The dark, solemn decorative carvings once again came into Ruger's view in the corridor steeped in the weight of years.
The Old Wizard's words and bewilderment still echoed in Ruger's mind. Neither his expression nor the confusion that had flashed through his eyes seemed feigned. Yet Ruger distinctly remembered first hearing Kailyn's name from the Old Wizard himself. Even if there had been some discrepancy, it should not have been like this.
He raised an eyebrow and strolled through the dim, quiet corridor.
The greatest difference between timeworn elegance and ruined remains was that the former was old but clean, with signs of living occupants. It was worn yet still showed traces of regular use, ancient but not dilapidated. The doorknob over there, for instance, looked as though it had been used for a long time, yet its round surface remained smooth and gleaming.
Creak!
Ruger's steps faltered.
He noticed a door standing slightly ajar. The gap was neither large nor small, but he could see only the opening itself, not what lay beyond it.
Ruger abruptly turned his head to look the other way. He was merely a Kobold who had come to borrow books from the library. The price of reading them was serving as the Old Wizard's assistant, while hoping, along the way, that the Old Wizard would succeed. He asked for nothing more and involved himself in nothing more. That was all.
He resumed walking naturally, as though his brief pause had been nothing more than an accidental stumble. Uneven floorboards were another sign of age.
His footsteps alone echoed down the corridor.
That inexplicably open door was on the side of the corridor with eleven doors.
Ruger walked at an unhurried pace, quietly shifting his eyes.
There was no trace of the two new visitors