The Surveyor was not unsurprised with the turn of events, it had fully expected Yargul to lose. As for the Blessing of Korbus, that was a new piece of data, although it had an inkling of sorts. It was aware of it of course, but being aware of something and knowing about it were two different things. But that was of lesser importance, right now it was analyzing the fight Yargul had with the Orc King, focusing especially on the Orc King. He was such a fascinating specimen, after all, it would benefit greatly from studying what was currently the pinnacle of all orcs.
And so, as one self was doing so, the Surveyor directed more of its attention back in Otium, specifically the Council of Thirteen where the Elders were deciding what to do. They knew that they couldn’t fight against the orcs as they were, they needed an ally. Representatives were already sent over the sea to Ortus, however, there was one potential ally that remained, the Librarian. But they already knew that he wouldn’t act unless he was offered a proper price, now just what could they offer which would allow them to borrow his great strength.
“What are we to do? How can we get him to help us?” the Seventh Elder wondered.
The Third Elder said with a sigh, “I suppose we have no choice but to bring forth the divine artifacts, I’m sure that he will accept them as payment.”
The Fifth Elder objected, “No, how can we be sure that his aid is worth more than those artifacts!?”
The Second Elder spoke, “Do you not see the Custodians and those mysterious soldiers called the Teryo? Have you not seen Otium? This place is a paradise and it is all the property of him, this entire city works because of him alone. That suggests an inhuman amount of mana, making him perhaps the greatest mage on the face of Agleon! His aid is sure to be worth more than five divine artifacts.”
The First Elder agreed, “Yes, the Librarian is powerful, so powerful that it makes me question everything I’ve known. His existence, I can’t help but think that it’s... it’s not natural.”
Silence followed his statement, the others thinking the same.
His voice spoke once more, “But, in these hard times we cannot depend on what is natural, we can only turn to things which are capable of creating miracles. I say we at least ask the Librarian for help, hear his price before we decide if we are willing to pay what is necessary for his aid.
The Seventh Elder brought up.
“Yes, but will he even allow us entry? He has refused Erwin, who’s to say he won’t refuse us?”
The Thirteenth Elder said, “Well I guess we’ll see when we try to meet him.”
With this, the Council of Thirteen rose and began to head out to meet the Librarian, finding a Custodian greeting them at the gate to Inner Otium. Before they could speak, the Custodian wordlessly stepped to one side, its head bowed and an arm outstretched to one side, allowing them access. Each Elder gave their thanks before entering, reaching the gates of the Library itself. Beholding the great octagonal pyramid, they took a breath, admiring the great size and majesty of this building before standing awkwardly, wondering what to do.
But it didn’t take too long for the gates to open, a Custodian greeting them, although this one was different than the others. Dressed in white and black robes lined with gold, this was obviously superior to the other Custodians.
The High Custodian did not bow its head, merely saying, “I shall guide you to the Librarian.”
They stiffened upon hearing its voice, something which wasn’t human, without emotion, just... artificial. But they did their best to show that its voice did not affect them, they did not want to offend this particular Custodian. They were led to the teleportation circle where they soon found themselves in the floating garden, the Librarian awaiting them, drinking some tea. Upon their arrival, he glanced at them and just gestured that they take a seat, a large circular table appearing with thirteen extra seats. They did and suddenly found teacups filled to the brim with tea in front of them. Not daring to refuse his hospitality, they all took a sip, although they continued to drink more because of the tea’s taste rather than politeness.
Eventually, the First Elder put aside his tea and stood up, bowing deeply.
“Sir Librarian, I beseech you to aid us. We, if we are able, are willing to pay any price for our survival.”
The Librarian took a sip of tea before saying, “My price I fear is beyond what you possess. I know of your divine artifacts, and what little you were able to save of your ancestors’ inheritances but all that I’m afraid is not enough.”
As they despaired, the Librarian added, “For my personal aid that is. However, should you provide me with just one of your artifacts, I will give to you information about a potential ally and how you may gain their trust.”
Thinking, the First Elder asked, “Can we choose which artifact to give?”
The Surveyor nodded, “Of course, the divine artifacts you possess are all of roughly the same value, it matters not which one you give.”
They began to think and discuss, was his information truly worth it? All the while, the Librarian just quietly sipped some tea, waiting for their decision.
Finally, the First Elder turned to face the Librarian, saying, “We... we shall give up the Ring of Auctorita. Please, allow for some time to have the Ring brought here.”
The Librarian nodded, “I shall wait.”
A gate suddenly appeared and the High Custodian stepped through.
The Librarian said, “My High Custodian shall escort whichever one of you to collect the artifact.”
The First Elder gave his gratitude, “Many thanks Sir Librarian, I shall go to retrieve it immediately.”
Hiding his tension well, the First Elder entered the gate, the High Custodian following after. Not too much time passed before the First Elder stepped through the gate once more, although to the other Elders it felt like an eternity. Some almost sighed with relief when the First Elder emerged unharmed, while others were still regretful at relinquishing a divine artifact. Even if the Ring of Auctorita was the most useless of all the artifacts they possessed, it was still an artifact, and artifacts were far superior to all the other tools they possessed. This might’ve been too great a price for them to pay.
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With slow, almost unwilling steps, the First Elder walked over to the Librarian, offering the divine ring to him, the Librarian taking the Ring. He muttered something unintelligible and temporarily stored it in a separate dimension, returning his attention to the Elders.
“The ally you seek are the dwarves, the Children of Agleon. Unlike you, they have managed to survive quite well, their underground cities able to avoid the detection of the orc hordes. They live deep inland, to reach them shall not be an easy affair. And, after all this time, I doubt that they’d be so trusting so you will need an item of great value to trade.”
At this, the Elders despaired, they had to give up another artifact.
As if reading their thoughts, the Librarian said, “But as dwarves are picky, they cannot be given any item, no. To gain their trust and support, I’d say that you must return to them what has been stolen, the Holy Hammer of Thavrar, the First Dwarf King. This sacred weapon is the symbol of any dwarven king’s right to rule, and ever since it was lost a thousand years ago, the Dwarven Throne has remained empty. Should you be able to retrieve this weapon and return it to the dwarves, their gratitude will know no bounds.”
The Fourth Elder asked, “But how are we to obtain this Holy Hammer?”
The Librarian said, “It lies within the treasury of the Orc King-”
“What!?”
The Fifth Elder exploded, “You offer us an impossible task in return for our divine artifact!? How da-”
His voice suddenly cut off as a pressure fell upon him, a great and terrible aura of oppressive cold.
It was the High Custodian, a dark blade being held at the Fifth Elder’s throat.
“If it wasn’t for the Librarian’s mercy, I would have killed you where you stand.”
The Fifth Elder gulped, staying absolutely still until the Librarian waved a hand, dismissing the High Custodian. The High Custodian withdrew his sword, returning to stand at the side.
The Librarian then addressed the Fifth Elder, “I am not like you humans, I do not seek to deceive others with false words. Now, I will continue what I have to say unless anyone else wishes to object.”
There was silence and the Librarian continued.
“The Hammer lies within the treasury of the Orc King but as he will be busy subjugating the remaining orc dissidents, this will be your greatest chance to obtain the Hammer. It will be heavily defended, of course, there is a reason why it was left untouched by the Orc Lords during their war for the throne. Not even I know too much about the palace, except for the fact that it radiates of mana. I would assume that the Orc King has possession of slaves capable of using magic. So this magic defends the Orc Capital from attack but I highly doubt it will help against a small infiltration which you will be performing.”
The Second Elder then asked, “But how can we infiltrate in a reasonable amount of time? No matter how I look at it, this undertaking will be one that will take months to accomplish with stealth and safety for we cannot afford to send our greatest warriors for they are too weak.”
The Librarian said, “If you are able to pay the proper price, I am willing to offer you help, although the amount of help depends on what you are willing to give.”
At this, the Elders once more discussed what to do, if they could obtain his help, they’d be able to obtain the hammer far quicker than they would without. But did they still possess items that were worth his help?
The Librarian then spoke, “The inheritance left to you by your ancestors will suffice as payment, such as an ancient spell. That spell can be traded for another spell, such as an illusion spell to disguise your appearance. Of course, that is just one possibility, there are still countless more.”
The First Elder bowed deeply, “Sir Librarian, I must thank you for guiding us.”
The Librarian asked, “Why do you thank me? I was merely informing you so that you weren’t deceived. I believe this to be a common courtesy unless it has grown rare in the last millennia.”
The First Elder chuckled.
“Times are not as forgiving as they once were, you cannot trust anyone.”
The Librarian sighed.
“That is a shame, however, entirely understandable.”
He then said, creating a gate with a wave of his hand, “You may return to deliberate on what you are willing to pay.”
Bidding farewell to the Librarian, the Elders left the chamber, leaving the Librarian alone. With this, the Surveyor had successfully acted as a catalyst for the eventual conflict that was to happen. And besides, it was looking forward to meeting with the dwarves, it would simply have to insist on sending a Custodian to act as its representative. Yes, or perhaps it might even go itself, yes, perhaps it might. This all depends, although, a Custodian would be a bit easier.
As for why it did not know too much of dwarves in the first place, that was easily explained by the powerful presence of Agleon in their cities and unless it wished to disturb the balance of Nature itself, it couldn’t pierce through the veil and watch the ongoings of dwarves. A shame, but now, that it would have the perfect excuse to enter, it would be able to explore to sate its thirst for knowledge.
And speaking of a desire for knowledge, it turned its attention to the subject it had chosen in Ortus, a child just recently born to a noble household. This house was one of the noblest in all of Ortus, able to trace its direct lineage all the way back to its Great Ancestor, one of the Eleven Heroes who aided the first Emperor. Not many families could claim to have a direct link to the Eleven Heroes, in fact, there are only four families which are capable of doing so, the other families had fallen due to clashes with other families, some families were executed for betrayal, and some just disappeared.
Anyways, the latest descendant of the Rhinoceros Family was a young child, talented but nothing like his elder sister. And even though he was inferior to his sister, the Surveyor hardly having to make any modifications as a history of eugenic-like breeding had already taken care of it for him. In order to keep the line of the Sixth Hero as pure as possible, those of the Rhinoceros Family were extremely selective of their mates, searching for mates who were far superior to most of their fellows. Of course, breeding like this was an ineffective way of birthing a superior generation but it has proven to be successful, most of the hosts of the weaker traits being killed without exception.
Anyways, the Surveyor had decided to focus on the second child, for it had already studied subjects which were vastly superior to their fellows, now it was time to see it from the inferior’s point of view. Of course, this child had yet to grow up and understand his inferiority to his elder sister, the so-called Reincarnation of the Great Ancestor. It wasn’t surprising why the family would mistakenly think this, after all, the sister shared the same traits as the Great Ancestor, possessing crystalline armor when she transfigured into her rhino form.
This extremely rare trait didn’t appear often, in fact, in the entire history of the Rhinoceros Family—a whopping three millennia—there have only been eight “reincarnations” of the Great Ancestor. These reincarnations were lavished with the greatest of care, carefully nurturing them to become the greatest warriors the Rhinoceros Family could produce.
As such, this would give the subject the Surveyor had chosen an unprecedented amount of free time, allowing the Surveyor to conduct his experiments with greater ease. And in preparation for that tampering, the Surveyor left a small sliver of his power deep within the child’s mind. This was so that should it prove necessary, the Surveyor could intervene to turn events to ones more suited for its learning purposes. And, it had a feeling that as the second son of the illustrious Rhinoceros Family, it would be able to experience a lot of new things.
It forget about the elder sister, after all, it didn’t have much to focus on as its main subject was but a baby and to ignore such a specimen would be the height of foolishness. But as it was watching her, it suddenly saw her look up around her, as if she had sensed a presence. Her eyes then locked onto the observer, the two staring at each other before the observer disappeared the moment she blinked. Interesting, she noticed its observer. Yes, it will have to keep an eye on both of them.