“Zu Mari?” Patriarch Viha Cougar chuckled. “I see. Yes, your clan’s warnings were received throughout the Wild Clans. You are a dangerous rogue, a violent rebel, one who seeks to overthrow all government and place yourself in control of the world.”

“I do not! Anyone who knows me would understand that’s the last thing I have any interest in whatsoever! I want to be gone from this stupid world! I certainly don’t want to be the one in charge of trying to fix it. I am a simple man in search of challenge against which to hone myself, to facilitate my ascension. I care less than nothing for the world. You may keep it. I just want to know I can go my way in peace, study every technique ever created, and not be attacked over some stupid rumor that wasn’t even based in facts!”

“An impassioned speech,” Viha said, appearing unmoved. “But why then would you pretend to be someone you are not?”

“Every time I told Ruxja my name, he tried to kill me. It was the only way I could think to reach you without being attacked. Even if concealing my true identity was one of the most shameful things I’ve ever had to do, it was my only choice.”

“Ah, yes. Ruxja.” For a moment a flicker of something like sadness showed on the patriarch’s face, before he concealed the emotion completely behind his calm facade. “Ruxja is headstrong and overeager at times, but he’s a good lad. Give him a few years, and he’ll be a worthy warrior.”

“If he doesn’t attack the wrong person and get himself killed.”

“True. He may do that. But I’m sure he’s less ignorant than you’d think. He doesn’t go about starting feuds.” The patriarch’s expression darkened and his voice snapped out in sudden fury, demanding an answer. “Do you know anything about Hilo or Tetani?”

“N-no! I’ve never heard those names!” Zu answered at once, almost against his will, the truth forced out by momentary certainty that if he didn’t answer he would die.

Lord Viha’s presence retreated again, and only then did Zu realize he’d weaponized it to force his answer. Anger flashed through him. How dare he! Just because he was insanely strong and could crush Zu without a thought didn’t give him the right to do something like that!

“I apologize,” the patriarch said, leaning back and relaxing his posture. “I had to know. My outer patrols are going missing.”

“I might know the answer to that,” Zu admitted reluctantly. “Do you know an Ozyri Tori?”

The patriarch’s eyes flashed in momentary anger. “Tori.” Though he gave the name no particular weight, it sounded like a promise of death.

“I have dealt with Ozyri Tori. I came upon him attempting to assassinate Xashu Cougar for some perceived slight. I must admit, Ozyri seemed quite insane and set on killing me as well. He will trouble you no more.”

“If this is true, then perhaps I owe you some measure of gratitude.”

“Enough to let me visit your library?”

Viha considered for a long moment, then nodded once. “You once asked for ten minutes; you may have ten minutes. But I warn you, the most powerful techniques are stored in seals and traps which you would be wise not to tamper with. If you get yourself killed, I will not mourn you.”

Finally!

“I would like the place to myself, please,” Zu asked, trembling with eager energy. “I give you my word, your secrets will not be disturbed from their places.”

“Very well. I will inform my patrols that Zu Mari is no longer a known enemy of the clan, and that you are to be treated as any other traveler. What happens next is up to your actions from now on.”

Zu grinned. “Thank you. I’d love to see the library now.”

“I’ll have the guards escort you.” Viha swallowed the last of his tea, gently picked up Little Otter from where she lay still gorging herself on the fish, and passed her to Zu. “Take good care of her.”

“I will.” He set Little Otter back on his shoulder, then stood to leave.

He wasn’t sure how Viha sent word so quickly, but by the time Zu reached the library the other occupants were departing, leaving the place to him.

He stepped inside, climbed to the second floor, and drew in the time field until it encompassed only the library.

Now he had all the time in the world.

For eight months, Zu lived in the Cougar library. He pillaged their most well-guarded tomes, memorized their secret arts, and triggered deadly traps on a regular basis. But with time and repetition, he defeated, searched, and memorized every scroll and volume that could possibly aid him.

He added a dozen new spells and techniques to his repertoire, and more theory than he could wrap his head around. Indeed, much of the time, he was merely reading aloud to Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death so the sword could absorb the modern knowledge and compare it with its own historical understanding of power.

Fragile Flower Wind would create a temporary whirlwind to damage an enemy's protective barriers or potentially disrupt their spells while being formed. It evoked a higher presence clarity as well, which Zu thought he might be able to adapt to train himself about auras.

Well, Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death suggested it, but obviously Zu's idea was brilliant.

Thunder Strikes From The Heavens was probably his favourite of the new acquisitions. A targeted burst of intangible energy which, when infused in a target, would make it attract lightning. He didn't know how it worked, but it did. Even from a clear sky. And once a target was charged, they became vulnerable to repeated applications, making it easier and easier to continue striking them.

The only drawback was that the spell was technically intangible, which meant it couldn't be used in conjunction with his element-altering spells, and anyone resistant to lightning would be able to outlast it. He couldn't change it to Fire Strikes From The Heavens or Ice Strikes From The Heavens. (Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death insisted that both of those other spells were real, but that they had entirely distinct base behavior and shared no commonality with their Thunder cousin aside from the name.)

He did get a targeted elemental attack, though, which meant all the Mari clan secret modifiers could finally be used on something more damaging than the Windblown Droplet.

Night of Betrayed Love was a heart-seeking bolt of ice that required incredibly focus to cast, but moved faster than anything else Zu had access to. And, as an ice spell, it could be enhanced or modified. He could turn it into a deadly hail sphere, or a fireball. He could increase its already prodigious attack speed, and give its aim even greater precision.

Flowering Vortex was an upgraded version of Fragile Flower Wind, but instead of subtly and invisibly weakening enemy spells and defences, it tore through them in a single burst of unstoppable power, then converted the stolen energies into a burst of brilliant light to blind or disorient. It didn't last as long and required more time to cast, making it useful only for specific circumstances, but Zu was glad to have a strong interrupt available if necessary. It also tore through auras, though they would self-repair very quickly, it might be of use if he ever had to face Viha or someone else of his level. It might buy him enough time to fire a more damaging attack.

Reeds Bending Before The Torrent was a defensive technique, which Zu practiced for two weeks straight before Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death deemed his skill 'passable'. It wasn't a traditional evasion or redirection ability, but rather something of both. It focused on allowing glancing blows and delivering strong counters without allowing any dangerous attacks to hit the defender. Zu thought that it would be pretty unbeatable if coupled with a strong enough regeneration effect, but he had no such ability.

He did find one healing spell, but neither the Mari clan nor the Chartreuse Cougars had much use for the healing arts. Complex, finicky, and often as dangerous as an attack, healing arts were generally considered best left to the experts. Summer Wind Refreshes did nothing but coax the body's healing process into moving more quickly and efficiently, but it also could exacerbate disease or poison, making it dangerous to use unless you were sure the target had no afflictions.

And, of course, the most powerful Cougar spell, hidden away beneath layers of concealments and traps, the Immolating Wildfire Breath. With a single word and a truly prodigious quantity of internal energy and focus, one could instantly combust any target. The target had to be vulnerable or weaker, or else the attack would simply fail. But it could be self-targeted with the utmost of ease. Zu tested it out several times in the library, ensuring that it worked as he’d hoped.

Perfect, immediate, on-demand self-destruction. His own little reset button. And surprisingly painless in comparison to most other ways he’d died. Sure, it was unbearably painful, but only for an instant, then the body was so thoroughly destroyed it no longer felt anything.

All in all, it was a very satisfied Zu who made his way out of the library exactly ten minutes after he’d entered it, not a single book disturbed from their shelves.

No sooner had he ended the time bubble and stepped out of the library when an irate woman grabbed him by the front of his robe, slamming him against the wall while an angry otter bit his leg.

"You! You bring dishonor upon my family, you lying deceiver!"

Othima Otta had arrived.