The Library, Part 38
After an hour of walking, the Witch is very impressed. The forest the Fey cultivated in the Library is something to behold. Many of the trees are positively ancient from outward appearance with thick, knotted trunks dwarfing everyone on their journey towards the Fairy city.
The forest floor itself grows wondrous plants containing strange and alien hues, and the air moves in a cool breeze, a pleasant change from the staleness of the air in the endless stacks beyond the shroud. From time to time the Witch catches local fauna moving and grazing among the flora.
Strange animals resembling those from Earth yet eerily different in ways the Witch cannot put down with only the quick glimpses she has to go by. The path the Witch and company walk on is rich soil, and it feels substantial, a far cry from the surface layers of soil put down in the Academy gardens.
Along the sides of the well worn path ruby red grass flows with the currents of the wind. The smell of flowing plants is carried on the air, and the forest emanates a sense of serene calm and deep safety. The Witch looks out into the endless trees and feels only peace.
Even in the twilight conditions of the Fairy space the Witch feels there is more than enough light to see well. The Eternal Moon hides partially behind its own shroud, and what appear to be stars hang in throughout the sky in a milky firmament reminiscent of the Milky Way back on Earth.
The further away from the shroud they walk, the fewer and fewer stacks are present, the books giving way entirely to natural forest.
The Witch takes notice and asks Pleni, "What did the Fairies do with all the books removed to make way for this forest?"
Pleni answers, "Oh we did not have to remove any books at all."
The Witch is shocked and Pleni, despite walking ahead and not looking back seems to sense the emotional response. Pleni says, "My dear Lucy, this Library is far older than the very Human invention of codices. It's just that Humanity does not contain themselves when they enter Mag Findargat."
"We don't contain ourselves?" The secretary asks, walking beside Bishop Clement.
"When any sentient being enters Mag Findargat, this space conforms to them and their expectations just as they begin to conform to it. The very essence of this place is Knowledge, and for Humanity Knowledge is contained in books, so books are what you now find."
Pleni continues, "It was scrolls before that, clay or stone even further before. When beings with the necessary developed senses enter Mag Findargat and lack a defense to guard against the melding process, the Knowledge will present itself in the most efficient format for easier consumption."
"The Knowledge of the Library wants us to consume it?" Asks the secretary.
Pleni smiles to herself and answers, "The Knowledge wants to consume you."
"That's terrifying." Says the secretary.
"You needn't worry here within our shroud. We have lived and adapted ourselves to this place long before Humanity even knew itself," Pleni gives a wry smile, "We did have to update our shroud spells when you arrived here in Mag Findargat.
Pleni continues, "The Flowering of the Scrolls was the first time Human manifestations made their way out here and through our defenses, and it was hardly the last. Mag Findargat itself most definitely did its best to get through as well. We've adapted to the challenges."
"So why the forest? Fairies must've created that on their own, what form did the Knowledge take for you?" The secretary asks.
"The trees are our Knowledge. Life is our Knowledge. We store our Knowledge organically."
"Does the Library prefer books to trees?" The Witch asks.
"Mag Findargat takes the easiest path to lure beings in. We are not easy prey." Pleni answers.
"What is your home world then, if you are not from here?" Asks Bishop Clement.
Pleni responds, "Earth, of course."
"Where on Earth are you? I've never seen a Fairy until very recently." The secretary wonders.
"We've always been around. Maybe look under a stone or spend some time with a tree deep in the forest and you'll catch a glimpse. The world is full of places to hide, we simply realized the time for hiding was over."
"What's going to happen to Earth, to Humanity?" Asks the secretary.
"That is a very good question, one requiring a lot of background knowledge. We shall enlighten you all once we get to our library. The Witch needs to start her studies for us to have any hope of victory." Pleni answers.
The Witch glowers but leaves Pleni's words uncommented upon. What angle do the Fey have here? The Witch lets go of her disapprobation, she does not know enough about the situation. Turning her eyes to Ailuros she begins to think she's been led far away from her own initial desires in this adventure.
The gods and mystical beings of old ventured forth and claimed her and her apprentices as their champions, and they never managed to fully explain the situation. Now the Private Eye and Leonie are gone, in the hands of a power she knows so very little about.
The Witch resolves to get her apprentice and the Private Eye back no matter what.
The forest floor itself grows wondrous plants containing strange and alien hues, and the air moves in a cool breeze, a pleasant change from the staleness of the air in the endless stacks beyond the shroud. From time to time the Witch catches local fauna moving and grazing among the flora.
Strange animals resembling those from Earth yet eerily different in ways the Witch cannot put down with only the quick glimpses she has to go by. The path the Witch and company walk on is rich soil, and it feels substantial, a far cry from the surface layers of soil put down in the Academy gardens.
Along the sides of the well worn path ruby red grass flows with the currents of the wind. The smell of flowing plants is carried on the air, and the forest emanates a sense of serene calm and deep safety. The Witch looks out into the endless trees and feels only peace.
Even in the twilight conditions of the Fairy space the Witch feels there is more than enough light to see well. The Eternal Moon hides partially behind its own shroud, and what appear to be stars hang in throughout the sky in a milky firmament reminiscent of the Milky Way back on Earth.
The further away from the shroud they walk, the fewer and fewer stacks are present, the books giving way entirely to natural forest.
The Witch takes notice and asks Pleni, "What did the Fairies do with all the books removed to make way for this forest?"
Pleni answers, "Oh we did not have to remove any books at all."
The Witch is shocked and Pleni, despite walking ahead and not looking back seems to sense the emotional response. Pleni says, "My dear Lucy, this Library is far older than the very Human invention of codices. It's just that Humanity does not contain themselves when they enter Mag Findargat."
"We don't contain ourselves?" The secretary asks, walking beside Bishop Clement.
"When any sentient being enters Mag Findargat, this space conforms to them and their expectations just as they begin to conform to it. The very essence of this place is Knowledge, and for Humanity Knowledge is contained in books, so books are what you now find."
Pleni continues, "It was scrolls before that, clay or stone even further before. When beings with the necessary developed senses enter Mag Findargat and lack a defense to guard against the melding process, the Knowledge will present itself in the most efficient format for easier consumption."
"The Knowledge of the Library wants us to consume it?" Asks the secretary.
Pleni smiles to herself and answers, "The Knowledge wants to consume you."
"That's terrifying." Says the secretary.
"You needn't worry here within our shroud. We have lived and adapted ourselves to this place long before Humanity even knew itself," Pleni gives a wry smile, "We did have to update our shroud spells when you arrived here in Mag Findargat.
Pleni continues, "The Flowering of the Scrolls was the first time Human manifestations made their way out here and through our defenses, and it was hardly the last. Mag Findargat itself most definitely did its best to get through as well. We've adapted to the challenges."
"So why the forest? Fairies must've created that on their own, what form did the Knowledge take for you?" The secretary asks.
"The trees are our Knowledge. Life is our Knowledge. We store our Knowledge organically."
"Does the Library prefer books to trees?" The Witch asks.
"Mag Findargat takes the easiest path to lure beings in. We are not easy prey." Pleni answers.
"What is your home world then, if you are not from here?" Asks Bishop Clement.
Pleni responds, "Earth, of course."
"Where on Earth are you? I've never seen a Fairy until very recently." The secretary wonders.
"We've always been around. Maybe look under a stone or spend some time with a tree deep in the forest and you'll catch a glimpse. The world is full of places to hide, we simply realized the time for hiding was over."
"What's going to happen to Earth, to Humanity?" Asks the secretary.
"That is a very good question, one requiring a lot of background knowledge. We shall enlighten you all once we get to our library. The Witch needs to start her studies for us to have any hope of victory." Pleni answers.
The Witch glowers but leaves Pleni's words uncommented upon. What angle do the Fey have here? The Witch lets go of her disapprobation, she does not know enough about the situation. Turning her eyes to Ailuros she begins to think she's been led far away from her own initial desires in this adventure.
The gods and mystical beings of old ventured forth and claimed her and her apprentices as their champions, and they never managed to fully explain the situation. Now the Private Eye and Leonie are gone, in the hands of a power she knows so very little about.
The Witch resolves to get her apprentice and the Private Eye back no matter what.