Vesper

"Up with the sun, or at least up with the closest light source available"


Worth a story

As the crashing and batting of wings went on ahead, Ortus decided she had had enough. She closed the book she had been reading for the last hours or so and placed it on it's corresponding shelf, it was nothing fancy this time just an old record tome. She wasn't really interested at first, as she was initially in search of a book about flower language for one of her tales but the tome had some... interesting data, to say the least.

The tome was dated some years before her arrival to the lair, and Vesper had been one of the writers if not the only one if she could trust her gut about the calligraphy. Perhaps calling it a record tome was too much, the tome had tidbits on clan movements and history but it was all mostly paraphrased, leaving behind what Ortus could assume as some juicy secrets (all assumptions in the end, as the clan was all open about sharing it's stories to newcomers and curious ears) from even before Vesper's arrival. She lost herself to the pages letting her imagination fill in the gaps of the storytelling.

The book went on an on about great changes, hopeless rants and observations scattered here and there about clan members and long gone friends. She was doubtful at first of this being written all by his friend, it was too... contradictory to his ways and a bit depressing in her opinion, but it gave her a clearer idea on some aspects she found weird when she joined the clan. Needless to say she felt inspired to write, but not some small table or fabule, she wanted to go for something big this time.

And so, with her inspiration in tow and many scenarios already playing in her mind she left the library and moved towards her supply room to begin scribbling and throwing some of her wild thoughts on paper before they left her side in order to place them in their correct way and create her biggest project as of late. This would all be a secret project first as she could not let his friend know of her snooping around his -possible- old works, there must be a reason for him to never bring them up to her knowing full well how much she appreciates his words and the interest she might have on his work.

---

Back on the library the ambient became silent.

Tucker's rarely heard authoritative tone was the last thing heard before the library keepers held their activities, Vesper coming to a harsh stop causing Aedan to almost trip over his friend.

"why the sudden pause?" asked Aedan recollecting the fallen scrolls from Vesper's grasp.

"someone found it" came the reply not even a fraction of second later, Vesper flew rapidly to a shelf in the back of the room.

"Where are you going? Vesper?" Tucker called to the spiral but seeing as no reply came he tried again, now with a sharp tone "I said, we need to talk! Something is wrong and so bring yourself here this instant!" he demanded.

Sidewinder, who was standing at his side moved slightly away in found astonishment. He knew the Skydancer could hold an authoritative and intimidating tone on his tongue but he had the luck to never be against his boss's side when trouble arised, he never had the honor to hear him that way.

A moment passed and shuffling was heard until a thin figure appeared from between the shelves, Vesper looked distressed about something but shook the feeling away and walked back towards the skydancer looking down with his arms behind his back like an scolded hatchling.

Tucker's expression went soft as the spiral made his way to the others, "sorry for that" he sighed and plopped himself down the table, "this is...quite a thing to ask, really, but, it has come to my attention" he glanced up at Sidewinder who nodded at him respectfully to go on, Tucker nodded back, "some, tampering has been going on with the records"

"What?!"

"How, though?"

"and you think it could have been one of us?"

"No," replied Tucker holding both hands up as if being accused of the crime, "unless you have been making yourselves more difficult to read somehow, but I don't think of you as such, you are above that behavior and that's why you are here anyway" he continued looking directly at each of them to make the point get through, not only for them but also for himself.

"As you know, the archives in this library are open to all clanmates, however you also know this area in particular," he motioned to the table they had gathered around and to the caged room behind, "is beyond limits, as here we keep and maintain to the clan's historial and we can't let it be taken lightly, as the information in it is important for our relationship with other clans" he finished with a bow and looked in expectation to his co-workers.

"We know," the three voices replied in unison.

"what has been modified?" Vesper asked.

"old registry, older than many of you here," he chuckled, "damn, now I felt really old for a second here".

"But yes," he shook his head "Data regarding the Second Moving and some after is the one we are looking for, perhaps there is more but I truly hope not".

"Well we are still lacking a couple of workers from around here, we must notify to them too" Sidewinder suggested, "we will need all the help we can to find what's wrong and whatnot"

"how do we know they are edited thought?" came Aedan's inquiry, "you said so yourself, many of this stuff is older than us, we would not know any better"

"I hold separate copies of many of the registries to fact check, they are guarded separately in case something like this were to happen, Ghaan should be open to hand them for review", Tucker replied pointing a claw at Sidewinder and then towards the gate of the library, "besides, I'm not the only lore keeper in this clan", Sidewinder pointed at himself and Tucker nodded for him to stand, "you know who to call right?".

"y-yes, sure" the nocturne made a small salute and went off, both spirals watched him until he was out of sight.

"Ok, with that taken care of," he clapped his hands, smiling at both the dragons before him, "help me out with these scrolls", he gazed down at the pile on his side, "I'll show you what to look out for".

And thus work was resumed again, leaving the newly added materials aside for the moment and focusing on the old texts.

----

"Sorry to ask, but, whatever was your murmuring from before about? if you don't mind me asking" Aedan asked after a while during a break taken by the three librarians.

"what wha-? oh! that," Vesper's body dropped some at the reminder but forced his posture away and smiled dismissively, not answering the question.

"yes, that." Aedan pressed lightly, he would be lying if he wasn't a bit ticked off with Vesper's attitude during the short inconvenience and even if it was not in his nature to impose, he at least wanted a bit of information regarding such mood change.

As no reply came, Aedan dropped the curiosity and continued his food no longer staring at his friend for answers.

"An... old diary. not my best or even decent work but felt obligated to do at the time" Vesper flinched as the words scaped his mind before he could weave them better, he forced his posture former and forcef the last words from his mouth.

Aedan looked back at his friend and nodded once, "seemed to stress you more than you seem to imply".

Vesper fidgeted a bit on his side, rubbing claws against each other nervously. His smile wavered just a fraction and hoped Aedan would be wiser than to push implications on his way, it felt already too bothersome to admit the first statement.

"but I guess, I understand" Aedan finished, resuming his eating once again, "thanks for the answer" he closed his eyes and nodded with finality, a ghost of a smile playing at his mouth.

Vesper nodded and turned away, letting his legs sway under the table. He knew Aedan wasn't the only one grateful for answers that day.