Open Opening a new page. [Lf Oracle/Learning Runic Terran]

[Daiki]

The tiny boys' footsteps seemed to make far too much sound on the marble floor as he tried desperately, and pointlessly, to make his way quietly through the library. Intermingled with his footsteps were the sounds of scratching - quill on paper, as well as the shuffling of other people around this, one of the greatest places there ever was. The smell of old parchment reminded him of his fathers library, though this was far grander in size and probably had far less focus on necromancy and medicine.

In his hand he had an ancient scroll, one from his fathers collection, that was in essence a shopping list from a bygone era, though some of the ancient names of places seemed to remain. It was essentially worthless to anyone who did not hold any interest in ancient history, but for those who did it was yet another piece of primary source information just screaming for interpretation. Written in runic cruciform, the language was complex indeed, but his father had told him what it contained, but not how to read it. Daiki remembered him saying that he should learn the language 'from the source', whatever that meant.

Daiki also held a strange dagger, found in the Godsfall desert in the past month before he came to Sunagakure. This strange kukri-like weapon was inscribed with runes that seemed to glow when chakra was applied to it. Perhaps one of the librarians here... no, oracles his father had called them, might help him come to understand its meaning.

In any event, this place was amazing.

Walking towards what appeared to be the main 'welcoming' desk, Daiki walked slowly, taking in the vastness of the library and causing a small unexpected smile to appear on his young face, his red eyes glistening with the joy of possibly finding out what knowledge this place held.

[MFT]
[WC: 310]
[OOC: Seeking an Oracle if there are any around]

 

[Daiki]

Well, apparently no-one seemed to be interested in helping the young boy with his questions. Disappointing certainly, but with the general discontent around the village it was not a surprise to Daiki. His father had said that the lack of interest in younger generations was the failure of villages after all, and that he shouldn't take it personally. The boy continued past the unoccupied desk, ensuring that he wasn't acting suspiciously. Yes, it was totally unsuspicious for a 6 year old to wander around a library, but given no-one was stopping him, why not.

Placing the scroll and the dagger back into their respective places in his oversized black hoodie, Daiki ventured around the library, looking to see anything that stood out. Various texts on a range of topics, mostly related to the histories of Sunagakure, stood out to him but as he approached the books something.. tingled in the back of his mind. A calling. A cold, silent voice on the back of his neck.

Look elsewhere.

Daiki was, for the most part, rather agnostic in his approach to religion, his clan having direct dealings with Gods and devils yet beholden to none of them so this voice was unwelcome but acknowledged. After all, one of his teachers was a broom, his father had a talking puppet as a best friend, and his uncle had a talking needle. A strange prompting in a dusty library was somewhat normal to this abnormal child. He gave a silent nod, as if accepting whatever it was that was guiding him forward.

Traipsing through the library Daiki saw glipses of masked individuals, wrapped up in whatever work they seemed to be doing. There was general chatter about the disappearance of the Kazekage, and something about a 'new order rising' - topics of which Daiki had little knowledge about. Perhaps he might share this with his clan at a later date, but for now he had to follow the voice.

A looming gate appeared as Daiki rounded a corner, the high bookshelves acting as an additional barrier to whatever was held within. A lone guardian, dressed similarly to an anbu but with a strange mask, loomed as a guardian over whatever was behind those gates. Daiki approached the figure, a measure of tripidation in his steps as he clearly did not know what he was looking for.

"Access to the Scroll locker is prohibited", the masked stranger intoned as if on a recorded message.

"Forgive me... err... sama. How would I gain permission?"

"Genin and above only"

"I had been training with the Kazekage but he disappeared. I was hoping to join the oracles but no-one has responded to my requests."

The masked individual seemed now to look more closely at the boy. "Are you a homoculous?"

Daiki looked rather confused. The only homoculous he was aware of was his father companion, and that was a flying rat.

"Erm no. My name is Daiki".

"And you know the Kazekage? Do you know where he is?"

"Only formally. He and his sister disappeared during our training."

The figure went silent.

"So, apart from seeking to join this order, what has brought you here?"

Daiki went quiet for a second, trying to think about how he would respond to this request. Having strange voices tell you to walk around an even stranger library might cause some suspicion after all. Still, it was better to be honest that be deceptive about such things, especially with creepy masked people.

"I... er... was pulled here. Something seemed to want me to follow them and it led me here. I do not know who, or what, that is."

The figure seemed to once again scan Daiki, making the boy feel even more vulnerable as the gaze seemed to look through him.

"This is... not standard protocol. I will however allow you to enter, with myself as escort."

"I thank you, but I honestly do not know what is in there".

The masked form turned away, unlocking the gate with a rusty squeak. Not answering the boys question, the figure moved to the side, prompting Daiki to walk forward. The boys footsteps were quieter now as he moved forward, once again feeling the promptings at the back of his skull, leading him forward. Around him were scores of scrolls, perfectly preserved and probably containing first hand accounts of the histories of Sunagakure. It would be a pleasure to have stopped and read them, but something was pushing him forward. Left, then right, then right again. Each step carefully watched by the masked figure. Turning the last corner, Daiki came face-to-face with a large tome.

Annals of the Conqueror

Parts of the book seemed to have been damaged somehow, and others were barely holding on. The book looked like it had suffered through some calamity.

Read it.

Daiki, blinking for a second turned to the masked man. "I am being told to read it."

The masked man simply nodded. "You may try".

A pale hand reached out carefully to open the cover of the book. A strange sense of deja vu filled Daiki as he started to read the first page of the book, written in the common language. It was a strange experience, as if having a conversation with the book itself. He read, the books information simply a basic account of histories. Why did someone want him to read this.

It was then that a sharp pain entered his mind, as if a hot dagger had been plunged beneath his eyes. Symbols, language, information rushed into his head, finding place amongst his own memories and searing it deeply into his young mind. The pain was intense, but lasted only a split second before Daiki was able to blink away the pain.

He turned to the masked man.

"What... what was that?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"The price of knowledge".

Daiki looked up at the masked figure. "I... I saw a language. Lost to the desert. How... how is this possible."

There was no response from the masked figure.

[MFT]
[WC: 979]
[Learning Runic Terran]