The pages were adrift in the trembling stale air left in the wake of the collapse. His vision struggled to steady itself as he faced what remained of the Grand Library.
Grand Librarian stood to the hollowing sight with a still mind and a frigid look. His mind nearly rejected the state of what was once their study, their work, and their home.
He could almost feel the ghosts of the candles he worked alongside calling out to him, the knowledge they shared now left to a sole survivor.
Alone, he stood in the hollowing remnants of the grand testimony of their history. A floor once pillared for its candle-made origins was faced with the decayed gaze of the Manor's wake.
He could notice but not feel himself stumble, struggling to stand as if he was about to fall over. He couldn't focus on any of it.
An overbearing dissociation ran course through his body. Cautiously, yet shakily, he let himself down into a seated rest.
He felt his reality's rationale sifting his wealth of knowledge to illuminate the way forward for him, a sign, anything.
The knowledge they saught was nothing more than a limb of sentimentality that the Manor was keen on severing. The cost of their discoveries were made clear by the extinguished lights of candles who would not know a life from beyond the pages.
Pages, now unbound and drifting in the air of black fog guided his attention to an opening revealed by a collapsed bookshelf, he embedded his remorse in the back of his mind as he dusted himself off and steadied his intentions.
Each step onto the faded, bloodless floorboards filled his mind with hesitation as he neared the opening in the wall, he made his way, stabilizing himself against once-filled shelves to stop just one step before the clearing.
There, he stood. A pursuit of memories caught him just shy of the passage, a premonition.
In all his restless studious nights, not once had he seen any of the bookkeepers so much as approach this wall. Could any of them had known?
Cruel thoughts in hindsight filled his mind as he turned around in search of a better light source than his shaken flame.
His ponderings drifted to the thought of causation, the candles of the Grand Library knew it best not to attract the Manor's attention, and with what they understood, there was only one surefire way a candle could.
His steps grew larger in stride with a repeating thought that he clung unto. His focus couldn't spare the grim sight of the departed that littered the path through the halls of destroyed academia.
"Matchstick. A curious flame who appears to suffer from a sort of algid affliction. ...if only we could have saved the ember epidemiologies. "
Grand Librarian doesn't share much in common with Matchstick, but he's willing to come to her aid at a moment's notice, as is his courtesy for the rest of the candles.
"Dustcatcher. I can't shake the sense that her scent is familiar..."
Grand Librarian is perplexed by Dustcatcher's presence. He tries to interact with her for answers, but to no avail.
"Chimney Urchin. He demonstrates vigor with his... unique hiding methods."
Grand Librarian has long since understood the importantance of adapting, even if it means coming up with unconventional tactics.
To him, Chimney Urchin is proof of that.
"Thief. A candle far removed from his namesake. I feel I learn more from him than he from I."
He found Thief in a wounded state in one of his secluded study rooms, and could sense no hostile intent. As it had turned out, Thief was seeking for knowledge in helping him understand a note that was left for him.
Since then, the two have travelled the halls as student and mentor, learning from one another.
"Sawbone, of the Medical Ward. A shame the Grand Library never had the honor of adding the Medical Ward's recordings. Such knowledge should never go to waste."
Grand Librarian isn't sure what to make of the staff from the Medical Ward, as they had remained quite secretive in their operations. Word never reached him in the Grand Library.
He finds Sawbone pleasant to have around.
"Madwaltz, of the Grand Ballroom. They've appeared to embody the phrase "Dancing Flame" quite literally. I can't help but wonder if they were always this way."
Grand Librarian finds Madwaltz to be quite an enigma, believing prolonged isolation in the Grand Ballroom must have had some adverse effect on their psyche.
"Eerieshard, a name holding not but spoken history. Even then, the details were scattered."
Grand Librarian is skeptic of Eerieshard's intentions.
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Grand Librarian's First Concept Sketch!
Grand Librarian's Old Render!
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