The Land Below our Feet III (Legacy)

ORIGINS

-H-How do you know my…? – Axe began asking in a trembling voice and visible disconcertment.

-Name? – His hostess tentatively offered with an amused smirk – Well… Fhia just told me.

-Oh – The youngster murmured in obvious disappointment, vigorously shaking his head – Yes, of course. How silly of me! I, I just thought…

-That I had magically guessed it somehow? No, Axe, I can certainly not do that – The woman animatedly chuckled. Her light laughter abruptly coming to an end as her sight darkened – But I am perfectly aware of what you are… And what you want.

-So, does that mean that you are going to help me find it? – The blue-haired man inquired. His face brightening considerably.

-It means you were allowed entry, despite your flagrant defiance of our privacy – The lady simply responded. Turning around and pushing a slightly more protruding spot in the brocade adorning the wall adjacent to where she stood.

-Walk with me – She ordered as a large stone panel immediately opened inwards with a loud creak and revealed the dark tunnel that extended indefinitely inside it.

-Where are we going? – Axe doubtfully said as he obediently stepped into the cramped space.

-Well, you came to Alesh looking for our library, didn't you? – The woman mockingly remarked as she lit a lantern and started navigating the narrow passage with ease.

-I came here looking for answers – The young man sternly corrected her while he followed the gentle swishing sound of her golden robe against the dirt – I came here because I want to learn the whole truth about my origins.

-That is quite an ambitious goal to have, my child – The woman distractedly commented as they suddenly reached what seemed like an apparent dead end in the form of another sturdy wall.

But Axe would soon discover that this was in fact a concealed exit when the woman pressed a random spot in the barrier, and it promptly slid aside, letting in a painful haze of light.

Once his sight got sufficiently used to the new present brightness, he realized that they had arrived at a vast clearing where a ruinous building sat. There was an ominous aura that permeated the charred remains of the massive construction even in broad daylight.

The sun's rays that bathed its decayed stones and its half-consumed beams only added to the eerie ambiance that prevailed in that unearthly place as a myriad of ashy specks floated everywhere, conferring a terribly oppressive air on it.

An inexplainable mix of dread and sorrow immediately invading Axe's senses as he cautiously stepped among the fallen pieces of debris.

-Welcome to the true Aleshian Library – His host somberly announced, spreading her arms as to enclose the entirety of the dilapidated vestiges within them – This is all that was left of the splendor it once had.

-It's beyond heart-wrenching – The youngster mumbled. Reaching his hand to touch one of the blackened rocks in reverence and closing his eyes tightly shut.

-It was – The woman concurred with a saddened sigh – And even though Alesh has resurged above the death and blood of its own downfall, origins might not always be a pretty thing to see, as you surely agree.

-Maybe – The blue-haired man admitted before narrowing his eyes at her – Yet you didn’t rebuild above them as you say… But around.

He paused, purposefully pointing at the tall surrounding walls of the impressive vault they'd just emerged from a moment ago.

-You didn't bury them underground, but on the contrary! – He vehemently exclaimed – You have made them the very core of your new civilization! And as hurtful they might be to watch, there must still be a very powerful reason why you've kept them intact after all this time.

-You're right – The lady bitterly chuckled, eyeing him with resentment– We've kept them as a reminder of the horrors that the outsiders bring to our land.

-Not all of us do – Axe debated her statement in a deliberate calm tone – I assure you that there isn't always an imminent threat behind the ones who show up at your doors, some of us are simply seeking wisdom… Or shelter, just so you know.

-Oh, believe me, I do know – The woman puffed out with mild irritation – But even if there is no imminent threat, there is always an indirect one… Like the last time we gave shelter to a young Cahenean soldier, and somehow, we ended up with a giant serpent at our gate decades later because of that.

- The Tanghum is not a threat – The youngster hurried to affirm with confidence – I already told your sentinel that I brought her to keep you safe!

-And it's funny how, in doing so, you have invaded our space yourself – The hostess ironically commented, slightly rolling her fiery eyes.

-I… I hadn't thought about it that way – Axe blabbered. His face blushing with sudden shame.

-Oh, that is more than clear, my dear – The woman sharply scoffed – But every action has a consequence, as you will soon learn.

-You sound like my father – The blue-haired man grumpily said, instinctively averting his cobalt stare from her – He firmly believes that every little decision we make has an indelible effect, the Gods forbid that we ever act on the most trivial of our impulses, or else we might end up unleashing hell itself!

-Well, your father sounds like a smart man to me then, and you are way more innocent than I had thought – She acridly laughed at him – Because in the years to come, your presence and the aftermath of it will be given a lot of different adjectives, Axe, but I promise you that trivial is not one of them.

She made a long pause, taking a deep breath that she held in her chest for a few tense seconds, then resignedly sighed.

– However, there is no use in regretting one's choices once they're already made – The woman muttered with serene finality – For good or for bad, fate has brought you to Alesh today.

With that, the woman wordlessly turned around and began pacing away to the opposite side of the clearing.

-So, are you going to help me? – Axe pondered while he trailed giddily after her, sporting a cautious smirk but still avoiding looking directly at her inscrutable face.

-And what exactly do you think I can do to help? – The golden-attired woman curiously asked instead as they arrived at a massive metallic door, and she purposefully lingered before its ancient lock.

- I… I am not entirely sure yet – The blue-eyed man stuttered, slowly regaining his thoughts and the will to look boldly at her again as he spoke – All I know is that you are the Librarian, and that the legend says that you've kept eons worth of stories here in Alesh… So, if there was ever one behind my origins, then it must be in there!

-You're right, Axe – The woman mellifluously asserted, her impossibly red lips finally curling up with the first genuine smile since they'd met – Now, unraveling the truth about your origins might be a much harder deed than you and your friends might think… One that I won't be the one to help you with. But you say well, I am the keeper of stories, and luckily, I do have one for you to read.