09. Considerations
Considerations
Nesunna quietly applauds with the crowd, but she finds herself shrunken back against the bark of the bookshop, confused.
She had not known this history about the Underdark or what had come from it.
The mist had been generous in its artistic display; not making any figure too prominent or defined. There had been no specific races represented on either side of the tale, each being more like different sized and vague figures with arms, but… the skeletons. There was no way to mistake those as anything else.
Thinking about it again halts Nessuna’s clapping hands. She tangles her shaking fingers together in front of herself, the end of her tail tapping nervously against her hip.
She had never questioned the reason for the outposts. Who would ever consider why their home exists? But now, in this moment, she thinks it. Is this why there are outposts at all? To protect? To act as the first response to any outpouring of evil or malaise?
Questions shoot through her head at a speed she can hardly take. But she doesn’t want questions, she needs answers.
She needs to know more.
Nessuna makes her way quietly back into the book shop, more determined now to gain knowledge than she has ever been before.
Clari is on a stair several floors above when she turns at the sound of the ringing bell.
“Oh! Nessuna back already?” The Sea Elf leans over the railing in a way that worries Nesuna, but the redhead is smiling gorgeously. “Is the show over? How was it?”
“No, the show is not quite over. I think he has begun a new tale. He is very talented; the show was wonderful.”
“Isn’t he just?” she swoons.
“I would love to get some time to talk to him about his illusions when he’s not performing.” And she truly would. Despite the new horrors she learned through the performance, the magic had been, well… Magnificent.
“I have an interest in illusions and magic as well as history,” she tells Clari
“I am sure he would love that. I was actually looking for a couple more history books for you. There is one already down there on that table.” She gestures deeper into the shop, and Neussa spots the table she is referring to. “Is there anything that you are specifically looking for?”
“Um... maybe about the war with the Underdark,” Nessuna says hesitantly as she makes her way to the book Clari pointed her to. “And, also maybe what kind of creatures there were there.”
“Oh! Well that book should be helpful, but I might have to go a little bit higher for more specifics.” She puts the book she has in her hand back. “You can sit anywhere you want. I know this place is big, but I will be able to find you.”
“Okay.” Nessuna smiles up at the woman, unable to keep herself from it as the Sea Elf waves happily and clambers up more stairs on her search.
Nessuna collects her book and takes Clari at her word about being able to find her wherever she goes. She walks deeper into the shop, browsing, and avoiding people until she can find somewhere to read in peace.
She is a little wary that some of the folks trickling into the shop had heard the bard’s tale and maybe, like Amaryllis, would ask her if she was a Drow. She had never been more willing to hide where she was from than at this moment.
She was going to talk to the bard about the undead skeletons, for sure.
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