User:Kshinji/Thavius Threkkus

From The Battle for Wesnoth Wiki

Forum topic is here.

Memoirs of Librarian: Silence in the Shadow

Prologue

Royal Hall of Fame. Strange place. A large variety of people, famous for sacreficing their lives for the good reasons.

I was an orphan, who grown up on the streets of city. Instead of stealing and begging, i wanted to find myself a good work. I often went to market checking if anyone could spare few coins on additional pair of hands. The time which i didn't spend on searching for work or actually working, i spent in Royal Library. People there didn't appreciate commoners, with their dirty clothes and lack of manners, but i really loved reading, so i quickly learned how to act gentle and make a good impression. You, who will be reading this text in future might get curious of how did i learn to read. To your disapointment, i don't know. I don't even remember my parents - i guess older boys from the street helped me when i was too young to get food. What was before? I don't remember.

When i was grown (it was probably when i was 16 i think), someone in Library proposed me a work. At the beginning i was just sorting common books, learned to write, started doing paperwork. Better and better Librarians knew me, more and more they relied on me. After some time i was paid enough to make reading my focus, replacing searching for food. In addition, i was allown to read books which were restricted only to nobles, mages and librarians. There were no documents stating one was Librarian, but this privilage was enough. I was Royal Librarian. It turned out to be the perfect job for me - i really enjoyed spending time reading all the books Royal Library provided me with. After a couple of months superintendent decided i am trustworthy. He gave me a speech - my new job will be to search for old documents in the city, or even on the far travels. The job gave me wide perspecitves. If i will show my best, i will become one of Royal Historians. I would be travelling across the Imperium, risking my life, to reconstruct the past of the World.

Next few years dissapointed me - there were nor any great achievements, neither adventures. I was collecting old paperwork, came to some building sites, to check if there are no things Library could be interested in. I was getting more and more frustrated. One day i had enough. I opened the doors to superintendent's room, and opened my mouth widely in order to speak loudly. Just before i managed to say i wanted to leave, superintendent took a look at me. I closed my mouth, and starred on the floor, feeling really ashamed. Superintendent was sitting behind his desk. He stayed silent for few minutes continueing reading some documents, then he put it inside of the desk, and said "Oh, please come in, close the doors behing if you dont mind." I did what i was told to, and sat in front of him. "It's really good coincidence, that you came right here today. I wanted someone to tell you to do so. You worked really well for Library for last 3 years, and me and Council agreed to give you the rank of Royal Historian.". I was so amazed... I didn't know what to say... Superintendent continued: "Congratulations. Now, take a week of break, and come back here next Monday. I'll give You your first job."

For the next week i felt really excited. I woke up early on the morning this Monday. I couldn't resist the urge to do something, so i left home and went to the park. To my surprize i saw superintendent there. He saw me too, and said "Oh! Nice to mee you here. Do you mind if i explain You your job here right now, or should we meet in my office at the given time?'"I agreed.

"Have You ever been to Royal Hall of Fame?" he asked. I haven't. "No sir", i answered turthfully, "But does it..." "It does." he replied. "But it's not a big problem. You will go there today, and find a hero, that we, the Library, do not know much about. This will be your task - search foir the truth about the person you choose." I was feeling really strange.

Later that day i went to the Royal Hall of Fame.

Throught the crystal windows rays fallen on the white marble paving. The wide corridor was impressively candlelit. On both sides of it there were alcoves with statues crafted out of an old grey stone. Suprisingly, even slightest details hadn't been yet devastated by time. The people there have been the greatest heroes both fighting for Imperium and against it. The oldest statues represent ed even those, who hadn't got the chance to hear about War for Consolidation. Some of them sacreficed for the better future of mankind. Others destroyed evil mercenaries or beasts. The deeds of ones were written in many books, about others we don't know much even now. They all deserve not to be forgotten, and this is the duty of Royal Historians - Gods look at us from above, we must prove we did not forget how much we owe o their chosens.

The corridor led to small vestibule, from where three new corridors had their beginnings. Before i went here, i took a look at the plan. Royal Hall of Fame was truly a small labyrint - there were lots of atriums, gates, stairs and passages. I took left.

In the darkest corner of the room, there was a statue which didn't grab attention. The man taking his spot on the pedestal, among the other heroes, does not distungish anyhow from the casual crowd, which one could encounter on the busy streets of the city on afternoon. Hidden in the shadow, the man appears rather observing than be observed. Despite of it, for some reason it was him, who attracted me. His height is approximately 1.85m, and is rather skinny. The face. Face does not show any emotions, except something that cannot be well described. It is something almost imperceptible, between superiority, pride and self-confidence. Man is wearing a cloak, his clothes are in plain style, but exquisitely tidy, almost pedantic. It's not known what this man have done, the reason why his statue stays here is not known. I took a look at the name forged in silver strip. Thavius Threkkus.


To be continued.

This page was last edited on 16 September 2006, at 18:34.