Scene 5 - A drop in an Ocean

The library's scent came off as old and musty with a hint of freshly ground rose buds. Even the people passing by the library would feel at ease, and Saren was no exception. Surrounded by a sea of books, Saren struggled to take in the vast knowledge contained within the small book he currently held compared to the monsters-like books around him.

The book was called 'Records of the Warring Kingdoms', and covered a thousand year war where all of the world's kingdoms, empires and countries fought to unify the planet until only one power remained: the Black Snow Empire.

For twenty thousand years, the Black Snow Empire held their position of the unmatched ruler of the world until finally fragmenting in the God Wards, when the old gods were removed from power. New countries rose from the empire's ashes, and the book went into great detail about the the long ago Warring Kingdoms, the Era of Peace under the Black Snow Empire, the horrifying God Wars, and the current era of Rebuilding.

When Saren finished the book he immediately picked up another and began to read, carving the newly gained knowledge into his soul.

Books on history, science, computers, tales of great epics, legends, tactics, plants, poison, medicines, weather, maps and the currently countries entered his hands only to leave just as soon. Anything and everything he could get his hands on would be memorized, deconstructed, and reconstructed with his own thoughts and ideas. Saren had fallen into a trance, reading one book after another as his thirst for knowledge was stimulated.

A drunken grin was plastered on his face as he went from one world of written word to the next. Saren didn't notice time pass and continued deeper into the library, going further into the wonderful folds of ink and paper that held the knowledge he desired. What was the next concept to learn? He was excited to see!

“...Junior…”

‘What was that?’, thought Saren before casting the thought away. He had no time, he needed to learn more… More… More!!!

Smack.

Knocked out of his trance, Saren’s eyes were hazy as he tried to collect his thoughts, ‘What was I doing? I was reading. Yes, reading about all the wonderful subjects. Why did I stop? It was the most blissful feeling I’ve ever had. I must go back!’

Saren reached out for the book he dropped.

Smack.

Someone hit him on top of the head again, making Saren furious. Taking his eyes away from the books, he gave his assailant a hateful look.

Master Mo returned Saren’s gaze with an intimidating glare of his own before smacking the boy on the head once more.

Holding his head with a faint trace of tears in his eyes, Saren shouted fiercely, “What was that for, Master!”

Standing firm with his hands behind his back Master Mo firmly spoke, “Do you know how long you’ve been reading? I was wondering why you didn't show up for dinner, but it turns out you lost yourself while reading! Don’t make your siblings, senior apprentice sister and master worry, fool!”

A confused look crossed Saren's eyes before they drifted to the small mountain of books to the right of him. Then a fierce beast in his stomach he knew all too well that shook the heavens and earth with its roar and made his cheeks flush red in embarrassment.

Bowing his head, Saren loudly and clearly apologized to his Master, saying that he wouldn’t do it again. Master Mo nodded his head in approval and motioned for Saren to follow him back to the dining room where his siblings were waiting.