{After 20 minutes or so...}
Dinah; with Conner nestled to her side, now found herself in the extensive library of the Guild Hall's building. She knew it was a gigantic, parthenon-sized, structure from the outside, but the inside of the library looked larger than the Library of Congress.
She spent the next few minutes talking to the librarian and getting some of the books she wanted to read for the next few hours delivered to her. After her chat with one of the librarians, she found a seat at one of the empty tables in a side corner.
"What a nice woman, isn't that right Conner?", she asked her sleeping baby. Dinah spent the next few minutes rocking her child in her arms as she sat down on a comfortable reader's couch chair, while waiting for one of the librarians to bring over the books she asked for. 'It's so nice for them to bring me my books.'
She spent her time ruminating over the gossip and rumors that Delilah told her and the information she was bombarded with and their impact was staggering. 'There are actual Gods and Goddesses roaming around. There's a dungeon underneath that tower in the middle of the city. The best and most powerful Familias have a great amount of say in what's happening in here...'
'My God... no wonder some of the people I passed by gave me more chills than the usual. I thought they were just extremely dangerous people. I guess my instincts were half right. They aren't just dangerous, but they're also very powerful. All that godly energy in mortal form and each of them are in charge of mortals that they've blessed with their power. If I meet a Captain Marvel or Wonder Woman look-alike, then I might just faint.'
After a while, the female Elven librarian she met earlier was walking towards her with a stack of books. The short blond hair, lithe form, emerald eyes, really fair skin, and the matching outfit she wore alongside the other Guild employees gave her a cutting figure.
"Here's all the books you asked for, Ms. Lance."
"Thank you, Fiona.", she told the nice Elven woman; of whom was rocking a swimmer's build and has a dancer's grace.
"When you're done, then you can leave them on the table and make sure to tell one of us at the front desk, so we can take them back to their respective shelves. Have a great afternoon, ma'am."
Fiona carefully put down the stack of books on top of the wooden table next to her chair, before leaving her to enjoy the ambiance of a well maintained and well lit library.
Dinah looked at the titles of the books she asked for in descending order,
- The History of Orario
- The top 50 Familia of prominent renown - Vol. 38 - The most recent in the current decade
- Falna, Status, and All things about the Grace of the Gods and Goddesses
- Idiot's Guide to the Dungeon
- Mothering in Orario - Vol. 3 - Mothers Unite
- Monster Guide - Vol. 6 - The Art of Not Dying
She silently laughed to herself in amusement while she held Conner to her bosom in a comfortable manner. She picked up the book at the very top and started perusing through the pages.
'This might take awhile, but like Batman always said, information is power. Make sure to fact check them because it could save lives.'
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{After 3 or so hours...}
"Thanks for the books, Fiona. We'll be back again tomorrow. I want to fact check a few more things, so thank you for your help."
Fiona smiled at her and said, "Don't worry about it. A seeker of knowledge like yourself is always welcome in these halls."
With a few more pleasantries given, Dinah walked out of the library and the Guild Hall parthenon with calm elegance and a confident stride.
"Let's find a park and eat, I know you'll be hungry again soon.", she told her baby boy with a smile. Conner just hugged her deeply while still sleeping and trying to sink further into her warmth.
Dinah took out her magic map, reoriented herself, and went to the closest park labeled, "Pan's Park of Tranquility."
Thankfully, it was only 12 minutes away, and she now found herself sitting on a park bench and cuddling a now awake Conner, who was tugging on her blond locks while speaking to her in his coveted baby babble.
She chose to sit on one of the empty park benches that dot the veritable park that looks like it won't be out of place in a nature preserve or a Disney scene. 'It's as if someone took a piece of the forest and placed it inside the city.' She can see a few couples here and there, families enjoying the fading afternoon, some kids running around and playing hide and seek, a few Gods and Goddesses scattered about and chatting, gossiping, and a few playing what looks like chess.
There's a family playing catch over there, a few animals dotting the area, a few picnics happening around, and much more.
"This place is so peaceful isn't it, baby bird?", she asked Conner with a gentle smile. As she looked at her son, she felt her eyes mist over with unshed tears. Sensing her worsening mood, Conner reached out towards her and she lifted his adorable face close to hers and he placed his hands on her face.
"Oooh oh gahh.", he cooed at her in an adorable approximation of worry.
"Awww, don't worry baby bird. I'm alright. I just miss Ollie so much. I miss everyone. Don't worry, alright.", Dinah reassured her baby boy who looked like he didn't believe her.
"Ah ah gahhhh oooh.", he said while he thumped her face softly in comfort.
Dinah looked into his gentle baby blue eyes and felt her tears fall. She held him to herself while she slowly cried for a few minutes. She gently rocked him back and forth while she tried to calm herself down. "I'm supposed to be the mom, but you're the one taking care of me.", she told him with a bittersweet laugh.
She then looked at his gently smiling face with an answering smile of her own. "Do you want your mother bird to sing you a song? Well, do you?", she asked him playfully. She gracefully wiped away her tears while she caressed him softly.
As if he understood her words, Conner began to coo and talk even more excitedly. "Gah aaahh oooh."
"Alrighty then, baby bird. Prepare for another rendition of Canary's melodies."
Dinah looked down at him with a loving gaze and began singing a song. She didn't know it yet at the time, but when she started to sing, her voice echoed beautifully throughout the park and everyone stopped to listen to the Canary's song with wonder.
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~~~ "I walked across ~ an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth ~ beneath my feet
Sat by the river, and it made me complete ~~
——————————————————————————————
When that first stanza reverberated through the park, everyone stopped what they were doing, wondering where that melodic voice came from. Some of them looked at each other, the others looked around, some thought that maybe one of the Nine Muses were around and was serenading or practicing another musical number.
However, the Gods and Goddesses that were currently in that park looked at each other and gave each other answering shrugs. It didn't take them that long to spot the cause of the confusion. They promptly turned around and immediately looked at the young, blond, woman singing to her baby with a loving gaze. She was at the very farthest park bench, but somehow her voice was able to reach everyone in the park.
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~~ Oh, simple thing, where have you gone? ~~
I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on
So tell me when ~ you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin ~~
I came across ~ a fallen tree
I felt the branches of it looking at me ~~
Is this the place ~ we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of? ~
~~ Oh, simple thing, ~ where have you gone? ~~
I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on
So tell me when ~ you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin ~~
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As the song continued, the Gods and Goddesses as well as the people all over the park slowly fell in love with the song. The angelic voice, the timbre of emotions that were being conveyed, and the lyrics grasped their hearts.
When some of the more observant people followed the gazes of the Gods and Goddesses and looked at where their eyes converged, the voice of the singer rose in pitch and became more noticeable. It's as if the young woman was now singing in front of them at that moment.
The adults subtly pointed towards the young mother and son, the teens and the kids followed, and they all just basked in the suddenly peaceful atmosphere. In that moment, everyone in that park was looking at the heart warming scene of a mother singing to her child. They knew it wasn't magic, but it sure as hell felt like it.
'I'll need to tell the Muses about this.', a voluptuous, blond, Goddess thought to herself. 'Who knew taking a tea break in the park would lead me to listening to such a gorgeous melody that I've never heard of before.'
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And if you have a minute, why don't we go ~
~ Talk about it somewhere only we know? ~
This could be the end of everything ~
So, why don't we go
Somewhere only we know? ~~
Oh, simple thing, ~ where have you gone?
I'm getting old, and I need something to rely on
So tell me when ~ you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired, and I need somewhere to begin ~~
And if you have a minute, why don't we go ~
~ Talk about it somewhere only we know? ~
This could be the end of everything ~
So why don't we go? ~~
So why don't we go? ~~
This could be the end everything ~
So why don't we go
~ Somewhere only we know ~
Somewhere only we know ~~~
Somewhere only we know? ~~~~~
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When Dinah finished her song, her son Conner cooed at her with a burp and laugh. "You're just too precious, baby bird."
As Dinah looked up, she saw that everyone was looking at her with both awe and what looked like a spellbound look to them. As if a spell was broken the moment she looked at them, a round of applause resounded out and Dinah just smiled and waved at them.
She also waved Conner's tiny arms at them while he cooed and laughed to his heart's content. 'I wonder how they all heard my singing voice.'
After a few moments, the applause died down and everyone went back to what they were doing. However, Dinah felt that she was still being watched and talked about with enthusiasm. She didn't really mind. It felt just like old times. She was part of a band before and she has moonlighted as a singer in the past.
With a shrug, she thought, 'Oh well, I'll figure it out later. It must be one of those gifts Dr. Fate left me. If he gave me another world's language comprehension skills, a bag of holding, Valis, and a water & milk bottle that never ends, then it won't be a stretch of the imagination to be given some kind of enhancement or something to my voice or Canary Cry. That thoughtful old coot.'
"Time to eat, baby bird.", Dinah said cheerfully. She took out the milk bottle and popped it into Conner's mouth and he wasted no time at all in drinking it up with gusto. 'The self-updating magic map, and the invisible protection necklace for Conner also takes the cake. I sure hope I see that old coot again.'
"Excuse me, is this seat taken.", asked a woman who was obviously a Goddess. When Dinah met those green eyes with her own blue pair, she was simply blown away.
"Ah yes, of course.", Dinah agreed with a smile.
The black hair of this woman was darker than coal, her eyes were as green as the spring, her fair skin was unblemished, her figure was better than Wonder Woman's; but it was more softer, her smile was radiant, and she was 5 feet 10 inches or 178 centimeters tall. She had a resplendent bronze and black sundress on and brown leather sandals. 'Definitely a Goddess... Her aura feels, very heart warming.'
"Is that your baby boy?", she asked, while she sat down next to them and scooted closer.
"Yes, this is my adorable baby bird. His name's Conner, and I'm Dinah. May I ask who you are? I know that you're a Goddess, but I don't know which one. I hope I don't offend for not knowing who you are. We just arrived in the city today, you see.", Dinah replied with a light smile.
'It doesn't hurt to be polite to divine beings. Thank you Wonder Woman for your very helpful lectures.'
"It's great to meet you two. My name's Panacea, the Goddess of Cures and Universal Medicine. It's nice to meet you." With a gentle laugh, she continued with, "And aren't you prim and proper, Ms. Leather Jacket. Welcome to Orario, and may I say that you have an amazing voice."
"Why thank you.", with her smile widening, Dinah felt some of the tension she unknowingly had leave her.
"So, Panacea, I don't mean to be rude, but why'd you approach us? I don't mind at all, don't get me wrong. And it looks like Conner also doesn't mind you."
"Gahh ahhhh.", he cooed in agreement, making the two women laugh at the adorable sight.
With an even brighter smile; somehow, the Goddess of Cures said, "A few reasons, really. I felt like I could help you, is one. I love your singing voice and wanted you and your adorable son as part of my Familia, is the second. I've also helped raise a couple children when I first descended, and I'm still raising a few more, so I know how hard it is. They're all my children and I love them dearly."
"Do you wanna know what I saw and heard today?", the black-haired beauty asked the wounded Canary. "I saw a young woman, a mother, resting her wings and taking care of her baby bird. I saw someone who needs support, and I saw a future friend."
"Gahhhh ahhh awgh.", said Conner with a smile.
"You don't mess around, do ya?", Dinah replied with a gentle laugh.
"Well, I am a Goddess. I see potential in you. You're a very interesting woman. You're totally rocking the leather, you can sing like a Songbird, you've got an adorable baby boy, and I'm interested in making you a part of my Familia. So Dinah, what'll it be?", Panacea asked with confidence while she held out her hand towards the young mother.