@DragonSong ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hurry.That's what they'd said. How inconvenient. There would be no reason to hurry if the college library had simply been wise enough to keep a copy of
Within Stone Eyes: A Study of Basilisks by renowned mythological beast researcher Vincent Doyle on their shelves.
Since they hadn't had the foresight to anticipate his needs now Keiran had to venture out to one of the city's
public libraries, which apparently might actually have the book he desperately needed to finish his paper on basilisk hunting behaviors. The college had several books on the foul beasts, but not the one he needed. Perhaps he could have made due with another study on them, but he wasn't one to settle for less than the
definitive text on all things to do with the basilisk.
Maybe it was his own fault for not realizing he was missing such a critical research material earlier in the day. It was getting quite late, but then again the library at the college, or at home for that matter, never
closed.
Despite his frustration with the college's inadequate selection, Keiran had all the outward appearances of a young lord out on a leisurely evening stroll. Well, a brisk stroll, but his expression remained neutrally pleasant. It wouldn't do to come off as annoyed or frustrated. You never knew who you might run into out on the street.
In fact, he had to spare more than a few smiles and quick pleasantries with people that recognized him. One was even a professor at the college. Another was a young lady staying within the city to study much like himself. Her family was notable and Keiran paused longer than he's have liked to be especially polite to her, as his family was on rather friendly terms with hers, as far as political alliances went, and his father would have been terribly displeased if he had offended her by being too hasty.
By the time he reached the library he was actually beginning to worry he might have to delay finishing his work until tomorrow.
The horror!
Praise be to the divine when he tried the door and found it not yet locked, although he could see that the few people remaining were gathering their belongings to leave. Best he be quick! It would be terribly rude to impose upon the poor librarian because of his poor time management.
Ah, but as he looked around Keiran felt the familiar stirring in his heart of discovery. Why, this was actually very nice! In the six years that he had lived in Arca, never once had he visited a library that wasn't in one mage college or another. He knew that many students did regularly, but many of the students were also common born rather than nobility. Most nobles had private tutors and remained at home rather than venturing to a college, but of course that would have been too boring and stifling for him.
Looking about at the unfamiliar layout, Keiran realized that he would never find the book on his own before it was time for the doors to be locked. Oh bother, perhaps it
would have been more pertinent to simply have waited until the morning.