Chapter 24 – The Library II

Wherein Rose makes a friend.  

The library itself appeared to heave a sigh. As if it was a creature, it stilled to listen to the music.

Marissa felt her spirits be lifted and smiled. She closed her eyes for a second to enjoy the feeling. From time to time, intuitive people would come in, and they would inspire the natural magic of the library to instil emotion into other visitors; through song, or through words, sometimes even through drawings. 

Going over to Rosa Rose’s desk, Marissa observed the girl. She was pretty, and cute, carrying a rustic air that would be worn down by life in the city over time. The sadness that clung to the girl emphasised her charm.  

"Rose? I brought you tea. I hope you like green leaf with cranberries. I brought sugar too, should you want it." The stream of words was the kindest she could utter to disrupt the melody. 

Rose looked at her and smiled so genuinely that Marissa found herself enthralled. 

"Thank you," Rose said softly. Something in her chest had eased. For the first time in three days she felt... light. 

Marissa's smile widened. Her eyes twinkled behind her chunky glasses. "You're welcome," she whispered back. She knew there was a warning to be given, about making magic in the library, but she couldn't get the words to cross her lips. Instead she smiled, not unlike a lovestruck fool. 

"Tea?" Rose asked, breaking the spell that seemed to hold Marisha in its grasp. 

"Ah, yes. It's there." Marissa pointed at the bit of counter that was reserved for beverages and food. Officially it was forbidden to eat and drink in the library. That had led to too many trespasses, because people – including Marissa – brought in snacks anyway. Thus it had been decided that there would be a small place for food and drink. Since its establishment, the tomes and desks were much cleaner. Perishables were still forbidden in the hermetic sections, and in the scroll archives, but nobody had dared to bring food with them to those places to begin with. 

As Rose brushed by her, a delectable shiver went down Marissa's spine. She turned to follow the woman that seemed to be oblivious to the magic she exuded. 

"What are you doing tonight?" the librarian asked before she could stop herself. 

"Going home," Rose stated, sipping her tea. It had the perfect temperature. "It's my turn to cook." 

"Do you share a flat with someone?" Marissa sipped her own drink, trying to sound cool. Trying to avoid sounding like an obsessed maniac. 

"I share a house with my friends. One of them has a house on Stygian Way." Rose mentioned the neighbourhood she lived in. "There's no way I could afford living there on just what I made playing out in the streets."

"You're a street musician?" 

"Didn't know where else to play and earn some coin, so." Rose shrugged. "I play- played at the Paragon's Cup regularly." It felt odd to talk about making music as something she used to do but didn’t anymore.

"Played?"

Rose nodded solemnly. "It... it was smashed. My violin." She breathed deeply. "One of my classmates... she's got..." Rose couldn't keep the nastiness from her voice. "Her daddy is rich. She's been treating everyone who's got skill and/or talent like shit. It was my turn to be harassed apparently. Only..." 

"She got your instrument instead," Marissa concluded. 

Rose nodded and heaved a sigh. "Yeah..." A short silence followed. "I was swarmed right in the doorway to a classroom and then someone slammed the door on me." A frown caused a single vertical line to appear between her eyebrows. "It was my great-great-grandmother's, originally. It was a gift from the Lord in whose household she served. He taught her how to play." 

Marissa tentatively put her hand on Rose’s shoulder. She was sure she was the only one who felt the little tingle of magic race up her arm. "That’s terrible," she said in a compassionate tone of voice. "If you bring it by, I could see if there's someone who'll repair it for you," she continued hopefully. "They'll probably ask a favour in return, but..." She shrugged and let her hand drop back to her side. "At least the violin would be restored."

Rose looked up. "Why would you do that?" Many people had been nice to her, sure. But not all people. And this felt like a big favour. 

Marissa’s cheek turned a light shade of pink. "I like you."

"But you don't know me at all. I just walked into the library today."

"And it’s the best decision you made today," Marissa smiled cheekily. "But in all seriousness; Jonah, one of my colleagues, can use the practice, and the payment. He’s a scholarship student." Marissa didn’t add that most of them were scholarship students. 

"What do you want from me in return for setting this up?" Rose was still cautious.

"Dinner," Marissa blurted. "Cooked by you."

Rose frowned. 

"I usually eat whatever's cheap and easy," the librarian apologised. "Freeze dried stuff, rehydrated and reheated, or whatever was brought to the staff room and left there. A sandwich sometimes." She shrugged. 

It sounded like classical student food to Rose, from what she heard from her fellow students at college. She knew most of them rarely ate a meal they had  cooked themselves. At least not a healthy, balanced, full sides and trimmings meal. 

"Okay," Rose accepted. "And it's... it's no big deal if you can't get my violin fixed. I mean..." She shrugged. She wasn’t going to put all her hope on this possible solution. If it didn’t work, she was still out of a means to continue at Bardic College in the new year. 

"We'll see, okay?" Marissa put her hand on Rose's and again that tingle of magic zinged. 

Rose nodded. She breathed deeply. "Do you want to eat with us tonight?" 

"Unfortunately I'm working until midnight tonight. It'll be a sandwich for me, with an oat porridge chaser when I get to my room," Marissa grinned. Days were long, but she wouldn’t change that for all the gold in the wold.

That Marissa wasn’t instantly coming over helped Rose relax to the point where she could look forward to seeing her again. They went back and forth a few times to set up a date that worked for both of them. Rose wrote down her address. She was starting to like the ad rem wizard with the thick glasses and the unruly red hair. As they had been talking, a few more curls escaped the braid. 

After this, Rose went back to her desk to read and take notes. The books were riveting, so much more interesting than the dry treatise she had stolen. Though as she finalised her scribbles, she concluded that she understood most of  what she was reading now, because she wrestled her way through that tome. 

Dropping off the books she didn’t need anymore – so they could be returned to their shelves – Rose made her way to the check-out counter. She was pleasantly surprised to find the young librarian having a card ready for her. 

"You gave me your name and address, so I fixed it for you." Marissa said apologetically.

Rose took the card with a smile. Reading had improved her mood considerably. She thought the gesture thoughtful and efficient. "Do I need to pay anything to take these books with me?"

"No. None of that." The librarian handed over a leaflet with the library's regulations. "Just bring them back before the fortnight is out, or you'll be charged the full cost of replacement." 

"That's it?"

"Hmm mmm. It happens more often than you'd think." 

"Thank you again, and see you Paladay." Rose put the two volumes on theoretical magic in her bag. 

"Paladay." Marissa smiled and waved, looking goofy as she did so. It made Rose grin. She returned the wave.

~

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