[Twistie]

The shelves reached as high as the ceiling, and that was pretty high, as ceilings go. Gothic arches and a domed ceiling topped it all off, painted with…something. Figures I couldn't focus on because the ceiling was so high and the torch light didn't reach far enough. The whole of one wall was scorched black, the painting damaged and peeling. A long table sat in the middle of them, decked out with candelabra, open books and tomes on every inch of it. Other short, troll-like creatures shuffled here and there, climbing ladders to the higher shelves, the type on rollers that glide along the shelves. Others sat at desks transcribing or repairing, re binding loose leaves.

"As you can see, the damage was quite extensive." the troll murmered to himself, shuffling down the left hand side of the table, and reaching out a pale grey and wrinkled hand to caress the burnt wood. "You are welcome to explore the remains of the collection at your own will. If you need any help, one of my collegues will help you."With that, he shuffled off down the table towards a small door, set between the far shelves. "I thought he said they lost most of the collection?" I was still gazing in awe around the untouched shelves, lined with books of varying fading colours. I let go of Eddie's hand, my research bug dragging me to the nearest unburnt shelf, my fingertip tracing the dusty books lovingly."Yeah…" Eddie managed. I glanced back at him. He too was in awe of the whole place, barely managing to follow me down the aisle of books, stepping back to look right up to the top shelf.

"How are we going to find anything in all this?" I pondered aloud, stopping to watch a troll shuffle past with a pile of books taller than he was. They reminded me of monks, in dusty old robes, their caring hands carefully turning pages. I nudged Eddie, who was trying to peer up the robes of a troll who stood balanced precariously on a ladder above his head, books balanced carefully on one arm.

"Well?" I raised an eyebrow. "Where should we begin?" Eddie looked around the room, then double took to the far corner, where scorched and burnt shelves met untouched ones. "Right there…" he murmered. I followed his eyes to the ceiling, trying to focus on what he was looking at in the dim light.

 

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