It was around midnight when I strode slowly into my old home, The Heroes Guild. It was silent, almost as silent as a grave, or as silent as Rose Cottage, considering all the graveyards in Albion were full of the Undead. That's besides the point anyway.
I didn't use the Cullis Gate this time, since I was only in Bowerstone, I walked. The only person who stopped me on the way, was one of the two men standing by the moving statute in the Lookout Point. He spoke to me in riddles about a blue mushroom next to a talking door in the Guild. I decided to check it out after I got some rest. Thanks to the conversation, I suddenly remembered the young widow who pleaded for my help to save her son. I bid the clearly insane man farewell and went on the down sloping path towards the boasting platform and the familiar double doors that led into the safest place in Albion.
The doors opened with ease and they barely made a squeak. The room was dimly lit and as I climbed the small stair case, I discovered that it was also devoid of life. Everyone was in their comfortable beds, sleeping after a hard day of training. I lightly walked around the large map in the center of the room, trying my hardest to stay quiet, and went to a place that was most familiar to me in the whole Guild besides the training grounds. The library.
Bookshelves as high as the ceiling greeted me upon entrance, the room wasn't very enclosed and anyone in either the map room or the library could see each other without a problem. The room had no desks or chairs, which was surprising to most who wondered into this place of words. I was pulled into a moment of remembrance and smiled, I took a few minutes to pick out a couple of books regarding many famous Heros. Some include the legendary Jack of Blades and Whispers brother Thunder. I looked at my books with a tired but satisfied smile. I've had little to no time to read with the constant quest after quest.
I glanced around the room and focused my eyes on a long, dark hallway in between two sets of bookshelves. This was the door that led to the Chamber of Fate, the place that was rarely used, except for when a Hero graduated from training. I remember it mostly as the only quiet place in the evening, the time I spent studying.
The hallway itself, that went between the library and the Chamber of Fate, was actually a bridge that cut directly through the Guild Caves. I could remember multiple occasions when Whisper had dared me to jump into the deep abyss. I was never stupid enough to do it, but another hero apprentice that was our age certainly was, he survived, but only barely. To be fair he probably only did it to catch Whispers attention, he was in love with her since day one after all.
I continued walking and entered the Chamber of Fate. As expected it was quiet, and empty. I slouched my way into the center of the room and placed my books on the floor before I let my body follow. I took a moment to breathe in the familiar scent, then I picked up the nearest book on the top of the pile and cracked it open to the first page.
I read and read, until I unwillingly felt my eyes shutting and the book slowly slid from my hand and hit the floor with a dull thud. Soon I started dreaming. Actually dreaming. I've only had nightmares outside of these walls of my home. It was a nice change to be dreaming of Whisper and our childhood instead of the constant horror my life has become. There was no monsters or blood, just smiles and playful hushed voices as my best friend and I snuck around causing trouble between the other apprentices.
My best friend. Oh, how I miss her.