Entry 1 - The Hunt Continues
Madness was his fate. But this wasn’t madness. He was just tired. Ok, nearing the edge of exhaustion. Days like this consumed an incredible amount of energy. Which felt odd since he hadn’t left his chair nearly three hours. No, the endless days of following leads, clues, hints, and hunches we’re maddening, but not yet leading him on to madness. But how long could he stay on this course? The problem was that each new piece of information didn’t quite fit with the prior. And it was fraying his nerves. He could feel the answers he sought, just out of reach. Always out of reach.
Of course he needed rest, but this was his way, wasn’t it? Relentless. Driving. A Force. The words of his old teacher came to mind, and he smiled wanly. “A curiosity, that our highest pursuits ultimately fail on something so mundane as food and rest. Don’t you agree?” His silent companion only glanced over. He’d have to think more about that later. Another puzzle spilling past the the limits of logic and out to his old friend Chaos…but no time for that now. No, not mad yet, just tired… and hungry, now that he thought of it. Was it really so late in day? Tomorrow he might consider bringing lunch. “Ok, one more and then we rest”. Silence greeted him. “Yes, food too, of course.”
The library was nearly empty now. Long shadows cast by the narrow windows high up on the solid stone walls. As was his custom these past weeks, Azahl had found his way to a cramped desk in a second floor alcove. The last book in his stack lay before him. A cracked leather binding and faded runes on the cover. Just like the dozens of others he’d already tested today. And yesterday. And nearly every day since… don’t think about that now. He turned towards the book. “Focus on the breath.” This time he laughed, remembering his teacher’s words, which were so often directed at him. “Focus on the breath.” He took one in. Let it out. Again. As he settled, he unfocused his eyes…and reached. There it was, the delicious warm fire in the cold of night, the ice cold drink on a scorching day. The Cosmos waited for him, as it always had. He channeled the magic into the book, feeling, searching. He hadn’t found anything again today, but maybe this one.
His mind filled with colors: vibrant greens, brilliant yellows, deep, rich browns. He still loved that first flood of power. Every single time. As the colors settled, the images came on. Fields…tools…manure? …and the now familiar spinning crystalline structures — the endless math and mechanics of….crop rotations. It was yet another book on post-feudal farming techniques. Blinking, Azahl turned to his companion “Gods, did the ancients spend all their time concerned with growing food?” More silence.
He tossed the book onto the exhausted pile with a sigh. Another wasted day, in a long string of wasted days, he pondered. Then he abruptly pushed back his chair. “No matter. My task is set”. He stood up, leaving the books behind on the desk. He’d receive yet another unhappy look in the morning from the aging librarian, but Azahl knew him well enough by now. The librarian had seemed quite happy to find someone who cared about these old books as much as he did. And he certainly was curious about Azahl’s research methods. But then again, who wouldn’t be? Tapping the Cosmos to search the Infinite Library was a magic known to Azahl alone. And he’d earned it. Not that the librarian suspected this. Nor did he guess at Azahl’s task. He’d be much less friendly then. No, the librarian only noticed the rapacious speed with which Azahl consumed these books, and the growing number of languages. He’d have to keep guessing as to how Azahl accomplished it.
Walking briskly to the stairs, Azahl lifted his arm and his great owl, Pallas, his constant companion, flew to her perch on his shoulder. “Well, the inn should be full of life by now…and distractions.” He grinned as he strode down the stairs and out into the darkened streets.
Entered by: 0x25A8…869e and preserved on chain (see transaction)
