Sachihiro

A spontaneous giggle ejaculates from me as we float out the chamber, I can’t help but be amused at the news.

"You expect me to fight past a dragon?"

I’m almost flattered at their high expectations of me. Almost.

"Absolutely not sir that would be ill advised."

I’m glad we’re on the same page on that.

"If you truly intend to seek the gates we wil help. But we expect you to reach the Smouldering and gain it’s attention long enough to announce a representative of the Library to negotiate."

"The Library?" I’m starting to see the pattern here.

"Safe passage for library members through that Gate would be invaluable in re-establishing contact with other library branches. We will provide you with equipment and information to best assist with the journey to the Gate. Whether or not you succeed the gear is yours as payment for the attempt. Should you succeed level 6 access is yours at no extra cost."

"Not good enough."

"I assure you sir, level 6 access is no small matter," voice deep and grave for the first time since we started talking. I don’t push, I need that gate more than they do probably. I'm definitely more desperate at least.

In silence we leave the chamber. Walking back the way we came until again I’m surrounded by books disguised as architecture though clearly identifiable as books.

I take the place in, I pause to pull spines that excite my interest. Going slow looking and touching curiosities.

I’m thinking.

What are my options with the Blacks? No, I’d be completely dependent there with no leverage with which to rush them besides the words of a flighty character like Aeonian. At least the library needs me in ways I can understand.

They’ll benefit more than I will from access to the Gate long term, and I’m the one risking my life but they need me. If they didn’t we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

"Alright, I’ll go to this dragon gate keeper."

The librarian nods briskly, "of course sir. The arrangements are underway. In the meantime what would you like to access purchase or borrow?"

What indeed.

"Advise me."

"You want to sell me a bed?"

"This is not just any bed sir, this is every bed you’ll ever need in one."

"A bed is not in my priorities at the moment."

"I guarantee sir that you will not regret the purchase," he bristles slightly in his bushy face when excited I’ve come to realise. It’s an amusing tell if it’s not intentional. If it is intentional it is terrifying with how genuine it seems.

"How many points for this bed?"

The only thing I can do now is wait and try to dig into this library as much as possible. Currently the best way to do that is through the being in front of me now trying to sell me a large bed that turns into a sleeping mat.

"30 points."

What? I blink the surprise away from my face, that’s more than the flying shield or the teleport mirrors, for a bed?

I can’t really be wasting time with this yet I feel like I’m feeding off this conversation somehow. I’m gaining by interacting with this person more than I would shelving through the books at this point.

"How many points do I have left?"

"464 library points sir."

Do I haggle?

"This gear I’m to receive for daring to this suicidal negotiation, what does it include?"

"It doesn’t include vital peace’s of equipment that go beyond the scope of the mission."

A bed is vital equipment?

"To be clear sir, the library doesn’t need you to negotiate on it’s behalf. The Library needs you to be the attaché that brings the Library's diplomat to negotiate passage on our behalf."

Okay, slightly insulted being reduced to an ‘attaché’ but good to know I’m not taking responsibility of speaking for these people as well as myself. What’s a 'attaché' anyways? Facilitator of negotiation between two unknown entities?

"How will I go about being this 'attaché' exactly?"

"The bed sir?"

I buy the bloody bed, barely cringing at the eye’s excessive staring as I transfer the 30 points through it.

The bed picks itself up in a bounce, folds itself fast rolling into a bundle becoming a round ball folding in my hands. That was 6 seconds, impressive speed for a bed to make itself.

I pass it to the librarian to place in the sack.

"You will be provided with two mirrors, they will both be keyed to a mirror here. You will meet with the ‘Smoking Ruin of Belgash, The Screaming Wails of Fired Frae, Draug; The Smoking Dragon Under The Mountain, The Dark One whose titles are many. You will announce yourself, you will express our wish as The Library of Dreams to treaty with his August Self.’

"The mirror you set up will allow a representative to commune with the Ancient Serpent."

Ancient huh, always wanted to meet an ancient anyways. Wait, that majestic beast with old man Gorr in the Dawn Forest is an Ancient isn't it?

"If this Dark One doesn’t let me through the Gate? I think this ‘mission’ has a fair chance of failure,"I’m full of understating today. Already faced a deitized being whats a mere dragon on top of that? ...Fuck, I'm probably going to die aren't I?

"If the Library cannot negotiate passage the quickest way off of Rodinia for you would be flight and a combination of spells. But then you’d be eaten alive up there by the sky natives at your current strength, no disrespect meant."

Finally talking like a person.

"I’d appreciate any advice."

"The Library doesn’t get involved with member’s business outside library affairs. But as a working member, advice may be given."

He nods to himself, "the skies are too dangerous for you as you are because if you fall you die. In the sky you have to be able to fall or trust you’ll never fall from the stratosphere. And that’s where you’d have to be flying to make the trip in anything short of 2 years. As a natural land species up there you’ll definitely fall when attacked, so you’ll die which makes flight impractical for continental travel.

"Even if you could survive flight above land you’d definitely die above the ocean, the sky creatures there are forces of nature. You’d die a thousand deaths and have nothing to show for it."

"How can you know all this? You have not beeen out in however long it’s been. Your maps are outdated and your world map is clouded. Maybe a lot has changed in the route you describe."

"There are things that do not change with the passage of time, like the location of World Gates. Gaia has grown and shifted some since we last knew her but something’s would send big ripples out into the world if they changed. Bigger ripples than changing geography does at least, and for the most oart we've had our ways of keeping appraised of the world."

Okay, I could believe that.

"So no flying?"

"No flying the stratosphere, the troposphere I think would be within your means to transverse. But not over the ocean, you’ll need to find passage across the Mirovia Ocean somehow. There is no way I foresee you crossing it alone, even decked with equipment so a guide or passage would need to be purchased.

"Your best bet is passage, safest would be from a marinebeast people. Maybe mermen of those regions depending on extenuating factors. Their generosity not something you want to rely on."

No, mermen are not known for their generosity to men nor men to mermen.

We stop in front of an egg-like rock sitting on a pedestal. He gestures, the description say it’s for washing. 2 points.

I buy it.

"The Underworld extends down deep, it has been known to have regions that go below the oceans in places. But the darkness in such places would devour you truly," his bristles move in distaste.

"For someone not born to it there is no coming back from such darkness."

We stop in front of a rug, it’s not particularly impressive looking. 4 points to purchase, he gestures.

I buy.

"You could try the Mana Gates, but those are currently all open to the same frequency at the moment and it leads off world."

"Mana Gates?"

"Gates used to travel long distances, built by the Romanæ Empire throughout Pangaea when last this branch was active in the world. There are some built in the Romanae frontiers on Gondwana as well I believe. Unfortunately I don’t remember any built on this continent so the option still leaves the question of how to get off Rodinia to begin with. Failing to gain passage through the World Gate leaves you very few simpler options."

Moral of the story, don’t fuck up the Gate mission. Got it.

I’m tempted to ask for more options but the conversation will likely go in circles at that point and my desperation will be even more apparent.

And annoying.

"The Library has no Mana Gates I can use?"

They seem to have a lot more assets than any regular library I’ve ever heard of.

"Unfortunately only level 6 members and above can access the library Gate, but unfortunately it is not keyed to any other functional gate."

My heart pounds hard once, blood flows accelerated through my extremities getting ready for movement.

"How much for level 6 access?"

"500 points. But unfortunately you have not the necessary reputation with the library to purchase that level of access."

Nor enough points to but he politely doesn’t point that out.

"Reputation?"

He starts explaining how the reputation system works, I’m listening but not attentively. So close, just step through a portal and I’m in Pangaea, these people have it but it is beyond my reach or is it?

We stand before a shelf of potions in heavy glass jugs.

Anti-paralysis

A potion that heals paralysis. 2pts

Antidote to Common Poisons

A potion that neutralises the effects of common poisons. Contains Bezoar, Mistletoe Berries, and Unicorn Horn dust. 2pts

Antidote to Uncommon Poisons

A potion that reverses the effects of uncommon poisons. 2pts

Mana Boost

A potion that gives the drinker more power in every mote of mana used. 2pts

Increased Healing

A potion that speeds the process of body's healing 5x by cannibalizing mana and blood energy. 4pts

If bough in set come with complimentary Mana Recovery.

I take four of the sets, 48 points gone.

Mmmm, why not.

I take 10 more Increased Recovery. 40 points gone but very likely worth it depending how fast 5x faster healing is.

I’m buying but I’m getting weary.

Why is everything taking so long, are they intentionally keeping me here or is this how long things usually take?

I evaluate.

"What is the library of dreams?"

He shuts up into the middle of a sales pitching me a bodysuit as an undergarment. Something uncomfortable happens in his expression; elation, surprised worry and mild disappointment in his air.

I bring him very precisely to my attention. Watching everything he does, feeling him move, jitter, scratch and shake within my awareness.

He keeps very close control of his gestures and facial muscles, it’s quite impressive body control really. Would generally give him no visible tells except the bristles on his face. But with the piercing I have of his aura I’m able to equate slight vibrations in his facial fur to the aura he puts out and read him.

"The Library of Dreams is a repository of information that is preserved, explored; and facilitator for passage of this information between it’s members."

Good to know your mandate.

"Who are you?"

To get to the bottom of it all.

"We are," he smiles warmly, sadness seeping from him in remembrance of something. "librarians."

Right, librarians.

"Who are you personally?"

He ducks bowing lower than he has this whole time, his breastbone almost touching the ground as he sweeps himself down and up presenting an arm in a dancer's gesture.

"I, am Mooletré."

I feel his presence deeply, thunderingly deep his energy density all around me. It’s engulfing, tight, a book scented stone ashed warm hug of his presence smoothers about me.

Gone a moment later.

"Pleass excuse me, some questions we cannot answer without being directly asked even if it is discourteous not to. Now that we have been more personally introduced, may I have the honour to serve as your personal librarian?"

On one knee, head down, large. Is that a tail I see sweeping the floor from across his back?

This is tricky, this clearly powerful creature that has had access to all these resources for spirits knows how long is prostrating to me. Why? What’s the significance of being my personal librarian?

"Why?"

I exert myself outward without being forceful, just me as I am at this moment. At the end of the day no one can make me do anything I don’t want to do. I need to know why he wants to attach himself to me.

He looks up into my eyes, I’m carefully gazing at his entire body through my awareness. Every soft twitch of his fur follicles through vibrational sense, his muted aura shuffling quickly.

"It costs to be a librarian. We accrue points through our service as custodians and servants of this place and it’s members. Not much service has been happening since we’ve been isolated as we have."

So you want to serve me in order to gain points, I can get behind that. I understand it at least.

"You will act on my behalf to the best of your ability?"

"Your success and increasing contribution to the library will be gain to my standing. It is in my best interest to see you succeed."

I nod once, "Then I accept, and please, call me Sachihiro."

"I am honoured, Sachihiro."

He lowers his head then stands slowly, bright teethy grin plastered on his face. He is pleased.

"The preparations are almost complete for your mission. But if I may be so bold; I advice you slow somewhat, take the time to assimilate your gains properly and go through everything the library has to offer. The library can provide some resources only when directly prompted by you."

Okay so I’ve missed some things. I look at my hand as I clench my fist, strong tight easy. I take a deep breath tasting the air around me, cool soothing rich air. I am more than my body, flexing my awareness as well. I can feel with it, feel the vibrations within it, the shape and mana of things through it.

I do have a lot to assimilate. But I don’t want to be here when the Blacks try to claim the place as their own, if they can. If they're stupid enough to try using force so far from their power base after fighting the things that were likely guarding this place.

"How much privacy and security can the library guarantee me?"

"If you so wish you will not be seen or disturbed by anyone but another librarian your entire time here. No conflicts are permitted within the library, your physical safety from other members is absolutely guaranteed."

His eyes flash in threat in a way that reassures me of his confidence in the statement. I don’t think the Blacks will be able to claim this place for themselves as they thought they would. This isn’t some abandoned library with aging ancient scrolls no one is watching over. Everything here is well maintained, the librarians are numerous and the power they can bring to bare unknown.

"Who else is in the library currently?"

"Currently there are 8 level 1 members, 33 level 2 members, 16 level 3 members and 2 level 5 members present within the library."

So the Black Explorer’s made it in and have become members. Two level 5 members huh?

I hand him the Soul Arts primer which he adds to the sack of books and possessions I’ve so far reserved or bought outright.

"Who holds the oldest membership of the current members in the library?"

"You do."

Yea, it’s the Blacks and not anyone else that was here before me. What could I get from this place that could redically increase my survivability?

"Okay, give me the fullest tour of the library you are permitted to."

"Excellent choice sir, excellent choice! Now, if you’ll follow me"

I follow him.