"Oh, Nalsy. You seem to be getting better by day!" Lauren said her welcome as soon as Nalsy stepped into the central area of the library.
"I feel better by day," Nalsy answered with a smile. "I can finally wear both of my boots!"
"I can see that. How exciting!"
"It is very exciting, indeed. I am finally able to walk straight. Finally, my body isn't as skewed."
"You seem happier too. I do hope that boy is taking good care of you."
"What boy?"
"Sir Gray, of course."
"Oh. He is." Nalsy unknowingly blushed, which Lauren was keen to notice.
"That's good."
"Lauren…" Nalsy started shyly.
"I know, I know. As you can see, we are in a state of chaos. I guess that you're eager to join me."
"You know that I am."
"Good. I've managed to sort out sections A to C into your new system. You can start whenever you want."
"Oh, Lauren. You're the godsend!" Nalsy bounced excitedly.
"Shush, it's still a library," Lauren said sternly, yet her smile gave her away.
"Of course, ma'am," Nalsy replied in a whisper, trying to contain herself.
"I guess that you know what you're doing." Lauren gave her a nod.
"Now?" Nalsy checked.
"Only if you're up for it."
"Of course." Nalsy thought for a moment. "What if I start at the end of the alphabet so that we can meet in the middle?"
"We might meet in the middle by the end of the year if I have help."
"I'm sure we can find ways to speed up the process."
"I can't wait to hear of it."
"I'll get going then."
"Thank you, Nalsy. I'll bring your employment contract and all required paperwork as soon as."
"Thank you, Lauren."
Lauren gave Nalsy a nod and disappeared to get the documents she promised, whilst Nalsy found her way between the shelves and started picking the books off the shelves at the furthest corner of the library.
Nalsy didn't hesitate to get right into it, soon losing track of time.
"Good job! Already sorted so many books?" Lauren disturbed Nalsy sometime later when she prepared her contract and brought her a cup of tea.
"Yeah…" Nalsy looked at Lauren with furrowed brows. "Is it okay if I borrow this book?"
"Of course. Even though I do wonder about your interest in it."
"I still don't know much about Lumen and Tenebrae. I hope to learn more."
"Well, good luck. It is not an easy subject to wrap a head around."
"I guessed this much. Two wars so close together?"
"Well, there were nearly five years of peace in between."
"Yeah, that seems to be more atypical here than the war."
"You're not wrong." Lauren gave Nalsy a faint pained smile as they sat down by her desk and drank the tea, as Nalsy started signing the relevant paperwork. "It was a short break, which tragically came to an end. I miss those days. I still hope that one day we will be able to live like back then." She sighed.
"Tell me about it." Nalsy urged. Her eyes were wide open and sparkling with curiosity.
"Hmm… I remember the days when the city centre was so busy with happy chatter, and dancing, and music. During summer, people would stay outside way past the dark. They'd drink and laugh. Kids were going to school. My husband had a candy shop. We were known for our amazing soda and sweets."
"That sounds lovely, Lauren."
"It was. But then the Pact was broken, and the new war started. No one needs candy when food is sparse. And my husband and sons were drafted soon after. We lost our shop, and I've lost my job as a teacher. In some way, we were lucky. After all, we are still alive. We still have food on a table and roof over our heads."
"I'm so sorry, Lauren. I'm sorry for everything that you had to go through. It's so unfair."
"I suspect that you have your reasons to be here, in Lumen. And I can't imagine that it was a choice made out of a free will."
"It wasn't a choice," Nalsy said truthfully.
"What was your life like before that choice was made for you?"
"Very ordinary."
"Were you a scholar by any chance?"
"Oh no, I wouldn't call myself a scholar. I was attending university, but I was not yet a specialist in my field, still far from it."
"University?"
"It's a high-level education institution. I was a student."
"I see. And what did you study?"
"Nothing of use in here, I'm afraid." Nalsy sighed.
"What about your family? Friends?"
"It's quite difficult to explain. I always struggled to make friends, so I never was close enough to anyone. I only really had my parents - adoptive parents. I was adopted as a teenager. And, well…"
"You've lost them, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"It must be difficult for you. I know that it might feel as if you are all alone in the world, but you aren't." Lauren leaned closer to Nalsy. "You're a very strong, young woman."
"Thank you, Lauren."
"I hope that one day it'll all end, and we can all live a normal life," Lauren said as she looked down into her cup. "One can only hope, though."
"I'm sure it will end. And with what they've done to my family and me, I know that they either will kill me or I will kill them."
"That's a very serious thing, child. What can you even do?"
"I don't know yet, but I'm sure I'll think of a way."
"Nalsy, dear. I know your wounds are still fresh, but they will heal if you don't pick at them. Grief is human, but anger and want of revenge are ugly things. It's normal to feel that way but don't get too hung up on those feelings."
"I know. I don't think it's revenge that I want to seek. I've been here barely a few days and a bit, and what I've heard from the people around me is beyond upsetting. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of people affected by this conflict. And if I can, I want to bring the end to it."
"If you do, do let me know. I'd be happy to help." Lauren's gaze was burning Nalsy's top of the head.
Before long, Nalsy was back between bookshelves. She was calmer now, but her conversation with Lauren was lingering in her mind. She knew that her life needed a new meaning - a purpose. She will try her best to help people that were victims of the conflict between Lumen and Tenebrae. As she was sorting through the books, labelling them, and creating their records, she was thinking of what possibly she could do. She didn't have any super abilities, so she knew that she had minimal options.
"What are you still doing here?" Edmund's voice snapped her out of her thoughts as she jumped up and dropped a book in her hand.
"Edmund!" Nalsy let out a relieved sigh once she recognised the person beside her. "Creeping up on me like this?"
"Creeping up on you? I've just walked over." Edmund furrowed his brows. "Besides, how many books do you need? It couldn't have taken you six hours to get them?"
"Oh." Nalsy looked at Edmund as if she had done something wrong. "Well, I do have something to share."
"I'm all ears."
"Lauren was very kind in helping me to get a job."
"Oh." Edmund quite visibly was processing this information, trying to work out how to react. "You don't have to work."
"What?"
"Well, not while you're staying here. I am fully responsible for your well-being."
"The work is for my well-being."
"How?"
"It gives me purpose and a sense of belonging. Not to mention independence and self-sustainability."
"But…" Edmund furrowed his brows, but he stopped himself from saying the following words as Nalsy's stern gaze landed on him.
"How did you know I was still here?" Nalsy changed a topic instead.
"I went back home. I've had a little panic attack once I've realised you're not there, so I came to the first place that popped in my mind."
"I didn't mean to make you worried."
"As long as you're safe, I'm alright."