I was about to walk through the doorway. "No. You must be authorized to enter." They held their hand over my hat, and seemed to focus... "There. Enter now."
I walked through the doorway, taking my sh- "Use the slip-on shoes. I shall limit as much outer debris as possible." I put the slip-on shoes on. The librarian walked through. I walked in after them.
"Also, as we're going to be working together, sleep is strictly forbidden on the couch."... The couch will probably kick me out if I sleep on it.
The librarian shut the door with a wrist flick (as usual). I watched lights around the room turn on... "What on earth...? Light magic?"
"LED bulbs. Light-emitting diodes? Completely mundane. Don't overanalyze me."
... Okay. "So, Jett-"
"Call me 'Maven', my practicing name."
"Maven...", interesting name... "why are you so... secluded here?"
They seemed relatively relaxed, stirring some tea. "I have no need for any interaction with human society beyond the bare minimum to make ends meet."
I... looked towards a mug. "May I get some tea?"
"It's kuding. Sure."
Oh. I poured some for myself... and tried not to pour too much. Maven is strict with their rules for living. I set the... very interesting kettle down. "What type of kettle is this?"
"It's a stainless steel electric kettle."
Oh.
"You know, Maven, I... kinda think you don't enjoy my presence; you seem suspicious of me."
Their face seemed concerned. "No, I'm just a serious person. I apologize for my brashness. I'm not used to having guests."... they smiled, "And yes, I am suspicious of you. You have a powerful energy within. You're an interesting person to interact with."
"Thanks for keeping an open mind, about me, I guess... I'm sorry." I sighed. "This is my fault. I should've never... I-I'm too..." I...
I've ruined everything... "Hilda... Hilda. Look up." I looked up... their face was... no longer the serious, cross face I was used to recently. "What?"
"I was too harsh with you. I've been... too harsh with you. It's not your fault those books from the library were stolen."
"But isn't it? I was the only one besides you who knew!"
They closed their eyes. "Okay, here I explain... I'm the guardian of Trolberg. I am suspicious of anyone who has knowledge that is privy only to me. Of course, you're the only other person who knows of that room in the library."
"So you blamed me because of your duty as a guardian?"
"Precisely why I get on your case for many of your stunts. It's nothing personal." They smiled. "Hey, we should at least socialize. I'm not good at that but we can at least try to be on familiar terms."
"You want to be my friend?"
"Sure. But, just because we're friends doesn't mean we have to be in constant agreeance," they put their hand over their chest, "I swear to not wrap you around my finger, to twist or bend your words, to mince my meanings, or to change the terms of which I have set for our relationship." They seemed genuinely happy. "There, I've bound myself to honesty."
"An honesty oath? Just like the Sparrow Scouts-... I mean, I quit a long time ago. When I was young, I told my mother I didn't really enjoy being a Sparrow Scout that much and she let me quit. She also apologized for pressuring me into it."
"Well, both are technically binding. But mine is more personal, and I know I won't break it. I don't break oaths, but I can revoke them."
"Is this a magic oath?"
"Well, it is now." They seemed very friendly. "Hilda, don't worry if I seem a little short of speech, I'm getting older, and as I get older I become more of a... 'grump'. As a guardian, I must stay centered, grounded, and in the empirical rather than the theoretical."
"It's okay! I'm just glad I'm not stuck here with someone who hates me!"
... "I was hasty. I'm sorry. You can return to your home if you want." They were more of a kind soul than I'd taken them for.
"I want to be here, and help you track down the strange individual."
They seemed conflicted. "I would tell you more about them, Hilda, but that may attract them here."
"... You know them?"
"Oh, certainly. For decades. Ever since I first became a guardian of this place, I knew. I knew of the legend of the spirit of the shadows. I knew they were an entity bent on getting what they wanted, regardless of the means they took to do it."
... "... What do they want?"
"They want to forcefully steal everyone's 'soul' and piecemeal them back into the void. Which won't work, but they're stubborn. It WILL end the cycle of life and death permanently but in the process cause immense suffering. It's unfair to forcefully do such horrendous actions to people who don't want them." This statement set off a memory in my mind. I nodded along.
"What's wrong? Did I say something that hurt?"
"I'm just... in the woods...", I sighed, no longer wanting to hide this story. "Do you- would it be a bother if I shared something that's emotional to me?"
"Go ahead."
"There was..."
"There was... I was out travelling through the forest just outside of Trolberg... a-and there was..."
...
"Hilda, you can sit here next to me if it's easier to sit and tell this story."
Right. I'll...
...
"So... I was walking through the forest outside of Trolberg, and there was this person out there, n-named 'Corey'. They... we made some small talk at first, I thought they were just exploring the woods as I was... then when I turned around they-", ...
...
...
"I'm sorry. I, I'm fine."
... I looked to Maven. They were... their brow was... they were concerned. "Hilda, if you don't want to share the whole story, that's fine."
I.
Uh...
"I'm... going to lie down for a bit, is that alright, Maven?"
"The guest room's down the hall."...
I went down the hall...
And into the guest room...
