Answers but More Questions

The small galleon slowly limps into the dock of Telina. Unlike the vessel her crew is relatively unscathed and quickly departs the damage transport.

“Well we’ll be here for awhile.” The captain informs the trio of passengers “That should give you plenty of time to find what you want.”

“Yes sir.” Alexia replies before the trio begin to drag the cart carrying their cargo.

The city around the young trio as they head towards the Library of Telina is buzzing with daily going-ons. Despite the crowds some of the folks across the city watch with surprise or awe at the visitors and the contents of their cart.

“Finally!” Roden exclaims as they finally arrive at their destination. The young mage slumps with exhaustion after letting go of the cart as Leonius walks up to the doors.

“Hello.” Leonius knocks on the sturdy door.

Shuffling can be faintly heard behind the doors.

“Ah, welcome back young Leonius.” An older woman greets the young inventor. She spots his two companions and the cart behind them. “Who might they be and what would be in that cart?”

“This is Roden.” Leonius states with a hand out towards the mage. “And the young woman is-” He begins before spitting out Alexia’s name with venom “Alexia.”

“The thing in the cart is why we are here.” Alexia glares at the other young inventor. She softens her expression as she looks at the other woman “We are not sure what it is so we came here with it to make sure it could be properly identified.”

“I understand.” The librarian steps over to the cart to look inside. “Dear Loran! What is that?” She gasps at the sight of the corpse.

“That is what we would like to know.” Leonius answers as the woman collects herself.

“Alright then.” The woman walks back into the library and she spreads an arm out in to the trio “Please follow me.”

“So you have been here before Leonius?” Roden asks the pale man.

“Once before.” Leonius smirks.

The young trio follow the sagely individual up a stairwell. And another stairwell. And yet another stairwell.

This continues on for what feels like an eternity to the young adults until finally their guide breaks her silence.

“Here are the scrolls and tablets on flora and fauna.” She explains with an outstretched arm to the shelves behind her and walks over to a shelf a few meters away “Until here.”

“What subject matter are those?” Alexia inquires.

“Religion and philosophy.” After a moment, She bows towards the guests “If that will be all.”

“Thank you for the help.” Roden replies with an awkward slight bow of his own as the other two begin to look at the contents of the shelves.

“May Loran guide you to the answer you seek.” The librarian says as she walks away.

-- -- --

“Anything yet?” Roden questions his companions. He grabs an unfurled scroll from the far end of the table the two inventors are studying at and begins to clean up.

“Finally!” Leonius slams the scroll in his hands onto the table. He reads the scroll aloud “It is a crocodile like creature that lives in forested swamp lands.”

“That is it?” Alexia inquires with an annoyed look at the man across from her.

“That is it.” Leonius returns a mocking expression of his own.

“At least we have an answer now.” Roden intejects trying to relieve the tension.

“Tch.” Alexia mutters unwilling to hide her annoyance.

“Exactly.” Leonius says setting the scroll back on the table. He looks at Roden “Thank you, someone understands.”

“I get it.” Alexia sighs in defeat. The woman stands up and begins to stretch “Does it at least have a name?”

“Batra-cho-to-mus.” Leonius examines the scroll again.

“Well that is definitely a name.” Roden replies with a bit of disappointment.

“I guess that is good enough. Still though,” The woman looks at the scroll in front of Leonius “The most important question is left unanswered.” She stops stretching and looks at Roden “Why did someone move a creature from its natural environ to a different one?”

“Wait a moment.” Roden points at Alexia in realization “You are right. I did not even think about that.”

“I can see that Alexia has all the brains between the two of you.” Leonius mocks under his breath.

“If we were not in such an important place I would beat you senseless.” Alexia stoically replies as her eyes meet Leonius’s with so much frozen fury it could freeze a batrachotomus in its tracks.

“Now now.” Roden steps in front of Alexia. He looks back at his friend “I can defend myself Alexia, I am not the same defenseless child.” The mage’s gaze lands upon the sickly man sitting near by “And if you think me so stupid than perhaps you would like to test that?”

“It was a slip of the tongue.” Leonius gulps. The frigid gaze of the pair causes him to stammer “I-I did, did not truly, mean it.”

“Well then.” Roden says with a raised brow whilst Alexia walks away without another word. “Where are you going?"

“Else where.”

-- -- --

Alexia finally reaches the bottom of all the stairs back to the main floor.

“Ahhhhh!” The librarian from before spots Alexia. “Did you find what you seek?”

“We did.” Alexia sighs. She gives an awkward slight bow “Thank you for the help.”

“I did nothing worthy of thanks.” The woman replies with a smile “Loran blessed you with the information you sought.” She looks over at the entrance reminding her of something. “Whatever did you want to do with that corpse?” She inquires the inventor as she returns her gaze.

“I wanted to donate it to the library.”

“Well now.” The librarian smiles “Thank you.” The woman gives Alexia a bow “That is something worthy of thanks.”

“Please, there is no need.” Alexia raises hand.

“There most certainly is.” The older woman retorts as she stands back up.

A moment of silence falls between the two. Realizing that the conversation has ended, the librarian begins to walk away.

“I was wondering something else actually.” Alexia states causing the librarian to stop in her tracks.

“Yes, whatever could this be about?”