A Quiet Day

The library was quiet as Myghin leaned over the desk, her nose only a few inches from the book she was reading. She didn't realize it, but the more she read, the closer she got to the pages. Occasionally, a librarian would come by and pull her back, but she wasn't really paying them any attention. Instead, her eyes were flickering across the pages as she hurriedly committed the words to memory. She had a test on this material the next day, and she wanted desperately to be prepared. She should have read it weeks ago, but it was difficult to get a copy of the material.

Oren walked into the library, looking around as a half-wrapped chocolate bar hung from his mouth. He was wearing his normal clothes as opposed to his instructor's uniform despite having a class in a short time. He'd come looking for a book, but now that he was here, it'd completely slipped his mind. Over at a desk, the young man eyed a familiar face. It was the SeeD candidate girl that was always in the books. Walking over, he gently reached up and pulled her head away from the book a little bit.

"You'll get the ink all over your face if you lean in much further," he said, pulling his food from his mouth just for a moment. "What's that you're studying?"

He looked around trying to find a clock and realized that he had a class to teach in just a couple of hours. He was supposed to be elaborating on Guardian Forces and preparing the students for a coming written exam on them.

Blinking very slowly behind her glasses, Myghin lifted her head up to see him. "What? Oh..." She smiled faintly, brushing off the end of her nose absently as she did. "It's just something I was supposed to look at earlier. What are you doing here, instructor?" She raised her eyebrow curiously. "Are you teaching today?" She didn't have one of his classes, but she knew next year, her last year as a candidate, she probably would.

He nodded, pulling the chocolate bar from his mouth, breaking off a piece that wasn't in his mouth and offering it to the girl.

"I see, I'm just looking for a book on GFs for some of the official terminology so I can make up an exam. I'm having a review in class today for it," he looked around, grabbing a book on the empty neighboring desk. "You're welcome to come by if you want some insight for next year's session."

Oren opened up the book and began scanning the pages, closing it shortly afterwards and grabbing another book from the desk and putting it under his arm as well.

She took the chocolate gingerly between her left forefinger and thumb, careful not to let it touch any other fingers. She wanted to minimize any mess that might come from it. "When is the class?" Myghin was thrilled to be offered a chance to get ahead, no matter how small. She stuck the chocolate in her mouth, chewed a moment, then swallowed. "I might not be able to, as I am supposed to meet my sister in an hour or so."

Oren looked up at the clock, counting in his head to himself.

"It's...ah...about 11:30 right now. The class is at 2:00 if I'm not mistaken."

He looked into space again for a moment, trying to recall who Myghin's sister was. She knew that she had one, but couldn't remember what she looked like. Probably a combination of having to see so many students and her not being a student here.

"Um...if you don't mind my asking, what was your sister's name again? I'm afraid it slipped my mind. I think you've only ever talked about her, does she come by often?"

"She comes by when she can. Her name's Nell. You probably haven't ever seen her." Myghin's eyes dropped back to the book in her hand. "She helps out with some of the Festivals and stuff, so you've probably eaten something she's cooked for those. But she rarely meets any of the staff here." For a moment, Myghin closed her eyes, then she opened them and smiled again. "But if you like, you can meet her today. She'll be by soon. See, she's always early."

((Coming in from here.))

Nell looked around herself curiously after she parked the car. The parking lot was huge, but she stepped through it quickly on her way into the main hallway. She smiled at the brightness of the inner Garden, and she took a deep breath. This place soothed her much more than most of the places she'd been too. A smile curved her lips, and she touched her hair and adjusted her basket before continuing.

She nodded toward the staff that she did know, and she just smiled at those wearing SeeD uniforms. She tried her best to be polite, and she considered where her sister might be. Then she grinned to herself. Of course Myghin would be in the library; she always was on visit days. She set off toward the book-crammed area, her basket resting comfortably in the crook of her arm.

Walking in, she spied her little sister in the back, sitting sideways at one of the desks. She was talking to... someone. Nell couldn't see from where she was. Slowly, she walked into the back. "Myghin?"

"Are you sure it will be okay?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "I wouldn't want to impose on you spending time with your sister if she doesn't get to come by very often."

He reached into his pocket, setting the books onto a desk, and pulled out a small hand-held computer, writing down the names of the books and putting it back into his pocket. Just then, he heard a voice call Myghin from nearby. He turned around to see that Myghin was, indeed, correct about her sister being early. He stepped to the side, making a path for the woman to cross to her sister and nodded to her.

Myghin grinned up at her sister, "Nell! I see you're early." Upon seeing how her sister was eyeing the instructor, Myghin cleared her throat and clarified, "Sis, this is Instructor Sjet. He teaches here." She moved to her sister and hugged her tightly. "I'm glad to see you. What's in the bas- Oh..." The aroma of fresh bread tickled her nose.

Relaxing upon finding out he was an instructor, Nell hugged her sister tightly back. "Yes, I brought you bread, silly girl." She laughed, gently keeping the basket out of reach from Myghin. "But you can't eat in here. How about we go to the Quad instead?" Her eyes met Oren's, and she blushed softly. "Instructor Sjet, you're welcome to join us..."

"I..um...sure, as long as I'm not intruding," answered Oren, blushing a little himself as he started to walk out, carrying the books.

"Just one moment, I need to check these out," he said, approaching the counter while the librarian checked the books out to him. "You two go ahead and I'll find you in the Quad," smiled Oren softly as he passed the last of his candy bar subtly to the girls. The librarian attendant giggled softly as the girls left, causing Oren to turn with a raised eyebrow. "..and what are you laughing about!?"

Laughing, Myghin happily took the last of the candy, pocketing it smoothly before grabbing her sister's arm and dragging her off toward the Quad.

((Story continues here.))