The walk from Billy’s place to the directions of the main square was filled with tension.
“By the way, where do you get that ‘idea’ from?” Greg asked out of the blue, while seeming casual. Whereas Jack looked relieved Greg asked her, instead of him, ‘cause Jack sure he will make the circumstance worsen rather than improve.
“...Fred. He whispered to me to believe in…that idea…I, I swear I don’t know why, but for me it was, like it is always like that, as if I understand but somehow forget?..makes sense to me…where Fred got that idea, but…Why am I so dumb?” uncertain, Greg and Jack just listening, not judging or arguing. somehow that makes Lyla feel better.
“Well, why don't we start with the library first? So we could solve our problems right away, two stones with a bird. Hey Jack, catch!” Jack just raised his eyebrow, while watching an imaginary bird that Greg threw to him.
“Greg, now is not the time.” Jack exhaled
“Then when is the ‘right’ time?”
“The right time to go to the library? now.” Lyla half snapped before they could start bickering.
The library has so many functions, the general purpose was as the place for books, the source of information and archives, specifically in Symara’s main Library. There, the library also provides many services, from consolidations and consultations or related to both. Located within the city center, sandwiched between two of the city’s most important buildings, Watch Headquarters and Municipal Government to get maximum and efficient results from both buildings.
The library has massive open grounds and a garden with all kinds of natural and imported flora. usually, natural flora from the Isles in the garden was light colored and thin leaves, but the imported one was thick colored and jagged leaves. It blended so well that it created optical illusions reflecting Symara’s insignia and the Nine Crown Isles image. Lovely for Lyla's taste, not too crowded but also not too bare. And, on the left and right side of the only path straight to the entrance, stood two gigantic pairs of Auburn Staff. What differentiated it from the usual gateway in every district was in the library grounds, the Auburn Staff had four giant shining orbs that swirled around the pillars with symmetrical patterns, apart from the protective nature of its construct, it was meant as a lighting too.
“I never get bored watching these balls swimming in the air. Jack, you too?” Jack just nodded while seeing the eternal swirling of orbs with Greg. Now, it's Lyla’s responsibility to drag them both.
After standing in the doorless entrance of the library, Lyla starts herding the duo to the left wing from main buildings. In the front desk, Lyla asked and checked if any consultations schedules were available, with precise and swift work, the attendance provided her with one closed session for today.
Then they rushed into the registration desk, following the procedures with adequate payment, they got a plain card with magical sigils and Symara’s insignia atop it. they began ushered into the only available consultation rooms, at the very end of the corridors. The place was so quiet that they could hear a rustling buzzing sound, likely the magical effect of heavy sound protection in every room.
Passing the plain card in the door knob, with a click, the attendant opened up the door for them then closed it behind while at the same time saying “Fehavor eis A’igis” which means praying that the knowledge they seek will be obtained.
What Lyla expected was meeting some wise and sharp looking consultant, instead they looked at an arrogant and snotty looking man. Hesitated, Layla greeted him with a polite smile.
“Good afternoon sir.”
“Oh my, good afternoon, madam. Pleased to meet ya in person, my name is Aszphera, the son of Hivell. Please, be at ease,” he said while indicating to the seat. He had an odd accent, son of Hivell was their way to show where they hailed from and as the custom demanded, the others should call them with that title.
Hivell was the southernmost continent. The Nine Crown Isles, which they are currently in, was on the east part of Hivell. Hivell was the nearest continent from the Isles. The second closest continent from the Isles was Jithoam.
Unlike the inhabitants of other continents, people from Hivell were always proud of their origins, but in Aszphera's case, an asshole too.
Lyla had a hunch when she saw him at first, that Aszphera was arrogant and a pervert. It's because of the way Aszphera look at her. Lyla felt the man seeing her like some kind of displayed goods.
“Why thank you sir Aszphera, the son of Hivell. Indeed, what a pleasure.” Greg step forward, standing in front of her, covering her from Aszphera sight.
“Are ya a madam, sir?” as if insulted, Aszphera face contorted, but Greg pretend he and the man was a buddy-buddy
“Ouch! Should you have asked me that?”
“Madam, please,” Aszphera switches to ignoring Greg and the silent Jack as if they never existed. He started moving one chair closer to his.
“And ya lot, give the lovely madam a lot of space,” Aszphera demanded, as if Greg and Jack were her slaves.
Lyla chose to sit in Gregs intended chair rather than the closest one to Aszphera. She contemplated just canceling these meetings, sure they lose some money, but…the closest available and open sessions are tomorrow. So they had to continue, and hope the ill-mannered man could answer their most pressing questions.
“So what are your personal problems madam?...ah haha sorry, slip my tongue, let me repeat, what is your nam—”
“Could you explain to us what Aspect is?” Lyla just cut short the man.
“...Of course, just for ya, miss. but can I know your name first?”
“Do the regulations include the consulting person's name? I thought not.” Lyla remarked
“Ah of course miss,” not name included, Aszphera whispered the last part.
“Your question was what is Aspect, with a capital ‘A’ right? right, Aspect is an idea that could manifest and took some form and reside on their own plane. That was what most
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These Skills of mine are amazing, heh. But people are often confused, by identifying them with a Concept. Even though they’re entirely different beings.”
“But all those definitions about Aspect are boring compared to mine. So, just for these sessions, I would recite from my soon to be printed books entitled ‘The secret of Powers. My definition in the book was: Aspect is an imaginary being that is born by the force we called mana. so the conclusion: it's just imaginary.” he said arrogantly, as if his own version was the most comprehensive one.
Not wanting to make his ego even bigger, Lyla asked her pressing question.
“So what if someone invokes their name, like…like by the aspect they granted to me bla bla bla, is…is…is there any side effect or anything perhaps?” Lyla squeaks, reciting her earlier mistakes.
“...Cute…of course not, if it is said as a swear or curse or something. But if it said while giving it meanings or intents, it could make a special ‘bridge’ that connects the invoker to the closest type of Aspect from the intent. Example, as in what already happen—of course i would never do as to foolishly invoke anything for simple example,
If someone were invoking it with the intent to kill or in a war, then the most likely Aspect they connect to was Hinsee the father of war or bloodbath or usually called The Death. what the connection it did was usually in line with the intent, it doesn’t give the invokator power or spell or miracle, but it gave them something. there was no available record across the world, ‘cause they always refused to talk, even when threatened. in some extreme cases, some
“Then, sir Aszphera, how many Aspects are there?” Jack asked, his interest piqued.
Nothing, Jack doesn’t get any reactions. Not even a side glance.
“Anything else, miss?” Aszphera ignored Jack's questions, and watched the fidgeting Lyla, as if there were nothing unordinary. Hesitated, Lyla turned to Jack, he gave her a nod. Then she asked Jack a question.
“Ah I see, good choice, miss. It's predicted to be around as much as the population in the entire world. which is still vague. but the more prominent Aspect was in five names: O’umm normally called by the Godmother, the most benevolent of all. Hinsee The Death, Syamuz The Origin of Life, and the everlasting, always weary pair of Aspects called Syer-thee and Azhure; but commonly known as The Paradox.”
“Your turn Greg.” Lyla turns on Greg.
“You should have asked him instead, Lyla. See, he doesn’t even look at me and Jack. As if we were just talking furniture.” Greg said as a fact. That’s not even make Aszphera uncomfortable, instead he becomes more relaxed, as if pleased with what Greg said. Then Greg leaned closer to Lyla.
“Here, let me tell you…” Greg whispered in Lyla’s ear instead while touching her shoulders. That exactly made Aszphera annoyed, seeing it, Lyla began leaning closer and closer into Greg while listening to what he said.
“Okay, what…oh. okay. Hmmm, are…you sure Greg? Oh. Yes. Uh, so, Aszphera, sir, what were the indicators of if a person being Called? or awakened?” finally, Lyla asked. The ‘sir’ part made Aszphera puff his chest like a peacock.
Ah, sweet little victory. Finally ya know that i’m better than your goons, soon you’ll know my actual worth miss ‘name not included’
“Him?” Aszphera pointing to Greg and watching him up and down.
“Yes, he dreams about what people said being Called is. What the general saying is ‘you will know if you experience it’, is that right?”
“Oh that was most accurate, miss. How adorable. but I’m sorry, I think…he is one of them.” watching Greg with a look of disgust. That makes Jack tense.
“What do you mean?” Lyla alarmed, worried about Greg’s well-being instead, not seeing it as an insult.
“It's a mental disorder, the Called wail they said. Do you know what that meant? It means your goo…I mean acquaintance here…ah let's say, in troubling conditions. Condolence, miss.” as if the name of it made him sick, then he said that as a matter of fact.
The Called Wail was one of the most common psychological symptoms that happened to the populations of the world, specifically to the population that lived near or close to The Tower. It means the subject felt as if they got ‘marked’, even though they’re not. It made them think they could control mana, become stronger and they should join Stegophilist Guilds or their common name was Delver Guilds. The most severe case among all was when they recklessly went into The tower that even veteran Adventures hesitate to go.
But these names, also called the wail, have different meanings in The Nine Crown Isles, as the closest civilizations to The Tower. It had a meaning as the ugliest insult, by saying it, could make people react harshly if said lightly.
His audacity, accusing Greg without checking him was rude beyond belief. and he still refused to cross check more, even though Lyla demanded him. ‘cause he already knew from the beginning that Greg was ‘sick’. he stated while chin held high.
But before Lyla and Jack could shout at him, Greg used his military hand sign that means: wait, first, information, second, revenge, ….., soon, create, …., proof. Lyla doesn't get all his signs but gets the general idea.
So Lyla played along, asking Aszphera sweetly, while hiding all the venom behind a smile and asked him to write some kind of receipt as accurately as possible to the ‘sick’ Greg, so they could treat him justly. Lyla said and pointed out more accuracy is better for the receipt, to sweeten their revenge later.
After giving him a random address—because Aszphera insists he should pay her a visit, they depart.
Outside, near the doorless entrance, Lyla and Jack let go of their frustration, fuming and cursing Aszphera until they struggled finding the right curse. It sometimes happens if you are really mad at something, or someone for this case. Greg just suggested them both to be more creative.
“I loathe seeing his presence in the library, I hope one of those ‘balls’ choked him to death.” Lyla shouted with blazing eyes watching the innocent swirling construct.
“Hate that rotted unsalted brain of his.” Jack coolly add
“His taste must be bad, even the undead won’t have an appetite eating him.” Lyla spat.
“Isn’t that made him lucky or…?” Greg unhelpfully pointed out. It made Lyla want to take back her previous swearing.
“Nah, he would get really mad and demand the undead to spice him up instead, so they would eat him. Their worst meal ever. Poor undead.” Jack lays out Greg's point.
That made them laugh, even though they were swearing and cursing the man, their steps were light. Because they knew the board was already set, Aszphera would pay, and they were sure to make it as hard as his damn ego.
They bicker back and forth a little bit about the best spice the undead like the most so Aszphera becomes more appetizing to them.
In the end of the library ground, near the main square, stood Jaris talking with other Watchmen, likely new recruits. The
“All of you are expected to complete the last procedures related to the previous case, follow me.” Jaris' statements leave no arguments, and he leads them in the direction of the Watch Headquarters.
And that’s why Lyla, Jack and Greg are standing in the Watch Headquarters, smelling another potential headache.