Riiga

[1]

The grey-haired man by the end of the isle had been watching the youth shuffle through books for some minutes, admiring how utterly lost in another world the kid seemed. The old man was not big, nor was he thin, and he didn't look decrepit as one would think a librarian would look. He looked to his left, then to his right, and he faced back down the isle and cleared his throat. 

"Can I help you?" he asked gently, shifting up his glasses. "You seem... somewhat lost, if you don't mind me saying so."

The old man smiled wryly and moved a hand to his mouth as though on instinct to forgotten habits - smoking a pipe - and he answered quite slowly. 

"Leuvana. Hmm. You're interesting in light and healing magic, are you?" He looked the youth up and down with his keen eyes, now leaning against the shelf with his shoulder. "I'm afraid you'll have to be more precise. A master index tells you where to find something. It doesn't tell you what you want to find."

"Truebloods..." the man repeated slowly. He began to approach the youth, his brows furrowing in thought. "Truebloods... Whatever you heard about them is a lie." He spoke louder now, almost as though he wanted whoever was nearby to hear him. When he reached Fin, he put his face close to the young man's and whispered, "You want to be reading another collection, lad. Would you follow an old librarian to his home? I collect things you won't see anywhere else. What do you say to that?"

"I'll tell you my name when we reach my home," the man said as he led Fin straight out of the library. 

They emerged into the extravagent streets of Alacas, containing the finest white architecture to be found for ages. The old man caught the gaze of almost everyone he passed, and most smiled and waved. For a librarian, he seemed well-known. They walked towards the middle of the city and began to head towards the large white manor in the middle, surrounded by waterwalls that flow from nowhere and into large crystal basins. They walked up the stairs, past the columns, and towards the front door. 

"Have you figured it out yet?" he asked his companion with a smile. "I am Amarion Alacas. This is my city."

Amarion simply smiled and put a hand on Fin's shoulder to guide him inside. 

"You have this inquisitive nature that reminds me of my children and grandchildren," he said. "You have this energy about you one cannot simple ignore."

They walked down the main hall and quickly entered a small mazy of corridors on an upper story. He opened the door to a dark room with no windows and lit a lantern, placing it on a table. The room was long, but it could not be told how long, for it was lined with bookshelves. 

"Leuvana, was it?" he asked, going to a shelf and shifting his glasses while he scanned covers. "Why such an interest in her? And why in the Truebloods? How do you even know about such a sacred race?"

Amarion simply burst out into a heart laughter. After a minute he calmed himself. 

"Ohh... Oh my. Quite the enthusiasm, child. I'm afraid you have much to learn about the children of the gods yet. Though it's true what they say; that most of them dwell elsewhere, out of sight, some also walk among us. But if you want to find out about Leuvana, that's fine by me. I've done research on it myself but when I realised I would have to leave the comfort and security of my home, family, and city, I was quite quickly put off. Other things became more important and just now that adventurous urge within me is sparking again... thanks to you."

He drew some books from the shelf and went and sat on the desk, letting a bit more light from the lantern. "I can try and answer any immediate questions you have to help you, for a start."

"Whoa, easy there boy," he said, holding up his hand. "You're asking some pretty complex things there. I'm not sure I even have enough answers for you, but I'll tell you what I know. The Truebloods, simply put, are a race of people very connected with spirituality. In fact, they're so connected that many have the ability to 'travel' to Adumbra, where the dead go."

He paused and folded his hands, looking down at the table. His eyes flashed with reminiscence in the lantern's light. "Adumbra is almost the same as the world we know, but everything is... black as midnight, if not darker. Your vision blurs rapidly and your hearing turns even whispers into warbled moans. When you reach out to touch something that appears right before you, you find yourself stumbling forwards into shadow. That is their land. That's the land the Truebloods guard. That is, if you will, their 'duty'. It's the duty bestowed to them by Leuvana."

He paused again, drawing in a slow breath. "I'm not sure what you mean by Leuvana's aim. It's true that the Odanon and Hireos have purposes but I am not positive that's what you mean..."

"Some people say their goal in their life is to just enjoy it, and fulfil their dreams and desires," Amarion began. "The less selfish focus on their duties, both to the world and to themselves. Leuvana, though torn from Nikina's ideals, helps only those who ask her for help. If she she followed Nikina, she would help who he asked her to. Because she is neutral, she answers only to herself and of course to Forganad."

He opened a thick book, turned a few pages, and turned it around so Fin could read it. "Read this first. It's about Sirins, Truebloods, and humans."

[1]

"Seems to me like there's only one way to find out more, and that's to find the Truebloods. However, this means going to Fabia, and then heading north to Hluff. Are you prepared to do this?"

Amarion folded his hands together and rested his chin on them, staring across the room for a moment. He muttered something to himself, quite inaudible, and sighed. 

"Indeed. To get that far you'll need transport. The two elders of Hluff are stubborn in their ways, but they are still young and not closed off to everything. We shall ride in my horse and cart. I'll have my eldest son lead in my absense. I'm sure nothing will go wrong. If we bring soldiers we would give the wrong impression."

He picked up the books and put them back where they were. "Does this appeal to you?"

"That depends what you'd like to bring," he said with a smile. He stood and went to the door. "The roads are clear at night, so find the carriage by the east gate at sundown and we can set off then." 

He left Fin in the entrance hall of his manor and went to prepare. 

[1]