Chapter 35

**Noch**


I couldn’t believe that I had completely forgotten about the Fae! They were such an obvious lead that could be traced and followed if Fog were the one to go after them. He was much more suited for Fae related info than the rest of us were.

“I assume there will be no fire messages going out to members for an impending celebration for the time being?” Strider asked as he eyed me from the couch.

Tugging my hair in frustration I turned my attention back to him. “No, not for a while. We need to catch Orbus first. I have a sneaky suspicion that Dermon might be behind this as well.”

Strider’s tail went still after that statement. “I really dislike your sneaky gut suspicions. They tend to be right after all.”

I shrugged. “It’s not like I can help it. And even if you dislike it, it has come in handy many times before.”

Strider scrunched his nose in distaste. “Don’t remind me… most times we barely escaped with our skins intact.”

Strider stared at me as I rubbed my forehead and smirked. “I haven’t seen that look on your face in a long time. It looks like your 2000 year vacation period has come to an end.”

I glowered at his jibe, but just as quickly my glower turned into a smile of my own. “It was probably high time too. I think I was starting to really feel my age.”

“Ha! Wouldn’t that be the day!” Strider jeered then flicked his tail. “So, what is your current plan of action since everyone else is out looking for Orbus and the Fae?”

Looking up at the ceiling, I rubbed the back of my neck while thinking of other avenues of information I might be able to dig into. Then it hit me. “Do you know if Sirus is currently in the Library?”

Strider tilted his head as he thought. “Last time I checked he was there, yes. If I’m not mistaken he’s currently sorting out new literature that he has brought back from who knows where.”

“He left the Castle?” I asked in surprise. Sirus was one of the few people that rarely ever emerged from their ‘safe havens’ let alone leave the entire building altogether. “I never even noticed.”

“He did indeed, although it wasn’t for very long. He was gone for maybe a week at most. The materials he brought back look interesting though, so I wonder where he found them.” He said with a curious glint in his eye.

I smiled slyly at Strider then stretched my back until I felt a satisfying pop. “Time to go make a little visit then. For all we know, what he brought back might be of some help. He’s always had a very good eye for books after all.”

Strider’s whiskers twitched as he smiled. “That’s why he’s still here after all, despite not being in the field of healing or combat like other members.”

The both of us then left my office and made our way swiftly down to the second floor where the Library was situated. I was forever thankful that we had managed to get rid of the Hunters before they reached the Library during their attack. The literature in that section of the building could only rival the contents found in the Council’s library, vaults and archives. Obviously the Council was the only organization that outgunned us when it came to antique literature that came from the time before the Cataclysm. However far and few between that literature might be. The only source of information we had in the Order of the previous cycle was me, and now possibly the Demon Spawn. And there was no way that I was willing to put what was in my memories onto a piece of parchment for others of this era to see.

That just reminded me of how hard ass the Council were back in the day when those parchments and books were first discovered. I had repeatedly warned and nagged them to burn it all, but they never listened. And because of that, the tragedy that was called Dermon, was created. And they still hadn’t burned the materials even till this day. Bloody assholes…

Strider and I reached the Library doors and wasted no time in going inside. Looking around the place, I noticed that there were a few changes made in the area. The room was still 3 stories high with bookshelves stocked to the brim, but now I noticed that they all seemed more organized. Some bookshelves seemed to have color coded tags and divisions like most modern libraries had nowadays.

The tables on the ground floor were still the same old sturdy sylvan ones from the past, but the chairs seemed more modern and comfortable. There also seemed to be lamps at each seating point. I doubted that the massive chandelier in the middle of the room didn’t generate enough lighting, but that was of no concern. Sirus was in charge of the library after all, and so he was free to change whatever he wanted to without needing permission.

Speaking of which, I couldn’t see him in the immediate vicinity. Which was odd since he was almost a permanent fixture when you first walked in the doors on any occasion. I frowned down at Strider and he just gave me the equivalent of a shrug.

With a sigh I sent my energy out through the Library, and managed to pick up on Sirus’s energy deep in the East wing’s side. “Let’s go have a look, shall we?”

“Not that you even need to ask.” Strider quipped as we started making our way.

It didn’t take us long to find Sirus hunched over leather bound tombs in between bookshelves. It looked like he was seriously mulling over some of the books in front of him, like he wasn’t sure where they should go. He was so focused that it didn’t seem like he even noticed that his glasses were almost falling off the bridge of his nose.

“Hi Sirus.” I greeted cheerfully.

Sirus nearly jumped out of his skin, his hazel eyes almost popping out of his skull. He almost dropped the books he was mumbling over so seriously as well. After his heart had a chance to settle he shot a wounded expression my way. “Please announce yourself Noch! I’ve asked you this multiple times but you always just appear out of nowhere like a ghost!”

“Oh come now, can’t I drop in every now and then to say hi?” I teased.

“That has nothing to do with what I’m saying and you know it!” He yelled in frustration.

“Oh right, that aside, I bring news and a request for information.” I said nonchalantly.

“Urgh, your way of brushing off what you don’t want to talk about and changing the topic never ceases to amaze me.” He sighed as he set his books down and combed his fingers through his short sandy hair. “So, firstly, what is this news that you’ve come to give me?”

“Well, for one we’ve found the still alive and kicking Demon Spawn and she is now back at the Order!” I announced happily. Sirus froze for a second like I’ve seen everyone else do so far, struggling to process the new information after living with the fact of her death for so long. “Secondly, Orbus has escaped from the Fergeril realm. So everyone is currently out looking for clues and information.”

Sirus slowly turned his eyes fully to me and sighed heavily. “I really hate this nonchalant trait of yours. Let me guess, this is where you bring up your ‘request for information’, is that right?”

I grinned. “Indeed it is.”