*Sachihiro

The fight attracts and holds everyone’s attention with some knights even leaving their stations to witness it. The two combatants creating a zone of sharp ambience that cuts the air around them with every clash of their tortured blades. Fast, faster than Princess Erena can follow with her eyes, faster than the Queen Eriana can follow before donning her circlet.

Covering a large area as they move about the ground, packing dirt, flattening grass disturbing the pool of water with the reverberations of their struggle which only increases in intensity as they continue. Every minor move taking them a respectable distance about the grounds though they stay connected like dance partners in duet.

Damond’s aura suddenly disappears even as Sachihiro’s aura blazes down like a living edge keen to cut through everything in its path. The world turns eerily silent as the wind is displaced with the contest taking a pseudo-life of its own, the clash becomes a part of nature with Sachihiro slowly disarming Damond’s armour yet having to keep retreating from the third arm invisible to everyone else.

A bloodthirsty glee in Sachihiro’s sharp aura unnerves everyone that gets too close to the struggle. An irrational madness taking no regard for life, retreat or even death that sings a tune of elation in the face of the occurring clash. A remorseless presence without a hint of humanity in it yet pure in its euphoria to be itself, a weapon terrifying become its made to take life and finds joy in doing so.

The world can be heard again a moment later as the aura retreats to reveal a grinning horror with a broken blade pointed at an armless legless knight bleeding from stumps that used to be extremities.

‘’Not bad, I almost had to get serious,’’ Zanjutsu says.

The silence is heavy, no one moving everyone shocked by the display and sudden result.

‘’I’ll go build somewhere secluded,’’ Sachihiro breaks the moment jogging away to disappear in the bush leaving the Atopians shocked and confused before Rexlin scrambles to stop Sir Damond’s bleeding.

*

It takes over an hour of searching and careful monitoring of spirit before Sachihiro finds a spot that satisfies his standards. A spot overlooking a ledge on a rocky hill close to the territory's concealment’s border he better feels now that he’s in it and paying attention. Using the broken sword he starts drawing on the hard stone ground creating a summoning sigil. The library version using the schematics.

It takes close to an hour to get it perfected while adding an experimental symbol to represent himself as a key where he calculate to be the correct location. The Libray agree to the Key's addition after some calculations deliberation Mooletre conveys. There is no dance needed to activate this sigil, not ceremony needed besides the addition of his spiritual energy to activate it opening a door that could open to anything. Spiritual energy flows through the circle in a blast of will.

Sachihiro quickly depletes himself of spiritual energy supplying a crudely made summoning circle, he isn't enough but the door wants to open from the other side as well synergying and empowering a connection between Sachihiro's summoning circle with its mirror opposite at the library. A mirror and orbs suddenly appear before the circle closes a moment later.

Sachihiro looks in astonished wonder at the obects before him, potential for teleportation playing out in his mind as he starts setting up the mirror. It takes two orbs as signal boosters before the mirror connects to the closest Library mirror.

Library of Dreams 2nd Branch

Connecting Mirror #000SG-2

Connected.

Display.

The mirrors surface changes showing the other side where another mirror is looking this side, Sachihiro's sharp brown eyes lock onto cold black crystals of a metal golem. "Greetings,'' the voice sounds though no mouth speaks. ''I am Librarian Voletree, I am starting this automaton you see before you.''

''Greetings,'' Sachihiro relaxes his ready stance to neutral as he assess the thing and it assess him and his surroundings.

''I have good reputation with the Library don't I?''

''Yes, you have a five star reputation with us.''

''Then I want our relation to be more geared to helping each other than using each other as we have.''

''The august member shames us with such aggresious words. Youare highly valued by the Library Honoured Member, please be at ease in voicing any complaints you may have about our conduct and we should do the almost to see it addressed,'' the golem's voice says appeasingly.

''You didn't expect me to survive the Draug that much is certain, you knew he'd loot me and probably come across a mirror or an orb establishing contact that way. You were sending me out as a sacrifice to further your ambitions so lets not pretend being an 'Honoured Member' is anything august as you would have me believe by your empty platitudes.''

The automaton suddenly becomes creepily dune as Librarian leaves it, only moments later does 'life' flow back into it. ''Honoured Member took risks in undertaking agreed upon mission, such risks were mitigated by the Library at the best of its capacity at the time. Mission of facilitating contact between Librar and Draug Dragon accomplished with membership level upgrade and library point reward. Member went beyond mission parameters in level of contact with Draug, the Library takes no responsibility.

The grin on Sachihiro is wolfish gazing at those cold orbs for eyes in the mirror like he's actually seeing the controller thousands of kilometers away. "Like I said, lets not pretend being a member is some august thing as we both know how you treat your members. Now, you have an opportunity with me to gain more if we work together instead of use each other. This is your one chance to get into a partnership with me.''

''What does lord have in mind?''

''I've noticed none of you can leave the Libary, why is that?''

''That is not your concern.''

''I can help you spread out a network of mirrors that could be beneficial for the both of us, travel like this hasn't been possible since the Gateway Era. The Library can stay a library but it can branch into transportation and you could one of the great powers of this era.''

''The Library has no imperial interests.''

''Well whatever your interests having more influence, resources and connections will be beneficial to them not detrimental. A form of instant teleportation and communication through mirrors will revolutionaries the world if it could be mass produced and used extensively.''

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''Even if we did want to gain influence on this world why would we need you to make you an equal partner in that?''

''I didn't say equal partner did I? No, I only want a piece of that pie so my terms of helping you establish such a network won't be unreasonable.''

...''very well, what is your proposal and what are your terms,'' the voice says.

Sachihiro lays out his idea and the privileges he wants out to the Librarian.

''We will consider this, in the meantime this will be a Library Outpost you establish here.

''Happily, in fact I will be the first customer and order.'' .

His convictions set he sets about purchasing the best the library has to offer in building a strong shelter quickly on the fly.

Using the orb he purchases new clothes, a bed, a rug, a rock, healing and recovery potions, armour, good weapons and flying boards. Without much reservation, he splurges realising how fickle life is, how easily he could have died at numerous points in his journey, how easily he could die even now. He buys the family gifts he thinks each would appreciate for various reasons, using the library points finding pleasure fantasizing about their reactions when they meet again.

It’s the zenith of the night by the time he puts away the orb having communicated with his librarian Meletree's readiness.

The night lights up within the sigil like fire-fly dust dancing in the air as a monster of a mirror 2m across and almost 3m tall.

Sachihiro stands observing the mirror within his awareness. He walks around it, touching it noticing the large mana stones and unknown runic symbols embedded in its thick frame. It’s a beautiful mirror as clear as the night sky, majestic with concealed power ready to be unleashed into the world. Placing his palm on the surface he feeling it suck power out of him before energy shoots up into the stary sky as it switches on its teleport feature.

It takes about a minute but the surface flows like liquid metal as a large package flows through the mirror, he grabs it hefting it carefully to the side before grabbing the other and another and another as everything he ordered comes through. Material flow through the industrial mirror from halfway across the world to a lonely hill at the edge of a hidden valley in the wilderness of Atopia. Sachihiro replacing exhausted mana stones on the mirror to keep the flow of materials moving as his purchases and material sent over by the library to further their own cause keeps coming in to clutter around the area around the sigil.

A golem comes through the mirror last before the mirror surface becomes a solid reflective sheen again as silently as it all started. Sachihiro studies the automaton wondering whether he made a mistake before indicating to the first wall to be put up.

‘’We have to put the floor first, I will dig,’’ the automaton golem says and starts digging with a golden shovel that appears out of thin air. Sachihiro moves his carts of material aside as it quickly works destroying even the sigil through which this all started in its gigging enthusiasm.

He unboxes his new possessions as the golem works. Getting rid of his rags to put on the soft warm luxury of the body-suit that conforms comfortably to his skin. Putting on a pair of pants that won’t tear at the slightest activity, putting on water-resistant comfortable soft and respectable boots sturdy enough to endure punishment with a metal toe and heel guard that could put a dent even any common graded armour.

Inspired by the most recent fights he fits into a light breastplate enchanted for resistance to mana attacks of average grade from master casters while stopping damage from grade A epic weapons. Silently he rolls on the Handwraps of Horsier, lightly protecting his hands whilst increasing his unarmed damage 10fold. A new pair of stylish oculus’ sets alight the already clear night, he drinks a health potion as the golem finishes its work.

Together they assemble the walls interlocking them as designed according to the schematics the golem shows and explains in silent communication. They mix and pour a mud-like fluid on the floor that quickly dries to become a hard-packed stone floor harder than the rocks around it.

They put a shelter together folding and aligning the walls that interlock in bursts of adhesive energy until a solid single-story structure with three rooms a single window and a single door is completed with the large mirror taking up the middle of the main room built around it. Then they work on another structure much smaller but just as solidly built a stone’s throw away using the same method. A small house with two rooms, a single door and three windows is completed which Sachihiro quickly fills with the rest of his items starting with the bed he never got to enjoy the first time.

He tests the walls with his fists before using a hammer to see how dependable they are to find that he can’t take them down unless he pounds really hard, good. He stores the weapons inside the house, flame-resistent armour for Saya. A matching shield, spear, along with a gem encased circlet that increases aura density for Aurora. A box of throwing stars that fly far enchanted for a bleeding effect for Ikigai. A pair of analysis oculus that have detailed built-in mana sense for Nikita, a beast collar of animal submision for Dishna.

For each of the little ones a spear and round shield, the basics of starting weapons back home in the Tundra. Each spear retractable into a short spear like the one he lost to the Draug way back when, leaving everything there stored away before locking the room combining the key with the main doors. Everything for his wives he stuffs into a storage bag he fills with travelling supplies before the automaton golem comes looking for him.

''Construction is complete, the area has been warded and I am mandated with this area's security and maintenance. All preparations have been completed to open this as a library outpost.''

Sachihiro tiredly looks at the man-shaped metal mesh thing wondering how good of an idea it is to get this deeply involved with the Library yet remaining resolved to use every resource available to him to its fullest.

‘’Any more cement remaining?’’

‘’Some.’’

‘’Mix it for me.’’

The automaton mixes cement which Sachihiro pours out a stone’s throw away from his little house and starts drawing his summoning circle as it dries. Using crushed mana stones he fills with his own spirit-mana which charges the sigil but he doesn’t activate it as this exhausts him plenty.

‘’I’m done, you can activate the outpost so long as it's used only for material and information. No people permitted to pass through here, this area is mine but I am still a guest in this territory. You understand?’’

‘’Yes sir, no living beings allowed through.’’

‘’Good.’’

Sachihiro checks his new weapons of choice as the mirror in the deport building again activates and a flock of birds carrying library orbs flies out in its dozens. For a moment as he watches the hundreds of Eyes of Argus that the Draug has access to being carried away to proliferate the world he wonders what he may have just unleashed on the continent. But ultimately he doesn’t care, prioritising his own needs and benefits against any potential dangers bringing the Library to the unsuspecting Pangaea continent might bring.

A sword, a spear and a round shield. His weapons of choice, each a masterfully crafted piece of art of epic quality as most everything else acquired. A beautifully made one-handed broad sword with a simple guard and pummel, a dark-steel spear that shortens and a round shield designed to take both mana and physical damage from up to legendary grade weapons.

He finishes his ensemble with a dark cloak before going to enjoy the bed he paid so much for in sleep.

Tomorrow I fly out of here, he tells himself. Tomorrow will be a good day.

*

Even before the break of the first rays of dawn Princess Erena makes her way up the hill through the woods following the path Sachihiro took after maiming Damond like it was nothing. Her anger simmers, her outrage boiling but there is great confusion in her heart as she considers the man she once thought she loved and the man she now knows for certain she loves suffering with no legs or arms. If we were back home he would eventually heal, she thinks to herself even as she startles as a creature rushes her only to be speared in the face just as suddenly as it appeared.

‘’Careful now princess, much danger lurks in these woods.’’ Lady Nilsa says coming from the shadows as the beast runs off with her spear still embedded in its face.

They continue their journey in silence, the guards having already noted the hill Sachihiro claimed as his own the previous night. At the time they were all too shocked to react and the queen gave no instructions.

Astonished they stop to gawk as they see a house, a solidly built house melding well with the surroundings in a half camouflage but ultimately standing out as a solid structure amongst foliage and rocks.

‘’He built that alone in one night?’’ Erena asks herself momentarily losing some of her cultivated anger in her surprise.

‘’Industrious, I see why you like him.’’

They get closer, spotting the second structure more hidden as it's closer to the trees but are stopped by a black and silver golem that stands in their way holding up its palm.

‘’This area is restricted to level 6 library members and selected individuals only, please leave or I will be forced to use violence.’’

‘’Mother won’t like this.’’ ‘’Who the hell is this guy?’’ the two women simultaneously speak.

Getting mad Princess Erena shouts, ‘’Sachi! Sachi! Sachihiro!’’

No response comes.

‘’Where is he?’’ Lady Nilsa asks the golem.

‘’King Sachihiro, unfortunately, is not here at present and is beyond my reach, please come again at a later date.’’

‘’King?’’

‘’Mother really won’t like this.’’