The library was surprisingly cozy. Not enormous and expansive like she'd suspected, although there was certainly a significant number of books... but they were tightly collected and there was little wasted space. The light was bright enough to read by without being harsh, and there was a comfortable amount of open space.

I wouldn't mind having a library like this one day. Nodding to herself, she browsed through the books. She noticed the way her guide tensed when she approached a few sections of library, and so she steered clear of them for the moment. Perhaps she could study those later, but for now... she settled into a chair with her chosen tome – a collection of historical articles, it seemed – her shadowed hand expanding to cradle it comfortably while turning pages as needed.

Beginnings of Heaven: The Origins of Ciel

To understand the origins of Ciel, one must understand the world it came from. In the ancient days, man struggled against the beasts of the dark, for while they are weak they are without end. The fight to drive them back is an endless one, and eventually men will always fall. Even more; the beasts are drawn to what man builds, and settlements were nearly impossible to defend.

That is, without an Awakened. For them whose souls cried out, the beasts were easily crushed, yet the gift of Awakening was rare. So it came to pass that tribes of men wandered the land, rallying around the Awakened as heroes and warlords, as leaders and guardians. These tribes could not grow too large, or the Awakened could not protect them, but if they fell too small they could not sustain themselves. As time passed, the Awakened grew used to their status as heroes and were loathe to surrender power and influence to band together with others. So, although small bands of men interacted, they never became one. Mankind was divided.

Until the advent of Omen Ciel. He was, at first, an unremarkable Awakened. He was strong, and quick, but no more so than others. Yet he was clever... and the Nature of his Soul was Creation. From his own soul he wove steel and cloth that could turn aside the innumerable claws of beasts, and forged blades and spears that tore through their hides with ease. So armed, the men and women that followed him could turn the tide of beasts on their own, and grow without fear of drawing more than they could weather. As more gathered beneath his banner, they clashed with the tribes surrounding them... yet the power of Omen's tribe was great, for it did not rely solely upon him. But, while they could weather the infinite storm of beasts and the aggression of their fellow man, they could not do so forever.

Thus it was that Omen looked once more to the future, and sought to build a fortress from which they would never be dislodged. From his soul he wove steel and stone together as one, creating fortifications the likes of which had never been seen before. As the fortress grew, so did the reputation of Omen's tribe... and, one day, they received a visit from another.

For a woman named Aradia had come to Omen's land, leading her own tribe. Yet the neighboring tribes had grown aggressive in response to Omen's dominance, and they whittled away at her people as they passed through, and Aradia had grown desperate. She offered herself to Omen's mercy, pleading only that her tribe be given shelter with him so that they could be spared while she slipped away alone.

But Omen was clever, and he looked to the future. He offered her his hand in support. "Stand with me, and let this fortress be ours together." Shocked, she accepted, and the two tribes became one. The Nature of Aradia's soul filled a purpose Omen had not realized... for while he brought forth material from his soul, Aradia brought forth light and energy from her own. Together, they built a grand fortress that would weather all assaults... and Omen discovered something unique.

Aradia's methods could be learned. Not all of them – there were great works that only she could manage, immense fountains of energy that he could never accomplish... but still he learned. He brought forth fire from his fingertips and frost from his breath, and his soul exulted in her magic. Thus armed with his blades and her magic, they turned their focus outward, and began to collect the other tribes.

Man, after all, would never succeed so divided. And, although some tribes refused the light of civilization, choosing to remain wild and roam the lands, many chose to join the ever-growing beacon that was Ciel's Fortress.

Even today, the descendants of Omen and Aradia are always born with powerful souls, and their Natures always turn to the world around them rather than within.

Blake's ear twitched at the sound of the door and she turned to see a young woman entering, a candle in one hand. Blue eyes swept the library before freezing as they passed across Blake's seated form. Slowly, the blonde girl moved forward, her eyes flicking rapidly across Blake and taking in details.

"You must be my sister's... guest." Her voice was smooth, but there was something about it that bothered Blake. Some weight that was difficult to describe in words.

"I am. Are you the sister she mentioned?"

The girl blinked in surprise, her advance momentarily paused. "...She mentioned me...?" Her voice was a quiet murmur, but she shook her head and continued. "Yes, I am Salem of Ciel. I confess surprise; I hadn't expected one of your people to make the library their first stop."

Blake's eyes rolled before she could help it. Even in the past... "We're not all the same. I happen to like reading, and I was curious what I'd find here that I wouldn't find... elsewhere."

For a moment, Salem seemed to stumble over herself, a flush across her cheeks as she scowled. "I-" She struggled with words for a moment before blowing out an explosive breath. "...I apologize. I haven't interacted with one of y- with a Wilder before. I have only stories to judge by."

"Perhaps you shouldn't judge, then." Blake looked back down at her book, before a flash of memory. This is... she reminds me of Weiss, a bit. She sighed. "I... No, I'm sorry too."

A somewhat awkward silence fell between them as Salem shifted her weight back and forth uneasily. Finally, she coughed into her hand. "...Is that history you're reading?"

"...Yeah. I was curious about Ciel."

A small smile grew on Salem's face. "And... what do you think? I understand the tribes usually have a... low opinion of us and our city."

Blake tapped a finger against the book in thought. "It's... the city is impressive. I'm not - that is, history is often unreliable, so I don't know how much of the history between y- our people is true, but the city is definitely more advanced than I expected." She shook her head. "I haven't interacted with enough people to have an opinion of them, though. Only your sister, one of her soldiers, and now you."

Salem winced slightly as she considered that. "I see..."

While their conversation remains ongoing, you are distracted.

Because Salem is... blurred to your senses. You can perceive her through Blake's physical senses with ease, but through her magical sense – and your own, through the Flame – Salem is... indistinct. Something about her is disrupting your ability to perceive her.

You could investigate, but it runs the risk of alerting her, and she might realize your existence... or she might think Blake is probing her.