Chapter 67

“Hello jack” oracle

It’s been a while, oracle.” Jack

“Has it really? From my perspective it is like a blink of an eye, no time at all.” Oracle

“Well, why are you here then? With what little I have been able to piece together about you, there has to be a reason.” Jack

“I simply enjoy it here, no further reason. But I have been expecting your arrival, either today or this afternoon.” oracle

“Well, enough pleasantry. I would like to ask you a favor.” Jack

“I already know what you are going to ask, but go ahead.” Oracle

“I want you to teleport me, and some luggage, back home.” Jack

“Something like that would be a triviality for me, but still, what makes you think I would help. Last time it was at the request of an old friend, the greater god in charge of the god of humans.” Oracle

“You seem to think that I am valuable for some reason, so I decided to take a risk. Plus getting transport is a bitch.” Jack

“It’s amazing how the most developed part of this world gets the most complaints for being under-developed; you know people in other worlds would do anything to get a hold of the transportation technology of this world? Anyway, I would be willing to help for a fee.” Oracle

“What fee?” Jack

“500 jaers, enough to buy enough mana restoratives too cover two teleportation’s.” Oracle

“Sounds fair.” Jack

I handed the money over to oracle and began to explore the library. There were a number of other people here, none of which were interested in the exchange between myself and oracle. I have been here once before, but not for long. It had showed up in the middle of my hometown when I was 6 years old, I didn’t know how to read at the time and so I didn’t care about the wealth of knowledge here.

I walk towards a nearby shelf and pull out and ancient looking book and flip open the cover, too my surprise I can’t understand a word.

“ahh, lithian, one of the killed languages. I’m surprised to find that volume on the first floor, usually killed languages stay around the fourth floor.” ???

“I’m sorry, but who are you?” jack

“I apologize for my rudeness, I should have introduced myself earlier. My name is jaspers, I am a librarian.” Jaspers

Jaspers appeared to be 5’7” with dirty brown hair and earthy cloths, like what you would expect a farmer to wear. If I had to guess I would say that jaspers is a deity in humanoid form, an evolution high on the monster ladder.

“what are killed languages?” jack

“the world around uses one language, with different names in different areas, here it is known as dalect.” Jaspers

“of course, it is easier that way.” Jack

“but have you ever stopped to ask yourself how it came to be that way?” jaspers

“the thought never came up” jack

“a little more than a millennia ago a large group of powerful countries came together to discuss things. One of the many things they discussed was language, all of them agreed that having one universal language would make life easier. After several years they managed to agree upon a language to make universal. Almost immediately the countries leaders instigated a policy where all written works had to be translated into this language and all people had to know it and speak it in society. After nearly a century of this they began a purge, any books not written in this language were destroyed after being translated, and any people who did not speak it were killed. Many wars were started and ended overnight for this goal. The result, everyone now speaks the same language.” Jaspers

“What about here? Why didn’t the destroy the books here?” jack

“oh they tried, they entered and started to try to destroy books, very few of them were successful at even putting a scratch on them, and it would take something on the level of a chaotic mana storm to do any significant damage. Of the thousands that entered, none left, all of the, were killed by the defenders.” Jaspers

“why did you tell me this story?” jack

“to get my story telling skill up of course.” Jaspers

And with that the deity walked away, presumably to tell another guest a story. I put the book back and find something else to read, going up a floor in the process. I eventually settle on a thin book titled an epic of magic, which turned out to be a story of a wandering mage taking on powerful opponents, he took on everything from hords of goblins to a near mythical nine tailed fox and even managed to pull off a raid on some military outpost that belonged to someone who pissed him off, All In all an interesting read, taking me two hours to finish.

After placing the book back where I found it, I left the building, deciding to walk around the city for a time before it’s time to make my move. While walking in a back alley an orphan boy, likely a kobold from the look of him, attempts to mug me with a rather impressive knife, which he no doubt stole earlier. I quickly put him on his ass before demonstrating a proper stance and having him imitate it, I had time to kill, and he wasn’t a threat to me.

I spent an hour teaching the boy on how to properly wield a knife, something that was easy for me to teach, I had done it several times in the past, but could possibly be the opportunity of a lifetime for the orphan. The boy said his thanks and offered me a bird trinket, nothing special about it, just pretty to look at. By that time I had two hours left till sundown, which I decided to spend meditating.

At sun down I stand up, no blue box appearing this time, and don a silver mask. It was a gift from Mary when I started mercenary work, she had used it during her time as a mercenary and had it artificially enchanted to make anyone who saw it fear death.

I run across the rooftops of the silent city, nothing moved save for a few drunkards who stayed at the bar till closing time and the occasional scholar, this city has no night life. I enter the manor and easily make my way to elandrel’s bed chambers, only to find it empty. Unfazed I move to his study and slip under the door in my shadow form. There I find him reading by magelight.

“I thought I told the servants that I do not wish to be disturbed today” elandrel

“I’m not a servant, lion of the raiders, what a stupid name.” jack

At the mention of his old title the fur of his mane stands on end.

“how do you know that name?” elandrel

“you’ll learn soon enough, that you don’t make enemies you can’t destroy.” Jack

Before he gets another chance to speak I plunge a syringe through his chest into his heart and cut off his ability to scream through his mind. The syringe is full of a long lasting anesthetic I had uncle make for me, it should keep him under for days.

I pick up his limp body and head out, I need to bring a certain someone their early birthday gift.

end chapter 67

a little late, still working on catching up.