Chapter 16

Infallible Babble

-~:{+}:~-

"Stop yelling in my library!"

Roland was not in a good mood. Not one bit, with all the yelling. Though what annoyed him most was being ignored to his face, which is exactly what the two visitors had done. At least he was finally able to silence them, giving each a death glare.

"Now, I'll ask again. Why are you here?"

"I'm here for the Red King again. His Majesty was requesting a certain book, and he also sends back a few volumes he borrowed earlier." The knight handed three books with a slip of paper to their proper owner, who skimmed the note. He seemed cautious about the message.

"Hmm. Alright then. I suppose this is none of my concern to question." The small stack of books was handed to Elise. "Put these on the desk over there. Read, just stay here until I find it…"

The librarian pulled out a ring of old keys and made his way to another part of the library. Elise did as she was told and placed the books on the only empty area the desk had. It was surrounded by books and covered with papers and notes. Despite being cluttered, it did seem organized, if nothing else. Either way, it was none of her business. Sitting back down at the table, she remembered the other guest in the library, now facing Faris Read.

"Hmph. This is unusual… What exactly are you doing here anyways, girlie?"

"It's none of you're business. And don't call me girlie. Name's Elise, if you must know."

{This is awkward… I really didn't see this coming.}

They glared at each other. Understandably, this was uncomfortable. It wasn't everyday she had to sit down with someone who tried to kill her just yesterday.

The Knight mumbled a bit to himself, thinking aloud. "Is everyone in your world like this?"

"Like what?"

"Er, well… I guess- nevermind. It's not important anyways. Just thinking to myself."

"Seriously. What is it!"

"Hmm. Prying could be the right word. And perhaps getting involved in things that don't concern you could count too. Or attracting attention. Lots of people have heard about you already."

"I've already become that known to people?"

"It's not everyday we get a foreigner. Besides, you were causing a stir."

"Well, I couldn't just let a kid go out there like that…" Thinking, she started to soften up. "I came to this library to figure out what I need to do, even if the librarian has an insufferable attitude…" She really didn't like being in a place without having some background knowledge.

{Maybe I shouldn't have gotten involved in this game. It's not my place to mess with their affairs like that.}

"Though I do find it interesting that you're here so late."

"I could say the same thing about you. You even arrived in the dark."

"Because people don't like to go about in the dark. Still, I would have thought Roland would have kicked you out… Unless it has something to do with the books." He rested his chin on his palm, thinking.

"The books?"

"Yeah. He cares a lot about the books in this library. Visitors don't stop by often, since it's too much hassle, so it seems like he only has these books. Plus, it's his job to take care of them, and he hates it when hard work goes to waste."

{So that's why. He's still annoying, but things kinda make sense now. It was probably putting the books back, or even bothering to read them instead..? I don't know…}

The conversation was ended with the opening of a door. There was an old tome in the hands of the librarian. With a sigh, he also took out a piece of paper, placing it behind the front cover.

"There. Bring it back soon, and make sure he doesn't use it as a pillow."

Taking the item, this Knight couldn't help but make more mental notes aloud. "That took longer than usual. Isn't this from the section right down the hall?"

"I had to double check something. Are you done here?"

"Actually, Her Majesty would probably become upset at me if I return during nighttime-"

"No."

"Why not? You'd be fine outside for awhile, unlike this girl." He spoke, pointing at Elise, much to her annoyance. It was deja vu to her. Reminded her of a boy at her school who liked to keep making jab at everyone, but it was obvious he was just kidding around, even if he would aggravate someone's OCD. He expected people to poke back, unlike the librarian, who just seemed sour.

"Oh, you're just too kind, Mr. Schuyler." Elise spat back, with a heavy dose of sarcasm.

"But didn't you call him insufferable earlier?" From the way he said that, one could tell he didn't catch the sarcasm in her comment, even though it was heavy with it. This knight didn't really get verbal irony too well, for some unknown reason.

"Insufferable? Must be the best guest I've ever had. So much that I'm tempted to let you wander out in the darkness of the woods."

Elise rolled her eyes, crossing her arms across her chest. "Because I'm sure you get bucketloads of them."

"And you're a wonderful reminder as to why."

{What… I should have taken my chances with the woods.}

The Red Knight stood from his seat, a little unnerved by the situation. "Okay, okay. Maybe we're all a bit tired. I'll just get going now. Seems much more worth it than staying here with people like you."

"People like who!" The two yelled at Faris in unison, this knight waving while he quickly made his escape, slamming the door behind him. Gritting his teeth, Roland wasn't too happy someone slammed the door like that in his library. He made his way to his study in the other room. While he started to organize some more books, Elise decided to get some sleep and headed to the small room mentioned earlier. Her reaction to the room was a slight slouch. It was filled with bookshelves, like every other room in the building. She loved books and reading, but she couldn't fathom how many volumes were in this building.

{Damn. Are all the books in the world somewhere in this place?}

Sitting on the bed, she took off her shoes and socks, placing them on the floor. Since she didn't have any nightclothes, she figured there was no point in changing, and just removed her scarf and jacket, slipping her hairpins in her pocket. There was a large window at the head of the bed, and moonlight crept past the curtains. Even though she was tired, she couldn't calm her mind enough to rest. It didn't surprise her much, but it happened often, so she found it annoying. All it did was warrant a sigh as the dark-haired girl stared out the window.

{This world is beautiful… I've never seen anything like it…}

The scene from the library on the hill gave a wonderful view of the country, with the rolling hills, brooks, the sea, the mountains, the palaces. But it made her feel a bit homesick thinking of it, for she had always wished to see more of her world, back when she sat by the window on a rainy day. This was beyond expectation.

-~:{+}:~-

"Hey, Elise. What'cha doing?"

Elise was sitting by the glass doors that lead out to the main parking lot of the school. People were leaving left and right, trying to get home on a rainy day, and this little box between the cafeteria and outside was where the group of friends waited a bit afterschool either for rides or for the congestion of cars to clear enough. Elise had gym classes for her last class hour, so she was first to arrive here, waiting for everybody else. Aileen, a girl with dark red hair and glasses, had just caught up with her.

"Just drawing, as usual."

"Looks like you're scribbling over a drawing…" said the freckled red head, snatching the sketchbook from her friend.

"Hey! Why do you always do that? I don't impede upon your sketchbook."

"But I want to see what you're drawing. Besides, you know I do this with everyone anyways."

Blowing a tuff of hair out of her face, Elise just gave a silent, but annoyed agreement, shaking her head. "I'm trying to come up with thumbnail sketches for something in C-Bass's class, but I don't know what theme I'll use."

"Well, aren't you the person who prides themselves on being able to throw out any kind of creative shit anytime?"

"Yeah, but I think I've drawn enough squids made out of clocks for one year. I killed my hand doing that one."

"Hurr… Maybe you can find inspiration from something simple… Let me think…" She started pacing back and forth in front of her dark-haired friend. Aileen was humming some sort of tune and stroking an invisible beard. Just another day with these two. "Why don't you think of six impossible things before breakfast. My mom told me to do that when I was little, and I never stopped!"

"Hmm… I dunno. I don't really like that idea-"

"Why not!"

"Because, then I'd have to think of something impossible."

"Huh? That's kinda the point."

"And that's the problem."

"Ehh… I don't get it?"

Elise just sighed, dropping her forehead in her hand. "Anyways- Where is your sister, hmm? Can't leave without her, ya know."

Notes: This was a bit longer, I just hope the dialogue didn't drag on too much. I don't feel too used to balancing it with other things yet. I've been working on too many comics, I suppose. But yeah that Red Knight doesn't get sarcasm, Elise and Roland may be more similar than they think, and Elise doesn't like to come up with six impossible things because that means accepting that they're impossible. (come on, she is in another world!)

With the chapter title, I was kinda reminded by the Grand List of Console RPG Cliches, #101. Or the Law of Productive Gullibility (Ruby Rule). Whatever you want to call it.