Laying the Groundwork

[Archival]

At last, after trekking through the forest for a few hours, Archival arrived at the perfect spot: a clearing of higher elevation. Greeting the long-haired daytripper was a magnificent lake, its surface coruscating like a million diamonds. This lake served as guide for him, despite glimmers of it disappearing from sight for long periods at times.

Grey eyes took in: hazy hills looming in the distant horizon, a few tiny islands interspersed, a massive shield of granite docking the waters below. Everywhere it teemed of life: songs of birds filling the air, rustles of ash leaves accompanying, aroma of frillblooms and dahlias, butterflies and grasshoppers.

A smile broke, a satchel landed; out came a spade and a sapling cradled in sackcloth. Within minutes, the implantation was complete. The Oak had found its home for the next millennia, a stone’s throw away--which was not really that far for a scholarly type--from water’s edge.

The Oak was special; at maturity, it would form the perfect framework, winding stair steps and all, for a sanctuary befitting a future Arrival--a treehouse.

“Elm tree, my dear. What, son? This is an Oak tree.”

[Archival]

Nothing Is What He Seems

There was more to the lively scene, however. The crust beneath told another story.

Old Carnis minerals throbbed with geologica memories, seeping through rock and earth like neurons in gray matter. They whispered their histories, of where they have been before; some comprised chunk of former majestic mountain ranges, others started humbler as cusps of trenches snaking across oceanic floors. More important, they confided of their outlook for the future, of what landscape formation they would become.

Pervading, too, the strata lower, were rich ganglions of Zol deposits. These flotative minerals would actually factor the greatest in this area’s prospective geologic evolution.

At present, it was sufficient to plant the seed. Archival would not visit this site again for years, until the Oak tree's maturity. Even then, the land would have barely changed. His hopes for this location would be realized only after millennia, eons, epochs have passed--way into the distant future.

“Zol aturs! Are humans even allowed in the Athenaeum?” He wondered. Next on his agenda: how to breach the continent’s only Library--as an employee, of course.

[Ikari]

It wasn't long after getting caught in a tussle with a large Water Wyvern who had a bout after the ship she had bought to get to the island, that she then had to paddle her way as fast as possible from a reign of angry hammer horns who she stopped swimming to battle. Her ribs had been bashed and bruised and beaten, nearly drowning. Luckily for her having her Faithful yet at times not Suujali, Turk, around, he was able to stir the water and pound his head at the pod who in fright and confusion swam off, a first for such prowess creatures. Without thinking, Kast had Exausted herself by swimming, while the big guy walked much of the way. They weren't much further from the shore as eyes had laid upon the vast land before the attacks occured.
Turning her head and letting herself float with the current she watched as Turk bumbled along in the water making aggressive grunts and baratone barks to warn off anything in the water around her. She smiled and breathed steadily gaining back some stamina. "You're a fool big guy. We're safe here." She grabbed a sector of his giant carapace on his head as he lowered it to her. Respectively he continued toward the shore dragging her along. Soon his shoulders rose above the water and with Kast dangling like a trinket off his head. Tucking her knees in she cannon balled into the water once more. A foolish move. She knew where she was but in the bliss of being on another expedition, she had forgot about the constant dangers that were always at an approach. Five feet till her feet touched the sand, and at that she felt a large shock in her side, enough to make her curl her appendages and arch her back, losing sense of the ground beneath her. Letting out a cry of attention to The brute Suujali he spooned his head under her floating body and took a fast prance up to the sandy dunes and laid down quickly huddling over her body he tipped his head to the side to lay.

Her breathing was slightly erratic and her eyes to the back of her head she was struggling to open the waterproof napsack at her side. when she did, with much difficulty took grasp of a vial, she cracked the top against Turk's helmet head and poured it sufficiently onto a large needle like impression on her side. The first thing that came back was the long easy gasps of air. Good it was working; next was the eyesight where the sky seemed to have lights swarming like maykov flies in summer. She could see the Suujali breathe and snort in agitation and concern. she let out a laugh, which was the only thing to reassure the big guy that she was alright.
"It's...Quite alright, Turk. Just one of those damn Piercers." slowly she got up tossing the broken vial into a pocket of her satchel. "I couldn't uncork it, you understand," not a word from the beast of course. "...yea you didn't even feel that what am i saying, alright, up we go, we have to make a trade, then we'll find a place where we can be at peace. I know exactly the place too." she said as she saddled the Suujali and rode him to the Tavern.

There at the tavern they had a lot of spectators watch as she rode the enormous beast, they were lucky he was young, and not full size, only two horses tall. She took her Sales to a few places within the port city, once done with trades of old friends and a few drinks, which eased and numbed the pain again, and a few licks off a pipe to feel a joyous welcome, she pardoned herself and walked the beast out of the city. For the times she had gone there, those who saw the large beast either questioned and ushered by in fear, or waved a friendly hello in recognition to who they were.

Off they sped as quickly and hastily as possible with the saddle bag full of goods and living specimen in containers and her side bag filled with a grand amount of purple haze weed, secreted poisons in tightly kept vials and herbs, they were off through the woods with the great agility Turk had, so that no creature or being could stop them in their tracks. from the partings in the trees she could catch glimpses of a water by the horizon, passing over hills she continued to see it closing in the gap, until finally they reached it. she yelled to have the beast who could feel nothing,less a boulder hit him on the nose, hault. And he slowed up. she lowered herself off his neck where it was a secure place to sit and hold onto the carapace ridges, that cut the wind so the ride though fast, wasn't a terrible gusty one.

There it was a sanctuary, beyond the few trees that scattered up to the hill top and had light fight it's way down a small worn out path,welcoming her back to the oasis. She ran up the hill as Turk trudge behind her. she started pulling off her cloths over her head, the shoulder guards the weather guard fur husk, the shin guards. the more she pulled off her the lighter she felt. she wasn't afraid of leaving a trail, for Turk was trained to scoop up what she threw down behind her. As she got to the top she breathed in deeply, like breathing in the scenery. immaculate. she adored the view. she took up her spot by the tree with roots that up grown and dipped back down into the earth, like armchairs, springy grass grew around it, she felt at peace. she unhitched her satchel and instinctively reached up to Turk who knew the drill, and lowered his head so she could unhitch his saddle bag, that he shook off gentle. She placed everything under the tree, took the pipe and the PHW out and took a big puff, she was at ease.

Until her ears took up a word she thought she was hearing things. It's echo wrapped around the rim of the lake, she couldn't quite understand what was said. "What's Enaeum or was it Anyone? is someone here?-" she looked around lowering the pipe and giving the lake another look about. Indeed there was someone. who was on the otherside. As if it would make a difference, she slouched, tucking away the pipe and breathing out the smoke slowly, it was nothing illegal out here, surely, but being percautious was her first intent. Kast's eyes gazed back up at Turk who like a dog had his eyes on the man, a low growl was throttling deep withing his chest. "heeyy, shut up" she sad slowly and rose to her feet. "Relax i said, don't be stubborn, not now" she spoke punching his hard hide. he at least felt it and hushed the noise. She looked back down at herself. "I'm nearly naked, Blast!" she had forgotten with being in such a 'high' place. she grabbed the weather cloak and wrapped it around her. "well maybe, he will leave and not notice us." She rethought that and laughed knowing that from a distance like that, no one could not see a big head of a large beast with glowing red eyes cast a form at the edge of a hillside, that looked out to the lands. It was clear as day. she just couldn't help but laugh thinking in the case of if she saw it from the man's eyes. But since she was custom to a Suujali it might have not been frightening to her as it would to perhaps someone else. she overlooked that idea.

[Archival]

Eons from now, this pocket of pristine province would evolve into a different landscape. Varying minerals, from carnis to zol, told the Historian their story. The lakes, rivers, skies, and lands also whispered, revealing rainfall, weather patterns, rates of erosion and attrition, and other pertinent data. As Nature confided her secrets, the confidant grew more confident: in the future, this hill would become an island. Part of a group of flourishing islands. An Archipelago.

Majestic, the spectacle below for the bespectacled Librarian to see. He clapped specks of dirt off his hands. An annual visit, he surmised, was needed to ensure branches twist this way and that, whether to serve as trunk-spiraling steps or as a corner foundation for the tree house.

Ears perked up suddenly at the breaking of brambles and branches. Something huge was ascending or approaching; earth trembled with each rumble, revealing a four-legged stalker. Suddenly he was not alone on this hilly plateau. So much for being a sanctuary. His sanctuary.

Rather slow in turning around, considering the potential peril something so massive might pose, Archival immediately saw in his periphery the unmistakable triceratops-like carapace of the feral Suujali poking through and above the outgrowths and trees. The vicious red eyes.

“Aaagh!!” He gasped, long hair turning a paler shade of ashen blue, seemingly. Agate grey eyes widening.

Like any alarmed prey, he instinctively reached for his instrument of defense. A book. Easily retrievable—designed to be that way for emergencies just like this—from his backpack’s side compartment.

“Don’t come.. any clo.... huh?” He suddenly realized there was a white-haired girl wrapped in a cloak, wearing a goofy grin. She seemed unafraid and at ease beside a Suujali, the most untamable of beasts! Was his mind playing tricks? He blinked deliberately quick to whisk away illusion’s film. Why was she smiling at a stranger? Strangely, he found her smile alluring, even though it probably meant luring him in as snack for her pet. A monster he could deal with, but a lesser, fairer creature enchanting him this easily was... alarming. The girl was heartwarming, charming, disarming...

[Ikari]

Oh there it was, the yell,she could feel herself jump for him, but her body was still. Her eyes opened up but continuing to smile she hoped he wouldn't do anything rash. He was reaching for something, she heard the growl throttle again. My, what good perception the beast had, over the course of dense training and combat with her brothers. but to how he could be so lazy on days off the battle field she did not know. Just went to show how any beast could had a sense of understanding, forced to spot the tricks of the trade. her eyes focused on the mans expression, he seemed baffled, his gray eyes flickering under his lashes. She grabbed a lock of the mane from the back of Turk's neck and tugged at it, Silenced once more. It seemed to always work, the hair tug trick; she would know, it's been used on her by her mother to grab her attention. taking her hand back up to the back of her neck she looked away from the man unsure how to approach him.

Pushing back her introversion she shook her head with furrowed brow, exhaled, relaxed her jaw, tightened the cloak around her thus began to walk towards him. Thump. She looked back to Turk who coward at her sudden halt leaning back in a half sitting position. "No. Go for a swim." she said waving her arm elsewhere. "You're freaking the man out of his colors!" With that Turk snorted through the cavities in the carapace, where the nostrils were, He turned slowly and like a snake on legs quietly sulked away. Right into the water in fact, wading and turning around in circles to observe his own tail trailing after him. He was amused of himself, which was good, and silly for a ferocious beast.

As he left Kast turned her own burst of crimson eyes over to the man. her hair was taken by the wind and she brushed it back quickly with agitation. I was about to say something and the wind picks up, unbelievable "here let me just shove my hair into my mouth and speak to you. it is our way, our culture". heh..oh no don't laugh at your own jokes...now you're just standing there daydreaming, wake up.

Laughing lightly anyway, she blinked up her gaze again feeling her face grow with a peachy warmth. "Uh Hello, er, Sorry. I must have given you a scare. I do apologize, I am not use to having to remember to keep the big guy on a leash. But no collar fits over that fat head of his." she said in sarcasm, voice light and eyes once again smiling, though unnoticeable were also scanning and observing with little to no movement required. They peered down to the sapling which the upturned soil told her was just planted- then to his hands, -by the man standing before her. An environmentalist? as long as she kept the mood up, she was never fearful of awkward moments. Even so when there was, she was her own supporter. She had much practice around her brothers.

[Archival]

Sunlight filtered through a parting cloud, alighting on lashes. It splintered into a million colours through the prism of a sweat droplet. Archival in his supposed sanctuary was finding himself in unfamiliar grounds, in a predicament more precarious than the pince-nez’s perch on his nose. He was perspiring, but the girl was radiating with rainbow splendour.

Agape and aghast. What manner of being are you, that even the Suujali cower at your command? Those eyes of crimson, far from bloodshot and menacing; instead, haunting and beautiful.

Playful, perky, poised, and provocative. His first impressions. Prettiness is vain, but with personality, it sparkles... What was he thinking! Besides, her traits were diametric: he was serious, subdued, studious, and scrupulous. She seemed the type to test new waters with a cannonball, while he, with a dipping toe. Just look at her choice of companion—a quadruped more feared than night’s mares! They were worlds apart.

Presence of mind returned to the distraught after a trip around the world. A journey that crossed the foothills of Noddendody, the peninsulas of Discordia, the valley of Ignatz, the peaks of Cold Mountains, and finally, the Bay of Chemosh.

His gaze, er, his mind had never wandered a world more beautiful and intoxicating. A world cloaked in warmth and... purple haze.

“I... I didn’t expect to find anyone else here,” he finally composed himself, and some words. “Let alone an interesting rider and her steed.” He wanted to say ‘an odd pairing’ or ‘a girl’ as if denoting weakness when clearly she exuded power.

“Right,” he continued, feeling the need to explain why he was here—wait a second, this was his hill; he staked a claim on it with a sapling! If anything, she should be the one explaining her trespass. But he sidestepped anyways to reveal the young Oak. A maneuver which camouflaged his retrieving and holding the book against his chest. “I just planted a tree, that is all, and I am on my way to the Athenaeum, the continent’s only library. I’m a librarian by trade, if my name Archival isn’t indicative enough. What’s yours? And your... pet’s?"

Everything was going splendidly by the book, the bookworm thought.

[Ikari]

Archival, what an intriguing name. Very civil yet ancient of a name, how it pulled a hard curl and ended with a soft vowel. A name could say a lot indeed. In her year's, and her mother's transferred memories, she has not come across the name, so like any great explorer, she wanted to take it and remember it. Interesting she may be but less a rider than thought to be. If she could she would have rode a horse, But horses weren't fast, aware and immune as Turk was to deadly surroundings, nor were they large enough to protect Kast who was not as battle ready as her brother's. He stepped from the plant for her to spectate. Kast bent down and looked at the plant, very splendid it had no where, no stress or shock, the branches made the perfect helm and not a misguided crook. she smiled.

"Magnificent specimen, Truly. In all seriousness, it's growth at a sapling already tells me it's going to be a very healthy adult. You must have known this would be a great place to plant her, good sunlight, away from eroding plains. It's going to be a great life for this tree, as long as the lands are at peace." She rose again her eyes meeting his through his glasses he hid behind. She could see he was sweating. Because of what though? She had felt his gaze and body vibrations emitting to the crown of her head, it echoed and spoke in a language only she could understand. A wise demure man, held his book against his chest, introduced himself.

Extending out her hand she smiled with patience in her eyes, softness in her body language, formality in her stance. "A pleasure. My name Is Kast, Dear Archival,"She was able to say his name a loud, which was helpful rather than it repeating through her mind that didn't quite sound like her own voice. She nodded to his book,"I can tell you are a scholar of a man from the distance. I myself, have a profession in Herbalism and Chemistry."

Turning her sights to the doggish quadruped, she smiled in goofy expression again. "That is Turk, the family pet, He aids me in gathering material as well as protection, though he is just a big dope of a beast as you can tell. It's my brother's companion more than anyone's, throw him a slab of meat and he'll be as useless as a lap dog to us" she chuckled in sarcasm, though it truly wasn't as easy as she claimed, but it did make ease for most nervous spectators. If his master(s) showed signs of friendly attitude towards a creature or humanoid, he too would feel comfortable, unless signaled to continue being on guard, specially during trade with questionable characters.

He had laid down on his back, head resting on the shore, half his body emerged. It was rare to enjoy one's self during exploits, even more so around the dangerous territory they took residence in.

"You're heading to the library? Have you gone before, it's extravagant." Kast had been there once, to learn more extensively about the indigenous plants and how to spot them around here. always helpful when they had defense systems that could kill.

She, with all her wild expressionism's and chipper interlude had an enclosed side as well. When she wasn't exploring and gathering pounds of herbs, selling remedies,and black marketing unlawful potions,was locked away in the catacombs of her laboratory. Only few close customers knew she was not all jokes and upbeat. She had her geeked-out moments where jaws could literally drop on the unsuspected persons' faces. But as quick as those moments had come, they were gone and back to a rambunctious nerdy chick who thought she was the funniest thing in the world at times. She loved humor, it was the only remedy to make one truly happy. But she too like anyone would want to be taken seriously and not seen as just a childish old woman.

Taking her other hand she tightened the cloak again, her eyes wandered aimlessly at the man before her. She had felt he was lost by her being. Well maybe she looked and smelt human, but far from it, even so if she were, the Suujali if properly trained would be submissive to something as little as fey folk. She took in the long tamed hair of the man's in unnatural but somewhat pleasant shade of blue, his eyes reminded her of a wolves in the dead of winter, lonely and forging through with will to survive and roam with no limitations, held no wariness nor spoke his true strength. Tall, and skinny, a memorable smile, and a voice that should record audio cassettes. She was sure he never had a dull moment, being a librarian.Unless like her mother, has read and even written all that has been historically done.

[Archival]

Truly Archival could not help but cast his gaze upon Kast while she gave forecast for the future. She was a magnificent specimen, truly. Yes, you truly are. In all seriousness, our friendship’s growth already tells me it’s going to be a healthy one. You must have known this would be a great place to meet me, good sunlight, away from eroding plains. It’s going to be a great life for us, as long as the lands are at peace. My world is at peace. For my enchanted soul has left it and now wanders in the wonderland of you.

Up until the maiden rose to meet his grey eyes through the prisms of his lenses, introducing herself and prefacing his name with a term of endearment. Breaking his trance to make way for... admiration. Already he sensed the Chemistry between them promising, heightened only by the fragrance of Herbalism. An intellectual woman. Now that’s a real gem.

Rocks. The tome he held was about rocks, explaining everything from geologic formations and strata cross-sectional studies to soils, minerals, and jewels. Quirkily entitled “We Will Rock You”, the book was a hard read, but when wielded, as only a Librarian could, it literally lives up to its name.

“Quite the beast you got there, Miss Kast,” he uttered; he had miscast her as an ordinary human; if not the crimson eyes, then the ability to tame a Suujali suggested a heritage beyond being a human. A fact not alien to Archival at all. “Really?! You have been to the Athenaeum?! I have not. Wow, you are just the person I was looking for!”

Unbelievable serendipity.

“Oh I was uncertain how to go about it, with all those Lizardfolks on Battle Scorpions,” he stole a glance at Turk enjoying the sun’s strokes against its belly. “I was thinking of earning an honorary standing amongst the Caste of Scholars, but I’m not even sure if they would allow a... human.”

Inquisitive orbs of agate, gateways to his soul, glimmered with hope. A soul that longed to learn more of Planet’s histories, cultures, civilizations, everything. To diligently record and archive them. For Planet’s sake. For the future’s sake.

“See, there are these Oracles called Gazers who have glimpsed into Wellsprings of Time, and have transcribed time. These records are indexed and guarded by the Codex of the Athenaeum. I would love to read them!”

Enthusiasm overtook coyness; his smile genuine. A sudden breeze tugged at their hair. Archival stared at Kast’s dancing tresses, white as if ancient yet aglow with youthfulness; drowning in thought, lost in the strands of time.

[Ikari]

Breeze kicked back up, she watched slowly the drops of water that splashed in the water kick up, catch the sun, and dunk it back into the water. Archival's hair, to the near same length of her's, take flight and crack like little whips at the end. a mixture of ghostly white and ashy blue reached out and tumbled between them playfully, kites tied up one day at the park. Her smile never faded, maybe even grew, but she didn't allow herself to blush. It would give away too much array of emotions. Like shy, embarrassed, the exact location where she hid her romance novels. Those sorts of things. She raised her finger to her forehead, with a sweep she unraveled the friendly lock from it's embrace with his, the breeze died down.

"You are just the person I was looking for!" Her eyes widened a little.

Zeroing down at her feet again, open toed egyptian like sandals she kept her blood from leaking out to her cheeks, She wasn't use to running back to the hiding spot within her mind, especially around strangers. Always the first one to approach them, straying from Mum's side getting lost in the city, She wasn't trying to show no fear as the eldest sibling, with raised shoulders and unbroken stride. She was just ready, itching for adventure. Right! that is what he meant wasn't it, For he never been to the library. of course Get a hold of yourself, don't pull it out of context.

Assured once more she smiled and nodded, continuing to understand his knowledge of Athenaeum. Indeed those lizardfolk were gnarly and crude, That is if you were Human, but more so if you were a man. Women of any race would be given less but still an uneased relief to perhaps pass. Scholars, she hadn't touched base with, but through the grape vine they were in good terms with any species, astonishingly they knew of her mother, recalling the time she bumped into a young scholars apprentice. he swore he saw a ghost, but it was only the clone of one, Kast herself.

Not knowing the right from left , she wouldn't be able to meet the more civilized way of entering, like her mother had done her second bout through. Kast and her brothers fought their way through to gain recognition and respect by the guards alone, the scholars had not been too happy, to have an incident reoccur like that of their mothers.It felt like detention again in the library, they were ashamed they were such delinquents, hadn't respected a Library as they hadn't respected any old monuments or runes, until they were older. Forgiven just by being grandfathered in, Kast had to be the one to down a knee and take responsibility. She stayed a months time, leaving her brothers aid, and studied and gained a better status, befriending the one apprentice lizard folk, and the head guard at the time, Dartmoor. Who's to say how much has changed, How much stronger she's become since then.

"Truthfully dear Archival, Getting a hold of such documents may be a difficult task, I had to do some time within the Library because i caused a ruckus with my brothers.Who's to say this isn't going to cause an abuse to their systems?" she said admittedly looking back up to him and around them as well.The word Human came to mind. Indeed he presumed she was not, she wouldn't lie, she wasn't as human as her exterior reenacted. underneath held the same demon genes her mother had,from the hooked thumbs on dragon like wings down to the very fur of her prehensile tail. "I was lucky they knew my mother, and that I'm female, they aren't too found of men nor man, though my brother Shado was an exception since he was indifferent from the bunch of us, But he's probably the only other One in our family who can walk right through the gates." She made it sound a hell of a lot easier than she meant. she shook her head with a petite smile. Trust wasn't the issue with the lizard folk, it was respect and responsibility, if you weren't cautious and acted too mischievous they wouldn't allow the library to be soiled with filth. Hence Silho and Krow were not allowed, but Shado didn't want to stay do to the eerie feelings.

It would be no problem getting Archival in, once she dealt with the Lizardfolk, the scorpions were faithful to them as Turk was to the family. She might have to do something about the big guy, who enjoyed a meal of Arachnida Scorpiones. And she hoped that she had bettered herself with Reptilian language than before when she incidentally insulted a guard.But as most feared them and their lizard eyes, They had no effect on her. The scholars may be different, they reminded her of feeling insignificatn to an all omnipotent being, that's just how they acted, the ones she had spoken to but not seen, of course. "How does one do that? Earn an honorary standing with them?"

Under any circumstances letting him go alone with just a word was a foolish idea, but more foolish is she only assumed he knew so much of the place, perhaps he, as a wise librarian, knew more than she about being civil, to scholars at least. She was no good with such authority, no matter how many complimented that she was, later on those nights she'd soak in bathes rinse with cold shower and scream into her pillow to release the ill feeling of post anxiety. She hoped to never go through it again.

Making a slight stride to Turk she turned her gaze back to Archival, the Librarian. "Going alone is unwise, I'd say, for someone who has not gone. They might smite me for welcoming anyone as my guest, but you don't seem to be searching for a dark art. Only answers to curiosity" and she hoped that was it. "So I can, well hope,to help grant you passage." it had been a while, she was curious to ones intentions, other than her own.

[Archival]

Lost in thought in the stream lines of time, Archival stood motionless. Daydreaming, as if witnessing events of a million tomorrows. When Kast reached out to untangle the gentle overlap of their windswept hair, he snapped back to reality, to the present. What was that he just glimpsed?

A prophecy? History yet future? The Historian saw two sets of strands interweaving, intertwining in a most intimate way. Two threads combining, creating the beginnings of a tapestry far more colourful than the originating dichromatic spools of white silk and bluish cashmere. But the vision was cut short.

Perplexing. What did it all mean? Brows furrowed for a moment at Kast, then relented. Perhaps the answer would occur to him eventually; he should just wait and let things unfold in time. For the moment, priority was getting into the Library.

“It seems that finding work at the Athenaeum is harder than I thought,” he replied after her explanation. “What I mean by an honorary standing is that they grant me Caste of Scholar status regardless of my racial background. As proof of academic diligence and proficiency, I have already started compiling detailed topographical maps of Iselyr, with the Bay of Chemosh’s finished, here in my bag. Mind you, I have an ability to read planet substrata, so these maps are unique.” He smiled with healthy pride. “And I am respectful of Lizardfolk customs and lore. So here’s hoping they’d treat me as their own, willing to see past my human exterior.”

Surface features indicated nothing but human. Even a physiological examination would reveal human through and through; but that in itself was inconclusive. Sure, the man had no traceable parents, no relatives, no connections. But is lineage really required for one to exist? Matter in all its form is simply condensed energy, massive amounts of energy on a cosmic scale. Therein lie Archival’s secrets. One who does not seem to age. One whose origins are... out of this world.

“Let’s discard the idea of me disguising as a woman, shall we?” the long-haired Librarian chuckled, putting away his book; he adjusted his backpack, readying to go.

An eternity ago afraid and apprehensive, but now he was at ease; as if he had known Kast ever since childhood. He imagined visiting her doing civil library duty to atone for her younger siblings’ delinquency. What a delightful, responsible sister! He would love to meet her family eventually, but that would imply interest in a most unprofessional manner. She did offer ‘granting him passage’, but definitely, she meant it only with respect to the Library and not to something else. Such as a secret sanctuary. A scientific one, of course. A laboratory to ply her chemist and herbalist trade.

Zephyrs carried to him the sweet scent of stingerblooms. It was that time of day, about three o’clock when the sun was clearly on the decline, when certain flora would advertise their lure.

“Until I find some way to repay, I’ll be eternally in debt,” he declared over his shoulder, already facing the direction of the Great Athenaeum. “Especially seeing that you have family and errands to take care of, and that there’s danger of abusing your influence. If our plan doesn’t work, maybe I’ll just have to cause a bit of a ruckus myself to earn library time.” Laughter.

“Lady Kast, by the by, I am not riding Turk with you! Instead, I’ll race you. There is an oasis five clicks south of the Athenaeum. You cannot miss it. Rendezvous there. I’ll even give you a head start.” A sly smile.

Inside the Librarian’s sleeve was a pocketbook entitled, “Gone with the Wind”.

[Ikari]

Bewildered at how much was put into his words, She stared with dazed look as he spoke. The sun hit 3'Oclock, and directly through her cornea, swam through the aqueous humor, touched upon the lens of her soul and flecked off her tapetum lucidum back towards Archival from behind the retina. The world became a blur, and taut band being pulled tighter. Blinking she moved with slight precision, the fluorescent glow within her eye became more subtle. So a cartographer as well. But did he look to the star and Astronomy, the changes of weather beyond the ages, and the possibility of the world depleting into nothingness. She thought of those things daily, whenever the sun rose till it drew back down. even on cloudy days, she could always kick past the moist particles in the atmosphere and reach to where the darkest of storm cloud looks like a clean cotton ball. But even such sweet visuals, the world itself could change, and she knew that she would be there everyday of this worlds life to experience every painful minute of it, Even before she was born it was there, stored memories like a backed up hard drive in a frame of a fallen galactic ship. People she never met never spoke to, she, in a genetic altered way, has.

Letting a smile peel away her deep intervening thoughts, she looked back up to Archival who was excited to make haste soon. He sure took up a great opportunity when most would not. Of course it would be amusing to dress him up, even when it wasn't needed. "Well no of course not! but you make for a pretty boy, and they don't mind them as much as buff grizzly ole vikings" she executed a smirk perfectly for such sarcasm, her chin tucked, eyes innocent but holding their bias gleam in the center. She wished people were calm and less intimidated by what they felt was proper security and reputation onto themselves.you live once, best to find the limit, and to never do it alone, because there was that slight chance it wasn't your time, and to die willingly in the elements days after the battle may sound heroic, but it is foolish. They could have used you in the future.

Untying the thread under the cloak, clicking her tongue and calling upon the Suujali to rise from the water, he came forth and lay down onto his knee's. A contest of speed, against a Suujali how silly. It was naive to think you could out run, but more naive for the rider to be cocky about it. She grabbed the uniquely made saddle bag and swung the rope over Turk. He grabbed the end in his jagged Kraken like jaw and pulled it up over, so the the two pouches on either side slung to his shoulders, leaving a large sector where a saddle would be, open, for his trimmed trestles of hair to sway freely behind the rim of the head frame. "Ha, No worries of such trials. My family can hold up the fort these days and my errands are none that spoil for the length i carry." Then through gritting teeth, "Plus I'm sure they think I'm In my Lab." She laughed again shaking her head as she hopped up onto Turk's back, stood letting the cloak fall off her shoulders grabbing something from her own bag, a white leather vest and pulled it over her naked back, paying no mind about it. Now that she was somewhat mannered to ride. "Let's hope it works then, I can only be so lucky to hear that the same act worked twice." Sometimes such a curious Test would get her thinking, was this a way to escape fear of the Suujali, maybe to be independent or by his behavior of eye gazing, maybe he was afraid to get close, like she was. No matter, he chose a place 3.1 miles, and it would take only a meter for Turk to reach heightened speed. The shadows were in their favor too, just in case any funny business was played.

Elevating up by Turk, standing at the ready she looked back to Archival, he looked small and fragile down there. She was excited for this. "Alright if you say so.Cheers and good luck!" Five clicks, in a flash. Turk lurched forward feeling the drawstrings tighten and twist themselves ready. The tug of his hair told him it was time, and like a race horse out of the gate, he took at the chance to win. She surfed her way there with ease the ride was smooth and quick like a greyhound.

[Archival]

Redness threatened to colour his cheeks by her “pretty boy” remark, but he knew she was being coy. And besides, she spoke truth, for he was scholarly, subtle, and slender, not soldier-like, strapping, or strong. However, Archival couldn’t help from blushing anyway, not from anything Kast had said, but from what suddenly formed in his head. To say the same thing of you, pretty Kast, would be a severe understatement. Discretion prevented disastrous thought from manifesting as spoken statement. How could he afford prolonging the awkward moment when she already made her discomfort known by untangling their soul strands from further entanglement? Still, it was a monumentally momentous moment, a memorable memento of first contact. A moment when a man gazed into a maiden’s soul—or more like drawn in—and saw the world in her perspective: majestic and marvelous, yet melancholy and momentary. Transient and fleeting; the world born and dead in a blink of an eye. What! Could she also see eternity like he? What a terrific yet terrifying thought... someone to share forever with. “I think the whole world is your Lab, Lady Kast,” he replied with equal coy. “And I, just an experiment to test your new colourful concoctions on.”

Under the shade of a hand, grey eyes watched as Rider and Beast rode off into the afternoon sun. The Athenaeum being to the west. That Suujali was sleek and speedier than any steed, but it was still bound to the land. Archival, on the other hand, with a booklet about winds on hand, was about to take it to the skies. With a finger inserted, acting as bookmark, the Librarian spun once before a sudden whirlwind from nowhere snatched him from the ground and flung him heavenwards. He was gone with the wind.

Below, he watched as Turk and Kast navigated the forest still while he was already breaching the desert ahead. Archival was just a passing cloud. He laughed, on his way to use his aerial advantage to reconnoiter the Athenaeum in advance. So far, no desert lizardfolk in the way. Good. They were the violent types who rode battle scorpions. Normal lizardfolk were more civilized and accepting of other races. When the Library came into view, Archival slowed down and hovered above invisibly like the wind beneath his feet. The Athenaeum and its surroundings were not what he expected at all. Firstly, there were hardly any lizardfolk. Instead, there were more nymphs, dryads, Elvenfolk, and humans. Secondly, the entire settlement was more like one colossal spa, a giant health resort, with interspersed bath houses and interconnecting cobbled pathways, all gleaming starch white and sandy gold in afternoon daylight. Roofs of baked terracotta red. Patrons barefooted strolled around relaxingly, while staff members—discernible by their uniform tunics and togas—dispensed services of luxury and style. Massages. Lotions. Sunbathers laid out on towels. Vacationers with tropical fruits served on silver platters. Tourists sipping coconuts through straws. Visitors munching on pineapple cubes with toothpicks. Iced cocktails. Naked old men chitchatting in hot springs. Women in straw hats and shades. And then, the Library itself, nestled in a spot far enough to avoid spa humidity. It was an elegant structure taller than any other buildings, made of material finer than mud brick or adobe. The educational building didn’t stand out like a sore thumb at all. Like its recreational counterparts, the Library permeated an aura of relaxation and luxury and an easiness for visitors to enter. Even a facility for a hopeful to work in its facility. Archival the Librarian-to-be had seen enough before deciding to circle back, landing on a spot even way before the Oasis—to make it seem that he was just arriving. On foot.

“You beat me. Congrats!” Archival proclaimed upon arrival, resting palm against a palm tree. Technically, he lost. He didn’t exactly hit the target. Overshot it by five clicks. No. He missed it entirely, not even crossing it. In truth, he went on a very wide detour. “How long you’ve been waiting?” He smiled at Kast and Turk. As if hiding a secret. A good secret.

[Ikari]

The forest was no thing, by the time they reached shadows, she could already sense something overhead, but her thoughts told her to keep looking forward. She couldn't quite see what had happened, but in her mind she believed the man turned into a bird. He was gone in an instant, and the only life form present around her felt like at one fragment of a second it was above her. Even so if she was misreading this, she would of used her trick anyway.

Relaxing her shoulders, Kast pulled herself up and held the long straps of hair tight, surfing Turk's agile wave. She watched the shadows fall darker and darker, even as there was no change to the forest itself. Soon the Shadows from her perspective were pools of biohazardess looking mana, running in rivers under their feet. They were sinking deeper with little to no change in acceleration, The shadow fully engulfed them,all the while ripping through the space of 2 clicks and folding underneath a palm trees single lazy shadow.

It shook under the sound of feet making impact with the dirt, hind legs over front, grinding to a stop. Turk exhale a loud and large snort, turning and looking back towards the direction they came through. As soon as the ride was done, she fell to her knee from Turks shoulders, looking at the markings that came up mysteriously around the palm tree.

"A Good tracker would see this, boy. But it isn't your fault the earth deteriorates at your fine talons" She stood back up and patted him on his forearm. looking around for the Presence of Archival. She could feel her thoughts wander away back to those peculiar words she caught ear of "The whole world is your Lab, Lady Kast,and I, just an experiment to test your new colourful concoctions on.” She had hoped not. If anything she would use every concoction that works, and were sutable for the situation. When she thought of experiments it drew her thoughts, no- her mothers' thoughts, into a spin cycle. Her eyes closed as if it would keep the bogeyman away. No, no she wasn't nothing like her mother's darker half, and significant similar interests could not prove she was under that assumed role. She was of Science, and progress, a chemist and herbalist witch doctor. she treated everything preciously, and nothing was Meant to be harmed.

Nodging herself back onto the right trail, her face rose from it's shelter against her shoulder from the light, Unable to hold back a smile, she broke the leash and let it run free across her face. She turned so she fully face Archival, who rested so delicately at the palm tree. He looked like a wise professor, his scorn must be powerful and unnerving to young kids messing around with something of scholarly value. Yet his smile would wash away their frightened trouble making faces into well behaved children. He had stories to tell, she was sure, loads. He moved with the flow of the earth around him, or perhaps she was in an illusion, and the earth moved with him, instead. It felt that way at least for her.Perhaps it was something ageless.

Gripping her ever wandering thoughts and tying a knot back to the base of them, she once again snapped back into her earthly body. "Oh. How long?" Hopefully not forever, of course not forever, the sun was still casting it's light. She took a few steps over to him, her eyes wandered the serene area once, then back to the palm tree up to his hand. By the white pressure mark alone, she could estimate that his hands were soft, and warm. she curled and entwined her fingers behind her back, feeling the ice cold tips. She blamed vasoconstriction, and her nervousness.

"Little to no time to catch a quick nap! You weren't fast enough, but you are fast."Her voice chirped on. She let her eyes wander his body. Hey why not he was fully clothed, and it wasn't like she moved her ocular muscles while doing it. He reminds me of that teacher, i would coward at his strong alluring voice when he was angry, but never at me, who sat in the back. He would walk down the tight paths of cluttered desks with such grace and authority, how i admired his dedication to teach,and pull through the daily chaos of the classroom. She smiled, Yes, like a professor indeed. Who knew much, had much to teach, could only teach the advent listeners. She wished for the wind to pick up and cast her entrails to the exposing skin, imagining she could feel from that alone what he was.

Exceptionable.

[Archival]

Palm trees, cacti, visionplants and other hardy vegetation dotted the landscape. It was a small oasis which seemed hardly used as a stopover considering that it did not intersect to any major destinations, just the forest. The Argent Sea was also nearby, visible on the horizon with its brilliant blue contrasting the bleached white and gleaming gold of sandy beaches and desert; visitors by sea were the sort who would head straight for the Athenaeum resort and not resort to sortie elsewhere not-as-luxurious such as a small oasis. But really, what place could be more luxurious than a sanctuary where one finds himself alone with the illustrious Kast?

Eyes fell upon an azure lizard timidly making its way across the sand. Venomous slow-moving reptiles. When Archival focused on its footprints, a thought suddenly struck him. He glanced back over his shoulder, to retrace his own steps; he must have left a hundred footprints, but where were Turk’s? The side trip to spy the Athenaeum barely took an hour long, and the winds were not strong enough to erode a massive beast’s tracks. Either Turk was super fast, reaching the Oasis a while ago, or they—Suujali and crimson-eyed woman—had used some sort of trick.

Returning his gaze to Kast, he tilted his head, as if to study her in a new angle. What further secrets do the Crimson Eyes have? Did the Suujali see worthy masters in a race that shared the same optical colour and glow? No. The reasons must be deeper. The scholar in him intended to discover more in the final two hours spent together covering the remaining distance to the Athenaeum. A leisurely pace. But first, some refreshments. Tap, tap, his forefinger against the palm tree’s trunk.

“I’m thirsty. Are you?” He asked just before catching a falling coconut with both hands initially at eye level but ending up at ankle height; he had cushioned the fall. Then he walked to a man-made structure with a sharp upturned iron blade, perfect for de-husking coconuts. But he only needed to de-husk one hemisphere, to expose the hard shell which he now pierced with one final efficient strike against the metal pike. A few droplets spilled, but the hole was sufficient to draw precious liquid from. “Sorry, I got no straw,” he smiled as he offered the tropical beverage. One fruit held enough fluid to satisfy two people, but as always, ladies first. If Kast so wished, he could crack open the shell afterwards for a hungry soul to partake of its delightful flesh.

Delicious desert dessert. But alas, time to desert the Oasis. Athenaeum, prepare thineself! A Librarian with many superb future dissertations is at hand!

“Optimistic I am that getting a job at the Library won’t be as difficult as we first thought,” Archival began. “The outlying areas are actually devoid of nefarious lizardfolk on battle scorpions, so danger is really low. In fact, I just caught wind that in all of Iselyr, Bay of Chemosh is the most peaceful. Not that I heard any literal voice from the breeze. I just, somehow, can feel it in the air. I guess you really don’t have to worry about me, if you catch my drift.” The resourceful Librarian was slowly revealing his secrets, but in the most clandestine way. He chuckled, wondering how Kast would react if she ever found out he went on a reconnoitre detour which allowed her to win the Oasis race. At the same time, he tried to think of possible reasons why Kast’s earlier explanation of the Library seemed anomalous. Perhaps there was a stricter regime at the time of her visit years ago, an experimental change of management now abandoned. Mayhaps she was high on some herb. Perhaps her memory was flawed. Or was implanted. Or perhaps her recollection was not from a few years back, but decades, centuries in the past, when things were much different.

Time is precious. Savour every moment. Light and Shadow walking together for the day’s final journey. They were a picturesque twosome on a desert canvas. Time may skim forward, sand may erode, the parchment may grow tawny, but Archival and Kast were here to stay forever. Like the unfading calligraphy on a scroll of history.

[Ikari]

Often not she would take a drink from a man. But they were far from a bar stool, and chivalry wasn't barren in habit. With a smile she watched him tap the palm tree, catching the coconut in delay, but still caught. She watched the man do a simple task, being lucky to note that he had ventured out of enclosed spaces and could defend himself against weathering. She took it generously after he husked enough to the bone and cracked that too."Pioneers need no straws.That's a book, I'm sure you heard of?" She took her fill in the few gulps and held it up for him again. The Haze was wearing off It had been for some time, the water didn't help, since the body naturally has a way of purging evasive medicines with Hunger or cotton mouth, to force the body to need one thing to rid the other.

Carrying around with her since childhood an iron will, not much drove her off her passive train of intentions. She would need to smoke again soon to keep the stinging pain in her side from lashing at her unannounced as it had started to. If she bore the pain at it's fullest, it would only lead to full body tremors and slight paralysis for days. She couldn't let the Piercer poison win.

Taking her arms and folding them over her stomach, she brushed her thumb lightly over her side to feel the wrapping under the white leather vest she had put on, with its black lacing. She could feel the tender puncture being agitated by any slight movement, but poker face never changed when she felt like cringing. Her mind skipped back and forth from how careless she still was, from Archival mentioning about the Athenaeum being something of a resort.

Absolutely impossible. She lost a bet from a century ago to her brother who claimed that the place would one day become yet another tourist attraction, even mocked the Guard on how they'd be butlers. How he ever come up with that, still baffled her, now more than ever. The location no doubt was spectacular for one, but the way the Lizard folk were unchanging and the old scholars were stuck in their time and ways, that this news was almost shocking. Who was she kidding it was shocking. The young scholar she had paid mind to within her sinners stay, had dreams to bring Athenaeum into the light so others could appreciate it, was it his doing making it another sandal barring Lou out? Now she just felt under the impression that her tale was fable, though she hadn't expressed a time stamp about it. So she didn't have to explain herself/ never let them know how old you are, hidden agenda's may kill you for exposing this flesh Her mother's words yet again trembled through her bones.

Gone for so long from the desert, Kast wondered when the change occurred, not two years after her first, when she visited again to further make up for her trouble making. How did He know but not her, if he hadn't ever gone and before was fearing the chance to run into those grueling Lizards. there was a slight change in the air, agitation and frustration to the Lizard guards. And less giant scorpions. she didn't pay mind to it, she only assumed it was because she had some way of passage. Now it seemed like everyone had that. So her pride slowly shrank back, who needed it really?

Overlooking Archival with an inquisitive look, a smile creeped up one corner of her mouth. She pointed up, unfolding one arm, with her eyebrows raising as well. "yea? leaves aren't the only thing the wind can blow around then huh?" she smiled wider. So the shadow wasn't her mind spinning into psychotic states. Sometimes even when they lived in the world full of surprises, she'd still be caught by them. She blamed second guessing the constant fear of knowing there was a possibility to becoming a horrible creature beyond recognition. She put herself through paranoia just from knowing too much, having memories that were not her own, experiencing things at such a young age. The idea was that they would steer from the same mistakes, a simpler way to evolve and pick up where Ancestry left off, but plans never go into effect as one planned them to. Silho had embraced one half of the darkness at the wrong time of his life, now look at him

No, no. There was no time to start trailing off, the sun was still up and she needed her presence t be here. "That's extraordinary all the more then. Maybe it's luck that the ways have changed, so it fits to your circumstances yes? Though, It is also a let down, I was hoping to go another round with that jerk, Dartmoor. Maybe he's picked up a new hobby, and sells the bones he carves as souvenirs. I wonder if the place is like an amusement park..." She turned around, looking to the pack on Turk's shoulders This wound is started to pester me, i need more. No harm right? I shouldn't care about how someone else feels about it She walked over thumbing Turk to lower himself again, he whom was taking a drink from the water. What a peaceful place, now abandoned for some new entertainment only miles away.

Suujali, big and buff lowered himself and let her take what she needed from the saddle, His eyes pierced down at the other creature Like Kast, his breathe didn't waver, he guessed the man would be traveling with them, but they themselves held no contact and it was something of a trait from experience, to ensure trust by his own way of contact. Slowly his long tail lurched over threateningly like a scorpion would do, but moved slowly and agilely don to Archival, till it got to his arm. very intelligently he took the end of it, wrapped it quickly around the man's hand and wrist like a brace and slowly pulled it up and let it drop down about three times before unraveling. A hand shake? Turk's expressionless face was made up for by a low humble throttle that left a hum in the air. Kast watched from the corner of her eyes, packing and clearing the pipe, all while walking around Turk. She didn't want to offend Archival by the smoke. Rather she avoided having to say anything about it unless brought up by the other party member, even so, she made her lap around Turk. The wound stopped it's pulsating sting while Kast set the pipe into the back of her high boot, as she did most often. She came back to the front, with a big smile, she was happy to see Turk had made an advancement, She just embraced for the action after.