Elyas knew that his son was alive. But he didn't know anything about his father. So, he needed something that could help with finding his family, and give him an idea about their whereabouts.
Since both lived in the City of Fog for some time, their names and information would definitely come up in the dossier.
Lilith perked her lips as she thought. "Mister, I'm sorry… but we can't make such records public. You need to be either an employee of the Library, or a member of the Protocol to access them."
Elyas blinked a couple of times. ...What's the point of my visit then?! His face deflated, Why does everything keep going to shit?! I've waited a week for this…
He had all the rights to be angry right now, but he knew better. Rage wouldn't solve his problems. Well…I guess it's still an opportunity.
Machy remained in his place, looking at Lilith and the Legacy.
Elyas opened his mouth, "Can I have access to the basics of magic? If that's not possible, I want to know about Spells." The best thing Elyas could do with this opportunity, was to lessen the amount of experimentation he needed to do.
Either is a boon. Julius called my fragment a Spell, so I think I asked the right thing. Knowing more about it would be a tremendous help with my current project, the magic however…
Elyas could still remember the seer's ritual. He was still suffering from the piece of steel in his back, but more than anything, he was curious. He wanted to know if there were tracking or divining methods, or anything that could help his search right now.
Who knows, I might not even need the residential records.
Machy and Lilith were stunned. Machy was specifically stupified, his crossed hands dropped down, mimicking his open jaw. Lilith was a bit more composed, yet, one could see doubt bubbling in her eyes.
Both examined Elyas thoroughly. Under their scrutinizing gaze, he felt a bit uncomfortable. 'Did I say something wrong—Wait, did I ask about something obvious again?'
Lilith was the first one to speak. "Uhh…sir, are you sure you were supposed to have a meeting with us? We were expecting a True Legacy…"
"Yes." Elyas quickly responded, "My situation is a bit… "abnormal" to say the least. Due to that I am currently suffering from a great bond of ignorance."
Machy strode near the receptionist desk as he spoke. "So…Mister wants basic information regarding basic magic and Spells, right?"
Elyas nodded, making Machy smile a little. He wanted to get rid of the visitor as fast as possible, and Elyas had given him the best opportunity. "Well, I'm happy to inform you we have just the thing for—"
Lilith interjected, "Mister we do have books regarding the subject you asked for, but… I believe it would be better to just buy them from a bookstore."
Elyas nodded lightly, as if already aware of the matter. You can do that?! They sell magic 101 now?! He then calmly added, "I'm waiting for restock to come from Ravenport. The owners didn't have what I was looking for, so I thought I might find it here in the meantime.
Machy and Lilith both nodded in enlightenment.
Machy turned to Elyas, "What are you exactly looking for? Runic, incantations, or ritualistic magic?"
Elyas picked one immediately, "Runic."
Lilith gave Machy a look, causing him to nod and walked away. As he did, he spoke, "You're an eccentric gentleman, Mister. Most of your kind don't know the true value of knowledge. But you seem…different. Are you a Sorcerer perhaps?"
Lilith glanced at her coworker with silent awe. She wasn't used to her coworker being this talkative.
Elyas answered absentmindedly, as if amidst pondering a great question. "You could say that. But I'm a novice compared to the truly knowledgeable."
Machy's face ignited with delight at the response. "Truly humble, great men do come from any crowd." He hurried his steps, soon reaching the middle of the room, where a lectern held a giant tome.
He flipped it open with both arms, raised his hands high above his head, and chanted. "O keeper of truths, your power greater than the suns. Give me a part of yourself, for we have a bond."
As soon as he finished, the sound of rattling chains started. Seconds later, several chandeliers fell from the dark roof of the Library.
They moved with tremendous speed, approaching Machy with terrifying speed.
One of them stopped by a bookshelf and smacked it lightly, another dove beneath the book as it fell, stopping inches away from Machy's face. The slender man picked the book and bowed, making the chains rattle and the chandeliers to retreat to the darkness.
Elyas was awe struck at the scene, but he kept an unfazed expression. Lilith's face was the same, but Elyas had an inkling that she wasn't faking it.
Machy closed the tome and moved away from the massive lectern. After which, he picked his way towards Elyas.
"Here Mister, I hope it can be of use to you." Elyas took the book and gave the tall slender man a pleasant smile. The book was… made of stone. It was sheets and sheets of thin clay and stone tablets with carvings on them.
Elyas stared at it for a while, then nodded as if satisfied.
Lilith glanced at the collection of tablets in hand hand, an amused expression finding its way onto her face. "No wonder Mister came to us. No store would keep something like that."
Machy nodded, "Yes. Now sir, you can choose to either read the manuscript here, or bargain for us to lend it to you."
Elyas was pleasantly surprised to learn that Libraries hadn't changed that much. "So how much do I pay for the bargain?"
Lilith chuckled, "Oh Mister, we don't accept money." Elyas raised an eyebrow, making Machy explain, "We only accept an equal exchange. A bargain must hold the same value as the thing being bargained for."
Elyas nodded, An equal exchange huh… do they want books in return? No, that wouldn't make sense… Elyas thought about it for some time, scratching his stubble as he did.
…
After a long minutes of silence, the enigmatic Sorcerer spoke. "Is a story valid?" Machy nodded, making Lilith brighten up some more. To think I would be hearing a story from ancient times. This is much better than just a day off!
She was excited, glancing at Machy, she could see him show some intrigue for once as well. What has gotten into him? She expected him to be taking a nap by now, leaving all the work for her to deal with. But… he wasn't. If anything, Machy was unnervingly cooperative today.
Nevermind, I won't let that grumpy idiot ruin my good day!
Elyas started: "Once upon a winter's day… a man was collecting firewood…" He began the story of the fox and the fool.
Halfway through, Machy's ears perked up. He leaned towards the labyrinth of bookshelves, acting as if he was listening to something.
"Sir, unfortunately we have this story. You can't bargain using it." He said with a disappointed tone as he stopped Elyas.
Lilith glanced at the Sorcerer who held a thoughtful expression, "Can I use a poem instead?"
"Yes Mister, you can." Lilith answered, watching as Elyas cleared his throat. "It's a poem my father loved to sing to me as a lullaby. I don't remember the other piece, can I use one part of the diptych?"
Machy considered it, Lilith couldn't answer the Sorcerer's inquiry. She wasn't as experienced as her grumpy coworker.
As she wondered what kind of poem it would be to be sung as a children's lullaby, Machy's answer came. "It's alright. We can reduce the
lend days accordingly. You can start Mister."
Elyas nodded, staring immediately:
"The Serpent
Feast upon the bread
My flesh and wine
I have nothing to mourn
Other than hate for your kind
Stricken by famine
Every morsel tastes better
They nibble when you're sweet
But I like you bitter.
I see your eyes widen
Realizing their deceit
Hollowed and hungry
They asked you to believe
But shed no tear child
I won't make you bleed.
The nectar we'll savour
Decades of Their lives,
Hatred of the fallen,
The torment of my kind
Between blood and wine
Stands no difference,
So dear, do you mind
If I offer you some liquor?"