The prophet's voice, when it finally came, was grave and measured. "The fragility of our bond with the canines is a precarious thread that holds our destiny. To lose them is to risk not only our power but also the essence of what makes us unique, condemning us to a life stripped of magic and wonder, forever tethered to the mundane."
As the words sank in, the prophet slowly dragged his body out of the training ground, leaving Cyrus alone with the weight of this new knowledge. Cold sweat trickled down Cyrus's face as the implications of the prophet's words fully registered.
Without them, I will return to my old life? The thought sent a shiver down his spine.
His mind raced back through recent events, a whirlwind of change and loss. He had lost his mother, his job, everything that had once defined his existence. The fear of losing this small glimmer of hope, this newfound power, was even more terrifying than what he had already endured. It was like someone who had tasted the sweetest candy only to have it snatched away forever. The prospect of such a loss threatened to plunge him into an even deeper abyss, one from which he might never crawl back.
Shaking his head vigorously, Cyrus steeled himself. He needed to take things seriously, to arm himself with knowledge if he hoped to navigate this strange new world he found himself in.
I know too little about this place, he thought. Where better to learn than the library?
With renewed determination, Cyrus made his way to the library. As he pushed open the massive doors, a cloud of dust poured out, causing him to cough violently as he struggled to clear his vision.
Once the dust settled, Cyrus found himself in a spacious chamber. A spiraling set of stairs followed the walls, which were covered entirely in old leather-bound books. His eyes were immediately drawn to the magnificent chandelier with its cascading design hanging above the staircase. He couldn't help but admire its intricate beauty, a stark contrast to the musty, aged atmosphere of the library itself.
Approaching a series of bookshelves, Cyrus swept his gaze across the titles, and his head began to spin. There were so many books, he didn't know where to start. Thirty seconds later, he was still rooted to the spot, trying to convince himself to take that first step and select a volume.
Suddenly, a series of books fell to the ground with a loud thud, startling Cyrus out of his indecision. His gaze sharpened as he realized he wasn't alone. Cautiously, he ascended the stairs, a figure gradually coming into view.
It was a teenager, frantically picking up the fallen books. The boy jolted in fright upon noticing Cyrus's arrival, nearly dropping the books once more.
"I am the librarian," the boy said, stepping backward nervously. He wore round glasses, a simple shirt, and trousers – the typical bookish type. Cyrus couldn't help but smile faintly, seeing a bit of his younger self in the boy. The librarian was a head shorter than him, adding to his youthful appearance.
"Hey, Cyrus here," he introduced himself, extending a hand in greeting. "Can't seem to find any good books here. Got a few questions about this place though." The boy carefully slipped past him, making sure they didn't come into contact even once.
Cyrus couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, looks like it isn't only her," he mused, thinking back to his earlier encounter.
The librarian, still maintaining his distance, spoke hesitantly. "Um, pardon me, but may I inquire what information you seek?" He began pulling out a few books, his movements precise and practiced.
Cyrus, walking near the shelves but careful not to touch anything, asked, "What are the primordial canines?" He eyed the towering shelves, each one so densely packed with volumes that it would probably take a century to read them all.
The librarian's eyes widened slightly at the question. "I-I see. The primordial canines are, um, artifacts of great significance, deeply intertwined with the history of Arkania. To truly grasp their importance, one must delve into the annals of the great war." He rushed to pull a ladder over, quickly ascending to retrieve a specific book.
As the librarian opened the ancient tome on a nearby table, a cloud of dust billowed out, momentarily obscuring their vision. When it cleared, Cyrus leaned in, intrigued. The pages were filled with ancient symbols, a few of which he understood, but most remained a mystery.
"Um, what do you know about the history of Arkania?" the librarian inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity.
Cyrus straightened up, a hint of pride in his voice. "Arkania used to be a total wasteland, war and chaos everywhere during the great war. Then the humans banded together, formed the bureau, and cleaned up the mess, building up all their cities. Today, each anniversary of the war's end marks a new year, like some kind of happy new year celebration."
The librarian looked at him with wide eyes, clearly surprised by Cyrus's knowledge. Noticing this, Cyrus couldn't help but feel a bit defensive. "What? You think I skipped school or something? I've got brains too, you know," he said with a sigh.
"You're correct on some details," the librarian conceded, turning the pages of the book. Cyrus looked carefully, watching as a series of images flashed through the book. It was like a miniature movie spinning through the events of time. He stood mouth agape, marveling at the beauty and complexity of what he was witnessing.
This was a memory book, an artifact capable of recording the events of time like a movie. It was one of the greatest inventions combining magic and science. What made it truly magical was that one couldn't write in them; as time flowed, they filled on their own, recording events exactly as they happened.
In the animated scenes before him, Cyrus saw a battlefield, the ground stained with blood. He witnessed the collision of magical forces, a symphony of chaos. But it wasn't a battle between humans, as he had always been led to believe. Instead, the combatants were fighting shadowy figures, their true appearances difficult to discern.
"We are taught that humans saved the world and that non-humans are the cause of the existence of karmic monsters," the librarian explained, his voice barely above a whisper. "But it can't be true. Look carefully at the images; they are being butchered until..."
Cyrus's eyes widened as he spotted a figure among the warriors, working in tandem with the others. With a powerful roar, this figure managed to drive back the shadows, which disappeared one after the other.
The librarian's voice trembled slightly as he continued, "According to the elders, those are the primordial canines. They, um, saved the Arkania continent once, and if we are indeed in danger, they are the only way out. Um, that's what they say anyway."
"Whoa, hold up!" Cyrus exclaimed, waving his hands. "That's a ton of info. Let's take it slow, will ya?" His mind was reeling from the implications of what he had just learned.
"You mean the karmic monsters were around way before the bureau was formed? Does that imply non-humans are not at fault?" Cyrus held his temple, uncertain of what to think. In Arkania's schools, they were all taught that non-humans were the reason for their suffering, the cause behind the karmic monsters. According to the official narrative, it was the impure magic of non-humans that created these monstrosities. Cyrus had stopped buying into this rhetoric when he met Lork and realized how different the reality was from what they had been told.
The librarian nervously adjusted his glasses before speaking again. "Um, if this information were to, um, become public, non-humans might, um, rebel, and the chaos... well, it's hard to even imagine. That's why the, uh, the Bites hasn't shown this memory book."
Cyrus nodded slowly, processing this information. The bureau was known for even more infamous things. Their roots were extensive, covering the whole of Arkania. Every single city and every single organization was under their watch. No one really knew how deep their influence ran or how dark their methods could be.
As the gravity of the situation settled over him, Cyrus couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions – shock at the revelations, anger at the deception, and a growing determination to uncover more truths. He realized that his journey into this new world was far more complex and dangerous than he had initially thought.