"Logan! LOGAN! Wake up Logan!" a familiar voice yelled out, as Logan felt something shaking his body. "Unngghh, uhhh... Huh?" He grunted, slowly opening his eyes, as Mr. Levings started to appear within his vision. "Mr. Levings? What happened, where am I?" He groggily asked, as Charles helped him to his feet, taking his hand and supporting his back with his other hand. With a sigh of relief, Charles spoke "I'm so glad you're ok! You had me worried to death! You're in the forest, far from the orphanage. You ran out here after being appraised, do you remember?" Logan looked at him and then at the ground "Oh.. yeah, I remember that part now but something else happened and I can't remember what."
"Don't fret my child. Are you able to walk?" The concerned director asked, as Logan responded "I-I think so." He took a step and almost collapsed, being held up by Charles. "Don't worry, I'll carry you back home." Charles said, lifting Logan onto his back for a piggyback ride and grabbing Logans sword from next to him. "Do you remember how you got here?" Charles asked. "I... remember running as fast as I could. A cliff? I killed a bunny too. Wait, where's my bunny? I was going to eat it later." Logan inquired but Charles just shook his head. "I scanned the area I found you in thoroughly, but I saw no bunny on or near your person young Logan. It's dangerous being out here you know, not all bunnies in this particular area are cute and harmless. There's a specific breed that are incredibly deadly and have been known to make these parts home. The 'Three-eyed death horn' it's called. You should feel lucky to not have encountered one during your journey and especially since you were unconscious." And as he looked over his shoulder, he found Logan fast asleep yet again.
Logan woke up some time later in the only room he has known since birth. "Oh, I must be back at the orphanage." He lightly said to himself. "Yeah, you slept the whole day away you know. You even missed dinner, but don't worry, I saved you some." Siles said, sitting next to his bed in an old chair. Logan glanced at him through the dimly lit room and then out the window across the room. It was twilight outside. "Is it almost morning?" He asked, sitting up in his bed. "It is. If you weren't snoring so loud, I would've thought you were dead. How do you feel?" He questioned, sliding a bowl of soup onto Logans lap. Logan took a few spoonsful and responded "Honestly, I have the hugest headache. Such a weird dream I had, and I can't even remember most of it."
"You're not still upset about the appraisal?"
"Huh? Oh... yeah... that's still on my mind but I'm over it now. Hey, is my sword close?" He asked, as Siles reached to his left and placed it beside Logan. "Of course. So, what happened out there anyway?"
"A tower? Gilgamesh? Dangerous bunnies? And I can't stop thinking about that Glyph." Logan rested his hand on his forehead, as if it hurt to try to remember. "Gliglamesh?" Siles said in a curious voice, completely slaughtering the name. "I don't know-" Logan said as he continued "That name keeps appearing in my head. Is Mr. Levings still here?" Siles shook his head. "Him and the appraiser guy left a while ago, it's just the aides here now." Siles informed him, as Logan finished his soup and got up. "Where are you going?" Siles got up and followed suit. "I'm going to ask if one of them can take me into town." Logan walked to the door and opened it and as if she was a mind-reader, Claudia was directly outside of the door, passing by. "Ah, good morning children. Logan, how are you feeling?"
"Good morning Ms. Claudia." The young kids simultaneously said, as Logan continued. "I'm doing fine now but would you be able to take me to see that appraiser guy at the library please?" Claudia put her finger up to her chin and thought out loud for a second before saying "Well, I was planning on going into town to run a few errands, so sure. We can make this a group trip. Is there something the matter?" She knelt down saying, patting both of their heads. "Well.. I wanted to ask Mr. Levings or the appraiser guy-"
"Mr. Monroe." Claudia jumped in. "-Yeah, him! I need to ask one of them about a dream of mine." He continued. "Well, if you can wake everyone up and be ready to leave in 20 minutes, you can join me in town. I'll make breakfast, you all get washed up." Both of the children exclaimed with an "Okay!" and ran off to start their task.
The trek to town from the orphanage, lead them through the forest, to an open plain, towards the main road after a small, dense thicket, which would lead to the town. After they had arrived, Claudia and the children made their way to the Church. A figure dressed in a black robe, with a mostly black, with white and blue trim, covering most of the face approached. "Welcome to the Church, how may I assist?" The man said with a slight bow. "Good morning brother. Is Mr. Monroe available?" Claudia asked, as the man nodded. "One second please." As a slight circle of wind appeared at his feet and dispersed in all directions. Within a few seconds, the wind appeared back at his feet, re-entering his body. "Mr. Monroe is in the library, would you like me to call him for you?" He questioned but Claudia just softly nudged Logan forward. "Well, I have a bit of errands to run and this one here seems to be curious today, so I was wondering if it wouldn't be too much trouble in dropping him off, as I run to do these errands?" Siles quickly jumped forward "Me too!" He yelled out, turning to look at Claudia earnestly. She let out a light chuckle, while saying "Don't ask me! You have to make sure the brother is ok with it."
Siles turned just his upper body, to face the brother, on his left. The man chuckled in response "We'd be glad to have such lively individuals joining us today. Allow me to escort you both to him." He said as they passed through a set of double doors to Claudias right. "You two behave and listen to everything they tell you!" She said, departing from the two. The man leads them into the vast library, up a set of stairs, to a room in the very back. As they approached a large door, it opens a few moments before they actually arrive, as Mr. Monroe comes stepping out, with a slight bow and closing the doors behind him. That's when he notices the group. "Minister Monroe, your visitors." The hooded man said with a bow. "Brother Louf." He nodded in response, as the hooded man quickly vanished from the area. "Ah, the interesting young gentlemen I met the other day! Logan, was it? And Siles?" He pointed at the two respectively. "What do I owe the pleasure?" Slim stature but his presence, although subtle, was made known. His glare, a friendly hue of dark blue, yet behind the veil, dominating. They looked at each other "Woah, you're strong!" The children said in unison, as Mr. Monroe laughed. "Well, they do say talent doesn't make a legend, knowledge does!" Logan stepped up "Morning! I was hoping you could help me find some books on Gilgamesh and Glyphs too?"
"An interesting pair and an even more interesting read. What about you young Siles?"
"Do you have anything about Ignatia!?" He said in an excited tone. Mr. Monroe stroked his beard "hehehe-" He chuckled "I feel honored introducing young minds to the world of literature." He said, leading them back downstairs, to a section underneath the room he had exited from. "In the far back here, you'll find all the books and grimoires we have available on Glyphs. The selection isn't much, but if you happen to find something you're unable to read, come find me. Beside it, are all the stories and folklore about ancient heroes, Gilgamesh, Ignacia, and others, as well as fire deities who were supposedly tamed by some of these great individuals. We also have basic to advanced fire technique tomes you can read through, for theory practice. I'd have to ask that you refrain from trying what you learn within the library, safe or not. In the section before this one, you'll find our vast wind and lightning sections. These two areas should fuel your thirst for knowledge but just call out my name if you have any other questions." He left the children unattended, while he went to run a few errands. From time to time, he'd stealthily check back in, peaking from around the corner or a flight above, from the catwalk. Viewing the books, the children had; "Siles is reading 'Ignatia's Greatest Rival.' Truly a masterpiece, I'm sure he'd be able to morph at least two of the skills in there to his own with the right training. Young Logan is reading... interesting." He thought to himself before leaving the area, as the kids continue. Dawn turned to afternoon, turned to dusk, and Mr. Monroe had heard nothing from either of the two youngsters since morning, so he decided to check in on them.
The first he seen was Siles, who had moved into the 'Wind' section of the library but was fast asleep on a book, with a decent stack next to him, and an array of wind and fire technique tomes, as well as heroes from each element. He proceeded to walk into the far back room to check on the next. Sitting at the ebony table, he seen a few large stacks of books and then a hand putting a book on the one closest to the middle. "Mostly folklore. 'Gilgamesh vs The Ten Lives'." Mr. Monroe thought to himself. "Hmmm, 'History of Glyphs', 'Known Records of Glyph Properties', and what's this?" He cleared his throat. "Finding everything alright young Logan?" Logan jumped a bit, startled "Ohp! I sure am, I didn't even hear you come in!"
Mr. Monroe chuckled "Well, it is my mission to make it as quiet as possible. What do you have there?" He asked, staring at the book in his hand. "This is 'Creation of Glyphs', 75 AR! I didn't know you had old books like these."
Mr. Monroes eyes sharpened "Is that so? I'm assuming your director, Mr. Levings taught you how to read?" His tone never changing. "Oh no, Clause, one of the keepers taught us. He's scary when he's upset but a good teacher." Logan replied cheerily. Mr. Monroe shared his smile "So, how did you like this book?" He said, grabbing one of the books close to the top. "Oh yeah! 'Gilgamesh vs The Ten Lives' was such a good one! Did you finish it?" Logan burst forth in a hushed, excited tone. "Hahaha, I sure did!" He said, as Logan gestured him closer, for a whisper "I didn't think Ten Lives was ONE person!" Logans eyes wide as he said it, still in shock. Mr. Monroe laughed "It was quite the turn of events! Though, you could have figured it out sooner if you thought about when Gilgamesh made his trap at the 'Fountain of Rue'. Well, Claudia dropped by earlier, but I figured it was ok if I bought you two back myself? I felt wrong tearing you two away. As a bonus, since it's getting late, I'll let you borrow 3 books to take back home to read, any of your choice." Logans eyes glistened. "Did you finish everything here?" Mr. Monroe asked, gesturing to what Logan had amassed. Logan turned away and as he did, one of the hooded brothers of the church appeared with 3 vouchers and quickly disappeared. The whole time that was going on, Logan was responding "No, I just collected everything I could find. Some of these were really bad, a lot of things on the Glyphs but some were really good!" As he turned around, he seen only Mr. Monroe, vouchers behind his back. "Siles is already getting his 3 now." He said, as Logan peaked from above his books. "Oh, well then I'd like to take... these 3!" Mr. Monroe looked at his selection "I see." Is the only thing he said, with a slightly inquisitive look. "Hand them to me and I'll get these ready for our departure. You and Siles meet me at the front, we'll grab something to eat and be on our way." Mr. Monroe said as he grabbed Logans books and vanished.
After a few minutes, they arrived at the front desk, ready to leave. The starry night filled the sky above, not a cloud in sight, the streetlights, lit by a gorgeous red and yellow mixed flame. The paved streets bustled with elegant looking people. The kids never seen the city of Coroai during its night life, so the views and sounds were all new to them. They looked around; astonished and mesmerized, with Mr. Monroe snapping them out of their slight trance with "Make sure you young gents keep up!" as they would come running back to his side. As they took in the sight, they both bumped into Mr. Monroe. "Oof!" "Ugh!" They said as they collided, stepping back a bit. "Here we are! One of the best spots you'll ever be able to eat at, I can guarantee that." Mr. Monroe said, gesturing the boys to head inside. Logan looked up at the sign "The Synodic Moon?" Siles, on the other hand, wasted no time opening the door. "It smells amazing in here!" He exclaimed, as Logan and Mr. Monroe followed closely behind.
As they entered, they seen and felt, every gaze land upon them. Nervous, the boys stiffened up, moving closer to their guardian but just as quickly as they tensed up, they relaxed because not even 2 seconds after their "harsh" welcome, one of the tables called out "Moreaux!! Come, come sit with us!" A large, bearded man said, wearing a shirt with no sleeves, boots and baggy, black pants. Mr. Monroe, or Moreaux, had a slight smirk, with closed eyes and responded. "On any other occasion, I would be more than happy to join you and your companions, but I have guests to attend to this evening, so maybe another time?" He said, as he gestured to the two kids, the bulky guy had overlooked. The giant man got up from his seat and into the childrens face, examining them intensely. He peered up "I Thought you said you'd never adopt?" Moreaux laughed "And I plan to keep that promise! These young men decided to obtain knowledge through the library, I'm just their tour guide." He led them to a table across the room from the bulky individual and sat down. "The food here is phenomenal! They also have a signature drink made from extremely rare herbs and spices. Feel free to order anything you'd like off of the menu children!" Logan and Siles faces lit up, as they read the menu. "The Trinosauraus Thigh Test?" Logan questioned after a few second. "What's that?"
Mr. Monroe, stroking his beard, with a pleasant face just chuckled lightly "Ahhh, that right there is a challenge plate. Fully capable of crumbling the strongest of appetites, the hungriest of men. I was the second person to successfully tackle this challenge you know and let me say to you two; that platter is still one of my hardest fights to this day." Eyes sparkling, the two children listened. "Who was the first?" Siles questioned, as Mr. Monroes face slightly saddened, still soft but now reminiscent. "There was this magnificent lady who went by the name of Carmen Lote." He said with a brief pause. "Actually, if you look slightly above us, on the wall, you can see there has only been three successful attempts. Of course, yours truly being there!" He finished, regaining his bravado. "Novae? What kind of name is that?" The boys snicker to themselves, as a waitress walks up to the table. "Moreaux! I see you invited some cuties tonight! What are your names?" The two boys stared at the well figured elf lady, wearing a frilly black and purple skirt, with a purple half shirt to match. Her crimson hair wrapped in a bun, glistening spring green eyes and a lightly tanned skin tone. The two boys had never seen another race before, taken by her beauty, all they could do was stare. Mr. Monroe cleared his throat "Allow me. This is young Logan and Siles from the orphanage nearby." She chuckled in response "Hehehe, I hope I don't have anything on my face! My name is Luna, it's a pleasure to meet you two! Do you know what you'd like to eat yet? Moreaux, I'm assuming you want the usual?