Wooden doors.
Tall windows.
Nothing remarkable.
Which somehow made it more suspicious.
---
Andre pushed the door open.
A bell chimed overhead.
The smell of old books immediately fills the room.
Rows of shelves stretch across the building.
At the center sits a single man reading.
Long beard.
Dark robe.
Hood.
Book in hand.
Without looking up, he speaks.
"Escaped prison again?"
Andre groans.
"You always know."
"I run an information network."
The man finally looks up.
His eyes settle on Kai.
Then back to Andre.
Then Kai again.
"A new friend?"
"A new problem."
"Same thing."
Kai immediately likes him more than Andre.
---
Andre drops into a chair.
"We need help."
"No."
Andre slams his hand on the table.
"I haven't even asked yet."
"You escaped prison."
"Yes."
"You brought another drifter."
"Yes."
"You probably punched someone important."
Andre pauses.
"...Maybe."
Zindine sighs.
"Then my answer remains no."
---
Kai steps forward.
"My name is Kai."
"I know."
Kai blinks.
"How?"
"You're standing in front of me."
Andre immediately starts laughing.