Raven arrived at the library to find the front desk unmanned. That was a first for her. Peering into the main room where all the tables and chairs sat, the paracrest spotted the small librarian woman moving slowly with a load of books under one arm. It was strange to see a civith holding books while trying to move. Like the kethi, civiths were four-legged with hand-like front feet.

  “Do you need help?” Raven asked, hurrying over.

  “No.” She snapped at the paracrest, “My assist who usually does the shelving is busy with a more important task as of late. One you brought to my library.” She thrust a book into what Raven assumed as the right spot before turning her head to gaze up at the adventurer.

  “Oh, um, sorry. I didn’t think that selling all the records we found in that bunker would be such a problem.”

  “Bah. If Ramjack wasn’t such a good transcriptionest it wouldn’t be. The school wouldn’t be pushing to get them done as fast as possible. As it stands I might need some temporary help to finish the shelving. Gods knows placing all these books is not my forte, even as an [Organizer].”

  “Here, let me carry those while we talk that way I won’t be taking up your time to do your job.” Raven carefully took the books from the other woman and let her lead on. “How goes that project anyway?”

  “Hmmf. Latest projections say it will take at least two months to get through. I have them on overtime but give them a day off on the regular. Don’t want my people burning out from this workload.” The librarian would point out a shelf and Raven would place a book as they continued to talk.

  “Well, I take it the library stands to make a lot of money from this find?”

  “Yes. Even if they are all shipping records the school is very excited bout the new history books they are going to write from it. So much of the older history was wiped out when the Amber Empire cities burned and most of the previous bunkers found were already looted or otherwise destroyed.”

  “There’s also another door that has yet to be open.” Raven informed her which brought the civith up short.

  “More you say? I assumed you adventurers cleared the whole thing out.”

  “We cleared all the floors we could access, making them safe for others to come in and help with the salvage. But we turned in the quest. Can’t really say we got paid since we had to give it back as the cut of the loot. My group’s rights to the rest of what is down there is gone, but we also don’t have the ability to get through that door.”

  They went back to the desk to get more books as Raven continued. “There is still one other thing. I don’t know if it has been sold yet. Have the magic repositories been checked yet?”

  “Not that I am aware of. I believe we still have them here in storage. Now that you have returned you should take them back. Make them your responsibility once more. Last thing I want is someone thinking they are valuable and break in here. They could damage the archives.”

  “May I go down to the archives then? They need to be evaluated for sale.”

  The librarian sat back down on her stool behind her desk, studying Raven. She let out a huff and gestured towards the employee only door. “You know your way around books so I expect you will be respectful down there.”

  —————————

  I was nearly done with the latest scroll on my table when I heard the door open. It was much too early in the day for professor Voss to be here. Looking up I saw Raven coming down the stairs. We both smiled at each other as I set down my pen.

  “Glad to see you’re back. Checking on our progress or just here for the repositories?” I asked.

  “A little of both. The librarian upstairs was telling me it might take another two months to get this all done?”

  “At least. There is a lot of work here and the school is paying extra to fast track it. We even have the history professor working here after his classes.” I stepped away from my table to fetch the four orbs. I had been tempted to touch them, to figure out how they work while she was gone. Thankfully the transcription job kept me so busy I didn’t have time. “Here you go.”

  The paracrest woman took them from me, another warm smile on her long face. “Thanks. I have to start evaluating what’s on them. If they’re all the same I can spread them around but if each has their own information I bet the college will want to buy the set.”

  “The way they were described to me they act a lot like personal data systems back home. Things you want to keep just for you instead of keeping in a central system.” I decided to be vague with my words given that computers, let alone a world net, did not exist here.

  She lifted her head a bit, meeting my eyes. “Sounds like your old home had things that are very expensive here. These repositories are said to be more common in Varcalis, where the most educated of [Mage]s live.”

  I gazed back into her yellow eyes. They were slightly to the side of her head from her herbivore evolution but could still focus forward for depth as they did now. “Well, uh, I need to get back to work but if you wanted to talk about it again I am free tomorrow.” I could feel my tail brushing the back of my legs as we spoke.

  Raven’s sail rose a bit as she put the orbs away in a pack. “Sure. Do you know the Groundpounder Bakery? I promised a friend I’d take him there but I’m not sure if he’d be up for the outing. Could get some buns and chat and I can still bring some back for him.”

  “I’ve passed by it I think.” I wasn’t sure where it was really but I would find out.

  “Good. See you in the morning Ram.” Her voice was sweeter in my ear for some reason as she turned, heading back up the stairs.

  “See you.” I croaked, swallowing before I turned back to my table.

  ~Making a date with her already?~ Tick asked, still focused on her own work but clearly having heard us.

  My ears flattened, heating at the same time. Was it really a date? I mean, she was attractive but what if she didn’t date outside her species or date mammals? The thoughts swirled in my head, distracting me from my work.

  ———————————

  Raven headed back to the guild, already thinking of the next day. She wasn’t sure if it was a date she’d made with the cute librarian or just a friendly chat. She didn’t know much about him besides him being from elsewhere and his love of books. He was also kind of adorable with those ears of his, acting so much like a sail in the broadcasting of his moods. She had only mentioned Mazen in passing because she was still feeling the librarian out. If he had no interest in her that way, well, having a well read friend in the area would be nice.

  The guild was pretty busy when she walked in. Mazen was seated at a table by the fire, drinking from a cup. He seemed to light up when he spotted her and waved his hook hand.

  “Warming up there Maz?” She asked, sitting down across from him.

  “It’s pretty cozy over here. Still a bit on the slow side, like the evening of a desert. I still won’t be able to do much work for the next few weeks or so till I fully acclimatize.” He took another sip, setting his cup down and meeting her eyes. “How are things on your end?”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Looks like Jace left the repositories at the library till I could get back. I need to get together with him for reviewing them. Even in your state you should be able to help us out. These should be pictures of the past and maybe show images of them in motion or even talking.”

  “Not reading?”

  “If there is I will handle it. Too bad the library is so busy or I’d do as I said and get you lessons during your down time.”

  “You still haven’t introduced me to Jace.” Mazen changed the subject.

  “Well, I haven't seen him yet this morning. He is probably at the Engineering Guild or something, helping with the copper parts we found. I should bring you over there anyway since someone at that guild might be able to fit you with a working arm.”

  “Will still be expensive. I was told that I should go to Varcalis for a new limb but it would cost me more than I could make without a big score in years of adventuring.”

  “That’s just it Maz, we did hit a big score. Would have been bigger if there is something past that door we couldn’t open but the repositories might be enough to help get you that new arm from them. Not one fully dependent on magic, but on engineering.”

  Raven noticed the silence fall over the room as two men entered the guild. A tall minotaur with bulging muscles and a much more delicate looking human. She didn’t know their names but she did recognize the two of them. They’d gotten a two week ban a while back for breaking the reception desk.

  The talloni clerk, Ettris, squared his shoulders as they approached. Every eye in the room was on them, even Mazen. The human of the pair cleared his throat. “We’re here for a job assignment.” He said, standing tall I n an attempt at dignity.

  “I see.” Ettris’s voice carried through the hushed room, “Yes, I have several that have landed on my desk. Some of the local farms have reported exploding wildlife at their edges and want someone to investigate. A warehouse on the edge of town is requesting pest control. The Scholar’s Hall has requested any potential specimens of what they are calling a ‘Forest Star’ if some should exist.”

  “Rats… please.” The whole room let out a breath of relief. Conversations started up again but Raven got up from her seat.

  When the two men left Raven was next in line and smiled brightly at the clerk. “If you are passing out assignments my partner and I will take on the farm. We can handle investigations.”

  He flexed a brow at her. “Really? Didn’t you secure most of the new bunker? This seems a little under your pay grade.”

  “It can be but since the others involved in that quest are scattered, it’s just me and my partner.” She gestured at Mazen who was slowly waving his hood hand in the air.

  “Ah… I see. Well then, it cannot hurt to give this quest over to the two of you. It should be pretty easy. The farmers are concerned about what might have happened and will need these, exploding creatures, cleaned up. The college might also wish to know about it.”

  “Thank you.” She collected the detail slip of where to go and returned to her table. “So Maz, would you like to sit here all day soaking in the warmth or do a little walking around with me?”

  ————————————

  The farm was outside the west gate of the city, not far from the guild. Here the nicely paved streets of the wealthy gave way to the more rugged use streets leading into the the farms. They were often hidden from view, and smell, by the city walls. On top of that Raven could see a well used road looping south along the outside of the city clearly for farm traffic.

  It was close to noon so Mazen had chosen to go with her. The sun soaked into his shell as they walked, bringing more animation and life back to the chelkren. They walked till they couldn’t see the gate anymore. The farmhouse sat back from the main road, its own path winding up to it through a few fruit trees.

  The smell of the apples on the air overrode the much fainter stench of manure. A human man dressed in simple clothing and a straw hat stepped out of the front door and waved to them. “Are you the adventurers here about them exploding critters?” He asked.

  “Yes sir. My name is Raven, and this is my partner Mazen. We are representatives from the Guild of Adventurers here to check on the problem.”

  “Good to meet ya. Names Bart Hillcock. When we’s told the guards what happened they said they would inform the guild about it, as it more a you problem than a they problem.”

  The farmer started to walk around the side of his house where Raven could see a few other humans at work in a small patch of field. It looked more like a private vegetable garden rather than a full field, something she’d seen planted in her own hometown. Even her grandmother had a smaller patch by their house.

  “So I was out in the way back field, tending our cows yesterday afternoon and all of a sudden right by the fence this creature just appeared out of nowhere!” He waved his arms in the air as they walked, passing crop fields of corn and wheat till they got to the cow pasture. “Scared me and my cows both. Especially when it just exploded, turning into goo right in front of my eyes!”

  They walked past the pasture to the back fence, showing off a weird pile of colorful pile of said goo. But it was really the stench that hit her first. It was sharp, acidic, and had her covering the end of her snout. The human farm was similarly effected, holding his nose shut with ease as he continued to speak. “Yea and den der was dat smell too. Holy Jezus it was bad”

  Mazen didn’t seem to have as much of a problem but he kept his distance none the less. Raven backed up a few paces, her eyes watering. “Yes, that is really bad.” She pulled a strip of cloth from her pack and tied it over her nose while still keeping her distance.

  The farmer backed up too and snapped his fingers as he let go of his nose. “Know wut this reminds me of? Reminds me of the stories my grandpappy used to tell.”

  Raven was just retrieving thick gloves from her pack as she stopped, giving the man a confused look. “Oh? Stories of exploding creatures?”

  “Naw.. Not that one. Both he and grammy appeared like that one day, only they didn’t explode see? Grandpappy used to tell stories of being out in the field at his own daddy’s farm when he turned around and suddenly there was Dacathus in front of him. Grandma though, she was in some big city, turned a corner, and was in the forest not far from here. Both of them appeared like den critters that exploded.”

  She pulled on gloves, swallowing as she thought about his story. “I have a friend like that… got up from a desk and was in a corridor. Got lost in the woods till he found Dacathus.”

  “He another human like me?”

  “No. Never seen his kind before. Said he was something called a Zagariean.”

  “Ah well. Maybe more of them will show up. Plenty of good farming space out here even for new comers. Grandpappy always said if someone shows up from out of town the good Christian thing to do was offer them a roof and help em out.”

  “You are most kind sir.”

  “Oh you can just call me Bart if you like.”

  “Bart. Is this the only one? I heard it was farmers.”

  “Oh yes, there were two others around here about the same time as me but when we discussed it they said I could handle it. Will show you the sites.”

  “Thanks. Mazen and I will get to work. We will still need to talk to the other farmers about what they saw but we can clean up the scenes first.”

  “I’ll let them know ms Raven. Thank you for coming so quickly. I didn’t think it’d be a good idea to go touching that goo. The smell is upsetting the cows so I really did not want it ta be sitting der long.”

  —————————

  Cleaning up the three goo piles took a while. Mazen got to hold the containment bags steady while Raven scooped up the mess. She at least found some spare cloth for him to wear since the smell bothered him so close up.

  It was the afternoon by the time they were done, tired and trudging back to Bart’s farm house. Raven saw some of the same people she’d spotted early gathered in the parlor as they came in. Bart himself though was at a round table near the kitchen with a few new faces. Two humans and two paracrest.

  “I take it you got the goo all cleaned up ms Raven?”

  “I did.” The bags were secured outside. Thankfully they had mild enchantments on them to keep anything from leaking, weather it be liquid or gas.

  “Good good. This here my brother, Calvin Hillcock.” A man with a similar look to Bart, tanned skin and brown hair, reached his hand over for a shake. “Ma’am” the farmer greeted. “And his wife, Sissel. Our other neighbors, Amber and Tulip.” He gestured towards the paracrest who nodded in greeting. “They are whose farms ya all also helped today.”

  “Excellent.” She shook hands and nods in turn before sitting on a chair. They were clearly made for humans but had a huge gap near the bottom perfect for those of us with tails. A stool had been provided for Mazen since his shell was a bit too bulky for a baked chair. “Now, please, tell me what you saw.”

  Raven had focused on Calvin first and the man nodded. “Well ma’am, I was keeping an eye on my sheep when I heard the explosion. It was more like the sound of a ripe melon or maybe a full bag smashing into the ground from a height, ya know? I looked up and there was pieces strewn against my fence. The sheep all ran to the other side of their pen as this horrible stench filled the air. Cleared out my nostrils let me tell ya.”

  She turned next to her fellow paracrests. Amber fit her name with the color of her skin and feathers. “I was harvesting cabbage from my field. I heard the thing let out the most horrific noise, something like a scream, before it seemed to blow up all over the place. Never seen anything like that before.”

  Raven took notes of what they all said before putting on a smile. “I will report this to the guild but I get the sense that this probably won’t happen again.”

  “I hope not ms Raven.” Bart shook her hand, then carefully shook Mazen’s hook. “Was a mighty scare that was. Oh and about your friend, feel free to tell em about us out here. There might have been humans in this here city before my grandparents got here but non of em were American so the family knows a few things about being outsiders.”

  “I’ll pass that along. Have a nice evening.”