1.11 - Back in Kataras 2

Back at home Nillian has a big dinner together with his parents. He regales them with tales from Räan, even though he was only there for four whole days. His parents, never having visited Räan, are interested, but not interested enough to go and look for themselves. In return his parents tell some of the new happenings and rumours of the last few days. They also mention that while he was in Räan there was some kind of scandal happening there, but sadly don't know any specifics.

After dinner Nillian decides to visit the University's Lounge, to socialize. He has been away for a few days, and because he left without telling everyone that he would be gone they might get worried, or even worse: start some rumours themselves.

He takes a coach to the Lounge, and at the entrance has to show his membership badge. The Lounge is a large room with several partitions, giving the different groups a bit of privacy. The Lounge has a thick carpet, and the walls and ceiling are painted in soft, warm colours. There are several groups of low tables and very comfortable chairs. Most of the chairs and tables are already taken by the regulars, members who spend every evening in the Lounge. There are also several butlers walking around with a tray filled with glasses, bringing orders to the members.

Nillian leaves his coat at the reception and walks into the Lounge. He notices that there is some soft music playing, and sees that a partition is set up to hide a small orchestra from sight, but not interrupting the music that they are playing. He moves forward, searching among the members for some of his friends.

At one of the groups in the back he finds them sitting, slowly sipping brandy and talking about the latest news. Nillian immediately joins them, and is greeted warmly. He takes a chair and joins the group, and soon after is holding his own glass of brandy. The others quickly inquire where he was these last few days, and Nillian tells them of his research taking him to Räan, and the things he experienced. The others are particularly interested in the wind car, never having heard about anything like it.

While Nillian is regaling his friends with his tales he suddenly realizes that it is perhaps time to tell the council about this latest research. It might not be very relevant, but in case it is they will hold it against him if he didn't notify them.

So a while later, when the conversation has shifted to other things, he takes a piece of paper and writes a short note to the council. In it he tells them that he is doing some research on a woman travelling to Räan and Stokes after the Great Bang, this person might or might not be Gerardine Nott. He signs and seals the paper, and gives it to one of his friends, to be delivered the next morning. Then he joins his friends again, relaxing in the familiar atmosphere.

Halfway through the evening more people arrive. One of them, Tom, works part time as an administrative liaison at the city council. Nillian, again deciding that it would be easier if someone qualified got the information for him, takes him apart during the evening.

"Say, Tom, do you still liaison for the city council?"
"Yes, though I have no clue why. There is not much going on at the moment, so for the most part I am just sitting there and working on my articles. Why?"
"Well, you know how I am working on a book on Dr. Biene? I found some new information about his assistant, and her journeys through Kataria. But now I am looking for two rangers, who worked in Lorion about twenty years ago. I was wondering if you knew where I could find some information about them?"
"Oh, I could find that out easily. The ranger registers are stored in the office next to me, that is no problem. What were their names?"
"Ehm, Lisa and Robert, no surnames as far as I know. They were husband and wife I gather, so that should make it easier."
"Sure, no problem. I think I can have the information for you tomorrow, if you want?"
"Ah, I think I will be out of town again tomorrow, apparently I have to go to Stokes for some other research. So there is no hurry. Just ... leave it at the University, at the reception. They can keep it until I collect it. Thank you very much!"
"Sure, no problem."

The rest of the evening is spent in a relaxing way, Nillian catching up with his friends. After a while Nillian takes his leave, not wanting to stay till too late. Outside his coach is already waiting for him, the driver told by Nillian to arrive about that time. First they ride to the train station, where Nillian checks the times of trains leaving for Stokes, and buying a ticket so he doesn't have to do that the next morning.

Walking back to the coach Nillian suddenly gets an urge to go to the main library. It takes him a moment to mentally retrace his steps, figuring out what train of thought spiked that idea. Train, Stokes, research about Dr. Biene, Räan, Lyxia, monastery, Order! He wants to do a little bit of research on the Order of St. Joshua. His interest was peaked by the two identical monasteries in two cities, and now he wants some more information.

He quickly rides to the main library, which luckily is open at all hours in the day. He tells the driver to give him fifteen minutes and rushes inside. He makes his way to one of the librarian, as the library is too big just to go to the relevant section and look around, that would take hours and even then it wouldn't guarantee that he found a book that he needed.

The librarian walks with Nillian to the section on churches and religion, and searches for a few minutes. He returns with two books, "The Church and its Internal Structure" and "Saints and their followers", which he heartily recommends. Nillian thanks him and takes the two books home with him. He decides that he can read them on the train, tomorrow, as he did not have much else to do then anything. Then he returns home to sleep, as the next morning he has again to make an early start.