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"That's okay. I'll research it here. Thank you."
She turns her nose up, which is odd. I'd have thought a librarian would like the fact that students are using her library for what they're supposed to. Clearly, I'm wrong.
Luckily, she leaves me alone, and I turn back to doing what I came here to do. Research sirens.
I open the book and end up coughing like crazy. The thing is so full of dust that it's ridiculous. But that's a good thing in some ways. If no one's read it in the past few years, then it should make my project stand out. If I can find what I want in here.
The pages are yellow with age, and the penmanship leaves a lot to be desired, but I persevere.
An intricate drawing of a woman sat on a rock catches my attention. This must be it, the page about sirens. The handwriting is even smaller than on the other pages, which is just annoying. But I know that if I can make it out, this will include knowledge that will prove useful. I want to do well at this project. With my magic still not on top form, my theory lessons and exams are going to be more important than ever.
"Looking at anything interesting?" Caspian asks.
I jump, not having expected him to come up behind me. I haven't seen or talked to him since the conversation in my room, but I'm glad he feels like we can spend time together now.
"Just researching for my project."
"That looks very dull," he observes, pulling out the chair next to me and sitting down.
"I haven't started yet." But I am already wondering if there
's a modern translation of this book. That might make my life easier.
"I don't envy you." He sets his tablet down and pulls out a notebook to join it.
"You shouldn't. But I'm determined and am going to get the best mark in the class."
"Isn't that inevitable when you're dating the teacher?" he jokes.
I blink a few times, trying to come up with a retort that doesn't sound terrible. "I'm not dating him," I whisper hastily. "And he's not the teacher, either."
"Keep telling yourself that, Mona." He winks.
I huff instead of replying. If he's going to tease me, then he doesn't deserve coherent responses.
"Remind me of the topic you're doing again?" I can tell from the tone of his voice that he wants to smooth things over a little, and I'm more than willing to let him.
"Sirens."
"Oh."
Hmm. That's not promising.
"You're looking in all the wrong places," he tells me.
"I am?" How am I to know any of that, though? It's not like I've been told where to even begin looking for siren related stuff.
"Yes. All you'll find in books like this is superstitious human lore," he tells me. "Pass me your tablet?"
I do, confused about so much of this conversation. My number one question being why he knows so much about sirens to begin with. But I'm too dazed to ask that one out loud and pass him my tablet just like he wants me to.
He types in a couple of things, an intent look on his face. "This is the book you want." He turns it back around and I see a cartoonish woman standing in front of the sea.
"Are you sure?" It doesn't look like there'll be anything important in it. Something about the cover reminds me of a kids' book.
"Positive. I've seen a siren with one of these."
"You've seen a siren?" My mouth hangs open. I may not know much about them yet, but even I know they're elusive and not many living people have set eyes on them.
