... Cryptically phrased how?

Like this section on the sixth floor. It's only a few shelves, but that's two hundred books, and the signs marking out the section just say 'Blue'. On inspection it turns out to be mostly poetry.

Huh. Weird.

Maybe it'll start making sense to her upon further investigation. Until then, eeeee books. For a purpose. Eeee, books, for a purpose.

It could take all day just to familiarize herself with which books live where, especially given those section titles, but if she wants books on magic, there are plenty.

Hrm...

She thinks it might be a better bet to familiarize herself with the books and where they make their shelf homes. That way if she turns out to need anything she'll know where to find it.

Then she can spend a productive few hours exploring the library.

And the next time she passes by that comfortable-looking lounge area on the top floor, she will find a girl there, sitting in one of the comfortable-looking chairs, reading a book and making careful notes.

Serik's daughter, she surmises. Well, she might as well introduce herself.

"Hello," she says, a little shyly.

She looks up from her notes and blinks.

"You're not a swan," she observes.

"I am not," she agrees. "I'm Rivethira Lentirai. Your - um, father? I think? - found me last night at a party, and apparently I was so outrageously charming he decided I would be more entertaining without the torture."

"Yes, Tanaikon is my father," she says. "My name is Irikaino. You must have been very charming."

She smiles a slightly embarrassed smile.

"I'm pretty sure I was, especially after I'd gone and gotten myself drunk."

"...Hm," she says. "And he hasn't added you to the swan spell. I'm not sure whether or not that's a good thing."

"I argued against it because, um. I sort of agreed to come to the castle with him willingly if he cleared the ruins of the old capital of its dangers? And if that was going to be clear anyway, I could get regular drinks from the youth fountain and not have to put up with eventually losing my mind."

...She smiles thoughtfully.

"I think it is a good thing, then. But I also think I'll suggest to him that he keep water from the healing fountain around, in case of accidents."

"I think he might have thought of that, or - at least, there was a glass of water from what I think was the healing fountain on my bedside table when I woke up this morning. To help with the hangover."

"...That was sweet of him," she says, mildly surprised. "He must really like you."

"I, ah. Yes, I did get that impression."

She thinks briefly of the way he'd looked at her the night before. Yes, he - definitely likes her.

"He hasn't...?"

"He hasn't."

"If he hasn't... done anything to you... then I don't think he intends to. But he... can be impulsive sometimes. I'm sorry that I don't have anything more comforting to say about that."

"It's all right." It's not. "Though if there's any advice you can offer about how I can, um. Keep my balance on this tightrope I seem to be on, I'd appreciate it."

...She carefully bookmarks and closes her book, and puts down her pen, and thinks about it.

Rivethira takes a seat in one of the comfortable chairs across from her, and gives her space to think.

"What else can you tell me about how he's acted around you?"

She considers this woman's age, level of experience with Serik Tanaikon, education, and the way the woman has been treating this conversation, and decides that it would be best to be forthright and honest.

"I think the full context of our interactions including the interactions themselves would be most helpful, if you don't mind me going into detail?"