Languages of Aurora AD 445
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Mysteries of Aurora, the Nation of Eternal Dawn
- Thread starter Brenorenz
- Start date
- Original
Saturday, September 7, Afternoon
New
Freya entered the dining hall for lunch. She found two she hadn't talked to yet that day near one of the windows that looked out onto the courtyard next to the Hall. "Hi! How has today been?"
'Hi, Freya," one said with a smile.
"A great autumn day, Leia?" Freya said.
"Oh, it definitely is!" Leia said. "It is argued that Urbs Aeterna has the best climate in Aurora."
"I haven't really thought about that," Freya said a she sat down.
"Oh, Leia…"the other said.
"What do you think, Anise?" Freya asked.
"I'd say it would be somewhere in the South, where it doesn't snow much," Anise answered.
"Like, Tanaria?" Leia asked.
"Yes," Anise said.
"I haven't been to the South," Freya mused. "We've mostly been to places in the northeast, Munnsland once, the United Kingdom or Australia."
"The northeast?" Anise asked, rhetorically. "It's mostly Auroric there, so we decided not to go when it did come up."
"Well, I'm bilingual," Freya said with a smile.
"That's cool," Leia said.
"That's something I'm interested in," Anise said. "The shifting linguistic landscape of Aurora. How the Auroric speaking areas have expanded over time, especially in the Modern Era."
"It's probably because it is taught in some of the other provinces as a second language," Freya mused.
"Like, it's the ongoing legacy of the Nordic Era," Leia added.
"History…" Freya murmured.
"Aren't you into art?" Anise asked.
"It's a big part of what I'm interested in, but not everything," Freya said. "For instance…" she then told them about the mystery of the missing Renaissance artworks.
"That's still about art," Anise said.
"I guess so," Freya responded with a giggle.
"It's a bit strange," Leia considered.
"That is one reason why I'm going to investigate," Freya said.
Olivia stretched and looked at the time. "1:30!" she said. It was time for lunch and a swim. She put the books back where she found them and then headed to the Coffee House for lunch.
Freya emerged onto a balcony on the top floor of Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall, which faced northwards. She could see a glint of the sea. "Maybe, something there," she considered as she took out her sketchbook.
"Do you always talk to yourself?"
Freya turned and saw it was another of Dana's friends. "Andrew, is it?" she asked.
"Yes, second year Botany and Ecology," Andrew answered.
"Sort of like Dana, except she's studying Entomology."
"True, and you haven't answered the question."
"I guess I do," Freya admitted. "A way to process things, part of the ADHD."
"I heard about the treasure hunt too."
"That was mostly the synaesthesia."
"Right," Andrew said. It was clear that he was thinking about it.
Freya turned back to the view.
Olivia arrived at the Aquatics Center after a quick lunch. 'Good thing that was a small lunch,' she thought. She wanted to get swimming straight away. She soon jumped in.
Half an hour later, she got out of the pool for a rest.
"You seem quite fast," someone said.
Olivia looked and saw that it was Flavia. "Hi, Flavia. I have been swimming since I was quite young."
"That explains it, then."
"It helps me de-stress."
"You do seem… calmer, than you did in class," Flavia responded.
"Yes. There's something about the rhythm that helps me."
Olivia got out of the pool and joined Flavia on the deck.
"At least the pool isn't busy today," the latter said.
"Even if the deck is crowded, I can remain calm in the water," Olivia said.
"That's good," Flavia said. "Like, I saw how you were anxious about the crowds when we were in class."
Olivia nodded. "I've always been like that."
"It's fine," Flavia said. "I have my own anxieties."
Olivia gave a small smile. "No one's perfect."
"Anyway, what have you been up to, besides swimming?"
"Looking into mysteries in the Nordic Era."
"You might have said something about that," Flavia said.
"I have found more from the Capture of Urbs Aeterna."
"But you're uncertain?"
"I found some discrepancies," Olivia answered.
"Sometimes contradictory accounts are written."
"I know that. But it leaves what actually did happen as a mystery."
Flavia just gave a smirk.
Freya finished her sketch.
"That looks great!" Andrew said.
"Thanks, but I wanted to bring out more of the distant sea."
"Maybe that's one reason why you're here?"
"Certainly," Freya responded. "I want to improve my art and compositions."
After talking with Flavia, Olivia had changed and went back to the Library. "2:50," she said as she glanced at the large clock in the Grand Atrium. 'Plenty of time,' she thought as she headed back to the Nordic Section.
She continued going through various books.
Freya continued to spend the afternoon sketching and talking with others who joined her on the balconies.
"This is a great look at the campus," Anise said as she looked at one of Freya's sketches and then out towards where she could see the top of the Main Library in the distance.
"I always look for places to do my sketches," Freya responded. "Even if they can be overwhelming sometimes."
"Huh?"
"The ADHD and synaesthesia together does lead to sensory sensitivities."
"Oh," Anise said.
"Sometimes, I need to close my eyes, but have adapted to that."
"How?"
"Creating tactile art and improving my pattern recognition skills," Freya answered. "And I'm going to need the latter if I'm going to solve those Renaissance mysteries."
"Maybe you're reading too much into it?"
"No, there is a definite mystery."
Freya then saw that Anise was in thought.
'A mystery, she said,' Anise thought as she watched Freya continue to sketch.
"My sketching process isn't that interesting, is it?"
"I like watching others do art. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so I get flustered when mine doesn't come out how I'd like it to."
"This is the result of lifelong practice, persistence and encouragement," Freya said.
"Didn't you say that you're from a family or artists."
"That's right."
Olivia left the Library as the sun set. She knew that she had only scratched the surface of the mystery.
By the time she reached Janus Hadrian Hall, the brighter stars that could outshine Urbs Aeterna's light pollution had started coming out. She looked up, appreciative, as the AAUA campus had less extraneous light than her home suburb. 'Prettier,' she thought.
She entered the room to find Janara playing a different game than in the morning. "Have you been playing all day?" she asked.
"I have been elsewhere," Janara answered.
"Like lunch?"
"Not just lunch."
"That's good," Olivia said.
"How did today go for you?"
"It's still just scratching the surface, but I did catch up with someone at the Pool."
After dinner, Freya decided that she would watch that movie in the Main Common Room. 'At least I'll see what the fuss is about.'
Dana saw Freya come in. "Cool, Freya, they're about to put it on."
"Cool!"
"You had a good day?"
"Yes. I got plenty of sketching done, and talked to a few people," Freya answered.
"Looks like you had fun."
"Yes. I feel like I'm ready for what is ahead, including what I might find out about those Renaissance artists."
'Hi, Freya," one said with a smile.
"A great autumn day, Leia?" Freya said.
"Oh, it definitely is!" Leia said. "It is argued that Urbs Aeterna has the best climate in Aurora."
"I haven't really thought about that," Freya said a she sat down.
"Oh, Leia…"the other said.
"What do you think, Anise?" Freya asked.
"I'd say it would be somewhere in the South, where it doesn't snow much," Anise answered.
"Like, Tanaria?" Leia asked.
"Yes," Anise said.
"I haven't been to the South," Freya mused. "We've mostly been to places in the northeast, Munnsland once, the United Kingdom or Australia."
"The northeast?" Anise asked, rhetorically. "It's mostly Auroric there, so we decided not to go when it did come up."
"Well, I'm bilingual," Freya said with a smile.
"That's cool," Leia said.
"That's something I'm interested in," Anise said. "The shifting linguistic landscape of Aurora. How the Auroric speaking areas have expanded over time, especially in the Modern Era."
"It's probably because it is taught in some of the other provinces as a second language," Freya mused.
"Like, it's the ongoing legacy of the Nordic Era," Leia added.
"History…" Freya murmured.
"Aren't you into art?" Anise asked.
"It's a big part of what I'm interested in, but not everything," Freya said. "For instance…" she then told them about the mystery of the missing Renaissance artworks.
"That's still about art," Anise said.
"I guess so," Freya responded with a giggle.
"It's a bit strange," Leia considered.
"That is one reason why I'm going to investigate," Freya said.
Olivia stretched and looked at the time. "1:30!" she said. It was time for lunch and a swim. She put the books back where she found them and then headed to the Coffee House for lunch.
Freya emerged onto a balcony on the top floor of Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall, which faced northwards. She could see a glint of the sea. "Maybe, something there," she considered as she took out her sketchbook.
"Do you always talk to yourself?"
Freya turned and saw it was another of Dana's friends. "Andrew, is it?" she asked.
"Yes, second year Botany and Ecology," Andrew answered.
"Sort of like Dana, except she's studying Entomology."
"True, and you haven't answered the question."
"I guess I do," Freya admitted. "A way to process things, part of the ADHD."
"I heard about the treasure hunt too."
"That was mostly the synaesthesia."
"Right," Andrew said. It was clear that he was thinking about it.
Freya turned back to the view.
Olivia arrived at the Aquatics Center after a quick lunch. 'Good thing that was a small lunch,' she thought. She wanted to get swimming straight away. She soon jumped in.
Half an hour later, she got out of the pool for a rest.
"You seem quite fast," someone said.
Olivia looked and saw that it was Flavia. "Hi, Flavia. I have been swimming since I was quite young."
"That explains it, then."
"It helps me de-stress."
"You do seem… calmer, than you did in class," Flavia responded.
"Yes. There's something about the rhythm that helps me."
Olivia got out of the pool and joined Flavia on the deck.
"At least the pool isn't busy today," the latter said.
"Even if the deck is crowded, I can remain calm in the water," Olivia said.
"That's good," Flavia said. "Like, I saw how you were anxious about the crowds when we were in class."
Olivia nodded. "I've always been like that."
"It's fine," Flavia said. "I have my own anxieties."
Olivia gave a small smile. "No one's perfect."
"Anyway, what have you been up to, besides swimming?"
"Looking into mysteries in the Nordic Era."
"You might have said something about that," Flavia said.
"I have found more from the Capture of Urbs Aeterna."
"But you're uncertain?"
"I found some discrepancies," Olivia answered.
"Sometimes contradictory accounts are written."
"I know that. But it leaves what actually did happen as a mystery."
Flavia just gave a smirk.
Freya finished her sketch.
"That looks great!" Andrew said.
"Thanks, but I wanted to bring out more of the distant sea."
"Maybe that's one reason why you're here?"
"Certainly," Freya responded. "I want to improve my art and compositions."
After talking with Flavia, Olivia had changed and went back to the Library. "2:50," she said as she glanced at the large clock in the Grand Atrium. 'Plenty of time,' she thought as she headed back to the Nordic Section.
She continued going through various books.
Freya continued to spend the afternoon sketching and talking with others who joined her on the balconies.
"This is a great look at the campus," Anise said as she looked at one of Freya's sketches and then out towards where she could see the top of the Main Library in the distance.
"I always look for places to do my sketches," Freya responded. "Even if they can be overwhelming sometimes."
"Huh?"
"The ADHD and synaesthesia together does lead to sensory sensitivities."
"Oh," Anise said.
"Sometimes, I need to close my eyes, but have adapted to that."
"How?"
"Creating tactile art and improving my pattern recognition skills," Freya answered. "And I'm going to need the latter if I'm going to solve those Renaissance mysteries."
"Maybe you're reading too much into it?"
"No, there is a definite mystery."
Freya then saw that Anise was in thought.
'A mystery, she said,' Anise thought as she watched Freya continue to sketch.
"My sketching process isn't that interesting, is it?"
"I like watching others do art. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so I get flustered when mine doesn't come out how I'd like it to."
"This is the result of lifelong practice, persistence and encouragement," Freya said.
"Didn't you say that you're from a family or artists."
"That's right."
Olivia left the Library as the sun set. She knew that she had only scratched the surface of the mystery.
By the time she reached Janus Hadrian Hall, the brighter stars that could outshine Urbs Aeterna's light pollution had started coming out. She looked up, appreciative, as the AAUA campus had less extraneous light than her home suburb. 'Prettier,' she thought.
She entered the room to find Janara playing a different game than in the morning. "Have you been playing all day?" she asked.
"I have been elsewhere," Janara answered.
"Like lunch?"
"Not just lunch."
"That's good," Olivia said.
"How did today go for you?"
"It's still just scratching the surface, but I did catch up with someone at the Pool."
After dinner, Freya decided that she would watch that movie in the Main Common Room. 'At least I'll see what the fuss is about.'
Dana saw Freya come in. "Cool, Freya, they're about to put it on."
"Cool!"
"You had a good day?"
"Yes. I got plenty of sketching done, and talked to a few people," Freya answered.
"Looks like you had fun."
"Yes. I feel like I'm ready for what is ahead, including what I might find out about those Renaissance artists."
Orientation Arc Timeline
New
Monday, September 2nd, 2024
Freya Andersson and Olivia Marcus arrive at Academia d'Aeterna Universitas d'Aurora. Olivia meets Janara as her roommate.
Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024
Freya and Olivia investigate the Main Library for the first time. They cross paths briefly.
Wednesday, September 4th, 2024
The Orientation Treasure Hunt.
Thursday, September 5th, 2024
Classes start. Freya meets Alexia, and Olivia meets Flavia.
Friday, September 6th, 2024
Janara learns that Olivia is experiencing insomnia. Olivia starts swimming again at the University's Aquatic Center. Alexia learns that Freya is into athletics.
Saturday, September 7th, 2024
Olivia spends most of the day in the Library, as well as some time at the Aquatic Center. Freya sketches and bonds more with other residents of Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall.
Freya Andersson and Olivia Marcus arrive at Academia d'Aeterna Universitas d'Aurora. Olivia meets Janara as her roommate.
Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024
Freya and Olivia investigate the Main Library for the first time. They cross paths briefly.
Wednesday, September 4th, 2024
The Orientation Treasure Hunt.
Thursday, September 5th, 2024
Classes start. Freya meets Alexia, and Olivia meets Flavia.
Friday, September 6th, 2024
Janara learns that Olivia is experiencing insomnia. Olivia starts swimming again at the University's Aquatic Center. Alexia learns that Freya is into athletics.
Saturday, September 7th, 2024
Olivia spends most of the day in the Library, as well as some time at the Aquatic Center. Freya sketches and bonds more with other residents of Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall.
The Manuscript Part 1
New
Monday, September 9, 2024
After a couple of classes, Olivia Marcus was back in the Nordic Section of the Main Library. She had taken a break over Sunday, talking with Janara as she gamed and listening to various audiobooks. She was into a book on the situation in Urbs Aeterna in the decades leading up to the Capture when she heard something in the distance.
"What was that?" She looked around and saw a couple of people arguing near one of the doorways between the Nordic Section and the Ancient Section.
"Something's happening," she murmured.
She went up to the two. "What's happening?" she asked.
One of the two was an assistant she had seen the previous week. "Something is missing," he answered.
"Missing?" she asked.
The, other, an older lady, answered. "A manuscript that was supposed to be written before 1000 BC is missing."
"How could something like that go missing?" Olivia asked.
"We have no idea," the older lady answered.
"It could be an inside job," the assistant, David, said.
"That's not possible!" the older librarian said. "Those stories of secret societies within AAUA are just that, stories."
"But still, it's missing, right?" Olivia said.
"Yes. The Head Librarian noticed that it was missing this morning," David said.
"Should we be telling her?" the other librarian asked.
"She wanted to know," David said.
"I guess," the other said.
"Olivia, and I met David last week."
"You can call me Talia."
"Talia," Olivia considered. "Can I have a look at where it was?"
"I don't think that's a good idea, Olivia," Talia said.
"I may be able to help. I have a way of noticing things," Olivia said.
"At least we should give it a try," David said.
"Fine!"
The trio went into the Ancient Section. The manuscript was stored in a nook on the second floor not far from the Geography Section. The ancient stone walls were more rough, as though the nook was an afterthought for the original builders over two or three millennia before.
"It was here," David said as he pointed to a spot on a shelf.
Olivia looked at the shelf. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. There was the stand the manuscript had been on, and other manuscripts on the shelf and on the shelves above and below it. She recognised the patterns of the script as the pre-Roman Auroralic Script, even if the dyslexia made her unable to see the individual letters. "Sorry. But maybe some other new student could."
"What do you mean?" Talia asked.
"I haven't met her, but I heard that there is an artistic synesthete somewhere," Olivia said. 'It is just a rumor, but if they are actually at AAUA, they can help,' she thought.
"Synaesthesia," Talia considered. "Are you saying that they might pick up something?"
Olivia shrugged. "It may be possible."
"Then go, try to find her, while we continue looking," David said.
In the Art Department, Freya Andersson looked around the First Year Art Studio. The space was half filled with other art students, many of whom were dressed colourfully in different ways. 'That's to be expected,' she thought before she turned back to her current project. She then closed her eyes as she painted by touch. 'Something abstract, about new beginnings, given that I am now here, at AAUA.'
It didn't take Olivia long to get to the Art Department. She found herself feeling out of place amongst the students who expressed themselves in the way they dressed as well as their unconventional hair colours. But at least there weren't all that many of them. She looked at the directory, which was quite easy to read. "First Year Art Studio, up ahead."
But when she got there, she saw that there were a large number of students. 'Ugh!' she thought as her heart beat faster.
"May I help you?" a student with short electric blue hair asked.
"I was looking for someone."
"What is her name?"
"I haven't heard her name," Olivia admitted. "Just that I heard that there is an outgoing creative synesthete."
"Oh, you must mean Freya; she has made quite a splash already."
"Freya," Olivia considered. "Could you get her?"
"She's just in there, somewhere."
"There's too many people."
Xenia saw that this dark haired student was anxious. "I'll find Freya for you."
"Thanks."
"Freya!"
Freya paused her painting, turned and opened her eyes. "Yes, Xenia?"
"There is someone asking for you."
"Who is it?"
"She didn't give her name," Xenia admitted. "But it must be important."
Freya considered her response. "She can come here and ask me," she said.
"But it seems that she's overwhelmed by the number of people in here."
"Oh," Freya, said as she looked around. 'There are a lot of people here,' she thought. All the colours of the artworks in progress and their clothing were a little overwhelming for her. "Lead the way."
Olivia didn't have to wait long. Even so, she closed her eyes as she waited.
"Here she is," the blue haired girl said.
She opened her eyes and saw a pink haired girl with her own eyes closed. 'Is it the same one who helped me with that map?' she wondered. "I'm Olivia."
"Freya," the pink haired girl said. "So, what is it you want help with?"
Olivia then explained about the missing manuscript.
Freya had to admit, she was interested in trying to find that manuscript, but she wanted to finish what she was working on first. "I'll help," she said.
"You will?" Olivia asked.
"You will? Xenia repeated.
"But I will finish what I was working on first," Freya said.
"Oh," Olivia said.
"It should be less than an hour," Freya added.
"I can wait," Olivia said.
"You don't have to," Freya said.
"I'll go back to the Library, and say that you're coming," Olivia said.
"Are you sure?" Xenia asked after Olivia had gone.
"Yes," Freya answered. "It is interesting. And It's another way I can challenge myself. I'd like to see if I can solve this mystery."
"It's the pushing your boundaries thing, isn't it?"
"Absolutely!" Freya said as she bounced up and down.
Xenia sighed. "I see that you're excited."
"Of course," Freya said as she rushed back to her painting.
Olivia returned to the Ancient Section. "You didn't find her?" David asked.
"I did," Olivia responded. "She was busy working on something, but she will be here soon."
"Got it," David said. "Talia has continued to look, to see if it has been misplaced."
"I'll go and help," She said.
"Sure."
Talia was looking in other nooks nearby. "It's looking like it has definitely has been taken," she said when she saw Olivia coming.
"I'll help."
"What about the synesthete?"
"She's coming," Olivia said. "But I have another class soon."
Freya and Xenia entered the Ancient Section from the Early Roman section. "Are you sure the directions are accurate? This Library is like a maze," Xenia said.
"I was here last week," Freya said. "Looking up a lake that no longer exists."
"Where was it."
"Upstream of Urbs Aeterna, along the Aterana River."
"The Aterana River, Aurora's center of population," Xenia stated.
"I'm sure it's further south," Freya said as they came up to the Geography Section.
"Wait, it's the center of population of the Northern Provinces," Xenia clarified.
"I guess so," Freya said as she looked around.
"Is one of you Freya?" an older lady asked.
"I'm Freya and this is Xenia. Where's Olivia?"
"She had to go to class," the older lady answered. "You can call me Talia."
"OK, show me where this manuscript was taken from," Freya said after a few moments thought.
"Right this way."
After a couple of classes, Olivia Marcus was back in the Nordic Section of the Main Library. She had taken a break over Sunday, talking with Janara as she gamed and listening to various audiobooks. She was into a book on the situation in Urbs Aeterna in the decades leading up to the Capture when she heard something in the distance.
"What was that?" She looked around and saw a couple of people arguing near one of the doorways between the Nordic Section and the Ancient Section.
"Something's happening," she murmured.
She went up to the two. "What's happening?" she asked.
One of the two was an assistant she had seen the previous week. "Something is missing," he answered.
"Missing?" she asked.
The, other, an older lady, answered. "A manuscript that was supposed to be written before 1000 BC is missing."
"How could something like that go missing?" Olivia asked.
"We have no idea," the older lady answered.
"It could be an inside job," the assistant, David, said.
"That's not possible!" the older librarian said. "Those stories of secret societies within AAUA are just that, stories."
"But still, it's missing, right?" Olivia said.
"Yes. The Head Librarian noticed that it was missing this morning," David said.
"Should we be telling her?" the other librarian asked.
"She wanted to know," David said.
"I guess," the other said.
"Olivia, and I met David last week."
"You can call me Talia."
"Talia," Olivia considered. "Can I have a look at where it was?"
"I don't think that's a good idea, Olivia," Talia said.
"I may be able to help. I have a way of noticing things," Olivia said.
"At least we should give it a try," David said.
"Fine!"
The trio went into the Ancient Section. The manuscript was stored in a nook on the second floor not far from the Geography Section. The ancient stone walls were more rough, as though the nook was an afterthought for the original builders over two or three millennia before.
"It was here," David said as he pointed to a spot on a shelf.
Olivia looked at the shelf. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. There was the stand the manuscript had been on, and other manuscripts on the shelf and on the shelves above and below it. She recognised the patterns of the script as the pre-Roman Auroralic Script, even if the dyslexia made her unable to see the individual letters. "Sorry. But maybe some other new student could."
"What do you mean?" Talia asked.
"I haven't met her, but I heard that there is an artistic synesthete somewhere," Olivia said. 'It is just a rumor, but if they are actually at AAUA, they can help,' she thought.
"Synaesthesia," Talia considered. "Are you saying that they might pick up something?"
Olivia shrugged. "It may be possible."
"Then go, try to find her, while we continue looking," David said.
In the Art Department, Freya Andersson looked around the First Year Art Studio. The space was half filled with other art students, many of whom were dressed colourfully in different ways. 'That's to be expected,' she thought before she turned back to her current project. She then closed her eyes as she painted by touch. 'Something abstract, about new beginnings, given that I am now here, at AAUA.'
It didn't take Olivia long to get to the Art Department. She found herself feeling out of place amongst the students who expressed themselves in the way they dressed as well as their unconventional hair colours. But at least there weren't all that many of them. She looked at the directory, which was quite easy to read. "First Year Art Studio, up ahead."
But when she got there, she saw that there were a large number of students. 'Ugh!' she thought as her heart beat faster.
"May I help you?" a student with short electric blue hair asked.
"I was looking for someone."
"What is her name?"
"I haven't heard her name," Olivia admitted. "Just that I heard that there is an outgoing creative synesthete."
"Oh, you must mean Freya; she has made quite a splash already."
"Freya," Olivia considered. "Could you get her?"
"She's just in there, somewhere."
"There's too many people."
Xenia saw that this dark haired student was anxious. "I'll find Freya for you."
"Thanks."
"Freya!"
Freya paused her painting, turned and opened her eyes. "Yes, Xenia?"
"There is someone asking for you."
"Who is it?"
"She didn't give her name," Xenia admitted. "But it must be important."
Freya considered her response. "She can come here and ask me," she said.
"But it seems that she's overwhelmed by the number of people in here."
"Oh," Freya, said as she looked around. 'There are a lot of people here,' she thought. All the colours of the artworks in progress and their clothing were a little overwhelming for her. "Lead the way."
Olivia didn't have to wait long. Even so, she closed her eyes as she waited.
"Here she is," the blue haired girl said.
She opened her eyes and saw a pink haired girl with her own eyes closed. 'Is it the same one who helped me with that map?' she wondered. "I'm Olivia."
"Freya," the pink haired girl said. "So, what is it you want help with?"
Olivia then explained about the missing manuscript.
Freya had to admit, she was interested in trying to find that manuscript, but she wanted to finish what she was working on first. "I'll help," she said.
"You will?" Olivia asked.
"You will? Xenia repeated.
"But I will finish what I was working on first," Freya said.
"Oh," Olivia said.
"It should be less than an hour," Freya added.
"I can wait," Olivia said.
"You don't have to," Freya said.
"I'll go back to the Library, and say that you're coming," Olivia said.
"Are you sure?" Xenia asked after Olivia had gone.
"Yes," Freya answered. "It is interesting. And It's another way I can challenge myself. I'd like to see if I can solve this mystery."
"It's the pushing your boundaries thing, isn't it?"
"Absolutely!" Freya said as she bounced up and down.
Xenia sighed. "I see that you're excited."
"Of course," Freya said as she rushed back to her painting.
Olivia returned to the Ancient Section. "You didn't find her?" David asked.
"I did," Olivia responded. "She was busy working on something, but she will be here soon."
"Got it," David said. "Talia has continued to look, to see if it has been misplaced."
"I'll go and help," She said.
"Sure."
Talia was looking in other nooks nearby. "It's looking like it has definitely has been taken," she said when she saw Olivia coming.
"I'll help."
"What about the synesthete?"
"She's coming," Olivia said. "But I have another class soon."
Freya and Xenia entered the Ancient Section from the Early Roman section. "Are you sure the directions are accurate? This Library is like a maze," Xenia said.
"I was here last week," Freya said. "Looking up a lake that no longer exists."
"Where was it."
"Upstream of Urbs Aeterna, along the Aterana River."
"The Aterana River, Aurora's center of population," Xenia stated.
"I'm sure it's further south," Freya said as they came up to the Geography Section.
"Wait, it's the center of population of the Northern Provinces," Xenia clarified.
"I guess so," Freya said as she looked around.
"Is one of you Freya?" an older lady asked.
"I'm Freya and this is Xenia. Where's Olivia?"
"She had to go to class," the older lady answered. "You can call me Talia."
"OK, show me where this manuscript was taken from," Freya said after a few moments thought.
"Right this way."
The Manuscript Part 2
New
Freya first looked at the place the manuscript had been. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. The shelf looked ordinary and the neighbouring manuscripts were mostly undisturbed. "There are no scratches on the shelf, and there isn't a pattern in how the other manuscripts were disturbed. It seems that whoever it was knew what they were looking for and weren't in a rush."
"That's what I thought," Talia said.
"Anyone could have seen that," Xenia said.
"Yes, but I've barely started," Freya said energetically as she bounced up and down a little. She hummed to herself as a grounding exercise, then closed her eyes and ran her hands over where the manuscript had been.
Talia waited as Freya examined the shelf by touch while humming an Auroric tune to herself. 'She's obviously from one of those regions.'
"Something is off," Freya commented.
"What do you think it is?" Xenia asked.
"There's a subtle texture here," Freya answered. "It's like someone put something here temporarily while they were grabbing the manuscript. I think it would be a good idea to have the shelf examined by someone from the Forensics department."
"I was thinking about that already," Talia said.
"We're going back now?" Xenia asked.
"Not yet," Freya responded. "It might be hidden somewhere nearby."
"We already searched," Talia said.
Freya turned in Talia's direction. "I'd still like to check."
"Go ahead."
Xenia watched as Freya went over the various shelves. "You didn't expect something like this, didn't you?" she asked Talia.
"No. It was Olivia who suggested bringing Freya in."
"So, she went to class?"
"She did," Talia answered.
"I guess she wanted to bring Freya in so that it would be found quicker."
"She went to find her because she thought she could help, and so Freya has."
"True."
Freya could tell some things; that whoever had taken the manuscript had moved things slightly on many of the shelves. 'Maybe they had heard of me too,' she considered. 'That having heard of a synaesthete they decided to try some obfuscation.'
"Problem?" Talia asked.
"Some obfuscation. You say nothing else is missing?"
"Yes. The manuscript is the only thing missing."
"They probably wanted people think they wanted to get other things, but the manuscript is the one thing they took," Freya said. She then opened her eyes and took out a sketchbook.
"What are you doing?" Talia asked.
"She also has ADHD," Xenia said. "Sketching helps her focus."
"Thanks, Xenia," Freya said as she looked up. "This helps me process things."
They waited as Freya sketched. "I have made a rough sketch of the room and marked where the manuscript was and the disturbances."
"I see you have added some flare," Talia said.
"How could I not?" Freya responded. "Usually where something crosses the senses.'
"A synesthetic impression?" Talia asked.
Freya nodded.
"So, does it help us know where the manuscript was taken."
"Not at present. I will need to talk to Olivia. She must have done her own investigating before seeking me out."
"Not really, she just suggested finding you," Talia said.
"Oh," Freya responded. "I'll try to write down what I think, but I'm sure I'll get distracted."
It was barely a minute later, when Freya jumped up in frustration. "I can't do it! I keep thinking about other things, like the Renaissance mystery I found last week."
"What was that?" Xenia asked.
"Missing artworks, and artists who mysteriously stopped working," Freya answered.
"I have heard about missing artworks, and one or two artists that seemed to have stopped working," Xenia said.
"It's more than two," Freya responded.
"That's worse than I thought," Xenia said.
Freya turned to Talia. "I can't do much more now, so I'll return to the art studio for now."
"Thanks for your help," Talia said.
"If Olivia comes back, tell her I'm at Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall."
Half an hour later, Olivia came out of the Archaeology class and headed back towards the Library. She took out her tablet as she walked along one of the elevated walkways. 'Just as well it's a cloudy day,' she thought as she unlocked it with her thumb print. She selected her trusty dictation app. "Message for Janara: Meet me in the Ancient Section of the Library, near the Geography area."
Message sent.
She entered the area to find Talia, and a few others there.
"Olivia!" Talia said. "Freya has been and gone."
"Oh! But did she find anything?"
"She did."
"Oh, what was it that she found?" Olivia asked.
Talia then explained.
Olivia then thought about what Freya had found as she also looked around the area. She couldn't tell anything. "I guess I would have to go to Freya and talk. Where would she be?"
"She said that she's staying at Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall."
"One of the eastern dormitories," Olivia considered.
"That's right."
"I'll wait for my roommate and then we'll probably go there, that is if she isn't in class."
It wasn't long before Janara arrived. "What is up?" she asked.
Olivia then explained.
"We better get to Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall then," Janara said when her roommate was finished.
"That's what I thought," Talia said.
"Anyone could have seen that," Xenia said.
"Yes, but I've barely started," Freya said energetically as she bounced up and down a little. She hummed to herself as a grounding exercise, then closed her eyes and ran her hands over where the manuscript had been.
Talia waited as Freya examined the shelf by touch while humming an Auroric tune to herself. 'She's obviously from one of those regions.'
"Something is off," Freya commented.
"What do you think it is?" Xenia asked.
"There's a subtle texture here," Freya answered. "It's like someone put something here temporarily while they were grabbing the manuscript. I think it would be a good idea to have the shelf examined by someone from the Forensics department."
"I was thinking about that already," Talia said.
"We're going back now?" Xenia asked.
"Not yet," Freya responded. "It might be hidden somewhere nearby."
"We already searched," Talia said.
Freya turned in Talia's direction. "I'd still like to check."
"Go ahead."
Xenia watched as Freya went over the various shelves. "You didn't expect something like this, didn't you?" she asked Talia.
"No. It was Olivia who suggested bringing Freya in."
"So, she went to class?"
"She did," Talia answered.
"I guess she wanted to bring Freya in so that it would be found quicker."
"She went to find her because she thought she could help, and so Freya has."
"True."
Freya could tell some things; that whoever had taken the manuscript had moved things slightly on many of the shelves. 'Maybe they had heard of me too,' she considered. 'That having heard of a synaesthete they decided to try some obfuscation.'
"Problem?" Talia asked.
"Some obfuscation. You say nothing else is missing?"
"Yes. The manuscript is the only thing missing."
"They probably wanted people think they wanted to get other things, but the manuscript is the one thing they took," Freya said. She then opened her eyes and took out a sketchbook.
"What are you doing?" Talia asked.
"She also has ADHD," Xenia said. "Sketching helps her focus."
"Thanks, Xenia," Freya said as she looked up. "This helps me process things."
They waited as Freya sketched. "I have made a rough sketch of the room and marked where the manuscript was and the disturbances."
"I see you have added some flare," Talia said.
"How could I not?" Freya responded. "Usually where something crosses the senses.'
"A synesthetic impression?" Talia asked.
Freya nodded.
"So, does it help us know where the manuscript was taken."
"Not at present. I will need to talk to Olivia. She must have done her own investigating before seeking me out."
"Not really, she just suggested finding you," Talia said.
"Oh," Freya responded. "I'll try to write down what I think, but I'm sure I'll get distracted."
It was barely a minute later, when Freya jumped up in frustration. "I can't do it! I keep thinking about other things, like the Renaissance mystery I found last week."
"What was that?" Xenia asked.
"Missing artworks, and artists who mysteriously stopped working," Freya answered.
"I have heard about missing artworks, and one or two artists that seemed to have stopped working," Xenia said.
"It's more than two," Freya responded.
"That's worse than I thought," Xenia said.
Freya turned to Talia. "I can't do much more now, so I'll return to the art studio for now."
"Thanks for your help," Talia said.
"If Olivia comes back, tell her I'm at Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall."
Half an hour later, Olivia came out of the Archaeology class and headed back towards the Library. She took out her tablet as she walked along one of the elevated walkways. 'Just as well it's a cloudy day,' she thought as she unlocked it with her thumb print. She selected her trusty dictation app. "Message for Janara: Meet me in the Ancient Section of the Library, near the Geography area."
Message sent.
She entered the area to find Talia, and a few others there.
"Olivia!" Talia said. "Freya has been and gone."
"Oh! But did she find anything?"
"She did."
"Oh, what was it that she found?" Olivia asked.
Talia then explained.
Olivia then thought about what Freya had found as she also looked around the area. She couldn't tell anything. "I guess I would have to go to Freya and talk. Where would she be?"
"She said that she's staying at Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall."
"One of the eastern dormitories," Olivia considered.
"That's right."
"I'll wait for my roommate and then we'll probably go there, that is if she isn't in class."
It wasn't long before Janara arrived. "What is up?" she asked.
Olivia then explained.
"We better get to Sigrun Sigurdottir Hall then," Janara said when her roommate was finished.