Viktor left the man to stew in anticipation and retrieved his notes. He flipped through the pages of his handwriting, searching for the words he suspected he'd written down. It took several minutes, but he found a few pages on his research from the desert geographically.
The desert was home to a tribe of mantis people, but it was also the site of a buried civilization, the empire of Aklir's capital Nephal. The desert was, for the most part, barren of any major landmarks, but there were still a few. From his first attempt at a test with the bust, he knew there was an oasis that refilled itself about 50 miles into the desert from its closest point to the library. Maybe a day or so's march to the east of there, there sat an entrance to the buried city.
According to the journals of some abandoned research expedition, which Viktor still couldn't understand the logistics of, the entrance was a temple to the sun god. If someone were nearby at dusk, they should be able to see the sunset reflecting off of the paned glass roof.
Viktor made a note on a separate piece of paper with instructions on how to gain access to the ruined city. He wasn't sure whether Purgatory even made sense, but he wasn't complaining. Where'd the expedition come from? Was the city buried in the universe it came from? He didn't have time to consider it now.
"Get me a map of Aklir and the city of Nephal," Viktor summoned a gopher. It vanished in a puff, and he summoned several more.
"You, a modern day map of the area where the city of Nephal is buried. You, get me a list of all named swords of fire affinity that are usable by a tier three or below human. Get me a book that can act as an affinity gauge, and you need to get me a bestiary on desert creatures, earth-aligned creatures, and celestial spirits worshipped by the empire of Aklir." The gophers jumped to work, scurrying away into the library.
As they searched, Viktor puzzled through the obstacles himself. He imagined it vividly in his mind: the sun setting slowly across the desert, the sky turning purple and lighting up a patch of ground. He considered the options that the builders would have had. Quickly, he summoned another gopher for building materials of the Aklir empire. Following that was one about meteoric glass, sandstone, and obsidian buildings.
He procured a guide on subterranean exploration, one on desert survival, and one on astronomical navigation. He had a route to get to the desert, a few minimal-threat locations for Zachary to potentially stop along the way, a botanical guide on the plants in the region, and even a skill book with a fighting style he believed the man would be best suited to.
He'd filled several pages of parchment with notes, and his more obscure gophers were beginning to return. He felt confident that he had an accurate sense of the trials ahead of Zachary, and even more confident that he could both fulfill his duty as a librarian, and also help Zachary in exchange for something of great value: affinity.
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He let Zachary sleep for several hours, catching an hour himself, before waking the young man. Viktor considered making an impression by knocking on the door with gaping wounds, but held back. He didn't quite think that was necessary.
"Oh, good morning! Are you... ready to begin with the information?" He greeted Viktor nervously. The young man shifted his weight, and Viktor smirked inwardly. Amateur. The experienced salesperson kept his weight evenly distributed and plastered on his most charming smile.
"You don't want breakfast? We have a bounty of eggs, sausages, and fruits. I'm certain you don't get many of that elsewhere in Purgatory, right?" Viktor dangled the enticing offer, and the man took the bait.
"Yes, that's right! That sounds excellent," Zachary said, smiling. The younger man sat down at the counter while Viktor prepared him a hearty breakfast. He leaned there making small talk while Zachary ate, building rapport while throwing in tidbits of information about himself. His smile was true, he couldn't help but be amused as the intrepid adventurer fidgeted with anxiousness. Soon, Zachary couldn't help himself.
"So, about that information..." He began, shoveling a last bite of food into his mouth. Viktor smiled easily and brought out a folded piece of parchment.
"Of course. To start with, I was able to find the location," Viktor began, unfolding the paper to reveal a map of the stars above the entrance to Nephal. The other man sagged with relief, then straightened.
"That is good to hear," he said, suddenly speaking more seriously. "Do you have a map of the surrounding area? Or a course to get there?" Viktor retrieved a few more sheets of parchment and placed them down, then put another small pile beside it. He placed a proprietary hand on both, tapping his fingers on the one to the left.
"This stack of papers makes a map. It'll take you the safest, most boring possible route to get to the desert, and the other drawing will allow you to find the ruined city of Nephal by the stars. If you travel quickly, you should be able to get there in about a month. This is, in simplest terms, the fulfillment of my obligation as a librarian," Viktor paused, and Zachary nodded. Viktor tapped his fingers on the stack to the right.
"This option goes beyond my fulfillment. I've created a map with a few notable locations on the way. You'll encounter a few interesting critters and collectibles, and it should be relatively safe too. This route will also take you a little less time than the other route."
Viktor watched as realization dawned on Zachary's face. He swallowed, and his face grew resolute. Good, Viktor thought, He'll need resolve if he's to succeed.
"I see. And what is the price of this information?" He asked calmly, the eager young man replaced by the adventurer that had fought tooth and nail to arrive here. Viktor studied him momentarily, letting him sweat.
"Nothing too exorbitant. As I said before, we have to make sure that you value this information. I'm not going to take everything you own. First, I have a test to conduct," Viktor said, bringing out the book with the affinity gauge. He pulled on the inside, and the page folded outward to be a few page sizes larger. It had two circles on the corners closest to Zachary.
"What is this?" the young man asked.
"This is an affinity gauge. If you place your fingers on the spots, I'll be able to gauge your strongest affinities. The sword you're looking for is named Anburah, meaning the Sun's Death. It requires a certain affinity, 15%, for fire mana. I'm going to first verify that you even have the requisite affinity to make use of the item," Viktor explained. Zachary digested the information, nodded, and placed his fingers onto the circles.
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"Like this?" He asked as color seeped from his body onto the page. Viktor nodded and pulled out the reference sheet, holding it next to the results. He smiled, pleased.
"Excellent, my young friend. Your fire affinity seems to be clocking in about 23%. You've got plenty to spare." Zachary smiled in relief, but it faded quickly as he prepared for Viktor to continue.
"It looks like your next highest affinity is air at 9%, followed by the combinations smoke and lightning at 6% and 5% respectively. Typically, items with an affinity lock require 5, 10, or 15 percent affinities. There are a few items locked at 20 or higher, but those items will not be used by you for quite some time. In that time, you'll be able to grow your affinities to the level required."
Zachary nodded with understanding, his face still a frown as he tried to deduce where the conversation was heading. If it was anyone else or anywhere else, Zachary would be fine in his confusion. The conversation would move elsewhere towards something that Zachary could provide to Viktor, and they would negotiate.
But this wasn't somewhere else, and the young man wasn't arguing with someone else. He was negotiating with Viktor Faust, inheritor of the Heartmonger title and the bearer of an Infernal Contract. He could barter with souls and anything else a man had to offer.
"Well... Let's see. If you barter 5% of your fire affinity, 5% of your air affinity, and 2% of your lightning affinity, I will provide you with everything you need to succeed."
Silence met his words. Viktor didn't waver, locking eyes with the other man. Zachary stared, impassive.
"That's too much." No reasoning or complaining, no indignation or confusion. Zachary just stated that it was too much. It wasn't much for Viktor to work with, but that was okay. He hadn't come to play.
Viktor raised a finger, signaling to wait momentarily. He walked into the other room and brought back a large stack of books. Zachary's eyes widened as Viktor ran through the list, dropping each book onto the counter in front of them.
"I have here a guide on navigating by the stars. It will help ease the difficulty of navigating.
I have here 9 pages of selected relevant materials from a guide on subterranean exploration. Four of those pages are specific to desert terrain.
I have here a guide to desert survival, and an herbarium for plants in the areas you'll be traveling through.
I have here a bestiary for desert monsters, and nine pages pulled from other bestiaries with monsters you'll be encountering on the way.
A history of Aklir.
A history of Nephal.
An account of a lost research expedition into the temple.
A few pages on Anbu, the god of Death.
A few pages on Rah, the god of the Sun.
An excerpt from a book on trap disarming with guides on disarming the most popular traps of the area and time.
A treatise on negotiating with and navigating mantisian culture and society.
So... How does that sound? Still think that what I'm asking is too much?"
Zachary sat there, dumbfounded. He opened his mouth to respond, but Viktor held up another hand, stalling him. He'd already prepared his gifts, and he did like the young man. It wouldn't do for him to perish before retrieving the sword. Or after, for that matter. Viktor had no idea how often adventurers would find their way here, and he did not intend to let this one slip away. He would leave his mark on him, and make a long-term ally out of this ambitious young man. As he thought about his new friend's emotions, the glow from the previous day seemed to reappear. Viktor focused on it, now. Intently. I've got to learn how to use this.
As he focused on the glow, it seemed to change, taking on colors in a mixture of reds, yellows, and greys. Are those... his affinities?
Literally snapping him out of his reverie, Zachary snapped his fingers in front of Viktor.
"Viktor? You drifted off there for a moment. I'm sorry, but it's still too much. I just can't pay it. I'll muddle through without the help rather than stifle my own growth... Would you take just 2% of my fire affinity? And 2% of my air affinity?"
Viktor cursed himself for being distracted by his learning. Soul magic was something he'd have to research heavily later. He refocused on the task at hand, irritated that his distraction had allowed Zachary to speak again. Fortunately, though, he wasn't shutting it down completely; he had an opportunity to counter-propose.
"I understand. I would not expect you to stifle your own growth. I'm not here to crush your potential, I am here to bring it to bear. I have two other gifts for you, as well as a proposal," Viktor said, taking out one last book that practically hummed with energy.
"This is a skill book. When you read it and practice its contents, it will help to fill your body with muscle memory faster. You'll learn it faster, and it'll correct your mistakes. I've especially selected this style of fighting for you as it utilizes the type of sword you'll find and suits individuals with a fire affinity."
Viktor pulled out a rolled up piece of parchment.
"And this is a ritual for binding a fire-aligned magic item to you. It will enhance your growth in the affinity and make the weapon respond to you even more."
Zachary looked at the book and scroll hungrily.
"And the proposal?" He asked cautiously.
"Purgatory is a dangerous place. You won't be able to rely on many people, and you're taking several months out of civilization to hunt down this relic. I think you're making the right decision, but it isn't without drawbacks. So on the one hand, you're stuck out there muddling about in the unknown. And on the other hand, I'm stuck in here, not muddling about in everything that can be known."
Zachary leaned forward now.
"So what are you suggesting? If I am to understand the rules of the library correctly, I won't be able to enter its grounds again for 4 years."
"Yes, but I will soon have a way of communicating with those outside. All you need to do to claim my friendship and get access to my knowledge is to send more people towards the library."
Zachary considered it.
"You're getting more than me," he declared. Viktor shook his head and smiled.
"No, I'm potentially getting more than you. I'll settle for 3% of your fire affinity, 3% of your air affinity, and 1% of your lightning affinity, and your agreeing to this proposal. You've seen what I have to offer for this one journey. Do me favors and I can help you immensely. I have potential, but you have real opportunity. I'm gambling whereas you're dealing with known quantities. I can lose, but you can't." Viktor had him trapped, and they both knew it. There was no way for Zachary to turn down such a generous offer. It wasn't the greatest deal he'd ever struck, but it was necessary.
Viktor held out his hand, and a ghostly piece of parchment appeared nearby. Zachary didn't react, and Viktor kept his face schooled into one of calm confidence. With a feign like he was just stretching his neck, Viktor stole a glance at it. It was a contract, and Viktor Faust was already stylishly signed at the bottom in a space marked 'Party 1'. 'Party 2' was empty.
"Alright, it's a deal," Zachary smiled, standing and shaking the older man's hand. Blue flames burst our from their palms as they connected, harming no one but flashing through the room before disappearing. An ethereal quill appeared and the parchment became solid, Zachary's name signing into the contract with burning ink. The glow around him intensified, and even Zachary seemed able to see it now. The orange, yellows, and greys faded slightly as a bit of the color coalesced into three small orbs that floated over to Viktor, orbiting him twice before spiraling down to where his heart was. As quickly as it started, it ended, and everything vanished.
"What the hell was that?!" Zachary exclaimed, backing up with a horrified look on his face. Viktor was careful to replace his look of alarm with one of calm, as though this was to be expected.
"That? We struck a deal, that's all. Now, to organize your purchase," Viktor moved on. Deny, Deny, Deny that anything was out of the ordinary, and it could only be the case that this was business as usual. He summoned a gopher for a sack and placed everything he'd promised to Zachary into it. He handed the bundle of items to the young man, smiling.
"Here you are, my friend. I hope to hear from you again."