Monumental, to say the least of this house of red brick. The meager brightness of the lampposts could do its clamor for the sky no justice, as the soft lights bared merely a hint of the pediment, the relief in marble that seemed alive in motion, and Doric capitals that lent it its grandfatherly dignity on pilasters and columns that completed the facade.

The light did wonders upon the brick, bathing it with softness and warmth. It was a welcome mood to a Loshis night. Vinter hoped it would remedy the humid cold that this month often brought with the waning sun as he left the paved sidewalk and started for the countless steps that would lead to the carved doors of the library.

It took him five minutes to reach the entrance, as lingering steps induced him towards a trance that eased his mind of troubles. Having no thoughts at all was the only way he could relax and rest, or else the life of a student wouldn't be so enjoyable. Stimulating ideas are not so refreshing when forced down the throat.

The doors were already open when he met the threshold. They seemed built for giants, as their thickness and size made one feel so small and insignificant. Vinter could only look up and see the bordered arches, helpless against the masonry that compelled him to admire. It's own simplicity was its majesty and no one who met it would forget it.

Inside, a desk was waiting for the students and faculty that needed it. Vinter walked on a thick carpet down the center aisle, shadowed over on each side by shelves bursting with hard bounds pages. The phosphor lanterns stuck to the sides of the shelves on iron grating made it seem as if the interior was just another street in this lovely night. Yet the nave that covered the heavens reminded him that it was not so.

He approached the scryer and smiled, bowing as he greeted, "Good evening Mme Opkins. May I ask if you have any new acquisitions tonight?"

Rosie looked up at the young man before her, the tip of her quill still digging a small series of circles directly into the wood of her desk. Her expression was a bit on the sour side as usual, but something in her eyes brightened slightly after studying Vinter's features. Her tone was still hard-edged, bored, and condescending,

"Not unless you count a couple of whining first forms who thought it worth their while to spill ink all over a chair to create a work of art this afternoon, no. Is there something specific you're hoping for?"

"Why, how unfortunate. I apologize for the recall in irritation," there was genuine surprise in his words, yet devoid of anything else. Pity for one. He never felt pity for anyone, believing it insulting upon the better character of people.

Vinter was not able to notice the sudden brightness in her eyes. He was already so used to the scryer's attitude towards those who wished to peruse the books here that a so minute change from that would easily be taken for granted. Vinter was not one able to easily determine subtleties anyway, despite his family's fascination and eagerness for intrigue. One of the faults he thought needed be changed, even though he didn't really have the time nor the fervent desire to do so.

"I am looking for treatises on Quantitative magic, some minor journals on Anaxi History--preferably concerning its economy, and then an entertaining periodical if there are any new issues in your collection. Hopefully, I'd like to see some new anthologies here, it doesn't really matter what subject it takes its base from, just as long as it isn't romance."

It was the same monotony in tone and blandness in voice that he always used in conversation with people, meeting Mme Opkin's condescension and soureity with his inability to care. It was so below him to pick on people's attitude towards him that he didn't really notice it. There was no point in such. The mores and manners in conversation were strictly being kept anyway.

Then, Vinter smiled, a warm smile, with what warmth he was able to exude, "I do wish not to be a bother though, so just any of these at your convenience would be quite helpful. Thank you so much for your time."

The sharp thwack-thwack-thwack of a leather satchel slapping against a thigh, the sound echoing in the cavernous room, announced the boy’s presence before his body did. It was evening. And for Eden, evening meant poking around in the library at all the technical engineering texts he didn’t really understand. Perhaps squinting at their dusty pages and lugging them around like a bag full of bricks would make him learn by osmosis. A boy could hope.

Stumbling up alongside the galdor man, the Hessean boy’s bright eyes flickered up at him curiously for a moment before looking to the girl.

“Hi hi hi again, Rosie!” he chirruped, spoken as if he was familiar with the girl. He lacked the social graces to notice he was interrupting something. The fastidious way he began hauling faded static magic tomes out of his bag and stacking them on the counter suggested he checked out too many books much too often. “These are. Um. Late.”

His cheeks bore a dusty rose flush and his breath came in quick little pants and his pale hair was all afluff. It was clear he must have bolted all the way here from wherever he’d come from. Not for any reason. Eden just liked running places. Suddenly, he cocked his head up at Vinter.

“You,” he announced with painful sincerity, “have the neatest beard. It’s not as neat as my daddy’s, but it’s neat.”

Rosie had somewhat stopped listening once Vinter began to drone on and on about whatever books he wanted. It wasn't her job to fetch books; students knew the decimal system, knew the stacks ... or at least, by the looks of this one's age, he should clocking well know where they are by now. The words "at your convenience" made her grit her teeth, the nub of her pen she'd been using to carve a circle deeper into the wood of her desk to snap loudly.

Opening her mouth to speak, the acidic scryer narrowed her eyes at Vinter, only to be interrupted by a rather bouncy and energetic Eden. Her mouth shut immediately, expression turning even less impressed as he passed her overdue books.

She scowled, ignoring the fluffier, puppy-like younger student and returning her angry gaze to the older one,

"While it's my job to assist students in finding specific reading material, you've hardly listed anything that would help me narrow down what you're looking for." Rosie gestured with her hands across the library, obviously indicating very specific sections as she spoke, "In cast you haven't noticed in your years of study here, the Quantitative section is upstairs, to your left, near science and mathematics. You'll find plenty of History and Economy on the lower floors, toward the windows, and all of the periodicals are on the stacks near the Reading Room, as always. As for some anthologies, I think you probably have listed enough to read for now that you could leave those out."

Her smile was both saccharine and sarcastic. She continued to ignore Eden as if he were just another lost first form.

The older student blinked--and then sighed. He did not wish to call out the scryer's ire. This was a moment of stupidity he fully regretted, and his face showed it. His eyes softened from their blandness, slowly dilating to a glisten, as his lips fell and weakened. His form almost took a step back, but he did not want to damage his self-respect any further.

He brought his fingers to a forehead bowed in humiliation before looking up again, "I apologize for being so stupid. I did not mean it to be so vague, but as more of an open question for something interesting you might know along those lines I've mentioned. Of course, you have said that you have not made any new acquisitions, so I should have been satisfied with that and moved on. I thank you for your help Madame. I'll be on my way then."

Vinter bowed towards the scryer in farewell and then turned to the younger fellow to meet the latter's greeting with a thank you. His body slowly motioned to move away from the reception desk, smiling as he engaged the younger form student with idle words, "I appreciate the compliment. Your father has excellent taste."