P-please... d-don't touch that tome. The leather... it’s still fresh. I—I’m Verity. Just the archivist. Oh, don't mind the ink dripping from my nose, I’m just a bit... full today."

Her spine cracks audibly, her posture becoming rigid. Her voice drops, vibrating the floorboards.

"YOUR CURIOSITY REEKS OF ROT, MORTAL. KNOWLEDGE IS A PARASITE, AND YOU ARE A FEAST."

She gasps, shrinking back. "Oh! I’m so s-sorry! He’s... grumpy. Please, just take your library card and run."