Ravenfire

When I opened my eyes again, it was already past midnight and only the candelabra on my table remained lit. I cursed. I accidentally fell asleep in the library thanks to the combination of Toad’s drink and my lack of sleep.

“So you’re finally awake,” said the school librarian, the lord of the hanging tentacles, Bartholomew with a smile. I learned his name thanks to the nameplate he wore that day. In front of him was a poetry book, two fresh cups of aromatic tea, and a white teapot. He calmly sipped his tea.

“Have you just been here staring at me this whole time?” I asked, partially weirded out by his sudden tea break in front of me.

“As interesting as humans are, one gets bored of the same scene spanning multiple hours. I was reading poetry.”

“Do you ever sleep?”

“I only ever need a few hours of sleep. And it’s rare to have a sleeping visitor so late at night to join me for tea.” He offered me a drink. “It’s Earl Grey.”

I accepted his offer and drank some tea while waiting for myself to be awake enough to sneak back inside the dormitory. I wondered whether I was in trouble for overstaying, but he seemed to be very calm about the whole situation.

“You were muttering something about your hatred for certain reptiles during your nap,” he mentioned.

“Really? Who would’ve guessed…” I pretended to be surprised.

The library demon stirred his tea. “Tell me something about yourself, Ms. Ravenfire. It’s not every semester I encounter a student asking for books on the old world. They’re always looking at the future, the possibilities that universe merging could bring. Why the interest in the affairs of the past?”

“I’ve heard several explanations about how we ended up with this new reality, but I still can’t completely understand it. I feel like the real answer lies somewhere in the past.”

He seemed intrigued. “Strange, isn’t it? The thought of the merging being initiated by a single, powerful bomb.”

“You think there’s more to it?”

“Perhaps?” He took a sip of his tea. “Isn’t that what you think as well?”

“Honestly, I do find it strange. If bombs could really do that, why didn’t it happen before? There might be more to it than firepower.”

“Perhaps something deliberate?”

I looked at him for a moment. His expression remained unchanged as he sat there refilling his cup. His words were said so casually, yet I couldn’t help but suspect that he knew some hidden truth.

“Were you there when it happened?” I asked.

“I was alive when it happened, but I wasn’t here yet. There was no way for me to get here before the merge. However, I do know one thing though. When I arrived, the sky was perpetually dark and the land was nothing but ruins. It surprised me that a handful survived all that.”

I finished my tea and checked the time. Almost one in the morning. I stood up. “It’s been pleasant, but I have to go before any of the professors catch me here. Thanks for the tea.”

He chuckled. “I quite like speculative discussions like these. To question what is known. To look beyond what is written. Best of luck to you, Ms. Ravenfire.”

The academy castle at night was vastly different from daytime. There were shadows and subtle noises at every corner. The cold night air gave my cheeks ghastly kisses. It was so dark that I was tempted to summon myself a small flame. I loved the atmosphere as much as the snowy field.

Passing through the courtyard, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw three hooded figures dressed in identical robes dragging what looked like the shape of a human body wrapped in cloth. I quickly hid behind a large stone statue of Arum. They seemed to be very vigilant, moving quietly until they disappeared through the gate.

Who were they? And what were they up to?

I was about to follow them when a golem patrolling the school passed by, forcing me to retreat and hurry to the direction of the dormitory. By the time I returned, I lost track of them.

I went to the greenhouse after class to tend to my row of poisonous plants. I actually got the hang of gardening and was enjoying it. I couldn’t wait to craft myself some vials of poison.

Elliot was nowhere to be seen, probably still doing his best to avoid me. I supposed he would be steering clear of the greenhouse as well when I’m around.

I was deep in thought while repotting a plant. I couldn’t get the scene from last night out of my head. I recalled Emrys Blackthorn’s warning and became painfully aware that time was not on my side.

“Are you alright? You’ve been mindlessly stabbing the soil for ten minutes now,” Emma asked out of concern. It was then when I realised that we were the only ones left in the greenhouse.

I looked at her. “Yes. I’m fine. I’m just… thinking about something.”

Suddenly, Emma’s face lit up. “Is it about last night?”

“Sort of.”

“I was wondering why you were out so late. You were with a boy, weren’t you?” She attempted to tease me.

“If the librarian even counts as a real boy.”

“You and the librarian?” She was shocked.

“I simply fell asleep in the library waiting for Rose after class. We were supposed to do our essay together. And when I woke up, he was having a little tea party right in front of me. Hardly a romantic evening.”

“Rose never showed up?”

“No. And it’s odd that she wasn’t at class today either. I don’t know how I’m ever going to finish the essay if she’s that hard to find.”

“I’m glad I haven’t had any problems with my essay partner Aidan.”

The name was unfamiliar. I couldn’t recall anyone in our class with that name. “Who’s Aidan?”

Emma was surprised by my reaction. “Aren’t you friends with him? I’ve seen both of you talk.”

I tried to search my memories, but nothing came up. “I don’t know any Aidan.”

“Aidan Salamander?”

“Oh. So that’s his first name? Huh. I was half-expecting him to have some reptile-sounding first name.”

“You never knew?” She was surprised.

I shrugged. “I’ve always just called him Salamander.”

“I find that rather odd. Even though you’re friends…” Emma was fascinated by my ignorance.

I turned to look at her. “He’s not my friend.”

“If he’s not, then what is he?”

“Let’s see… A pain in the neck?” I stabbed the soil to make my point clear.

“Come on, he’s not that bad,” she said with a smile.

“Why are you defending him, Emma? Don’t tell me you have a crush on him.”

Emma’s face said it all when she blushed red like the fresh roses she always kept in our room. “Is it… obvious?”

“Wait. Wait. Hold on a minute. You seriously have a crush on Salamander?” I was trying to wrap my head around it. After failing to comprehend why anyone, especially Emma Sweetblossom the embodiment of goodness, would like him, I burst into a fit of hysterical laughter.

“Remina, why are you laughing?” Poor Emma was confused.

“Sorry. I just…” I continued laughing until I fell off my chair and curled up on the floor until my stomach started hurting.

Emma smiled awkwardly and waited until I picked myself up and sat back down on the chair.

I straightened myself up and cleared my throat. “Forgive me. Why do you like him anyway?”

“He’s very nice and… different from the others.”

“Salamander? Nice? What universe am I living in?” Oh, this is brilliant.

She looked a bit uneasy. “I can’t help but feel that you’re making fun of me.”

“I’m sorry, Emma. It’s just hard to imagine him being nice.” I did my best not to laugh uncontrollably again.

Emma’s eyes suddenly squinted as she bent forward to have a look at one of my potted plants. “Remina, there’s something tied to your plant’s stem...”

“What’s this?” I discovered a rolled up note tied with a white ribbon. I carefully removed it and unrolled the paper.

“What does it say?” Emma moved closer.

“Meet me on the third floor of the library after class…” I read the note. “Hmm. Is this a threat?”

Emma was excited for me. “No, Remina! Maybe someone wants to confess their feelings to you.”

“I haven’t made any new enemies lately though.”

“Not feelings of hatred! Love!”

“I doubt it.” I paused while looking at the suspicious note. “Still, this is worth checking out even though it might be a trap.”

When I arrived at the library, I made my way up the stairs until I reached the third floor overlooking the rest of the library down below. Here, the sound of the tentacles were much louder. I circled the place looking for any students around. It was nearly empty, except for a single seat that Elliot occupied. He noticed me and turned his head, still with fear in his eyes.

“Elliot, have you seen anyone on this floor who might show signs of hostility towards me?” I approached him and asked.

“I sent that note,” he said awkwardly.

“Oh.”

That was unexpected.

He hesitated a little before speaking, “I just want to apologise about what happened in class and also for everything else that happened. I know you’re not her and you have nothing to do with her, but it still haunts me. I can’t help but feel anxious.”

“Who was she anyway?” I took a seat beside him.

He sighed deeply. “Maura. She was a girl from my settlement. My memory of the incident is hazy, as you saw. I don’t know how she was killed exactly. All I know is that it’s my fault she died. And nobody ever forgave me for it, including her.” He tried to look at me. “When I see your face, I remember her. I was always afraid that she’d return to haunt me.”

My expression was serious. “But I’m not her. And I doubt we’re even alike.”

“I know. I need to get used to separating you two, but it’s difficult.”

I had an idea. “Give me your hands. Let’s do the activity again, but this time, you look into my memories and see for yourself that I have nothing to do with your past.” I held my hands out.

He took a deep breath before taking them. I noticed he was trembling less than when we first attempted the activity. I suppose there’s been some progress.

We both closed our eyes and concentrated. I tried to think of home, my real home. Not the settlement where my uncle lived. I thought of the snowy mountains overlooking the fields, the warm cabin where my family lived, and the wildlife that made the place feel alive.

When it was over, Elliot looked a lot calmer than before. “Was that your hometown?” He was surprised.

I smiled a little. “Yes.”

For once, he actually smiled too. “It’s beautiful. Thank you… for showing it to me.”

I drew my hands back and leaned on the table. “I haven’t been there in a long time.”

“Why not?”

“I moved in with my uncle to become his apprentice. The settlement is a bit far from my hometown, so I haven’t been back since.”

“Do you miss it?”

“Sometimes.”

“I don’t miss mine. I never want to go back.”

“Things didn’t go well with your family?”

He shook his head. “I don’t have a family. Not anymore at least.” The tone of his voice sounded so sad that I almost felt sorry for him. I wondered if this had something to do with the burning house I saw in his memories.

“Family doesn’t have to mean blood relatives. You’ll get one.”

He smiled a bit. “I hope so.”

“I have one more question for you.”

“What is it?”

“Are you really allergic to nuts?” I asked with a serious face.

He laughed and shook his head. “No. I’m not.”

“Huh. So you can laugh.”

He was a bit embarrassed. “I’ll admit. It’s been years since I have.”