Chapter 26
The Intrigue of a Lamia
In a world filled with many races and cultures where it, in turn, diverges into branches of its own volition. The one essence that always stays constant is the ability of magic. Many are born with the inate ability to conjure the elements of nature. Some are the unthorthadox. There are only a set few who can learn and master new abilities. Sure, there are Sorcerer's, Mages, and Druids. All exceptional beings that have masteries of set elements and abilities. However if they seek to understand the fundamentals of magic to its basic cores, to take them apart and see the other side. Then, and only then, you may become something greater.
Flipping through the pages deep in thought, the being who is a woman, is in a focused gaze at the text she has in her possession. Books are stacked around her and on the floors towering randomly in many spots, it would be impossible to navigate through them, but as she read she glides through the narrow passages without looking slithering through section upon section of literature. Another Lamia within the grand library. With fair cream colored skin on her upper half, she sports a very light garment of cloth and waterproof leather. Her snake scales are smooth and vivid, a color akin too the bright blue waters of the tropical seas. She is a Marshland Lamia. Unlike the Librarian who is of Desert decent, her tribe of Lamian people reside in the marshes and rivers of the forest. Not only that she is scholar and a druid of her people seeking knowledge and working as an assistant to the Librarian. Though the tribes are separated by geological origin and climate they are brother in sisters in culture. More importantly they are highly attuned to nature. Living off the land and coexisting with all living beings. A special thing as well is this Lamian womans family, as she is a daughter of a chieftain. She gains special access to the archives of the library unlike the common Citizen of Nocturnia. She is an ambassador of her people and a true book worm of her duties.
Seemingly buried into the book in her hands as she slithers through her maze, she doesn't notice that she is about to bump into a large wall. With great obliviousness, the book in her hands hits her face causing her to reel back, and in turn, her long snake end whips back slapping the bottom portion of the seemingly tall book wall as it starts to topple over like a wave in front of her. Even though she is quite agile for a Lamia not even she is fast enough to dodge the cascading of books as they begin to hurl themselves above her. She covers her face accepting the inevitable downpour. All the books crash down all around her but seemingly none hit her. She opens her eyes to see a fairly tall man braced infront of her a whirlwind of books spins around the two and with a slam of the staff books and paper flutter down around them. She blinks as she tries to make out the image of man who stands in front of her as their eyes meet. Her greenish blue snake eyes clash upon the hazel greens of Wu Jak's. A small reddish hue of a blush hits the bridge of her nose as it glides to the tops of her pointed ears but as soon as he speaks she is snapped out of her spaced trance. “Are you okay?“. Blinking fast she shakes her head quickly and nods. “I am thank you. I must have been too caught up in my studies. I'm sorry you got crossed into my clumsiness”. She eyes Wu's Staff and then his Armor and notices the Crest of the Royal Queen's Guard. She stands a bit straighter and bows quickly with even more embarrassment, as her blush is on full display, but she hides it by ducking her head in the bow. “My apologies Sir Knight!“ Wu blinks and raises his hands in defense and shakes them from side to side as he smiles awkwardly. “Oh, uh it's fine really!“ He starts to scratch the back of his head awkwardly “It's my duty to help.” He says with a shaky laugh. The Lamia woman raises her head and notices how he is acting and gets more embarrassed that she might be acting a bit too apologetic to the Knight and tries her best to straighten herself up. She dusts herself off and introduces herself properly. “My name is June, June Slythania.“ As she looks at his face she starts to realize who the knight really is. “You're Sir Wu Jak Shimon! Sargeant of the Queen's Guard.“ Wu is taken aback that she knows him from just looking at him. He only became a full fledge Royal Knight not too long ago. June begins to slither around him eyeing his physique and armor. “Your magical abilities are renown, Sir Wu , never have I seen someone of your stature be able to almost rival Sir Grym.“
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Wu blinks even more in confusion. “Rival?“ The remarks June makes seem so absurd. To him Captain Grym is leagues above him. What is this snake lady on about? She adjects by explaining to him that when he first fought Grym it went into the record books and that his repairs of his armor was extraordinary. All Knights and Guards log their armor if it gets damaged scuffed or misaligned and as to why and how. She continues by saying that the Knights and Guards must be presentable at all times and that it was astonishing to see a Royal Queens Guard's armor damaged to that extent. The only times that happens is when they spar with each other and Wu was just a civilian when he sparred with Grym. With this exclamation Wu scratches his chin but he doesnt quite seem to understand its grasp just yet. “I'm flattered that you think that I am rivaling my Captain but I'm sure he was just holding back” June shakes her head. “I think you don't realize your potential. That is why youre a knight now.“ Wu blinks more and June sees that he is getting confused and waves her hands to try too end the conversation. “I'm sorry, Im going on a tangent, you must be busy I'm sure you need to attend to something else then talking to me of all people.“ She begins to slither away but Wu interjects, crosses his arms and shrugs. “Actually the Librarian said I needed to find his assistant they apparently needed help with something. But I'm so lost in here it's hurting my head.“ June blinks. Turns around and smiles awkwardly. “I guess the world works in mysterious ways becuase if your looking for his assistant then your looking at her.“ Wu chortles and sighs with relief. “Thank the goddess for coming across you in this place then. So what exactly do you need help with?“
June and Wu navigate to her station and she holds out a book for him to see. The title reads 'Offensive, Defensive, & Utility: The Abundant Fundamentals of Magicka'. She flips through the pages she uses her pointer finger to pan through the text as it explains the basics of each element, its capabilities with the three key points as the title suggest, and how to study them. “I have read this book up and down and I have not grasps it's context to understanding the connection or the link that bind these elements and spells together. I've asked so many scholars and even the Librarian of the significance of it and even he does not know.“ She looks to Wu with plea in her eyes. “As a prodigal Knight maybe you have some Insight on it” Wu is taken aback though trying to hide it he blushes as she stares at him. Never had he have someone like this ever ask him for assistance with this much desperation. She seems so lost in thought and ambition it reminds him of something of his past. Though he doesn't feel even remotely qualified for this task as he isn't truly book smart he must do his best. He is a full fledge knight and his duty is to the queens citizens and to her majesty herself. He composes himself before he speaks as to not seem phased by her gaze. “Well, before I was in training under Captain Grym and Lieutenant Acharil I had to fulfill my training from another Master. I was to explore the world and train on my own to learn from what he taught me. His teachings made me what I am today.“ Wu eyes gazes above as he remembers the past, a time he will never forget, The beginnings of his journey.