floral dyeing methods, she placed the last book down on top of the pile she'd read through. She had never been so focused in her studies before, but in this mysterious library she actually managed to read multiple books in one sitting.

She suddenly remembered the line from the book, 'Eva Hartley lost consciousness and returned for a second time to The Archive...'

This place was called The Archive.

Suddenly she felt a faint dizzyness and a soft voice echoing in her ear.

Eva's eyes fluttered open to meet the gaze of a young woman whose forehead was etched with a deep frown. As Eva stirred awake, a sigh of relief escaped the woman's plump lips.

"Finally," she smiled faintly as she gently dabbed a damp cloth to Eva's forehead. "You're awake."

Eva looked around the cosy room as she slowly sat up. She noticed her shoes neatly arranged by the door and her cap hanging from the back of a chair placed beside a modest wooden desk. Laying on a soft bed, a thin blanket draped over her, she couldn't help but offer a bittersweet smile... Eva used to enjoy sleeping in a cosy room even better furnished than this one, before everything was snatched away.

"Thank you," Eva murmured, remembering that she was in a stranger's house.

The woman shook her head, "No, thank you. If it weren't for you..."

She paused, unwilling to recount her unfortunate encounter. "I'm Tess, though most call me Miss Fifer. Thank you for saving me."

"I'm Evan." The lie slipped out surprisingly smoothly.

Even though Tess had taken off Eva's cap when laying her down in the bed, Eva's hair had long since been cut short to make working in the pub more convenient. With her underdeveloped body, there was still a chance that Tess believed she was a boy. Of course there was no reason to continue the lie, but there wasn't much a reason to come out with the truth either. The more people who thought she was a boy the better. It would leave fewer loopholes in the future when she was working. Of course she would not live as a boy forever, it was only until she didn't have to do manual work around the city.

Tess possessed a pair of captivating blue eyes, a stark contrast against her fair complexion and raven hair. She wasn't just beautiful; she was striking.

Eva shook her head, and lowered her tone to make herself sound more boyish. "I just acted on impulse. I even got knocked out — it's quite embarrassing, really."

Tess's gentle smile formed cute dimples on her cheeks. "I think you're very brave. At the very least, your valour surpassed that of any man on the street who heard me scream."

Tess's expression immediately sobered. The unspoken words were that if she didn't live on a street where prostitutes resided and her attacker wasn't an official, she might have received help from someone other than a weak young boy. Eva wanted to say something comforting but she couldn't string together the words.

Glancing out the window, Eva confirmed that the sun was now high in the sky, an hour or two must have passed since she was knocked out. There was definitely a discrepancy between time in the real world and in The Archive.

"I should get going." If she left now she would still have time to do her business.

"Wait," Tess hurried to the other side of the room and retrieved something. "Take this with you."

Tess handed Eva a beautiful square of white lace. It was something like the pieces Eva's mother would only bring out to wear on special occasions. It was undeniably valuable.

"I couldn't possibly accept such a beautiful..." Eva began.

"Please," Tess interjected, adamant. "Please accept it. You saved me today, I only wish I could offer you more."

Eva wanted to refuse, after all such a fine lace was worth a great deal of money. And she knew better than to wantonly accept money from people. But her plans to dye flowers needed some starting capital, more than just 3 shills. Not to mention that she needed to pay a doctor to treat Charlotte.

Seeing Eva's hesitation, Tess folded up the lace and slipped it into Eva's shirt pocket. She smiled warmly before stepping away. "Come again and visit me sometime, I'd love it if you're bravery could rub off on me."

With the thought of the extra money she could get by pawning it, Eva no longer had the strength to refuse. Since Tess was no longer in the room, Eva called out a thank you into the hallway, slipped on her tattered shoes, and exited the house through the front door.

Once outside, Eva saw that the official was gone. There was a wet trail where the man had been dragged out of the alley.

Looking back at the apartment, Eva felt that it was quite out of place. The apartment was spacious and clean, a few pieces of furniture in the living room looked particularly well crafted too. Most of the prostitutes working on these streets couldn't afford to live in such luxury. Perhaps she was the favourite of a wealthy man? but then again, why would a wealth many arrange for his favourite to live in such a dangerous area?

Whatever the means, as a single woman Tess could afford to have such a nice apartment to herself, and was able to give away such precious lace to a stranger. Tess was definitely a capable woman. Eva frowned thinking about Tess's soft expressions and gentle nature... Nothing was adding up.

Eva raced down the alley back onto the main street and was greeted by the bustling midday crowd. The market was in full swing and carriages lined the roads with pedestrians.

Eva raced home to fetch Charlotte. Her older sister knew a great deal about fashion, bringing her along to sell the lace would ensure they would retrieve the best price.