Noctis stood in front of the familiar steps of the simple building. He looked around, unsure of both his feelings and thoughts. The last time he had entered this place, he had gray eyes, a homestead, and Doco holding his shoulder through his apprehension. Now, Kenan was alone, save for Dion. It was an odd feeling. Like Noctis had hacked off the shackles of naivety and youth. Then began his ascension into adulthood, yet he missed the hold immaturity had. Then again, it wasn't his fault he had to take the burden of responsibility as fast as he did.
Suddenly Kenan felt pressure on the back of his knee. Dion's snout made it so Noctis' leg buckled and forced him to take a step. He was fished out of his musing. The wolf pup then rubbed against his master's leg as he sat patiently for the door to open, he proceeded to bark. "Right. Thank you." Noctis patted his friend on the head. Then he opened the door and went through.
In a blink, the pitch black corridor encapsulated him. He was moving just a step, but it felt the space around him was moving at breakneck speeds. Noctis’ skin was pricked and vertigo started to take hold. In another step, he landed on a wood floor. All around large, towering bookcases took over. Only a small opening with a desk broke the endless book shelter.
Dion immediately bounded forward, jumped to his hind legs as his forepaws landed on the edge of the table. He barked. The person behind the desk, proprietor of the library, looked up from reading a large brown book. Large circle glasses, medium length white hair poofed out in perfect curls. Saggy, old skin with a youthful smile. A robe with intricate patterns with a symbol of an overlapped M and W. Granny. She stared at the wolf pup, cocked her head as if to listen. “Oh, yes, that is an odd story. No, I don't think so.” Dion whined as he went back down. She turned towards Kenan. Sorrow came across her face. Noctis stepped up. “Oh dear boy. I’m so sorry.”
Noctis twisted his head in confusion. Quickly it was replaced with understanding. “No need to worry Granny. I understand why you hid my affinity.”
“No, not that sunny.” She ducked under the desk and pulled two books from it. “They come back here if they are not claimed by another.”
Kenan looked at them. One was blue, another brown with patterns of green on it. Both had been licked by flames. His brain sped up, then lagged behind his emotion. “Oh.” Noctis took both of them in his hands. For a minute he stayed there. Slowly Granny took the blue one, opened it and flipped through it. She Landed on a page with scribbled notes, a spell made by the owner. A memory came to Kenan. When his mother bathed him, he would have to fight off tiny monsters tickling him. Granny took the other one, and flipped towards the end. Another custom spell. As a toddler, Noctis fell and fumbled quite a bit. If it wasn’t Doco’s magic catching him, then it was a large hand made out of earth. Soft soil. So fine he often fell asleep in its grasp. After a while, he took hold of his feelings. Wiped away a forming tear and smiled brightly. “They are at rest now Granny.”
“That's good, love. Well, since these were damaged and ruined by someone's notes. The Coagulum has no need for them anymore.” Her proper smile returned as she pushed the books forward. Noctis understood the intention.
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At first, he was going to say no, he couldn’t and wouldn’t take them. Mainly as a knee jerk reaction for anything given to him. Yet, he wanted the last vestiges more than anything, maybe Lucy would want them too. “Thank you.” He said as he scooted them closer to the edge.
“Now. Let us get to why you're actually here.”
“Oh, yes.” Kenan again shook himself from the growing emotion. “I’m told by Doco. You have more than just tomes. Books with information. Also, you are able to identify some items that have magic attached to them.”
“Of course, dear. All true. Mind you, we don’t own every book in the world. So don’t be disappointed if we don’t have what you want. Let me see what you want checked first.”
Noctis then proceeded to pull out and place three things on the table. All three came from Roshu’s tent. Firstly the large, serrated dagger. The pouch second and followed by the brown, blood magic tome. “I don’t know what's in the pouch. I haven’t opened it yet. I wanted to know if it is possible to practice that magic. It came from an orc, and I wanted to be cautious.”
“Hmmm. That is very wise, sunny.” She said. Granny held out her hand, a light blue glow started around her arm. A string of blue from the glow traced her neck and head as it touched her eyes. Then the irises went blue. Tiny sparks of blue touched between her fingers. They increased in frequency. Suddenly three streaks hit the three items. All three glowed for a brief moment. “Hmhm.”
“The blood tome is perfectly safe to use, dear. I also believe it will fit quite well with the body tome I gave you some time ago. Now, as for the blade. When it’s wielder, who has to magically connect to it as well as physically, cuts into another. It’s magic starts to take the blood, mainly power rich blood, and transform it into mana, then finally gives it to the user. It’s actually quite common among orc shamans. Mainly for sacrifices.
“The pouch is quite something.” She opened it and took out two small objects. Earrings, both make one half of a symbol. Granny pressed them together. A circle with three triangles intertwined into them. “When two things wear them, they are able to switch positions.”
“What do you mean?”
“I am here, you are there. If we wear these, and agree to use this ability. We switch. Every time it’s used, a portion mana from each being is taken.” Granny then put the earrings back. Kenan and Dion looked at each for a moment, sharing the same thought. “Now, what books do you want?”
“I want something about awakening affinities, bonds, Shrigor orcs.” As he continued, she ducked under the desk and pulled out more and more books. A thought of curiosity formed in Kenan, but he decided it would be better to put it away. “Anything about the history of both Shio, and Gethen royalty, Nonesthic, and anything about Mortem Comedenties.” As the last book fell on the pile, it was above both of their heads.
“The only thing that was scarce was the Mortem Comedenties books. We only have a journal from one some time ago. Will that be acceptable?” Kenan nodded. A large clock rang. “Oh looks like it’s time.” Granny started to come around the desk. Noctis smiled, then dropped a small pouch on the ground. Dion picked it up and sneakily placed it behind the desk. Granny then pushed the books into Noctis’ arms. “It was so good seeing you again dear.” She began corralling Kenan out, Dion joined his master. The door opened by itself. “Have a good day children!” She said as she managed to get Noctis through the black vacuum.