1.1 - Meeting with the Council

Nillian^(*) straightens his jacket, checking his reflection in the mirror. In just a minute he has a meeting with some council members, and he wants to look his best. He slides his hand through his unruly hair and sighs. His face looks normal, not very beautiful nor very ugly, perfect for a scholar like himself. And his brown suit is clean and befitting of someone like him. But the hair is always giving him trouble, never wanting to stay put, never wanting to be tamed. It would look good on an eccentric old professor, but for a young scholar like him it just did not fit right. After a few minutes fidgeting with his hair he turns around and heads to the meeting room, hoping he looks respectable enough.

As he enters the main meeting room his breath catches in his throat, as it does every time. Meeting room might not be the correct description as it is more like a hall. The ceiling is about ten metres high, and the whole room is as big as a small cathedral. The insides of the room are decorated with all sorts of things. On some places Nillian can see wooden figures, artworks or just plain decorations. On other places glass cabinets are placed, filled with objects from the history of the University and steam engineering in general. Other parts of the walls have been covered up by large bookcases, filled with old dusty books. The windows are small but very high, letting through small beams of sunlight. From the ceiling several large chandeliers are hung, lighted by gas lamps. The lamps are off, filling the room with shadows.

Nillian directs his attention to the rest of the room. Most of the meeting room is filled with long tables and benches covered with a strip of pillow. The meeting room is used in large gatherings, and therefore has to be large enough to hold all members of the University. At the front of the room there is a large podium with two stands and an enormous blackboard, consisting of eight separate parts. In the back of the room there is a separate section where smaller meetings can be held. It is also where Nillian is expected.

He quickly makes his way to the back of the room, where the council members are already waiting for him. They are sitting behind the round council table, filling about half of the table. On the other side of the table one chair is sitting empty. Nillian greets the council members and takes the seat. It is silent for a few seconds, then one of the council members begins to speak.

"Ah, Sir Luckett, welcome. You requested an audience with the council concerning your latest research I believe?"
"Yes sir, sirs. As you might know I am researching the history and life of Dr. Biene^(*), one of the founders of this University. In the course of my research I found a lot of interesting facts and things I did not know. Recently I found the journal of Gerardine Nott^(*), the last assistant of Dr. Biene. In her journal she mentioned a certain collection of notebooks, containing the last research of Dr. Biene. Being curious about these notebooks I tried to find some information about them, but could not find anything. The Library does not have them, not even in their archives or forbidden section. The Dr. Biene collection has no idea that he even had notebooks filled with research. So I was wondering if perhaps the council might have some insight of information about these notebooks."

One of the council members gives a short laugh.
"Ah, the Biene notebooks. I must say that you are not the first one to have come looking for them, you know. Quite a few scholars have come to us, hoping for any clue. But the fact is that nobody knows anything about them. They disappeared together with Dr. Biene, and no one has ever found where he disappeared to."
Another council member continues.
"You probably have heard the stories, but Dr. Biene disappeared at the time of the Great Bang, when several steam engines exploded on the University grounds. Though many say not, I still think he was killed in those explosions. Several other people also did, you know. And afterward all the bodies were buried in one grave, on the St. Chapell Graveyard."

Nillian frowns.
"But that would mean that his notebooks would have been found in his workplace, right? Oh, wait, he probably had them on him, and they got burned in the explosion, I see what you mean.
Well, I thank you for your time, sirs. You helped me a lot, I might now have enough information for my final chapter."
One of the oldest council members speaks up.
"You know, it might be useful if you talked with the last person who researched Dr. Biene's work. If I recall correctly that was James Thomp?"
He looks questioning to the others, who nod.
"He might have some more information about Dr. Biene, you never know."

Nillian smiles and thanks the council members again. He turns around to leave the room, eager to find this James Thomp. Behind him the council leader, who hadn't spoken yet this meeting, clears his throat.
"And Sir Luckett, I trust that in the case that you do find something of interest, you will inform the council?"
"Of course, Sir, no doubt."
With these words Nillian leaves the room, leaving the council members talking among themselves.