8 The Unknown Tracks (2/2)
”She is, would you like me to take you to her?” He asked courteously.
”Yes please.”
The aide led them to the large desk in the center of the room. Sitting behind the desk writing in what looked like a log was an older lady with snow white hair and dark eyes. She glanced up as they approached the desk.
”These two would like your help with something.” The aide said.
”Very well” She said before shooing the aide away. ”What do you need?”
”We were looking for the book A Complete History of the Founding of the Decran Kingdom.”
She rubbed her chin upon hearing the title. ”That one... it was one of the books that went missing a few weeks ago.”
”Missing?” Casey asked, ”How'd they just go missing? Were they stolen?”
”That is what we believe. Someone broke into the library after all of the staff left.”
”Have they discovered who took the books?” Lia asked.
”There was nothing left behind, so no.” The librarian answered flatly before going back to her log. ”If that is all, I have work to do.”
Lia turned to Casey and said, ”Well that's that, shall we go back to class now?” She began walking towards the exit of the library.
”Hold up, that's it? Just gonna forget about it?” Casey ran after her.
”Yep, pretty much. It's not our problem anymore.”
”At least tell me a little more about what you remember about the description in the book.”
She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him, ”Argh fine! But before I say it remember that I am solely going off of memory and nothing else.”
Casey nodded and gestured for her to continue.
”The description was of one of the Shaydes that invaded the kingdom 500 years ago. It stated that many of them had narrow feet the size of a large man with four claws.”
The memory of the Shayde from the painting flashed through his head, causing him to shiver slightly. ”You can't mean that you think that the thing that killed that deer was a Shayde?!”
”I told you, it's just going off of a description from my memory. Not exactly something to be taken seriously.” She said before pausing. ”It couldn't actually be one… Right? No one's seen one since their defeat…”
Rubbing his forehead, Casey reluctantly said. ”We might be able to find out for sure if it is or not.”
”What? And how would we do that? That book held the most detailed description I'd ever seen. How are we going to find something else like it?”
”There is one more place I know of, but we're going to have to find Ronin to get to it.”
”Wait Sir Galand?! Her Highness Sara's guard? How could you know him? And why would he help us?” She asked, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Not knowing how to answer her he only said, ”That's a little complicated” and started heading back to the Rider wing.
It turned out that their luck was very good, they found him just as he was leaving the lounge.
”Ronin, wait up! We have to talk to you.” Casey shouted after him
Ronin's shoulders tensed up when he heard his first name being called out. He turned around and fixed Casey with a glare. ”Trainee. You address me as Sir Galand. Understood.”
Ignoring the glare Casey said, ”Yeah yeah whatever. Anyways, I need to get back into the Knight's Hall, it's very important.”
Glancing at Lia Ronin said, ”And why would you need to go back there?”
Lia shied away from his gaze and remained silent.
”We have to take a look at the mural with the Shayde.” Casey replied.
”Might I remind you in case you forgot, that hall and that mural especially is supposed to be confidential.” Ronin put extra emphasis on the word Confidential. It was clear that his patience was running thin.
”Oh right… Well it doesn't matter now, this is more important.” Unfazed Casey continued to press him.
Ronin stared at him for a moment, probably trying to decide how serious Casey was, before sighing and saying, ”Alright, but Sara is the only one with the key so it will have to wait until tonight.”
”Okay that is fine. We can wait until then.”
Without another word, Ronin left them there in the hall.
”What is the Knight's Hall? And just what is your relationship to Sir Galand and the Queen Regent?” Lia asked, completely bewildered by the previous conversation.
”You'll find out later, and as for my relationship with them… Like I said, it's complicated.” Casey laughed, ”Anyways we better get back to class now. Don't forget to bring your sketchbook tonight.”