Chapter 243: Dream Visitors of All Shapes

Bren Hedera

Bren had tucked Lucia into the cot when they returned. She was exhausted, and their mental link was radiating that exhaustion into him. That suffocating pressure eventually claimed him, whether he liked it or not. The implications of Lucia’s state affecting him were not unnoticed. He was just too tired to care at the moment.

Tonight, they would not share a bed. He would make do on his own. He pulled off his robes, donned his shift, set his bed in order, and settled down. He lamented not having the energy to note the previous day’s events. That would have to wait on the morrow. Sleep was taking him.

The transition was smooth. His mind barely registered that he no longer walked his sleeping mind, but the library that had become the representation of his soul. The smell of polished wood and parchment keyed him in on the swap. Ghostly apparitions of scholars and researchers flitted around and through the shelves. Some even flew from one of the higher floors to a lower one, or the other way around, crossing the massive space the vaulted ceiling created with ease. Something had changed in the ceiling. Firstly, it was higher than last time. It was also made of stone when he’d last checked. Replacing it was a beautiful stained glass mural depicting a bizarre creature split in half, sitting on a pile (or nest) of books. Their paws were placed on either side of an open book, and their feline eyes were focused on the pages.

As Bren stared, the mural moved. Those eyes flicked up at him, or down as it were, and the face split evenly between male and female smiled. One paw lifted and pointed behind him.

Turning, he beheld a view as unique in the world as anything else. It resembled the creature in the mural, and the one he had last seen collared by Qu. As he watched, the human torso, face, and hair shifted from male to female, and back again. They had black-striped orange hair in both forms, and it shifted from a ponytail in female form to a wild mane in male form.

“By the Gods, please tell me I will not be receiving that garish display of hair.”

“Is that any way to speak to oneself?” the creature purred. Her voice was a delightful, high-pitched one that would have fit a talking feline. It was not exactly sensual in a way, but absolutely haughty. The scorpion tail flicking behind the feline body’s haunches solidified the haughty theory.

“Pardon, my words were spoken without thinking. You are the Warped I am to be chained to?”

“Are you displeased?” the male voice came. It was equally haughty, but more of a deeper purr behind it.

“I have a being bent on my corruption, mutation, and driving me to madness residing within my soul. Of course not. I am happy as a lark. Now, what should I call you?”

“What best suits us?”

“No, I am asking you. I do not care for the games that Kat had to go through. I would prefer if our discussions were more akin to Xirali and Rosalyn. That said, every word you speak will be met with scrutiny and distrust. I will not blindly go out on a limb as Annita has. Waheela has helped us, but I still distrust her.”

“Waheela is the wolf? We are to be like the goat?”

“No, no. Are you… dim? You have not answered a question since we began.”

“Do you find us dim? Are we not a beacon of intelligence that one such as you might test thine wits against?” The creature took two steps forward and lowered its torso by bending its front legs. The woman’s crystalline eyes searched Bren’s as she kept him there.

Bren was trying not to think about her breasts being on such a brazen display. Her body was attractive. Pale, lithe, and had curves in the right places. Her chest was on the smaller side, but fit her physique wonderfully. Black nails that looked like claws reached out and lifted his chin. Upon its neck sat the leather collar Qu’Sella had crafted. It looked so mundane that if Bren hadn’t been there for its creation, he wouldn’t have guessed at the powerful magics hidden within.

“Cat got your tongue?”

The man’s body was equally fit. A build of a long-distance runner, or perhaps someone who swam a great deal. Long muscles that hid themselves well, but appeared under movement. He had a hairy chest with the same black-and-orange patterning as his hair. It was in this moment that Bren was grateful the human body stopped just below the navel. He did not want to know if the rug matched the draperies.

The feline body of the creature, however, did. The fur was medium-length for its size, longer on the spine and shorter at the belly. If this was some ancient creature, Ann should know what that meant. The scorpion tail was interesting, though. Its gleaming black-green carapace covered several sections before it ended in the bulbous stinger. The need for the weapon seemed laughable when it had four paws with undoubtedly large claws, in addition to the human portion being able to do something.

“My tongue remains firmly behind my teeth, thank you. So, I am not getting answers out of you, am I?”

“What is an answer, but a prelude to another question?”

“Ok, so I need to puzzle them out? This is unlike anything I have heard before. Tell me, what do you enjoy in this world? What are your desires?”

“What does the parasite crave from its host? Do you not already know our motives? Have the others of our kind been that lacking in their pursuits?”

“So you do seek to consume and weaken. Corruption would be the ultimate goal, seeing as the rest share that. Kat’s Dearc,” the creature giggled at that, “seeks to prey upon her protective nature. Rosalyn, I fear, is being pulled by her curiosity. Annita is a difficult one, but her hunger and eagerness to fight could certainly be abused. Waheela has her teeth in fairly solidly. You, however, are up against my intellect. Toppling someone so aware of your nature and possible tactics would be difficult, no?”

“You do not question things?”

“I do. That is the job of the scholar.”

“Hold doubts?”

Bren furrowed his brow. Was that this thing’s angle? To get him to start questioning things he shouldn’t? Possibly. It would fit his natural curiosity and search for history and knowledge. If he wanted to corrupt himself, that would be his strategy as well.

“Everyone holds doubts. I doubt the Queen’s current judgment, I doubt whether the King will ever awaken, I doubt that you will ever speak in a normal sentence. These things are not failings, but critical thoughts of an astute mind.”

“Do you know the Gods?”

Bren shrugged. “I have met far more than I ever expected. I know their tenets and domains. I do not know them, however.”

The creature grinned, revealing a human set of teeth save for four long canines.

Bren gave silent thanks that they were not feline teeth. He quite enjoyed being omnivorous.

“And their intentions for your group? What would you think if I were to tell you that they know far more than they say?”

“I would only call you half a liar. True, the Gods have secrets. Any creature possessing that level of power will. Their knowledge about the warped, though? Highly unlikely. They want them gone as much as we do.”

“What gives thee the certainty that this is their goal? Could they not be exploiting thine party? Possibly leading you down a path that ends with your total destruction?”

Bren paused for a moment. It was a moment too long. The creature knew it had something.

“Would you like to know more? Should we tell you things? Hidden and forbidden things that will mark you for all time?”

Bren pulled away, bumping against one of the tables. The creature quietly padded to his right. For something so large, it moved silently when it wanted to.

“I refuse. I will discover this information for myself. It would be cheating to handle this in any other manner.”

“No, no, it wouldn’t now, would it? To have a first-hand account is invaluable for research purposes, correct? Why not take advantage of me?”

“First hand… were you there when the Warped were formed?”

“Is a mountain’s heart beating its slow, steady thunder?”

“Yes, according to the Bultrong. So what? You are one of the first of their kind?”

The constantly shifting face scrunched for a moment, thinking. Had Bren actually gotten a difficult question in?

“Why must a seal never be broken?” they finally replied.

Well, that could mean a few things. It could be a dangerous thing hidden within, a secret, or just that you’re not the person the object was intended for. Or maybe something that should never be opened. There were records of ancient glyphs left by the people of the far past warning against certain troves. Those who entered fell sick and perished in agony.

He had to come up with an answer, though. The creature was staring at him, and he thought he saw hunger in those eyes.

“A secret that must never be revealed.”

The creature’s body relaxed, its haunches losing the tension they’d been holding. He’d answered correctly.

“Well, that kicks that line of questioning out the window,” Bren grumbled. He pulled up a chair. He wished he had his journal. Even if he did conjure one in this representation of his soul, that would not translate to script within his physical journal. He did need to encrypt that record. Magically, if possible. Warding it with as much power as he could get his hands on. Wendyl had another project when he could contact her. “So you can not answer that question… then what can you answer. You tempt me with knowledge, then withhold it from me in the same breath.”

“Would thou not play the same game, were you in my position?”

“Gods damnit, yes, I would. Anyhow, I am certain you will ask for something in exchange for this information. Your cost may be high for that level, as well, so let us start smaller. What is your favourite colour?”

“Hmm. What is the colour of the sunset?”

“Well, that could be a few things. Orange, red, purple, and several shades in between. I would guess orange since it matches your hair. Food? Do you even need to eat?”

“What does Waheela eat?”

“Ah, a straightforward answer. She eats by siphoning excess energy from Annita. So you will follow the same rules. That only began after Annita agreed to it, though.”

“Will you leave us to starve?”

“Your goal is to usurp my will and corrupt my body and soul. I believe that you already have the means to sustain yourself regardless of whether I give you anything.”

The man’s face pouted as it changed to a woman, then back to a man, flickering back and forth rapidly. Heightened emotions seemed to accelerate the changes. Interesting.

“So, now that this is established, I do not wish to be rude to my new compatriot. We may be enemies, but we are stuck together for the foreseeable future. I will not provide further access to my energies, but we might discuss other matters. Firstly, are you comfortable?”

The man’s face brightened, and the cat body stood with the scorpion tail flicking like a cat’s. “Please, if I might make a request? What does this library contain aside from your memories? Is there a spot where I might reside outside?”

“A good question. It has changed since we were last here with Qu’Sella.”

At the mention of the God’s name, the cat person’s ears flattened, and she hissed. Their tail flexed upwards, claws extending from paws, and hands spread wide. Her eyes flashed dangerously as she looked around. The man replaced her, muscles rippling a second later. “Where? Where is the one who bound me? Are they here to finally finish their task?”

“Whoa! Whoa! Hold up,” Bren shouted, hands raised as shimmering barriers appeared between them. “They are not present. I merely referenced them. I will be careful not to, should it set you off like this.”

“Have you felt fear? Constraint? Entrapment beyond your control?”

Bren’s memories flashed back to his time being interrogated for his assumed friend and mentor. “Yes. I have. This is relatively tame comparatively. You possess limited freedom, while my experience was absolute. Be grateful that you have this much. I am sure Qu’…”

The creature growled, its claws digging into the beautifully waxed wooden floors.

“I am sure the God saw or heard of Annita, Katlyn, and Rosalyn’s experiences with their manifestations and tailored your constraints accordingly. They are, after all, the God of Knowledge and Magic.”

The creature tugged at his collar, a sour look on her face. “Where is a better place? One where we might bask in the sun, perhaps?”

“Well, the ceiling has changed to a giant stained glass mural of yourself, but the roof should be accessible.” Bren cast his eyes around. It was bookshelves as far as he could see, but this was a library. He might be the one recorded here, but there had to be a librarian somewhere. Unless this creature had taken their place. Still, exploration and confirmation through his own eyes was the best way to understand his new internal soulscape.

A large central aisle ran through the centre of the room. Desks were set along the length with apparitions moving books, reading through them, or just placing them on the tables. Every ten or so rows broke into a cross aisle of further tables. As Bren walked, he realised that this was his ideal library. The temples to Qu’Sella could come close, but this was his impossible desire made manifest. Sadly, that did not come with blueprints. Wait. Maybe it did?

“Shade?” Bren addressed a ghostly form. A woman with long robes made of smoke, like the rest of her. “Do you have a place where I might get my bearings?”

The woman nodded, then made a few gestures as if she were speaking, but no words could be heard.

The monster behind Bren crouched, leaning his torso in. “Can she not speak?”

“It does not seem so. Shade, I am terribly sorry, but I can not hear you.”

The shade’s shoulders slumped, then her arm, clad in a wispy long sleeve, pointed down the stacks towards a large desk.

“Thank you, my lady,” Bren nodded, then continued on.

The monster watched the shade as she flew away with her books and tried to swipe at her with a hand, but their fingers just passed through the smoke. He looked down at her hand in confusion, then shrugged and followed Bren.

The shade at the desk seemed more corporeal than the rest. A more solid creature with golden light streaming from his eyes. Those beams fixed themselves upon Bren.

“Ah, the master returns. Welcome, Head Archivist. What records will you be reviewing today?”

Bren faltered. He hadn’t expected recognition in here. The rest had not experienced interactions with anyone in their souls… wait, no, that was incorrect. Katlyn had battled thugs and sat at a cafe with Illdall. Just because Annita’s soul was an empty forest, and Rosalyn’s filled with creatures and nature, did not mean his would follow the same formulae.

“No, uh, pardon, your name?”

“Head Librarian Book.”

“Librarian Book,” Bren repeated, giving the man a deadpan stare.

“Blame yourself for that one, Archivist. There is a memory somewhere in here of you thinking such a name would be ironic. Thus I came to be.”

Bren had absolutely no recollection of this. “As you can see, Book, we are entertaining a guest for a while. They request a place where they might get some air?”

Book’s eyes lit up the creature as he took them in. “Yes. They have made the other researchers quite perturbed, attempting to attack them and disturb their work.”

“Is a little play so terrible?” The man’s voice sounded so innocent, but his eyes glinted with mischief.

“Hardly. A little fun keeps the mind focused under the stress of study. Master Librarian, please tell me we have a lift, and not an arduous staircase to ascend?”

If the shade had a face, Bren imagined that he was smiling. “But of course, Head Archivist. It is on the wall three stacks that way. Is there aught else I might assist with?”

“Possibly, but not at this moment. Thank you,” Bren said, giving the shade a polite bow.

The lift wasn’t huge, only with room for a couple of people to stand shoulder to shoulder. As the pair tried to figure out how they’d manage the trip, the platform expanded to leave enough room for Bren and the creature to ascend comfortably. It took longer to reach the roof than Bren expected. The space really had expanded.

The lift reached the roof under a small gazebo, the platform becoming one with the floor as it stopped. The sun shone down on a thick forest. Trees surrounded them as far as the eye could see, dotted with crumbling ruins of ancient civilisations. It was a gorgeous view. The roof itself was a garden. Trees and grass were planted and arranged in pleasing patterns with walkways and benches for the weary scholars to take their time.

The creature rushed past Bren, bounding forward onto a grassy lawn, then rolling happily. Watching a human torso complement the cat half as it played like only a cat could was a fascinating sight. The ever-changing gender was all smiles, arms flailing, patting the grass.

“I take it this is acceptable. I quite like it here myself!” Bren said as he followed the creature, taking a seat on a wooden bench. Even this bench was gorgeously handcrafted of a rich lacquered wood. “I believe I have a name for you.”

The creature’s head perked up, the man, but instantly switching to the woman. “What is it?”

“Vokvi. An older name from the Mulsfar, but it fits. They profess it to mean someone of a mercurial nature, and that certainly fits your state of being.”

The creature thought for a moment, its scorpion tail thrashing and digging lines into the lawn. “Would that please you?”

“I think it will. Greetings Vokvi. I will never trust you, but for now, please make your residence here. Do not touch anything in the library.” Bren said with a firm tone.

“Can a bird deny its urge to fly?”

Bren sighed. He figured it would come to this. “Just do not break anything.”

Vokvi got back to playing, and he had to assume that meant they understood. A creature that spoke only in questions was going to be a headache.