A Goat's Library

After following the paper bird for hours, traveling through nearby forests slowly forming into steeper mountainsides– Ray and Lia finally stumble upon a sign of Capricorn's library.

Literally, an old but sturdy wooden sign standing right in front of their path. The paper jay circled around the landmark while Lia got closer to read the inscription, "Follow the path of knowledge and literature then you'll find the library at a degrading temperature?" she read out loud.

Ray stared at the aged text, "What does that even mean?" he questioned, "Is Capricorn going to test our abilities in finding our way to hi—"

"Or—" Lia interrupted, drawing out the word before continuing— "he just likes rhymes and we should go up the stairs made out of books." she smirked, pointing towards the steps made from actual books, big, old and mossy looking ones. "You know– to the colder mountain peaks," she added.

Oh that'd make sense...

Ray looked past Lia and the sign, noticing a small path framed by trees with the mentioned steps of books. "R-right, that... that could be the path too."

How had he not seen that?

"Well what are you waiting for, let's go!" Lia exclaimed, eager to move on. Rightfully so, any indication this may be the end of a too long journey was wonderful news. The two of them hadn't exactly been making a lot of good conversation, both almost painfully aware they didn't know what to talk about.

So– like most of this trip Ray thought they'd make their way further up in relative silence, but Lia's improved mood seemed to have made her a little more talkative.

"Do you think Kaida and Jay are having any luck with their investigation?" She asked, walking along the path at a steady pace.

Yeah no, those two probably won't do anything that could be qualified as 'investigating'. But he wasn't going to tell Lia that, save a little of the girl's hope that his two idiots could find some information about her.

He hummed, "Hard to say, when they both get serious they're a force to be reckoned with," he began, but figuring false hope would get her nowhere he continued, "However, like I said before; they're a menace and can get in some real trouble by just talking–" He shook his head, they'd do a little more than just talk to people... "—No, provoking others. "

Lia didn't give him much of a reaction, he couldn't grasp how she was taking his words. "I probably should've put my foot down about that plan being awful instead of agreeing just to get that flamboyant fea off my back." he admitted.

"It'll probably be fine," Lia tried to assure him— or maybe the both of them, "I mean, how bad can it really get?" She turned her head around to gauge Ray's reaction.

His pained expression at recollecting the disaster duo's past shenanigans must've been enough of an answer, since Lia sucked in a sharp breath before uttering a small; "Oh, that bad huh?"

He just nodded, not really wanting to explain any of his past headaches.

The girl fell quiet then, though a soft gasp escaped her a little while later, when a little ball of mellow light started moving along besides her head.

"You've been attracting those for a while now, but most don't move too close to humans." Ray pointed out, his surprisingly soft expression making Lia feel more at ease at the unknown light following her.

He observes how she tries to catch the one floating around nearest, but it just faded away before her hand got close enough to touch it. Lia froze for just a second, seeming startled at something.

"But when I was there I ..." she muttered, she probably hadn't meant for him to hear that, but his ears are better than most people.

She was puzzled by something, a troubled expression showing on her face. Ray wanted to ask what was wrong but right that moment the little light reappeared, along with a few others which had a little more of a distinctive form.

The girl was quiet with wonder, "What are they?" She asked, attention still on the lights.

Ray found himself chuckling, "These are little spirits," he informed her, deciding not to ask about whatever just happened. Lia put her finger out as for the tiny spirit to inspect her. "There're many types of spirits, creatures, beasts and animals here..." he trailed off.

"I'm guessing you don't remember any?" Ray almost felt bad for asking, since the answer seemed obvious.

Lia sighed wistfully, her breath visible as the temperature steadily began to drop. She looked on as the spirits gathered around her hand. "I wish I knew of them, I think I like animals."

Well that's a wholesome statement for someone who used a ladle like she was a trained weapon expert just yesterday.

Ray hummed, "Some can be dangerous and scary though, even the non-magical ones like big bears, wolves–"

"Wolves aren't scary to me." She abruptly cut him off, suddenly standing still, startling him a bit with the resolve shining through her eyes.

Why does it feel like this is the first time she's really looked at him since they left Miklion?

"... I–" He grunted a bit, very intelligent response there Ray, but how do you react to that? Was it just a sincere statement or an insult? A compliment even? She's been ignoring him in favor of observing her new and admittedly quite beautiful surroundings, they were not even really talking before they came across the sign and now she's—

"You aren't scary to me," she insisted, still staring him down, unmoving. Her feet must be getting cold, some patches of snow started appearing a few steps back— wait that's unimportant!

This was getting downright uncomfortable, "I eh— what do you mean by that? I am aware you didn't fear my wolfs form, but you don't have to rub it in," he grumbled.

That seemed to have done it, whatever intense air she had before shattered by a flustered set of hands moving as if to brush his own comment away.

"No no sorry that wasn't an insult!" Lia clarified rather loudly, "Though that was a bit much wasn't it?" she sheepishly wondered out loud. "It's just— when I can't even trust my own mind, it's reassuring to know there are people willing to help me, I feel more at ease... less afraid of what I don't know."

He'd just assumed the worst like always hadn't he?

"Don't apologize, it's fine." He sighed, "I can't even begin to imagine how frightening it must be to lose all my memories. Only to wake up half dead with a big wolf and a little gremlin in front of you–"

Lia laughed at that, quite a wonderful sound he didn't expect to hear, "It may not be as bad as you'd imagine," she smiles, eyes cast downward.

A rustling of branches and leaves snapped Ray's attention elsewhere, he grabbed Lia's arm as soon as he could and moved his index finger to his lips. Luckily she understood the signal and didn't feel like punching his face in for grabbing her this time.

He listened intently to any noise emitting from the direction the sound had come from. There had been something there, it was quiet in its movement but whatever was sounded fairly big by how many leaves it disrupted by moving around.

A snarl permeated through the parse trees and vegetation that had been thinning out as they got higher, yet he wasn't able to spot anything.

Ray shifted, alert and ready for a confrontation. Even as a wolf he couldn't seem to set eyes on the supposed threat but his smell and hearing was enough to get its location.

Lia looked on in a guarded position as Ray growled back at the direction of the other creature.

A quick swipe came out of nowhere, getting Ray's front leg, it was superficial but the attacker was still hidden, how—

"It's invisible?" Lia stated quietly, not expecting an answer.

Could be magic or maybe even projectiles, however— Ray knew who their attacker was, this wasn't a creature he should engage in combat.

So he shifted back, getting Lia to give him an incredulous look, "What are you doing?" She whispered like she was shouting at him in annoyance.

He hoped she'd trust him with this, "Bow with your arms spread wide, make sure to show your hands," he instructed clearly but quietly as he did just that, the other soon following after.

A transparent looking creature slowly made itself known, never fully turning visible but acting rather calm now. Both of them stood frozen in place, waiting... the beast before them was still one massive and intimidating being.

It inspected the pair, but didn't lay another finger on either of them– before bowing and fading away.

Ray heard Lia let out a relieved breath. "Mind telling me what all that was about?" She asked with a little breathless laugh.

"A Knupa, they're usually not very violent but will defend their home if it doesn't trust the intruder," he explained, "We showed that we didn't mean to harm or disturb it so it let us pass with only a scratch." Ray looked at his arm, it was probably a warning since he was acting hostile.

Lia stepped closer and lightly brushed past the unimpressive wound, oddly caring or maybe just curious, "That creature was big, I could barely see it, I don't think I ever want to be on its bad side." she stated, maybe more to herself than the person right in front of her.

He hummed remembering something he said earlier, "See?" She looked up at him.

"Scary creatures," he concluded, they both looked back at the path and barren vegetation the Knupa had disappeared to.

The serpent girl's excitement about being close to the library had died down after their encounter with the Knupa. The rest of the way up was a quiet one, more tense than before yet less awkward.

The altitude made their travels harder, Ray didn't want to shift since that may be a bit unfair towards Lia, even if it would make this a lot easier. He let her walk in front of him, making sure he wouldn't leave her behind by leading the way.

Though to he honest, she'd been taking the lead ever since they left Miklion, focused on the promise of knowledge and a little paper jaybird.

Luckily, there wasn't as much snow as they expected to encounter here. It didn't cover most of the path and the patches that were there weren't very thick, although it did make it a bit more difficult to see where the path actually led.

That didn't turn out to be much of a problem after Lia suddenly spoke up, "The library," she observed.

They both stopped walking as Ray looked past her form, easily spotting the building that was still quite a ways away.

The library wasn't as big as he thought it'd be, but it was supposed to be a private collection he recalled, so that wasn't very surprising. It had a fitting roof design though; a giant open book seemed to rest upon the building, presumably just a wooden carving but you never know.

"Looks to be it, with the roof and everything," he told Lia, who just squinted at the library in the distance.

"Ray I can barely see it at all," Lia huffed, "What's with the roof? It's too far away to see clearly."

Well that was interesting.

"Oh, bad eyesight?" Ray mused, not really meaning to offend.

Lia gave him an annoyed look, "How should I know what qualifies as good or bad eyesight?" She countered, sounding ticked off.

She started to walk— well, more like stomp away, so he followed, pondering if she actually wanted an answer to that question or not.

"Touché." He said instead.

When there was no reply he thought she probably won't get angry about him explaining, "Kaida for one can see very well 'cause of her spirit, better than myself. A wolfking's spirit doesn't help me much but I think my eyesight is considered normal." He started, her pace slowed down to a normal walk again so he took that as a good sign, "So say my sister can see as far and good as I can but at a greater distance, with Mr. Dragon's help at least— while you can only see that good at a shorter distance than me."

She looked to be thinking that over until concluding that she didn't like it, "That's very inconvenient."

Ray held back a snort at her blunt disapproval of her eye's capability. "Maybe Alveena can help with that, if it's something that can be healed she could fix it for you."

She hummed, not sounding too happy about that suggestion.

When they were finally in front of the library it was already dusk and he realized just how tired he'd gotten from traveling though this terrain all day. And that on just two buns and frapples they'd brought with them. He needed to remind himself to kindly thank Jay for sending them off with a little piece of flying paper and no indication of how long the journey would be going on for.

He knew a better address my ass. This library better be worth it— oh right, the library.

The building itself had a warm and welcoming kind of charm to it. Being mostly made out of wood, the roof too– just as he thought. It was nice, but more importantly; there was smoke coming from the crooked chimney, which meant there could be warm food.

"I hope Capricorn is home," Lia muttered as she knocked on the big oak door.

Ray hadn't even considered the zodiac mage could be out right now... well skut, fingers crossed.

The door opened just a smidge, making a beam of light show on the cold ground outside, "Travelers at sunset? Who are you two younglings, we've never met." An old wary voice questioned.

The two outside shared a look before Lia decided to speak up, "I am Ofukus, Ophukis?—" she stumbled.

"Ophiuchus," Ray supplied, to which Lia nodded a thanks.

She cleared her throat, "Right, Ophiuchus of the zodiac, I have something to discuss with you and we're not turning back."

A rhyme?

An intrigued hum could be heard from behind the door, "Ah a young lady who appreciates the fine arts of rhyme, come in, this ol' library will be worth your time."

Then a strange thing happened, the door fully opened and as soon as the two locked eyes there was a certain pause.

Lia had a look in her eyes, something close to recognition. The old little satyr looked amazed at her presence as well.

"You weren't kidding, a fellow mage of the star-signs I wager? You're welcome to read all I have, my collection is major!" The old man chuckles and Ray swore he could hear a goat's sound in there somewhere.

The satyr grabbed his little goatee in thought, "You traveled quite far, I'll get you some food but grab a little sweet out of that jar," Capricorn gestured at a big jar filled with candy.

Tempting, but now that hunger was getting taken care off, there was another matter that needed attention. "Erm, could you get me a bandage too? You see my arm is—" He cut himself off as he moved up his sleeve.

Lia looked up at him from where her hand was grabbing around in the candy jar, "Your arm is what?"

"It's..." He trailed off, trying to wrap his mind around it.

Healed completely.