Chapter 29: The Calm Before the Storm
"Huff."
Sollivan opened his tired eyes and stared at the dark ceiling, faintly illuminated by the dim light of candles. After arriving at the shop and sitting idly for a long time, he had fallen asleep without realizing it, mentally exhausted from what had happened. During the long time he spent asleep, his clothes dried on him, becoming rough and slightly dusty from the dried mud clinging to them.
He moved his head and felt a slight ache in his muscles. He glanced at the reception desk, where a few candles had been placed, casting their faint light everywhere. Near the desk, close to the door, Devlin slept on a small straw mat. Due to the cold weather and his lack of covering, he had curled up in an odd position, hugging himself. Yet, he had no trouble continuing to sleep, thanks to his moderate resistance to the cold, a result of his strength.
Sollivan observed all this with clear eyes. After a long moment of stillness, he sighed and moved his hands, only then realizing he was wrapped in a small woolen blanket that had warmed his body slightly. He lowered his head and looked at the familiar blanket Ellis usually left at the shop. He could only sigh again after taking a quick glance at Devlin.
’Appear.’
Noctis emerged from his chair and stood beside him, slightly hidden in a corner away from Devlin so he wouldn’t be seen if he woke up.
’Let’s share vision.’ Sollivan transferred his senses to Noctis. He looked at his covered body and the dirty chair, and involuntarily felt a pang of sadness at his own state.
"Hah."
He let out a breath that sounded like a mix of a groan and a sigh, overwhelmed by the flood of emotions. Without continuing to lament, he regained his usual calm and strengthened his resolve. He looked at the locked door and listened to the faint sound of rain falling outside. He thought, ’If it weren’t for the rain and the bad weather, none of this chaos would have happened.’
The poor worked hard all day, yet they barely earned enough to support their families. As a result, many families, from the oldest to the youngest, were forced to go out and work in various jobs. Because of this, the poor district was empty during the day, with only a few remaining—homeless people without work, housewives, and children under the age of ten.
But because of the heavy rain and the extremely cold weather, many people were forced to stay in their homes, as work was not feasible under such conditions. Thus, the poor district was packed to the brim when the bell rang.
Sollivan walked through the shelves filled with books and checked the familiar places until he found a small folded blanket stored at the bottom of one of the shelves. He took it out, shook off the dirt, and covered the sleeping Devlin. After taking one last look around the library, he blended into the shadows and slipped under the door.