The day had changed.
Everyone had gone to rest after the eventful evening at the restaurant, considering how late it had gotten. They had spent many hours there but it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to get such treatment as per Faren.
No one really complained to have been offered such extravagant meals for free in the end.
They had set the appointment to go to the Sanctuary of Knowledge in the morning and then to their quest at hand.
Penta groggily opened his eyes.
"What time is it?" He asked as he rubbed his eyes only to notice no one around him.
'Right, they have their own space.' Penta thought, a little sad at how they grow up so fast.
Having gotten washed and ready, he went out to notice the girls were already ready and waiting for him.
"Sorry if I made you wait, and good morning girls!" He said as he met up with Kaya and Sana.
"Morning Brother,"
"Morning Bwutha!" Sana yelled as she jumped on him as though expecting to be carried.
"Aren't we a little spoiled? Haha, let's go then." Penta said while smiling as a new day began for him in the Storm Tribe and the first thing he wanted to do was get a hold of some knowledge.
"Alright!" Kaya said before hopping along.
"Well, aren't we excited little Kaya?" Penta teased.
The girl turned back to make a face.
"Brother, this is the Sanctuary of Knowledge! I've never been to one and never thought I'd see the one at the Storm Tribe! Come on let's go!" She said while urging him to hurry up.
"Faster bwutha! Faster!" Sana chimed in too.
"Aish, what am I going to do with you two? Alright, let's get to it!" He said before grabbing Kaya and putting both the girls on his back to protect from the wind pressure while speeding up.
Shortly after,
The girls were looking at a beautiful building that emanated majestic ancientness.
One couldn't easily tell how old the building was but it held an air of seriousness.
As they arrived and finally entered. They were blown away from the interior. It truly held up to its name. There were rows upon rows of shelves. Majestic pillars holding the ceiling as they stood with carvings of many different mystical spirits and spiritual herbs.
On each of them, there were assortments of things that seemed surreal.
Magical crystals, books, and odd sculptures were all over the place. To top it off there were brilliant magical crystals replicating daytime in the Sanctuary.
As they got closer, they finally noticed a small desk at the side that was built into the wall.
A noble but stern-looking woman was managing the desk.
"Excuse me, would you care to explain the rules of this place before we enter?" Penta asked politely.
The receptionist had long black hair, with small streaks of white showing. Though she had some white hair, she definitely did not look as such. She looked to be in her mid-thirties with a refined air around her.
She seemed as though one of those pretty yet, stern teachers you would find at times. Penta thought she was only missing the glasses.
"Oh, well aren't we polite. Usually, most of the new students just try rushing in. Alright, let me explain. My name is Vendra Villal, the acting officer of the Sanctuary of Knowledge. A pleasure to meet you all" She politely introduced herself, making Kaya and Sana look at her with expectations.
Their expectations were very simple. They wanted to meet an actual shaman that was a woman. They had met Lynn but they knew she was a student as well and then there was Natasha and that woman just scared the duo.
"Nice to meet you, Elder!" Kaya and Sana said in unison with a small bow getting a small smile of approval from Vendra. Penta followed suit but she didn't really pay attention.
The cute girls got her attention seeing that they had such pure eyes of admiration.
"Let me explain briefly, the access levels of each floor of the Sanctuary are dependant on your personal achievements. Apprentices are to stay on the first floor. Peak grade apprentices have limited access to the second floor. 3rd and above are for official shamans. Understood?" She asked while pausing to make sure they understood.
"How many floors are there, if I may ask Elder?" Kaya asked as her curiosity got the better of her.
"Good question child. There are actually seven floors in this Sanctuary. Now, no items may be borrowed but you may use them here and are allowed to copy them for personal study. However, any copied item shared without approval from the Sanctuary is considered treason and the offender shall be promptly dealt with by all the forces that reside within the Tribe.
If you are wondering how we would know, that is simply because we can and I advise you heed that warning, and we take note of what it is you copy or borrow anyways."
Penta was surprised at that last bit but simply nodded considering he expected some sort of restriction as to sharing knowledge willy-nilly.
"If you don't have any questions, you can go on ahead," Vendra said as she pointed at the entrance.
"Actually Elder, if I may ask for some assistance since we are all new. Could you help provide recommendations?" Penta asked as he had no clue how to start and they still had to meet up with the others later.
"Oh? Well, considering how respectful you are I shall assist this once." She said making it clear this was a favor and one of a kind.
"Please." The trio respectfully said. Though the sisters looked at their brother oddly, that only lasted a brief moment unnoticed in time.
('He can actually be mature at times eh?') Both girls thought.
"Then what do you wish to look into?" She asked again to gain a clearer perspective.
"Nature," Kaya said.
"Spirit and Totemic Arrays," Penta said.
"Not yet," Sana said.
Out of the three answers. Kaya's was expected, Penta's was uncommon and little Sana's got a crack out of the noble Vendra herself.
Penta had secretly praised Sana immensely for her contributions as he knew they were going to get actually decent advice. First impressions count at times, not that you can't save yourself either.
"Cute. What's your name little one?" Vendra asked.
"Sana, Big sis!" Sana replied clearly.
Surprising both Kaya and Penta. This girl was quite the little precocious one.
Noticing the surprised flattery and the actually genuine look of shock on the other two. Vendra burst into giggles. Had any of the regulars been around, they would have been awed at the rare sight.
"My, my, you are too adorable. Very well. You can find everything you wish for in the 4th section, 1st section, and as for you little one go to the 7th section. Make sure to go to the very end of the row little one." Vendra gently pointed towards the entrance while her finger was in line with the small but clear "0" symbol board at the entrance.
Penta was surprised at those words.
"I apologize for my ignorance but does this mean my precious little sister can learn something useful too?" Penta asked while bowing and having his cupped fist out.
"Well, I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't allow it," Vendra replied a little doubtful of the older one's intelligence. Though she didn't mind it much due to the adorable Sana.
"Very well. Us three shall greatly cherish this blessing. Sisters, bow with me to this wonderful Elder." Penta gently said making the scene seem so uncommonly holy and somehow worthy of extreme gratitude.
The three bowed profoundly as even the sisters noticed that Penta was serious. Vendra just took it as though they were from the country and were truly grateful which pleased her even more at them as true gratitude is not easily obtained just any day.
Sadly, Penta's mind was very much delighted in mischief.
They shortly said farewell after paying their thanks and right before they disappeared around the corner. Penta looked at Vendra who was waving off Sana. She noticed, Penta smiled all so genuinely and he whispered gently.
"We will not forget this favor, we also hope you remember your graciousness." He simply said as though their were simple words of gratitude.
However, Vendra being the person she was and also a highly knowledgeable Shaman, noticed some weird meaning in the words. They weren't threats or hostility. There was just something off that she couldn't describe. It felt odd but she brushed it aside considering her senses were trained to handle much worse feelings.
As the trio entered the library. Another wave of magically infused air from the Sanctuary of Knowledge blowing onto them. At least that was what it felt like but in reality, it had been the disinfectant energy from a few arrays.
Penta noticed this and was glad he noticed it would be an important factor early on. Arrays after all had the ability to manipulate reality just like a human's hands or in this case a roach's claws? Penta had chosen these two subjects due to his curiosity. Spirit for greater control & arrays for the creation of something quite special.
He had a unique plan he imagined but he had too much to do.
'This world hasn't seen the beginning of this roachy emperor until today.' He thought while he grinned walking.
"Alright, 4th first!" Penta said as he started looking around before shortly finding a small but clear "4" symbol.
Walking along they could see beautiful mahogany tables and artistic designs on all the bookshelves.
The closer one looked.
The more intricate the entire area starts to seem. The connecting lines and stones. Penta saw much more due to his innate ability to sense precious stones. His senses tingled and he noticed the beautiful network this sanctuary held.
It was a short glimpse but Penta didn't mistake his instincts.
This was an array itself. The whole library was designed so majestically and its hidden effects were so sublime that Penta couldn't help but completely re-evaluate the place he was in.
That was a short but eventful moment for him and as such he suddenly turned solemn. He didn't wish to go against this place. Or at least not now if he ever did have to.
His thoughts were somewhat erratic at times as he noticed. Being a roach comes with certain mood swings it seems, not that his origins didn't help immensely in that.
The sisters were curiously looking around while staying silent. As they were always told to be quiet in a library. It's such a universal agreement for silence in a place of knowledge Penta erratically thought.
They saw a few others but as the solemnness of the steady building caused all to respect its rules.
As they neared the middle of a section numbered 4. They noticed the different books of all kinds available.
"Wow" Sana and Kaya mouthed.
"Girls, listen to my next words carefully. Especially you Kaya." Penta said as he knelt on one knee as he spoke to them softly.
The girls looked at him surprised but behaved and started listening.
"This place holds a lot of knowledge. Knowledge of things precious to every single person who can cherish them.
It holds dear what we all hope to achieve with our lives and our dreams. Every page, crystal, and inscription holds immense value and worth to all those willing to notice them.
So I must ask both of you to truly cherish this opportunity of getting something and hope that both of you stay true to yourselves when choosing it as it may choose you." Penta said with a calm tone but the very depth of his words spilled out.
The girls were amazed and captivated at how their brother thought. Even more so a certain whispy eye at the top of a shelf.
Kaya especially, understood how her brother was putting no pressure on her by asking she simply cherish this moment and choose what she wanted. She was happy.
The girls went onward with genuine happiness and as they neared the very end of the corridor they noticed a weird change. Penta looked around and saw how the quality had somewhat changed. There was a longing to this section as though something wanted to come out.
There were books, papers, leather, but they seemed older. Not by much but older. Not all of them were in that state but more of the older books remained near the further corner.
He gently held the girls' hands. "It will be okay. I want you to choose without fear what you truly want okay?"
Penta's words soothed her nervousness as she seemed to feel a certain pressure nonetheless but it was coming from all the books. It felt odd to her.
"Deep breath." There were those gentle words again.
A deep inhalation. Followed by a slow exhale.
Kaya regained her strengths. She looked ahead and started looking at the books. There were many books she looked at. She wanted to make an informed decision which started showing her nature.
"Affinity towards Nature & How to Raise it."
It was a simple title. It had no great technique or magic name. It was what it was.
"This brother," Kaya said as she smiled and looked at him excited to read the book. He looked at the thick book and couldn't help but be surprised at its largeness.
"Good job!" He rubbed her head gently while praising. Sana joined in as well.
"Good job sis!"
Seeing the support she was happy and simply smiled.
"My turn!" Sana said seeing how happy her sister was and wanting her own.
" Off we go! Section seven!" Kaya said happily while hugging her book.
-Meanwhile-
Vendra had just put her hand on a screen on her desk that allowed access to the library. As an officer of the sanctuary, she held some perks.
She happened to just turn her attention to the trio that she recently met as she noticed through one of the eyes that the older brother seemed to take a knee as he was going to say something.
"This place holds a lot of knowledge. Knowledge of things precious to every single person who can cherish them.
It holds dear what we all hope to achieve with our lives and our dreams. Every page, crystal, and inscription holds immense value and worth to all those willing to notice them.
So I must ask both of you to truly cherish this opportunity of getting something and hope that both of you stay true to yourselves when choosing it as it may choose you."
"Incredible." Vendra gave rare praise to Penta.
"I didn't expect such good seedling to appear. With such a view on knowledge, he and the girls will definitely go far." Vendra thought as she looked forward to what they achieve.