where:ย nruโs library. when:ย a peaceful (?) afternoon. who:ย @zigvoltage. โฃ๏ธ
ITโS UNSPOKEN, BUT A CHALLENGE NONETHELESS: before he graduates, Trey will have put eyes on every single book on cooking the university dares let its students put hands on. Anything truly irreplaceable would likely be on display, else in a proper museum, despite Night Raven Universityโs esteem, but the collection is nonetheless impressive, a good smattering of older tomes and newer texts arranged for the viewing pleasure ofโwell, mostly Trey.
Every once in a while, a stray student or two who chose the oft-neglected life skills class as an elective will come and go, rarely paying Trey any mind other than a simple nod, if that. Heโs had a light discussion or two with the chef ghosts returning things, plucked their wisdom for his own to guide his way through the shelves. At first, as a freshman, eager to simply devour any knowledge he could get his hands on, heโd chosen at random, leafed endlessly through pages when he had the time or a free study hour. When heโd ingratiated himself enough to use Heartslabyulโs kitchen unrestrained, heโd properly taken the books out to put their knowledge to the test, jotting down the best of the lot in his own recipe journal before returning them and taking another in its place.
Now, he has a system: one shelf per month, expedited or expanded if he stumbles across multiple books with recipes or techniques that catch his interest.
Today, itโs Valley Great Hall Etiquetteโmore of a collected manuscript than a proper recipe book, but within the weathered pages, leafed through with utmost care, some recipes are to be found, albeit written in language a tad more archaic than most. Still, with time to spare, Trey stands, occasionally pushing slipping glasses up his nose as he admires the illustrations and considers each snippet that catches his eye.
All peace is disturbed by a voice that pierces through the shelves. Trey snaps to attention, shoulders rising and book snapped shut without a finger to mark his placeโ
โTension breaks, after a moment, as recognition sets in; itโs only severe by volume, and likely not reason. Book tucked underneath his arm, Trey starts walking, approach relaxed despite the ringing in his ears.
A couple of corners turned, and the source is found, a familiar freshman face met with a somewhat pleading smile. Trey clears his throatโfor what little good it likely doesโbefore interjecting in the space of a breath:
โAfternoon, Sebek. Hopefully nothingโs amissโI donโt think we want to trouble the librarians.โ














