“Still, I’d rather avoid the unpleasantness if I can. You know, it’s just—” She fell silent, the quiet at the sight of Elder Soparo’s form coming into view, strolling the paths after his own meal.
Draikis nodded to the older man, his course shifting in response, walking until he stood over the pair seated on the bench.
“Draikis. Ella,” he said with a somewhat cool tone.
“Elder Soparo,” Draikis replied with a little bow of his head. “Apologies for the disturbance. It will not happen again.”
“It had best not,” he said, replying to the man but his eyes falling on the woman, his demeanor a bit more icy than normal. “We do not need this sort of conflict within our ranks.”
Ella’s cheeks flushed. “Look, I’m really sorry about that. I just didn’t know.”
“There appears to be a great deal you do not know,” he replied with cold politeness in his voice.
Ella ignored his tone as best she could. She was the interloper here, after all, and though she didn’t mean to cause any problems, she was doing so regardless. And that made the elder’s life more difficult.
“There are just so many rules I don’t know.”
He shook his head. “As I said, one must inform themself. Make an effort.”
“But how?”
“Ask the right questions, for one. Draikis here will surely be glad to teach you.”
“But what about the things I don’t even know I need to ask?”
The old man didn’t exactly smile, but his dour expression did seem to soften slightly.Slightly.
“If you truly want to learn, then you must do as those before you have done. You study. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have things to attend to.”
With that he gave a little nod to them both and walked off, leaving Ella in surprised silence. She turned to Draikis, the gears in her mind already spinning at speed.
“Hang on, did he mean I’m allowed to actually read your rule books? I asked, but Totaxxis cut me off.”
“It would appear that way. Most unusual. Outsiders are not normally granted access to the archives.”
“But Ican, right? You heard him.”
“I did. And Elder Soparo’s word is enough.”
Ella’s heart beat a little faster. “When can we go? Can we go now?”
Draikis chuckled, nodding his affirmation. “Finish your meal first. We are in no rush.”
She dug right in despite his words and food met mouth at a rapid rate, the inspired woman devouring the rest of her meal in a hurry. He might not have been in a rush, but she felt a senseof excited urgency fill her at the possibilities that now spread before her.
“Okay, done! Can we go now?”
His full lips curled into an amused smile. “Yes, of course. Come with me.”
They walked side-by-side, drawn to one another without realizing it as they headed to the archives. Only when she felt his hot arm brush against hers did Ella really note their proximity. And Draikis, for all his stoic behavior, seemed a bit flustered by it as well, his cheeks darkening slightly at the realization.
A twinge in Ella’s chest flared, her body experiencing a brief charge of static-like electricity. She glanced at the hot priest at her side, wondering if he felt it too.
“We’re here,” he said a moment later as the building came into view. “Follow my lead.”
In they walked, greeted by the archivist looking through a few texts at a table near the entry. He looked up at the visitors, eyes widening at the sight of the woman in their midst.
“What can I do for you, Brother?” he asked, confused by both the hour of his visit as well as his companion.
