Welcome to Gaia! ::

The Headmaster stores the most advanced books and documents pertaining to the school in his personal Library. The Library here is not for general use by students, however should written permission from an instructor be acquired, the Library's documents may be viewed.

The office assigned to him was finally starting to look more like it was inhabited, but lunch drew near. It was time for a break, and as Anna was not in her own office, she was sure to be here.

The dragon's efforts were rewarded. No other voice would be so charming to his ears as Anna's. It was her lovely song that reached him first. As Pyralis walked further in, red eyes scanning as always, the sight of her greeted him. Among her books, the elf looked content and at home. He made an effort this time to make noise as he approached so as to not startle her. A throat being cleared made sure of her being aware of his presence.

Such a cute blush, and he loved that he was the one to make it appear. "Oh how time does fly, it would seem that lunch has indeed arrived my dear." He assisted her in putting away the books. "Any favorites?" He knew she must have a favorite. No, he would take that back. Someone like her was more likely to have multiple favorites, it just seemed to be in her nature. That was a safe bet he figured.

"I can't say that I do much pleasure reading as most would call it." He sighed as he put away a last book, his hand resting on the binding for a moment before dropping to his side. "I prefer to study old texts and scrolls, maps and star charts, a person's memories and the minds of authors themselves." Pyralis gave a wink to Anna. "It's all pleasure I assure you, just a different course than most." A smile lit up his face and his eyes seemed far away, seeing all that he talked about. "The places I've been and secrets I've uncovered in this realm and the others. The treasures..." Eyes of fire came back to the present and rested ones of a glowing grey that reflected the flames. "And a treasure that has ensnared me without a thought. Someday dear Amael, I would love to show you what I've seen in my years." Not to mention he'd love to know what she'd seen in her own.

Dearest. The simple word warmed his fiery heart. "Well no, I think it's time we set off for lunch." He took her hands in his and lead her out of the cozy library. "We shall dine a bit differently today." Just outside the library door's there rested a classic wood picnic basket. One hand still holding Anna's, Pyralis reached down and grasped the basket with the other. "Up for a picnic my dear?" A grin spread across his face.

He returned the friendly squeeze. "Well, moonlight is so enchanting and casts a spell over a place, but so can the gentle sun. I wonder how the gardens would appear in the light." A warmth seeped through him at the thought of last night. Already he was leading Anna that way.

---
It had been awhile since the elf had stepped inside this place. Well, only a few days, really, but it was long enough.
All of the books and pages she had cared for over the years looked back at her, wondering why she was so forlorn. Yes, the books were alive in her world, but Anna could give them no answer as she could give none to any tangible person. They had seen loss, as had she, but never had she felt like it had been her fault... never. And no book could comfort her in that respect. She had come for answers of a different kind. But there was something she had to do first, something regarding the balled-up dress sitting limply in the plastic bag at her side.

The first bit of comfort was seeing that the fireplace still held enough of a flame to be revived. That was the first task she performed. Anna thought of Pyralis, and of dragons as she made the flames leap once more with kindling set aside in a basket. She would never burn paper, not in the presence of books.

The dress was soon tossed into the fire once it was roaring. Flames licked at the plastic bag until the thin material caught fire in a brilliant flash. A sickening scent of burning plastic emitted from the fireplace, but it soon gave way to the even more sickening scent of burning, bloodied fabric.

Anna tended to it just enough, barely breathing, so that the dress wouldn’t smother the flames. It was just a matter of watching everything turn to blackened ash. As soon as every bit of rust was gone, she could turn away.

A few pearls rolled away onto the floor here and there. Some gold thread clung to the grate. But what did it matter, she thought bitterly. The night was over, and it was time to let that go up in smoke. She had more important things to attend to, like the pursuit of knowledge. She had to find out if there was something she overlooked, or didn't learn properly. What had caused Verdi's heartbeat to fail, even after she had healed her?

And so, Anna turned her back upon the burning dress and tried to keep the horrific smells from clouding her mind. Instead, she went through all the books, collected those having to do with healing, and began to set them out upon chairs, tables, the floor, all opened to the section she needed to read. It was how she spent the time away from Pyralis, whom she needed more than any book or fireplace in all the worlds. Realizing this, she tried to send a thought to him, though she wasn't sure if she had enough focus for it to be properly sent.

I am in the library, love. I am not far.

All that could be done after that was to sit and read. Anna could have child-like enthusiasm and an innocence about her that seemed untouchable when it came to books, but then she felt quite dark. She was not a child, nor did she feel like setting up a facade to hide her grief. Pyralis, she thought. She sorely needed Pyralis.

Anna jumped when Pyralis made his entrance into the library, not only from the sudden sound but from the tension she could feel immediately upon seeing him. She watched as he frantically, it seemed, came towards her, and in a moment they were both hugging each other so tightly, but carefully.

There was silence that hinted at their fear and thankfulness that the other was alright. Though Pyralis used his mind to speak, Anna spoke with a very small voice.

"I tried," she began, thinking of Verdi. "I tried to... There was a heartbeat, but it... it stopped."
Try as Anna might to continue her calmer reasonings, her voice soon became choked with the oncoming tears. Anna hated crying; it made her feel weak and uncontrolled.
"In my arms, Pyralis, she died r-right in my arms!"

But after that sentence, she just couldn't help but let the tears come in powerful sobs as Pyralis held her close. It would be alright to cry in front of him, she thought as she let herself go. He wouldn't judge her or make her feel any more awful than she already did.