Meadow and her books. It was almost concerning at this point, how much time she spent reading. Not just reading, but the girl had really taken a shine to spending time taking care of the library. She would spend hours at a time caring for the space. Dusting the corners, sweeping the floors, trying to devise new ways to keep the moths away from the precious volumes. It seemed like they were trying to eat the collection, and Meadow was not too happy with them. With all the time spent within the library itself, Meadow was developing a familiarity with each volume. Someday she'd read all the books in the library, she reckoned. Once she read them all? Well, she'd have to figure out how to trade for more. That, or maybe she'd even write her own. Could she know enough about something to author her own books? She could, and she would. Some day. But the book that caught her attention today was a little different than her usual interest. Typically, she passed over the volumes about arms and armor, about battles and wars. The violence was off-putting for the child who read out of a desire for safety and comfort. This particular book, while about weapons and shields, was about so much more. More than that, more than all of that. It was about the engravings, the artistry. The history of it all, and the techniques. Were the weapons within the Hallows armory decorated this beautifully? Meadow was struck with the desire to find out, to see for herself. Dad was busy. Mom was busy. Meadow couldn't go into the armory by herself. Still, she picked up her book and made her way down to see if any of the warriors were hanging around in the area. There had to be someone who could show her the weapons... right? She stuck her head through the open doorway of the room, looking to see if anyone was inside.

Mercury took the long way back to the Castle after his patrol. Dark paws passed by the familiar landscape as he made his way around the meadow, and into the castle foregrounds. He had energy to spare, and began to make his way towards the Dojo when he entered the corridor with the armoury - and found a pup peeking through the doorway.

Hiding his amusement, the Vanguard cleared his throat. “Did you lose something?” He asked, coming to a stop beside her and pairing into the room himself. As if to see what she possibly could be looking for - because it wouldn't be the armoury itself. Surely she wouldn't be a rule breaker… after pairing into the room, he looked down at the pup and crooked a brow. Wondering what she would have to say for herself.


"Speech"

There was someone in the armory, much to Meadow's delight! The large blue man, that one was Mercury. Meadow remembered him from the meeting, he'd been nice. She shook her head in response to his question, but before she could be turned away (no mind to if he'd been busy or doing something else, but the child is a bit shortsighted), Meadow moved to meet him. Her eyes twinkled as she moved to him, her head lifted and her gaze keen. She clutched the book in her mouth, walking over to him with a purpose. With an excited wiggle in her step, Meadow made her way over and set the book on the floor beside him. The girl opened to a place that was held by the bookmark she'd made from pretty red and orange leaves. No, not a rule breaker. She'd simply wanted to see if someone was in here so they could show her things, and here he was... so yeah she'd invited herself in. The girl rifled through the chapter for a moment more before indicating the Damascus steel blades on one of the pages. Trying to get him to look, she tapped at them with her paw before looking back to Mercury. In truth, it was the most directly she'd tried to communicate with anyone other than her own mother.

Mercury was surprised when the girl took his words as an invitation. Heading into the armoury after him. He eyed her critically for a moment, opening his maw to gently scold her, when she placed a book on the floor in front of him. Despite himself, he found his eyes travelling downwards, intrigued. She tapped an image, and his eyes moved from the leafy bookmark, to the picture drawn within the book.

She looked back at him, silent, watchful. Intensity in her eyes, as if willing him to understand. He closed his mouth, the scold already forgotten. Instead, he found himself fascinated by the young girl. “Now. You need to be aware that you can not enter this room without an adult present, okay? There's too many ways for you to hurt yourself in here.” He looked at her for a moment, to see that she understood what he was saying.

“This blade is made out of what the pack calls Carpathius steel.” He said, gently tapping the page himself.

"Speech"

Oblivious to the incoming scolding, Meadow was a girl on a mission. She needed answers, and she trusts that Mercury would have them. This trust is comes mostly from the fact that he's an adult, and he's standing in the armory. Those two things alone mean he should know these things... right? Meadow certainly thinks so. There would be no disappointing her, not today. Mercury makes sure to remind her not to come in the armory without an adult. Meadow nods once with a bit of a sigh. She looked up pointedly at the vanguard, he was an adult and he was in the room. That's why she'd come in! Carpathius steel. Meadow thinks for a moment... she was Carpathius. This realization has her looking from Mercury to the book, and back again. Processing his words before looking to the arms and armor where they hung. Meadow was on her feet again, making sure to stay well back from the wall but peering carefully at the swords where they hung. Looking from one to the next, to the next. Which of the swords before had come from this kind of steel. She stops for a moment in front of a particularly shining, gleaming sword, with a rippling pattern to the steel. Her gaze is pointed as she looks to Mercury. Was this one of those, or was the child mistaken?

He could see the way she looked at the book, to him, and back again. Clearly intrigued. He wondered what exactly it was she was looking for. The Carpathius steel was a valuable resource within the Hallows. A sword one could only acquire through the Aegis’ grace.

Mercury watched the young pup carefully as she moved closer to the sword racks, and walked down them. He got to his paws, his body angled lightly on the balls of his paws in a sort of relaxed-ready state. Where he could grab the girl in a quick motion if it was required. For example, if she decided to lean forward and touch a sword, and potentially knock a rack over and endanger herself.

Then she stopped before a sword with the watery-steel pattern and he came up behind her. He reached over and pulled down the sword, pulling it to her eye height, but a distance away. A warning in his eyes. He would not be responsible for a pup injuring themselves. It was clear, despite her lack of words, that she wished to learn more about these swords. “The Carpathius Steel was discovered by Artorias, in this very Castle. The blades like these have yet to be seen anywhere else in Auster, which is how they got their name.”

"Speech"

She was right-- she'd done it. That was the right kind of steel, and she could see it more closely now. Mercury was kind enough to hold it up to the light for her, and she was bright enough to keep her distance. It was strange and lovely, all at once. The girl's eyes were wide for a moment, processing what was held before her. The steel was made of layers, according to the book. From what she'd seen and what she'd read, it wasn't the only application for steel. Looking to Mercury once more, the girl took a step back from the sword before darting back to her book. Leafing through a few more pages, she finally settled on another page. This one was filled with different jewelry, adornments, all sorts of pretty things-- all made from steel. Would there be similar applications for the layered steel, the Carpathius steel. She tapped at the page once more, waiting for Mercury to come take a look for himself and hopefully put the pieces together. Her gaze is bright, cheerful, and expectant on the face of the large man. He had to know... right?