[hr][center][h2]M[color=8D918D]aking Friends of Enemies:
An Ingrid x Evander production[/color][/h2][/center][hr]

[color=8D918D]Evander entered the library of Eresand'Enise. Adorned with glass and steel spanning over 5 acres. The exterior of the building was sleek with long rectangular panels of glass that allowed natural light to flood into the interior.

He was greeted by a vast, open space filled with rows and rows of shelves. It appeared as if every book ever written was stacked on top of another waiting to cascade knowledge into all the students' faces. The shelves were made of light-colored wood and were arranged in a serpentine pattern, winding through the space like a river.

In the center of the room was a large atrium with a glass ceiling that reached up to the top of the building. The atrium was surrounded by a series of balconies where people could sit, read, and work on their studies.

Throughout the library, there were various seating areas. People could relax and read in comfort. Evander tried taking in the details of the endless space. Now standing in the center of the library he could hear a faint voice talking to herself. His eyes were focused upward at the atrium and declined to meet the voice.

[color=BC3823]"Ingrid?"[/color] Evander said under his breath. She muttered alone.

The last time Evander had seen Ingrid was when they crossed hairs at The Sideshow. [color=FFFFFF][i]I wonder what she's upset about.[/i][/color] Evander did not particularly like Eskandr's. In fact, he detested their kind because of their role in accelerating the fall of Avince. However, politics and history aside, she was a woman, even if she was an exceptionally tall one.

Evander approached Ingrid with his hands visible. He plotted a smile on his face with perfectly crested lips from cheek to cheek.

[color=BC3823]"Excuse me, Ingrid,"[/color] he said, [color=BC3823]"I couldn't help but notice you were talking to yourself."[/color] Evander paused, [color=BC3823]"are you alright?"[/color] He was now standing across from her on the other side of the table, [color=BC3823]"May I sit down?"[/color]

Ingrid had been intensely focused on condensing the subject matter into manageable notes and she had started to mutter.[color=8882be]"Take environmental energy and convert …  various sources … heat… careful for…"[/color] A habit she picked up a few years ago from extended isolation was now rearing back up. 

She was so engrossed that Ingrid was little aware of Evander until he made himself known. A slight blush of embarrassment went to her cheeks having it been caught, [color=8882be]"Oh no, um,"[/color] Ingrid struggled to explain what she had been doing, [color=8882be]"I have a small habit of talking to myself when I get into a book."[/color] Ingrid didn’t seem openly hostile to Evander this time around, and more preoccupied with coming off as an insane woman.

Evander pulled out the chair he was standing behind. Sitting down, he leaned toward Ingrid before answering, [color=BC3823]“Me too.”[/color] He casually sat back as a smile crossed his face, [color=BC3823]“May I ask what you are reading?”[/color]

Ingrid appreciated him not focusing on her mumbling, Ingrid will allow him to take the seat. He proved himself nobler at the circus so his presence was less disruptive. Ingrid moved the book closer to him so she could read as well, [color=8882be]“I’m studying other known radioactive materials and how to swirl the energy to cause the reaction chain. Surprisingly, light could be used to start it on the first few reactions,”[/color] Ingrid explained. [color=8882be]“What of your studies?”[/color] Ingrid asked, seemingly curious. 

Evander leaned in to read the title, [color=BC3823]“Vita Radium Axiom”[/color]. Leaning back he replied, [color=BC3823]”radioactive materials and swirling energy huh?”[/color] It was a tad bit over his head except the use of light, [color=BC3823]“Interesting, I study light.”[/color] Evander raised his hand in a fist and focused his gift to create light inside of it. Gradually the light in his fist grew in intensity as rays found ways out of the palm from gaps in his fingers. 

[color=BC3823]“And, fire.”[/color] He flipped his fist over, opened it up, and instead of blinding the light which most would have expected next, a short burst of fire flamed up and immediately dissolved into thin air leaving Ingrid looking at Evander’s eyes which were level with his palm. He chuckled, [color=BC3823]"Pretty boring stuff compared to what you are studying."[/color]

Evander leaned in again as he placed both his hands down on the top of the table, he asked curiously, [color=BC3823]”Why are you studying hard to learn how to swirl energy and cause a reaction chain?”[/color] 

[color=8882be]“It’s the fundamental of what an Atomic spell called Infinity Loop, It allows for an unbelievable amount of energy all condensed in a small package. Being able to start it using a variety of methods is key,”[/color] Ingrid explained. [color=8882be]“Their are a variety of ways to get to it but understanding it more in-depth means I can still perform under less than ideal conditions.”[/color] But that was enough of that. [color=8882be]“What actually brings you to the library? If you're here just to read a bit of anything, I can teach you some of the core principles of Atomic, I know where most books are,”[/color] Ingrid offered.

Evander listened to Ingrid’s explanation of her studying Infinity Loop, [color=BC3823]”studying how to pack a small box with a big punch…”[/color] he brought his right hand beneath his chin to cup it between his thumb and index finger, [color=BC3823]“...interesting.”[/color]

[color=FFFFFF][i]Why was he here?[/i][/color] He answered, [color=BC3823]“To understand the relationship between Eskand and Avince.”[/color] Evander’s face became serious, [color=BC3823]”But since you are here instead of a book, what do you think of this relationship, I’m curious.”[/color] 

That was something that Ingrid didn’t see coming. Ingrid took a moment to think before speaking, [color=8882be]"Well, Eskand just finished them off. They were falling and we gave the final push. And from that my home nation sprung up for a bit,"[/color] Ingrid answered, unaware of Evander’s connection to Avince. Ingrid continued, [color=8882be]"They were going to fall it was just a matter of who did it. It could have been anyone. But from their fall, many other nations rose up. For better, or for worse."[/color] 


[color=8882be]“But,”[/color] Ingrid paused, [color=8882be]“Avince has stuck around in its own ways. The language we speak to each other is Avincian, the school still stands and you can see the roots of their nation throughout the continent. Even Eskand took parts of Avince.”[/color] Ingrid spoke her mind without much thought. It was obvious how massive the Avince empire was. It has been long gone and we still use its language. Architecture is still built with its principles in mind. 

Evander tightened slightly at her comment about Eskand finishing Avince off, she was not wrong, but he did not like the comment either. Her closing statements made it confusing, [color=FFFFFF][i]was she admiring their legacy?[/i][/color] He maintained his composure, [color=BC3823]“Your home sprang up?”[/color] Evander inquired, [color=BC3823]“Where in Eskand are you from?”[/color]

[color=8882be]"Well, Eskand rose up and with that my family bettered themselves,"[/color] Ingrid added for context. Ingrid stood up and looked around the library for a few moments before levitating a book over. Opening it she showed the southern coast of Eskand Ath, [color=8882be]“Around here,”[/color] Ingrid pointed, [color=8882be]"The land is full of trees and mountains from the dragonspire. It’s a beautiful place to me. Why do you ask?"[/color] 
 
Evander watched as Ingrid flexed her gift a little before showing Evander her home, [color=BC3823]“I see.”[/color] He took his eyes from the book and brought them back to Ingrid’s after she asked him “why”. He answered softly,  [color=BC3823]”You don’t ever wonder where the hearts of your fellow classmates come from?”[/color]

[color=8882be]"Sometimes,"[/color] Ingrid answered. She leaned back, maintaining eye contact with him, and said, [color=8882be]"I used to be more interested in their origins but realized that was only part of them. I just see their national identity to be another part of them.”[/color] Ingrid sighed as she added an addendum, [color=8882be]"However I’m not so naive to ignore how others see nationality,"[/color] Ingrid took some subtle looks around to see who might be listening in.

Evander nodded as if to agree with her, [color=BC3823]“Yes, it is only a part, and for some, it’s quite a big part, while for others it’s small.”[/color] He leaned back as she leaned back to give her space, [color=BC3823]“What about you, how do you see yourself as an Eskand?”[/color]

Ingrid thought again, these questions were making her think about what she should and shouldn’t say, [color=8882be]"You know I can’t say. I love most parts of the culture. The people are much nicer than most think. But at the same time, the politics are tiring and some things are starting to regress for the worst."[/color] Ingrid sighed and looked towards Evander, [color=8882be]"I’m sure you have things that you dislike about Revidia."[/color]

Evander nodded,[color=BC3823]”There are.”[/color] He thought of the Doge. A man he’d not dare call an enemy, but certainly no friend. A means to an end maybe. Evander asked one more question, [color=BC3823]”How do you feel about Revidia?”[/color]

Ingrid's eye’s sharpened at Evander, but they softened as she shrugged, [color=8882be]"I never had particular feelings towards them, maybe slightly positive as a trade partner."[/color] Ingrid tensed, [color=8882be]"The Doge made the mistake of underestimating Eskand. And of his scheming, many people are going to die. At first, I hated Revidians,”[/color] Ingrid admitted, looking apologetically at Evander, [color=8882be]"but that isn’t right. Most are just people trying to live like everyone else. It was the Doge that messed with that."[/color]

Evander sensed Ingrid’s instinct to hate Revidians. If he were being honest, he’d have been outraged if the Eskand had tossed their nation off the Five Thrones and replaced them with another. [color=BC3823]“What you say is true, I do not believe Revidians are to be blamed for the Doge’s actions, but as for people dying, both sides have a lot to atone for.”[/color] Evander lowered his head as if sad by the idea of violence, [color=BC3823]“What about you Ingrid? What are you looking for in this world?”[/color] He paused, [color=BC3823]“The Doge looks for power, King Rouis looks to maintain order, Eskand is fractured looking to reclaim its dignity, what is Ingrid looking for?”[/color] He repeated and emphasized once more.

[color=8882be]"I wouldn’t say I’m looking for anything,"[/color] Ingrid said. She closed the book on Eskand and flew it back to the shelf. Ingrid looked back at Evander, [color=8882be]"I’m just trying to understand more things. Be able to speak to someone and understand their perspective and learn."[/color] Ingrid moved the book back in front of her, [color=8882be]"But for that, I need to make money and learn other skills as well."[/color]

It struck him, Ingrid [i]felt[/i] alone. There was no such thing as a person looking for nothing, someone was always searching for something. In her case, it was someone, and to understand their perspective. She was searching for words that would help her with understanding people. Evander nodded at her and stood up, [color=BC3823]“Well, you will not find the skills to speak to someone in that book, but you can find it in going for a walk outside of this library with me, are you interested?’[/color] 

Evander stood up and reached out his hand like a gentleman. It was up to her to take it or not, but it was there as a gesture of respect.

An invitation for a walk is what she expected since the start and she had been ready to reject him outright. But surprisingly, Evander has been more enjoyable than she thought for a conversationalist. Her eyes seemed saddened, [color=8882be]"I’ll have to decline, Evander. I truly need to study,"[/color] Ingrid said before then flashing a smile, [color=8882be]"But I would appreciate it if we could see each other at a later time."[/color] Ingrid hoped he would take her up on it.

Evander nodded, [color=BC3823]“Of course, continue focusing on what is important and you’ll reach your goal sooner rather than later.”[/color] He drew his hand back, bowed, and turned to go toward the Mythology and History section before exiting to head to the lake and read.[/color]