Post by Dame Lovisa von Ascheberg on Apr 12, 2014 14:04:37 GMT -5
The building was immense on a scale that could not be described with the mere word alone. Considered the largest library in all of Doxenia, it sits adjacent to the very Westby Academy that would most benefit from the stores of books, scrolls and reams of parchment that adorn every available surface within. It was an architectural and scholarly delight, the air rich with the scent of vellum, ink and learning displayed to its best potential and elaborately decorated invoking strong feelings of reverence, awe and oft-times intimidation from the moment the student steps between those marvellous doors and lasting until they leave. It was no different when Lovisa moved sedately through the portcullis and across the polished marble flooring designed to include the Doxenian royal crest: a bronze stag on a deep verdant green field. The artwork was heavily stylised, but any true patriot would recognise the emblem even with the embellishment. Within the reception area, the walls and ceiling were granted the same aesthetic touch with high arches and elaborate carvings.
But this time the grand atmosphere failed to invoke the usual calming sensations within her mind. Nodding to the librarian stationed at the heavy desk opposite the great doors, Lovisa turned off to the right and followed a passageway through to one of the many reading rooms. The large placard "Soldatisch" above the entrance proclaimed that the tomes therein were of a militant nature and relevant to her needs, the young woman taking a small list from her pocket and running a finger down it – looking up at the rows upon rows of books with a small sigh before she got to work.
It had been a few days since what her immediate command termed the "Schreiner Situation" had occurred and she had been offered what they considered a small degree of leniency. She was to finish her current term at the Academy given that it was already near its end, but she would not be invited back for the next. Fingers moved out to select the required reading for what would become her final examination and pull them into the growing pile. She did not claim to understand exactly why her actions had merited such a strong response. The whole ordeal kept her awake at night trying to figure it out. But there was nothing she could do: her protestations had fallen on deaf ears, with those who deigned to listen warning sternly that she could only make things worse should she continue her current course of action.
And so: she took her load to one of the many shared desks and sat down, spreading the tomes out in a fan so that she could examine the titles and choose which one to begin with first. Each book was intimidating in its own way; Mehler's Treaties on the Southern Warfare, Way of the Sword, The Pen and Mace: Strategies and Tactics for the Superior Battlefield .. brows then furrowed upon her pale face, a hand reaching out to touch at the fourth book in the arc. The cover was a deep blue and textured with what could only be described of as neglect; but there was no title, and she did not consciously remember collecting it. Curious, she lifted it from the table and turned back the cover with her eyes scanning the messy scrawl within ..
Property of Oswin Schreiner; Fourth Company of Westby.
A cold sliver of ice cut through her heart and stilled the breath in her lungs. Fingertips pressed against the text as if seeking an illusion – pulling away only to find that it remained the same. Oswin Schreiner. Hurridly she paged through the book, stopping at random pages with her eyes taking in the first words she saw.
...Johan blundered spectacularly at drills today. In practising position five we start with right flank, left arm, right arm, left flank then overhead. But somehow he got it all backwards with the overhead, right arm, left flank ..! Instructor Neudorf was even calling them out as we performed them so who knows how he managed to make such a...
Another page turned.
...I simply can not stand that gauntlet run. I'm fine up until the balance bars and then it all goes to pot: last time I fell so hard and floundered so dramatically in the lake I was forced to run twenty laps for each failed attempt at the course! Eventually the Matron took pity on me and pulled some strings so my desiccated corpse wasn't discovered by the First Year Cadets early the next...
Another page turned.
...she simply will never notice me and I can not stand it. I saw her this afternoon making those cow eyes at good old Benj again, her honey gold hair shining in the sunlight and a faint strawberry blush upon her cheeks. The Six knows I love Benj like a brother and Gods help the man that claims otherwise but I swear sometimes I could...
Lovisa couldn't help a small smile from twitching at her lips. Karin no doubt. Another page turned.
...got back from half hols with a great big cherry cake Mother made and Johan all but scoffed the lot! I was livid with the wretched scoundrel and if it wasn't for...
Somehow this book had found its way into the library; in the same company they were subject to the same drills, the same lessons with the same examinations. They must have pulled the pile from the dormitory when they collected his things after he had .. and Oswin's journal was hidden amidst the lot. She should take it, and return it to his family .. but instead she found herself reading still.
...we snuck out for a few ales down at the Brass Fang Inn. Good place with good drink. Johan tried it on with the Innkeepers daughter Lorna and nearly got us thrown out! Silly boy. It was the perfect end to a perfect evening, but I couldn't help feeling that someone was watching me for most of the night. An eerie looking chap all shadowy and secretive. Eyes were bright though .. like candles ..the scent of smoke .. must have been the drink! I'm sure I'll feel it in the morning...
Hesitantly, she flipped forward a few pages and found nothing but blank paper. Frowning, she skipped back a few and read the last entry.
...sure someone has been through my things. My clothes were all over the floor and there was a horrid stench about the room that I couldn't place .. reminded me of that particularly foul ripper Benj set off a few weeks ago. I'm sure its nothing because I don't think anything's been taken. For a sneak thief this fellow is doing an awfully poor job! Nevertheless, I'll speak with Instructor Neudorf at breakfast. Odd though, Johan's emblem of Kanesh had melted into the...
The words twisted and swam in front of her vision and Lovisa dropped her head into her hands, burgundy hair spreading over her shoulders like spilled blood.
But this time the grand atmosphere failed to invoke the usual calming sensations within her mind. Nodding to the librarian stationed at the heavy desk opposite the great doors, Lovisa turned off to the right and followed a passageway through to one of the many reading rooms. The large placard "Soldatisch" above the entrance proclaimed that the tomes therein were of a militant nature and relevant to her needs, the young woman taking a small list from her pocket and running a finger down it – looking up at the rows upon rows of books with a small sigh before she got to work.
It had been a few days since what her immediate command termed the "Schreiner Situation" had occurred and she had been offered what they considered a small degree of leniency. She was to finish her current term at the Academy given that it was already near its end, but she would not be invited back for the next. Fingers moved out to select the required reading for what would become her final examination and pull them into the growing pile. She did not claim to understand exactly why her actions had merited such a strong response. The whole ordeal kept her awake at night trying to figure it out. But there was nothing she could do: her protestations had fallen on deaf ears, with those who deigned to listen warning sternly that she could only make things worse should she continue her current course of action.
And so: she took her load to one of the many shared desks and sat down, spreading the tomes out in a fan so that she could examine the titles and choose which one to begin with first. Each book was intimidating in its own way; Mehler's Treaties on the Southern Warfare, Way of the Sword, The Pen and Mace: Strategies and Tactics for the Superior Battlefield .. brows then furrowed upon her pale face, a hand reaching out to touch at the fourth book in the arc. The cover was a deep blue and textured with what could only be described of as neglect; but there was no title, and she did not consciously remember collecting it. Curious, she lifted it from the table and turned back the cover with her eyes scanning the messy scrawl within ..
Property of Oswin Schreiner; Fourth Company of Westby.
A cold sliver of ice cut through her heart and stilled the breath in her lungs. Fingertips pressed against the text as if seeking an illusion – pulling away only to find that it remained the same. Oswin Schreiner. Hurridly she paged through the book, stopping at random pages with her eyes taking in the first words she saw.
...Johan blundered spectacularly at drills today. In practising position five we start with right flank, left arm, right arm, left flank then overhead. But somehow he got it all backwards with the overhead, right arm, left flank ..! Instructor Neudorf was even calling them out as we performed them so who knows how he managed to make such a...
Another page turned.
...I simply can not stand that gauntlet run. I'm fine up until the balance bars and then it all goes to pot: last time I fell so hard and floundered so dramatically in the lake I was forced to run twenty laps for each failed attempt at the course! Eventually the Matron took pity on me and pulled some strings so my desiccated corpse wasn't discovered by the First Year Cadets early the next...
Another page turned.
...she simply will never notice me and I can not stand it. I saw her this afternoon making those cow eyes at good old Benj again, her honey gold hair shining in the sunlight and a faint strawberry blush upon her cheeks. The Six knows I love Benj like a brother and Gods help the man that claims otherwise but I swear sometimes I could...
Lovisa couldn't help a small smile from twitching at her lips. Karin no doubt. Another page turned.
...got back from half hols with a great big cherry cake Mother made and Johan all but scoffed the lot! I was livid with the wretched scoundrel and if it wasn't for...
Somehow this book had found its way into the library; in the same company they were subject to the same drills, the same lessons with the same examinations. They must have pulled the pile from the dormitory when they collected his things after he had .. and Oswin's journal was hidden amidst the lot. She should take it, and return it to his family .. but instead she found herself reading still.
...we snuck out for a few ales down at the Brass Fang Inn. Good place with good drink. Johan tried it on with the Innkeepers daughter Lorna and nearly got us thrown out! Silly boy. It was the perfect end to a perfect evening, but I couldn't help feeling that someone was watching me for most of the night. An eerie looking chap all shadowy and secretive. Eyes were bright though .. like candles ..the scent of smoke .. must have been the drink! I'm sure I'll feel it in the morning...
Hesitantly, she flipped forward a few pages and found nothing but blank paper. Frowning, she skipped back a few and read the last entry.
...sure someone has been through my things. My clothes were all over the floor and there was a horrid stench about the room that I couldn't place .. reminded me of that particularly foul ripper Benj set off a few weeks ago. I'm sure its nothing because I don't think anything's been taken. For a sneak thief this fellow is doing an awfully poor job! Nevertheless, I'll speak with Instructor Neudorf at breakfast. Odd though, Johan's emblem of Kanesh had melted into the...
The words twisted and swam in front of her vision and Lovisa dropped her head into her hands, burgundy hair spreading over her shoulders like spilled blood.
