#Sure the problem is perhaps my inability to leave the house without first assembling An Outfit

[sophiamcdougall]

Oh nymphs, when will my curse of irresistible beauty (to men who work in cornershops) be broken?

Helen of Troy felt like this.

[esmeravde]

The One Time 2

Lana sat in her usual spot by the door in a comfortable chair. The store had been busier than normal. Suddenly, despite the war going on for months, people were interested in Xhorhas and its history. Lana didn’t know the reason for the sudden interest. However, she found it amusing and made a note to restock her shelves. The business of the day had distracted her from the mystery that was Caleb. She had almost forgotten the invitation she had extended to him, but a moment of quiet at the end of the day kept him in her thoughts.

The sun was just disappearing past the city’s skyline and Lana had just locked her door, when a soft knock caught her attention. On the other side of the door stood Caleb alone, looking no different than he did earlier.

“I am sorry I’m so late, we were busy.” Caleb said.

“No problem.” Lana glanced over his shoulder to see him unaccompanied. “None of your friends with you this time?”

“No.” He replied. Lana wasn’t sure if she believed him considering the conversation she overheard that morning. Ultimately, she didn’t really care, he had come, which was the first step.

“Come in.” Lana held the door open for him as he entered. “What I have to show you is in my private chambers.” She locked the front door behind them and lead Caleb to her small home that was attached to the bookstore. The small sitting room had walls of books and some comfortable seating in the centre permanent arcane lines formed at teleportation circle.

“You have a teleportation circle in your home?” Caleb questioned.

“Yes,” Lana smiled gesturing for him to take a seat. “I use it to gather the rarest of books from my friends across Exandria and occasionally visit different climates.”

“Who did you ask about me?” Caleb asked as he sat. Lana realized he wasn’t a man to keep his questions left unasked.

“My friend Essek,” Lana replied while moving around the room, selecting various books from her shelves. “I believe you know him.”

Caleb frowned.

“The Dynasty touches even here,” Lana continued. “But that isn’t all that extraordinary. After all we are in a time of war, it makes sense, both sides would have people in the capitals.I am not a spy, but my friends are all over. Essek and I knew each other long before this war started and hopefully will long after.” She placed a pile of books beside the chair Caleb had settled in. “What is extraordinary, however, is a vollstrecher is working to help the Dynasty.”

Caleb immediately stiffened in his seat. “I am not a vollstrecher.”

“But your arms say otherwise and Essek said you were affiliated,” Lana observed.

Caleb was silent. His eyes grew distant.

“I’m sorry,” Lana stuttered while sitting across from him. “I let my curiosity get the better of me. The story is yours to tell and I will not pry it from you. Know this Mr. Widogast, if I believed you were anything like the Scourgers I have met or heard of I would have never invited you here.” She paused for a moment, then gestured towards the books. “I have brought you all that I thought would be helpful for you and your friends. The top book is all accounts of the Luxon, many are rumour but perhaps some of the rumours will line up with something you already know or will learn.” Gesturing to the second book, Lana continued. “Then, there is a book on the Assembly and the manner in which they have fortified themselves. I understand you must know some of this but perhaps it will help. Underneath is some of my rarer books on magic. Also, if you have any need of spells let me know what you are specifically looking for as I may have it.”

Lana stopped, realizing she should leave Caleb to go over the books and collect his thoughts. She stood in order to leave him to his study and proceeded to go back into the bookshop.

“Danken,” Caleb said quietly. “I should not take long.”

“You may stay as long as you like.” Lana replied before leaving him.

Once back into the peaceful isles of the storefront, Lana mentally chastised herself. It was foolish of her to question Caleb like that. He was clearly well guarded and bringing up what she assumed to be a difficult subject was unwise.

As she mindlessly moved through the aisles adjusting books and making notes on what to restock, she recalled the pain and guilt that was evident on his face when she had asked about his association with the Assembly. It was as obvious as the red hair on his head or his intoxicating blue eyes. She wondered what he could have done to cause that guilt. If what she knew about the vollstrechers was true, well then there were many things.

She pitied the man who read in her sitting room. In her life she had known only ordinary amounts of pain, loss and shame. The loss of her mother was the most extreme pain she had ever felt. She tried to imagine what he could have gone through but felt lost. Whatever it was, she could never understand.

There was only one way she could feel what he felt at any specific moment. She had a scroll that could project the user’s emotions onto someone else. It was particularly useful when telling stories but Caleb would have to be willing to use it and to tell her his story, which, she realised was unlikely. She let out a soft sight of defeat and continued down her aisles of books.

Trying to avoid her own thoughts, Lana made a stronger effort to organize her shelves. After hours of categorizing and rearranging, a floorboard creaked from the other side of the room putting Lana on edge. No one should’ve been in the store that late in the evening. Quietly, while listening for another sound Lana place another book on the shelf.

“It was…” A voice came from behind her.

With a quick motion Lana had her hand outstretched toward the intruder.

“...kind of you to allow me access to some of your treasured books.” Caleb said as he came around one of the shelves. He was greeted by Lana whose hands had burst into flame. “Ah!.” He exclaimed instantly backing up, his voice wavering.

“It’s you.” Lana let the magic dissipate with a sigh of relief. “I wasn’t paying attention, lost in thought or avoiding it, and forgot you were here.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

“Ja, the books have been helpful.” Caleb paused. “You practice the arcane?”

“Oh,” Lana chuckled nervously, rubbing her hands together. “Yes, I have had the ability for a time. Essek and others helped me understand some of it.”

“Essek taught me some things as well.”

Lana nodded, “He is a good teacher.” There was a moment of silence.

“Thank you again.” Caleb said while turning towards the door.

“You are very welcome.” Lana smiled at his back. “Good night Mr. Widogast.”

“Good Night.” Caleb said as he walked through the door, which Lana held open.

Lana watched the wizard disappear down the street and leaned against the door frame for a moment. She was pleased he had come but wasn’t impressed with her own behaviour. She had never been so forward and unobservant. If he came back, she resolved to be aware of her guest and herself. With feeling of defeat, she closed the door and headed towards her bedroom.

On her way to bed, after extinguishing every flame, Lana felt the sudden need to pray. She wasn’t an overly religious person but did believe and occasionally worship Ioun. The Knowing Mistress was a part of her childhood. Her parents always said knowledge was power, so they would pray and study, study and pray. For the first time in years, Lana felt the need to ask for help. For the first time in a long while she didn’t know the answers and didn’t know how to find them. Normally, she could read people easily, like how the best captain could read the ocean. Each wave, each crease a story.

As she sat on her bed, she wondered if she truly did understand people or had she been making it up as she went along. After all, anyone can be right some of the time. How could one man cause so much doubt in her mind? Caleb Widogast had made her whole focus change. At first, she only wanted to help out of curiosity and loyalty to Essek, but having spent the evening with the soft spoken wizard she genuinely wanted to help. Her inability to understand him made everything harder, a scourger, vollstrecher, wizard. She was lost. How could she help him effectively?

In desperation and frustration Lana reached out and grasp the symbol of Ioun that sat on her bedside table. She laid back and focused her thoughts outward towards the Knowing Mistress. She allowed herself to envision a vast library full of scrolls and books.

Lana wandered through the endless rows of books, all without labels or titles. Everyone book a mystery to be learned, a history to be rediscovered. A tinge of excitement filled her and she wondered what each book contained.

A gradual staircase climbed upward in a steady spiral. Slowly, she made her way upward, slowed by her need to wander aimlessly through the aisles. Every time she went down new aisle, she let her fingers running along the spines of endless stories, hoping to gain some new knowledge.

After turning down another aisle a figure stood in her way. She was older with waves of silver that fell down her back. Her robes were blue and white and seemed to tumble to the ground like unrolled parchment. When she turned to look at Lana, purple eyes smiled at her. In her hands was a small book. The figure held it out towards Lana.

Taking a step forward Lana took the book in her hands. Her eyes left the unique woman and gazed at the book. It was small, like one of the books that contained ancient myths. The dark leather seemed new, except for one corner which had been burnt slightly. When Lana looked up again, she found herself alone the female presence, gone. Her attention was drawn back to the book in her hands. Carefully, she opened the cover and started to read.

Lana felt herself pulled, like traveling through a teleportation circle, to a small house. There a small boy with fiery red hair studied. His hands moving in the familiar patterns, drawing a spell in the air and in front of him an orange kitten appeared. His eyes filled with joy.

Once again, Lana found herself in a different place, but with the same boy but slightly older standing outside of the Soltryce Academy with his parents. They spoke to their son in Zemnian, tears of joy, pride and sorrow in their eyes.

Then, she was with him again, but this time he was with two others, following a man away from the Academy and out of Rexxentrum. Again a shift to darkness and all Lana could feel was pain, sharp piercing pain in her arms like knives. After a moment in the darkness the pain faded but was replaced by the voices of the parents, Zemnian that transitioned into Common. They spoke of betrayal, revolution, rebellion.

Out of the darkness came fire, flames and incredible heat. She was with the boy again but he had turned into more of a man. From where she stood, behind his shoulder, she could see the flames engulfing a small house. The heat was on her face and fire in her eyes, but the screams came, doubt overwhelming doubt. They were his parents.

Lana’s vision shifted one more time. They were in an asylum her hands on his face, Lana felt the energy flow through her. A heavy film that covered Caleb’s eyes lifted, the radiant blue irises shining full of anger and pain.