~Auges and Al'nehak~
Year 7,432 of the 3rd Era
3rd Month, 13th Day
Location: Bervenia
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@LiverisGood
The camel snorted loudly as if to announce to Al’nehak that they had arrived at their destination. Al’nehak glanced at her surroundings. It was quite busy, significantly more so than Rhyad.
Al’nehak dismounted and took the camel’s reins in her hands. She pulled on the reins and the camel began to follow her. “I’m afraid this is where we part ways my dear. I can’t afford to stable you and if I just tie you up, there’s no guarantee someone will steal you so I am just going to have to find you a new owner.”
This was a large city and she needed directions. “Excuse me,” she motioned toward a middle aged woman with a bag of groceries in hand, “If I may have a moment of your time, do you know where the library is and a place I can sell this camel?”
“If you want to find a buyer for your camel, try the bazaar. See that building way over there with that big sign? You want to go there and make a left and continue that way until you see this fountain. As for the library, we have several but the nearest one, well the largest one too, is straight down this path. Big flag at the entrance. You’ll know it when you see it.”
“Thank you for the help.”
“Of course.”
Al’nehak watched as the lady disappeared into the crowd. “Come,” she said tugging at the reins, “Let’s find you a new owner.”
[Some time later, leaving the bazaar]
The sad sound of three silver coins jiggled softly against the busy commotion in the streets as Al’nehak finally found the building the woman had pointed for her. A giant flag of Bervenia stood at the entrance of the library.
Al’nehak entered and went up to the receptionist desk. “Pardon me, but where might I find a good history book?”
The man look at her, puzzled by what she had said, “এইযে কেমন আছেন আজ?”
“Come again?”
The man held up his hand, signaling for her to wait. He disappeared into a door and not too soon after, another person came with him.
“Good day to you madam, how can I assist you today?” the other man spoke in a thick Zidelian vernacular.
“I’m doing research and I’d like some books on the world history of Arlina. I understand this is quite a lot of time I am looking at but it I am only interest in the past five to six hundred years to the present. I’d also like to see any works detailing the downfall of the Eastern Kingdoms.”
“That can be arranged. Is there anything else?”
“Actually, I would to read up on any contemporary sources on Al’nehak. I’d like to read these works in Zidelian if possible. Thank you. ”
The man turned to his younger coworker and said something that Al’nehak could hear very clearly but foreign. The younger worker disappeared once again behind the door and the other man scribbled something on a piece of paper before he left the desk. “Please, come with me.”
It was a silent trip up two flights of stairs before the man stopped at a row of desks. Numerous other people were sitting at these desks, absorbed in whatever literature they were reading. The man motioned for Al’nehak to sit down.
“We are bringing you some of the works you have requested. If you’d like to read more, you can go to these specific sections to find them. I must return but do be patient. Someone will be here soon.”
She watched the man leave the room, softly tapping her fingers on the table as she waited.
--------
Well, things had been going…somewhat well. She had elected to ask some workers for books regarding Harena and more recent history, as well as a few word references such as dictionaries and the like. She had gathered a few useful ones - a number of books were lying open on her desk, turned to various pages regarding the history of Harena. She was able to at least read a little and after cross referencing a few words in references and what she could hear people speaking it wasn't too difficult to piece together more simple words. Learning of what happened to Harena and what people thought of her, gave her a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was no saint…no matter what she did in life.
It was then someone else was made to take a seat at the same desk as she was. Auges turned their head up from the large book she was reading, a few notes scribbled in ancient writing from Harena laid scattered across a few pages. Well, maybe she should make conversation?
"Ah…this library doesn't know its history books from fiction." She complained in her best attempt at the language being spoken here, casting a glance over to Al’nehak. She was unaware this person hailed from the region that was once home to Harena.
Still waiting and looking at nothing in particular, Al’nehak’s ear’s perked up when she heard someone speaking at her. She lazily turned her head at the source. It was a teenage looking girl and she looked a bit flustered. She slowly repeated her words again.
“I am sorry, I don’t understand what you are saying,” Al’nehak replied in Zidelian. She glanced at the text the girl was reading.
“Harena? Now that’s an interesting topic,” She sighed softly, “Not that we understand each other.”
Before she could say anything else, she was interrupted when a trolley full of books rolled up to the table and the librarian took off several books off and placed them in front of Al’nehak. “Here you go madam. The books you were looking for.”
“In Zidelian?” Al’nehak asked.
“Yes. When you are done with them, just leave them at those carts over there.”
“Thank you for the help.”
“Enjoy your stay,” replied the librarian, wheeling the trolley off into the hallway
Al’nehak picked up the books one after another reading the titles silently in her head, “The Eastern Kingdoms: Rise and Fall, Arlina: The Definitive Compendium V, The Scourge of Zidel, and many many more.”
She looked up once again and saw that the girl sitting across from her was still looking at her intently. Al’nehak tilted her head ever so slightly and smiled encouragingly. “Yes?”
Was…was she speaking - well, it wasn't entirely her native tongue but it was definitely close enough!
"Oh, nothing." Auges replied with a smirk, this time in the tongue she was much more used too.
"I was just thinking about how good it is to finally find someone I can speak to without trying to finagle long foreign words together." She said with a giggle.
"I'm Auges! So, what are you doing here?"Al’nehak struggled slightly to understand. The girl was certainly speaking a dialect of Zidel but it was one that she had never heard of at all. She understood what the girl was talking about but there were words here and there that seemed off.
“You have an interesting dialect. It’s a bit strange to be frank but at least I can understand you. I am Alia Amari. As for what I am doing here, isn’t that obvious?” she motioned at the books in front of her. “Reading is a pastime of mine. What about you?”
"Heh, you're the one with the interesting dialect here. I've never heard it before, but it's not impossible. It's a pleasure to meet you, Alia Amari. Glad to finally have someone to speak with." Auges replied with a small smile. She wasn't entirely sure about the books she was reading - none of the names were familiar but she didn't linger on the subject.
"And I'm just doing a bit of…reading about Harena." The transmuter continued with a light shrug.
"Specifically about a certain 'Saint' by the name of Auges Magnus and a few mysteries regarding them." She leaned forwards a bit on the table towards Amari.
"You wouldn’t happen to know anything I don’t, would you? I've done quite a bit of research myself, but it's always good to have others opinions." She wondered how Amari would answer? It'd be funny, regardless.
“Ah Auges Magnus? Her story is well known in Zidel. A powerful magician rumored to have created a Philosopher’s stone and whose disappearance lead to the ruin of the country she loved. She was instrumental in protecting Harena but without her, the nation eventually fell to Nashaan when she disappeared after that fateful battle.”
Al’nehak pointed her finger on a map, indicating the last known location of Auges. “Yet no body was found so it was possible she lived until the end of days. Or perhaps the spell she used blew herself and the Nashaan host to nothingness. If she did lived, then even as Harena burned to the ground, Auges never returned and her countrymen were said to have cursed her name with their last breaths as the great city burned in a great inferno.”
Al’nehak leaned back and stretched. “Of course, whether or not she was truly hated near the end is up for debate but I doubt it. There is only so much one person can do to influence the outcome of a war and she gave much for her nation. It would sully her name if her countrymen reviled her. Another matter that comes up is the stone. Did she gain immortality through the fabled Philosopher's Stone? I’m not sure but if she did, I wonder sometimes if she intended to protect Harena forever and if so, did the people of Harena grow too dependent on their saint to the point they couldn’t effectively govern or defend themselves without her?”
Al’nehak paused briefly, “She did have a twin but I can’t remember too much her. Didn’t particularly cared for her in history classes. Amu? Ani? Antler? All I can recall is that she disappeared by the third war with Nashaan and was quite short in stature. Ah, sorry did I ramble on too much? You caught most of that I hope?”
Suddenly, Al’nehak realized something as she was awaiting for an answer. Auges? Didn’t this girl called herself Auges? Was it a coincidence? A youthful looking girl with a strange accent that was Zidelian in origin. Impossible...
“You did call yourself Auges right?” Al’nehak said calmly, strongly restraining the disbelief in her voice. “Are you the same Auges in the old texts?” she continued with a small chuckle. ”There is no way…” she thought to herself.
Auges' mouth curled upwards into a smile as Alia recited some well-known facts she could have told the other scholar herself. She had lived those facts, after all. She had to resist audibly giggling when Alia mentioned her name. Now this was definitely entertaining, though she hadn't entirely meant to introduce herself as Auges. It'd be silly to try and cover it up completely now.
"I wonder…if I said that I am would you ask for a miracle like they did of her constantly back in Harena?" She let her words hang in the air for a few audible, silent, seconds before laughing audibly and continuing.
"Heh…apologies, dear Alia. I am most certainly not the same one in the history books. Augestine Albertus is my full name. I am simply used to people calling me by that name It sometimes slips my mind to introduce myself as such. I truly don't know what my parents were thinking when they named me that."“I see. So a nickname of sorts. Still, it’s quite the coincidence that it is the same as the Saint. I suppose you get a lot of people mislead when you introduce yourself that way,” Al’nehak replied. “By the way, are you interested in any of these books?”
Before Augestine could reply, the clattering of plate mail echoed in the highway. Al’nehak stopped and turned around to look at the entrance as did Augestine. The echoes became louder and louder. Soon the entire room looked at the opened door with interest.
A knight appeared dressed in an impeccable set of plate mail. Whispers were abound in the room. Al’nehak looked on with bored interest.
“That’s a star knight! What’s one of them doing here?”
“Looks like he’s looking for someone. Hey, he’s moving over to that table!”
The star knight approached Al’nehak and Auges. He gave a courteous bow. “Please come with me. The two of you have been summoned by Madam Royce.”
Al’nehak looked on incredulously at the knight. Why did this knight come to their table? Was she in trouble? And what was this knight talking about? “Pardon? Rice? What about rice?”
"…If this 'Madam Rice' you speak of isn't going to feed me rice related dishes I'm going to be disappointed." Auges mused to herself, poking a bit of teasing fun at Alia.
"But, Alia, I think the knight means 'Madam Royce'. Sounds like a fairly important person."“Again, who the hell is Royce?” Al’nehak asked angrily.
"Hmm, let me talk with him a little. I have been studying their language a bit so I can understand them a bit better."The two spoke as Al’nehak could only look at them. The number of gazes she felt on them was somewhat irritating and getting to her nerves. Suddenly, Auges stood up.
"Well, I wasn't expecting a royal invitation." Auges mused, a smirk forming on her lips again.
"Instead of Rice, how about sweets? Ooh, I wonder if I can use important royal person as a status for free cake..." It seemed Auges went off into her own little world for a second before clearing her throat.
"Aheh, anyways, Alia, I think it could be interesting to go with him." Honestly, she was at least somewhat curious. She could find answers at least.
“But my books, I haven’t even opened a page-” Al’nehak started to complain.
"Oh don't give me that. Reading will come later. At least, for me. I have all the time in the world, heh. I don't really have much care for royals myself since all they do is cause needless wars…but we might as well see what this is about. They assure me we are not in any trouble."
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