Chapter

He was out of breath when he arrived at the shelf and was amazed to see a collection of books covering all topics associated with The Crosses and their growth.

While he’d run an unnerving sense of being watched had grown in the back of his mind until it was nearly unbearable. Mikel could barely contain himself as he slid to a halt in front of the bookcase marked by the glowing orb above.

It took him all of five seconds to locate the book, “Pilgrimage of The Crosses - Human” among two identical copies of the same tome. To his amazement directly to the right of the book he was after sat a slightly weightier, thicker book with the same main heading, but a different subheading:

“Pilgrimage of The Crosses - Sunken Folk.”

He grabbed it before he could think not to and ran back to the main desk as fast as he could. The feeling of dread had become palpable and Mikel shivered uncontrollably - The Callisto Jewel, for once, remained calm and quiet.

“Okay,” He said, fearful dread gripping his guts as he plopped the books onto the table. It felt as if he’d been pursued by something he couldn’t see and his heart hammered in his chest as he leaned against the table to catch his breath. The feeling faded as he stood near the desk, but Librarian’s earlier telling of something called a lich, lurking in the stacks, made his skin crawl. He wondered if the sensation was related to whatever a lich was.

“I got the book… And another.”

“The third in a series of five, Sunken Folk details the inner workings of Essentia progression for the people colloquially known as The Sunken Folk. Although largely useless as a practical text, as Sunken Folk physiology is alien to Humans, the text can illustrate functional similarities and the stark contrast between the two peoples. You have access to this document.”

“Good to know,” Mikel said as he leafed through the book. It was written in a language he understood, and bursting with charts and graphs illustrating the movement of Essentia through a humanoid, but alien body. He paused and studied it for a moment, taking in the strange proportions of the being depicted on the page - long, thin arms, thin legs to match the long torso, and thin, elongated head with large dark eyes. The picture was done up in the way medical books described bodies. Though generic, he could tell this was no human.

He pointed at the page and looked at the chair, “Is this what The Sunken Folk looked like?”

Librarian answered immediately, “The Sunken Folk had many forms adapted for many tasks.

What you see on the page is what they referred to as UnMolded - a proto form all Sunken Folk took before task assignment.”

Mikel’s mind raced as thoughts of ants and other colony insects flooded his mind. There were similarities there to things he knew, but the idea of a being somehow conforming to an assigned role seemed odd to him.

“I… Don’t have a lot of time for this, but I want to learn more about The Sunken Folk. Is there any chance I could… Check this book out and bring it back later on?”

Librarian’s answer was immediate and severe, “No.” The single word shattered the air like a lightning bolt.

“Okay! I just had to ask,” Mikel said, holding his hands up, “I… You know, scholarly curiosity and all that. I had to ask.”

It took several long, hot moments, but the air around Mikel seemed to cool before Librarian spoke again.

“I can respect that young Raithson - but the books brought here must remain. If they are ever removed grave events will afflict the taker.”

“Like the lich?”

“Similar. But not the same. This place is a repository of knowledge from which you may drink, but you may never cart away. I will put the book aside for you though - for the time when you come back.”

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“You think I’ll be back?”

“You reek of curiosity. If you survive the next few months I’m sure you’ll return.”

Mikel gulped, “Thanks? I guess. That’s… Reassuring.”

“You’re welcome. Do you want my third suggestion for a book?”

Mikel nodded, closing the Sunken Folk book and shoving it aside for the moment.

“Within the library is a book related to techniques of human users of Blend Skills - within this book, you’ll find techniques to shift Stamina, Essentia, and Health through your body until they are all interchangeable. This book will teach you how to use Blend Skills and how to master a style of fighting and living that few have even been able to grasp. You have access to this knowledge.”

Mikel’s mind raced back to the conversation he, Helsket, and Telgil had when he’d broken the black box.

Blend was something strictly theoretical - he knew that; everyone knew that. The ability to merge Essentia and Stamina was something no one had mastered… And yet, here was a book that said it could be done - and it was within his grasp.

“Where’s it at?” His curiosity all but chewed him up. This same feeling had driven him to collect endless information on the adventure he’d planned - and that urge for knowledge thrummed inside of him now at the thought of an amazing and all but unknown bit of information.

“Within the depths of the stacks. It’s a trip of an hour - if you don’t come across any… Delays. My sensor scans indicate there are several living entities near the section you’re going to.”

“Why are things never easy?” Mikel grumbled as he scratched the back of his head, “Why can’t I just… Never mind - we already had this conversation. Fine. I’m not leaving without reading that book. Can you guide me -”

Before Mikel could finish a stark shaft of light shot out into the distance, back and away from the desk, into the darkness of the infinite depths of the library. At first, the light glowed like a beacon in the black - but within a short moment it had faded to such an extent Mikel wouldn’t have realized anything was in the inky depths had he not watched it go.

He squinted to see it in the darkness and shook his head, “That is a ways off. Will there be lights as I go? Like here?”

“Yes, the braziers will ignite as you come within a certain proximity of them and will extinguish as you go. Keep an eye on the light as it will be your only guide once you are in the stacks.”

Mikel thought back moments before when he’d found the book only a few feet away, the sense of absolute dread almost devouring him in the process.

“What… Was that feeling that came over me? I felt like my guts were getting ripped out, I was so scared. Was that the lich?”

“For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For every force in the world, there is an opposite. What you felt is the dark reflection of The Reverie within The Market: The Dread. Like The Reverie, it can consume you. Like The Reverie it can remake you. Like The Reverie, if you stay too long within its bounds you will lose yourself.”

Mikel glanced at the dark edge of the light cast by the braziers adjacent to the desk and shivered. “I don’t want to stay in it. Not like The Reverie at least. Why don’t I feel it here?”

“The Dread only affects certain areas of this place. Although extensive, there is generally a way around it, although given the amount of activity I am sensing around the area you are headed to, I’d suggest not maneuvering around to avoid The Dread. You’re going to have a hard enough time avoiding whoever is out there.”

“But, there’s a chance they’re not evil, right? Just because people are in here doesn’t mean they’re evil… Right? You said all sorts come in here.”

“You’re in here - are you evil?”

Mikel knew this was a simple question -and one he’d often asked himself. Helsket had counseled him before they’d come to The Market that he wasn’t a bad person, but he sure didn’t feel like anything good.

Was he evil?

“I…Well, I got into The Market, right?”

“The things within the stacks also acquired access to The Market. They are now evil.”

“Well dammit,” Mikel said, scratching the back of his head, “That’s not fair. What answer do you want?”

“What answer do you want to give?”

The Callisto Jewel shivered in response to the game.

“I’m not evil,” He said firmly, “Not yet at least. I can’t say what will happen…” He touched the Callisto Jewel and shivered in tandem with it. There was no telling what would happen from day to day, or even minute to minute. To try and guess the trajectory of his life, was folly and Mikel knew that.

And yet, in the same breath, he was having an incredibly hard time balancing the scales of morality in his mind.

Was he evil?

Not evil enough to be barred access to The Market - but The Callisto Jewel had traveled just fine as well. What did that make it?

“I’m not evil,” He repeated, more for himself than to answer Librarian.

“Keep telling yourself that. Soon, it will be the only thing keeping you sane.”

Mikel shivered but pressed on.

“That’s very reassuring,” He mumbled, lifting his sword in its sheath and then letting it fall back down with a satisfying clunk.

“Is there anything else I should know before I head back into the stacks?”

The hum returned, but only for a moment before Librarian spoke.

“The dead are the most dangerous obstacle you’ll face, but the living will cause problems if you let them. Some of them are lost and scared, while others are intentionally here to cause trouble.”

“Thanks - I’ll keep that in mind,” Mikel mumbled as he walked to his left to access the stacks, leaving the books he’d retrieved minutes before on the desk.