Embers in the Dust

Gisela watched as the head librarian Aravine worked with one of her aids. They had been inspecting the sphere since the troupe arrived, and gave them free reign to walk the shelves, pick out books, and carry on with their research. She felt comfortable here. While this library was only a tenth of the size as the one in the Winter Court, where she had spent almost a decade inside, every library had a similar concept to them and it made it easy for her to find books on the topics she wanted to look through.

With a stack in her hands, she walked over to a table and set them down. Glancing around, she saw that Mr. Muffins were working with two students, a female human and a male triton, on a pile of blueprints. In between two shelves, she saw Myla pulling book after book from a row, seemingly frustrated by not finding whatever she was looking for, then putting them back in their place before moving on to the next. Not wanting to bother either of them, she sat and pulled the book from the top of her stack to her, opened it, and started reading.

Her main topic today was on Avernus. She already knew some, but there was still so much that was a mystery to her about the first layer of the Nine Hells. While in the Winter Court, before preparing to leave, she had learned that it was impossible to map the place, as someone about it would cause a person to go mad. She had even read that the first three layers, Avernus, Phlegethon, and Cocytus, were heavily controlled by various demons and devils, each layer containing more evil and vicious creatures.

She was looking for something else, though. In her reading, Gisela had seen a small note that mentioned death in Avernus. Considering their circumstances, she was hoping to find more. Time passed as she looked through each book before her, but nothing seemed to mention anything, and after a few hours she grew frustrated.

Setting the last book back on the shelf she had taken it from, she sauntered around to the next bookshelf and started skimming the titles. Moving away from Avernus, the next two rows became scarce of literature, from the lack of first-hand research of the layers below. She saw that they had a few journals on Asphodel, one on Lethe, a couple on Niflheim and Helheim, and just one book that told of Tartarus and Erebus.

Her mind recalled the past few years, instead of focusing on the tomes before her. Erebus was not only the name of a layer of Hell, but of a primordial. He was kind, powerful, and empathized with her on the hole in her heart that losing Bruna left behind. Gisela was wracked with negativity, internally and externally, and couldn’t control herself. It was Erebus who offered the chance to change her life and perspective. She wasn’t sure what he had meant at the time, but any chance to relieve the pain she felt was welcomed.

Taking in a portion of his power, she was changed forever. No longer small, and unable to use the runes she carried, the magic flowed inside her and came from her willpower. For almost a decade, she worked for him in the library of the Winter Court, though he held no allegiance to the Fae King and Queen there. She had always been curious about him, but he never spoke of himself or his past, just the present and future.

When she received the letter from Leaf, she tried to study everything she could, but found it impossible. Most of the Nine Hells had not been touched by researchers or journalists. Those who went there typically didn’t return. She had hoped that Erebus would have information, but he gave none. Gisela knew he had information, especially about the layer with his namesake, but all she received was information about his partner, Nyx. She was another primordial, sworn by duty to stay in the ninth layer, but she didn’t know why. When asked about the length of time that they had been separated, Erebus compared a mortal’s life to that of a bee, and his to a tree. It was unfathomable to determine the length of time that primordials had lived, or will live, but many had disappeared after the creation of Midgard.

At the entrance of the library, she saw that Leaf, Lyla, and Rhokhishi had returned. Stepping away from the bookshelf, she strode over to them as they entered and walked to Mr. Muffins and Myla, who had been eating sandwiches from a large plate in the center of the table while the students, that Mr. Muffins had been working with, were strolling through shelves for various books. She had a few extra items in her bag that she had wanted to give to the party, but wanted to hear from everyone else first and see how their time with Darion went.

“We managed to get a few sigils, so we have some travel capabilities now, but nothing we need currently,” Leaf exclaimed as he stepped up to the table.

“That’s a start, at least,” Mr. Muffins added between bites of the sandwich in his hand.

“Any luck here?” Lyla asked.

“Not a whole lot. There is tons of information on poisons, but I can’t seem to find anything that could stop a mage mid-casting,” Myla explained.

They all sat together, eating their lunches. Gisela could feel the tension between them all. They seemed to all be hoping for a break in their studies, wishing for an easier solution than the one ahead of them. A few minutes later, Wulfgar appeared at the entrance of the door. Instead of his ragged clothes, he was newly fitted. His long hair had been cleaned and tied behind his head. His face was clean of random dirt and grime. He wore a white tunic, with a black pair of pants, knee-high boots, and a dark green overcoat that matched Leaf’s robes. Leaf sat in shock at the new style, but smiled wide at his partner’s comfort.

“How do I look?” He asked.

“Great!” Leaf answered, a little too enthusiastically, before coughing and repeating himself in a quieter tone. “You look great.”

“I’m glad to see you approve. Don’t think that I’ve gone native or anything to the city, though. I still need my days shoeless, touching grass and dirt,” Wulfgar stated with a smile.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

They finished their lunch, then went back to their studies. Time between then and their next task grew smaller, but they took their time, hoping that their newly relaxed and fed state would give them the inspiration and luck they needed. Before getting up from the table, Gisela let the others walk away, then set the items on the table near each person’s things. She placed a wand near Rhokhishi’s bag, and a small rod next to Mr. Muffins’ blueprints. Then, she stood and walked back over to the shelves.