LSRO: Chapter 52 - Preparations (Patreon)

Hi wonderful people!

Now we need to get ready for the next retrieval. I'm excited for this little mission. I hope you enjoy learning some more bits and pieces of the Library world!

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Chapter 52

Preparations

Quinn's first stop after the not-very-reassuring comments by the Library, was the kitchen, where Cook was already preparing bags of provisions. She assumed Misha had observed the conversation in the lobby and simply informed Cook of what was needed. Malakai stood leaning against the door, his arms crossed and a definite scowl on his face.

"What's your problem?" Quinn asked as she settled in next to him, watching Cook work their magic.

"Chaotic Dead Zones are not somewhere I like to go." For just a moment he sounded like a pouting five year old.

Quinn fought back a nervous giggle. "Why not?"

"It smacks of my mother's domain, okay?" The look he shot her could have killed lesser beings.

She would have taken a step back if the wall hadn't been there. "Your home life is a lot more complicated than mine was, and I had really crappy teen years."

He raised an eyebrow at her. For a moment irritation and curiosity warred in his expression. "Well, maybe one day, when all we have to do is check in books and leverage fines, we can sit down and have a cup of tea and talk about how crappy our lives were."

"Ouch, Malakai. That was catty." She pushed away from the wall, oddly irritated by his mood. "Anyway, I believe we're here for some protective food?"

Cook glanced her way. "Yes, you require food that allows you to breathe while repelling chaotic dust. It cannot be permitted to enter your lungs. If it does so, the tar will build up, allowing it to infest your tissue and blood paths. Little can save you once pure chaos has infected you."

Quinn gulped, involuntarily scanning her own self to make sure that none of what Kajaro left behind might have done this.

Cook paused while they meted out several scoops of something decidedly black in appearance, eerily similar to a ball of poppyseeds in a danish. Once those were done, Cook continued speaking. "These have a three-hour limit each. I have sixteen of them for each you, although Aradie's are modified. Set timers, take them without fail. You cannot spend more than two days there." He upended them in bags that locked and sealed with a hiss, sucking all the air out of them like a vacuum.

Quinn nodded. "Eat one every three hours. Got it. Thank you." she added the last as an afterthought. She really enjoyed Cook's company, being polite was the least she could do.

Cook offered a smidgen of a smile, or at least, that's what the slightly upturned corners of their mouth indicated. "The next ones heal. It is of vital importance that you consume one should you become injured in a way that breaks your skin while in chaotic Dead Space. These will allow for the wounds to stay fresh and not gather any chaotic dust. It will repel anything already on it as long as it it taken within five minutes of being wounded. You must apply these healing salves quickly. Paramount importance."

"Got it." Quinn nodded, liking the prospects of this trip less and less with every single word Cook spoke.

"Energy and Mana regeneration will work very similar to what you are used to, however, every single one of these bites has a chaos-expelling component. Take these if your energy or mana feel sluggish. You cannot risk being tarnished with too much chaotic energy or it will impact you negatively."

Quinn stared at Cook. She had never heard them speak so much since they'd been created. "Thank you for all of this."

"Thank me when you return safely. I have used what stock was on hand and must now replenish my stores. I will be unable to make this same contingent of foods for a while unless we can procure delivery of some more of these ingredients. Do I make myself clear?" They sounded oddly stern. Much like her fifth-grade teacher back on earth.

"Understood." She said gathering the food up. Malakai reluctantly assisted her.

Cook paused and turned to face her fully. "Return safely."

"That's the plan." She said, forcing a grin as she turned to leave. Armed with their bags, Quinn tried to fight down the nerves and made her way toward the storage room where Misha stood directing a couple of new golems who seemed to be very basic and clay.

Quinn frowned at the scene. "When were they ready?"

"Approximately 12 hours ago," Misha said.

"Well, I need to name them." Quinn moved over to them, looking them over, trying to get a feel of them through her connection with the Library.

Misha let out what sounded like a long-suffering sigh and flashed a golem smile at Quinn. "Fine, what would you like to name them?"

"They're storage golems, right? Not shelving." Quinn had an idea for the shelving golems and wanted to keep their name trend on point. So this was an important distinction for her.

"Storage, gathering, and recollection, yes." Misha confirmed.

"How about Hunter and Hank?" She wasn't sure what made her think of the latter, but Hunter felt appropriate for the position.

"Sure, let's call them..." But even as Misha spoke, the golems transformed ever so slightly, turning from claylike hulking brutes into one tall and gangly, and a slightly more sturdier one who was a little bit shorter.

"Hey, Hunter and Hank." The golems simply waved while organizing the storeroom, but their connection to Quinn through the Library flared briefly with life. As if they'd somehow come home. "That'll do," Quinn said.

"It's quite remarkable," Misha commented before turning back to the librarian.

"What is?" she asked.

"That they take on the name immediately and identify as an individual as soon as its assigned." Misha's moonlike eyes swirled briefly. It reminded Quinn of when Lynx was communicating with the system differently. Then their eyes went back to normal and they blinked. "Anyway. I have had clothes prepared for you. The library has fabricated these with stock that we already had on hand. You will be required to wear treated leather garments. They will repel chaotic dust from settling on your skin and entering your system through your pores."

She glanced over Quinn's shoulder and amended her last statement. "For those of you that have pores anyway."

Eric let out a grunt but didn't actually say anything. Quinn thought, knowing him, he showed admirable restraint.

"This material also prevents chaotic magic burns should you come into contact directly with a live stream of chaotic magic." the supervisory golem continued.

The more Misha and Cook went on about chaotic magic and its drawbacks, the more anxiety Quinn could feel welling up in her gut.

It'll be okay, the library tried to soothe her. But right then, Quinn wasn't exactly up for the soothing. Still, there was more to listen to. Misha's tirade didn't seem to have an ending.

"You must keep the outfits on as much as possible. I have access to several magical excrement pockets. They will be programmed into the suits. Just if you really have to go, you'll be able to, okay?" Misha kept ploughing straight on while Quinn did a double take over these pockets that were mentioned. "There are two buttons you'll have to push in order to activate it. Clear so far?"

"Sure." Quinn said, wishing she really wasn't.

Misha nodded and pulled out what looked like large satchels. "These four bags here are specifically for the retrieved books. Once you acquire the books, each one must be placed in a bag and sealed.  You must seal the bag so that it begins the cleansing process and avoids any chaotic leakage that the book has gathered over the last few centures. Do you understand?"

Quinn understood, but at the same time, she was so overwhelmed, she didn't know why she was even contemplating this. "Yep, I get it," she said, wishing she didn't. Both Malakai and Eric took their packs.

"What about for Aradie?" She asked.

"Aradie is stronger than any of you. She's impervious to chaotic magic." Misha said simply.

"Good to know," Quinn said, wondering what that whole interaction earlier with Lynx had been about. She found herself wanting some downtime with her owl to get to know this mysterious magical little creature that somehow managed to keep the manifestation of the Library on his toes.

"And this." Misha pushed a book into Quinn's hands.

It was a plain brown leather binding with faded stamping on the cover. Strips of leather dangled down from where they'd bound the book closed. She looked up at Misha questioningly.

"You mentioned a healing book earlier. This is the best one I could find that you should be able to learn straight away and have some chance of activating on this journey without having to practice for days before utilizing the methods inside." Misha's eyes swirled. Quinn was beginning to learn that they did that when excited.

She felt the leather of the book and how soft it was. Either worn by age, supreme quality, or perhaps a little of both. It emanated an aura of wholeness, of keeping things together. Taliar's Guide to Self Regeneration - how to stave off death

"Absorb it now so it has time to settle before you head out." Misha commanded and gestured to a small couch in the corner of the storehouse.

Quinn eyed it suspiciously, not having noticed before when she came in.

I'm a Library filled with magical tomes. Creating a couch isn't exactly what you'd call rocket science. Which, by the way, neither is rocket science.

The Library's voice drifted through her head with an odd hint of amusement at the end of the sentence. Quinn could feel the small communication pebble and how it got warm in the pocket of her pants. She liked the deeper connection. Even if odd tidbits of information in her head still felt a little odd.

Sitting herself comfortably, Quinn did the usual routine. Open the book, palms face down on the pages and breathe it in.

Magic swirled around her in a golden dusting. Almost like glitter, it reflected the light in myriad colors and swirls. It guided her through her entire body, as if inspecting her like a dexa scan. Only this was much faster. It felt as if someone was running a feather duster throughout her entire body. Lightly enough that it didn't quite tickle, only just started the process.

Taliar's Guidance learned

Taliar's Regeneration - learned

Taliar's Resistances - learned

Basics acquired

Quinn blinked her eyes open. None of the other books had done that before. She'd simply gained all of the knowledge without any acknowledgment.

You can find the spells and abilities you have access to. The Library sounded sort of hurt.

But this is different than those time Quinn ventured

Healing is a part of formation and creation magic. It has its own rules.

Stretching, Quinn picked herself up from the couch feeling rejuvenated. Like she'd slept for weeks. "Wow, that is amazing shit."

Misha raised an eyebrow at her, or at least that's what the expression resembled most. "Do you feel more prepared than the previous trips to recover books?"

Quinn cracked her neck from side to side and grinned as she formed a small ice ball in the palm of her hand. "Most definitely. Thanks Misha." she said before leading the rest of her team out of the storage room.

Now all they needed were the names of the books and some weapons.

No weapons for you, the library said. Hand-eye coordination is not your best feature, use magic firepower. You've become adept enough at it.

Quinn took a deep breath and went to get changed before heading back to the check-in desk. When the Library was right, it was right. She stopped and looked at the gathering that still inhabited the lobby. "Well, tell me what books I'm looking for."

"Laws of Chaos, Upside Down; Chaos Theory, Myth and Legend; Reality Combined, Chaos Fever Dream; Mastering Your Reality Through Chaos." Lynx rattled off the list while completely ignoring the glare Milaro was shooting his way.

"Okay," Quinn said, wondering what the new beef between them was, "sounds easy enough, right Malakai?"

"Yeah, really easy." The elf prince scowled, and it only made her really want to understand where he'd come from.

"Remember," Milaro said, crossing his arms and fixating her with a serious look. "Your connection to the Library will likely be sporadic. Jump back when you can, but keep a close eye on the timers for your protective food."

"Got it." Quinn nodded emphatically. She wasn't about to try and stay in an inhospitable environment for too long.

"Do not let the books come into contact with your skin before you've had the dimensional cleansing pockets purify them." Siliqua's tone sounded urgent, and her smile seemed forced. "You can do this."

Even if the wood elf didn't sound as if she believed a word of it, Quinn still appreciated the effort. "We can do this."

"What she said." Eric grumbled. Malakai glared, and Aradie hooted.

And without giving it a second thought, so that she didn't run up to her quarters and hide, Quinn willed the library to let open at the Debiliar’s homeworld.

The double doors swung inwards revealing an inky darkness beyond, punctuated by the odd flash of reddish light. Taking a deep breath and biting into her breathing food, Quinn stepped over the threshold and into the darkness.

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Yay! I'll see you all on Monday ;)

Seriously though... tell me what you thought.

I'm so excited to get to tell this story. Thank you for being here.

Much love

KT