Flashback True Identity

[Malefic]

The shadows of the Cribellum clung to the well used shelves that they belonged to. A thin layer of dust was settled on a few that many deemed uninteresting, only to be swept off by the odd traveler seeking aid in that particular subject. The current book that was clasped in his rotten hands was written in a language that appeared familiar somewhat, though he couldn't understand it. It seemed comfortable to look over the letters. Why? He had no good answer. Once again, the occupants of the room were gazing at him with hostile eyes. But he was already used to it. Malefic glanced up at Sariya briefly to respond before allocating his attention back to the book he held and it's mysteriously familiar letters. Oh, I have all the time in the world to listen. My patience has grown quite formidable. I understand that there are books here written in a language I understand, but not all books are. I want to read all of them" Have I been here before? What's going on? It was beginning to itch at the side of his conscious now. "...But before you begin to teach me "Symenos", is there...some way to check who has been here before? Maybe a record of some sort? I keep feeling familiar with the things here, as if I've been here. But I don't clearly remember. It's becoming annoying." The nuit sighed. He gingerly closed the book, and carefully put it back in it's place, swiping another from the adjacent section and scanning through it's contents. This one was labelled Magic Bones . About bones first, it was written with the perspective that all bones contain power hidden within, which explains why malediction works. Malediction? What's malediction...? Bones do not have power, they merely are a hard material. He had experience with bones. A lot of it. Sometimes he made weapons out of the bones of his enemies. Other times, he gnawed on them while sitting in a cave, waiting for a storm to end.

[Poison]

„I … I think the librarian might keep a list“, Sariya replied. „Shall we go ask her?“ She pointed at a middle aged Symenestra woman with grey hair that was sitting at a table, writing something into a book.

„W … were you really here before? In another life maybe?“ She was still very nervous, but at the same time she was getting quite curious about the Nuit. She had never met one of his kind before. He had probably led a very interesting life – for the lack of a better word.

She watched as he took the next book and read the title, frowning as she did so. „That’s about Malediction“, she said. „It’s dark magic. I don’t think anybody in Kalinor practices it. Are … are you a mage, sir? Do you know anything about such things?“

[Malefic]

"She does? Hmm... How far back does the record go? After all, I've been here...quite a while. If I were to of come here, It would of been several decades ago. Hell, it would be several centuries ago. You sure they would keep records that far back, Sariya?" Malefic stared at the librarian for a few seconds before sighing and averting his gaze back to the book in his hands. "Also, I've gone through many bodies since back then. I... don't even remember my old name..." A slight frown appeared on his face for a moment. "Oh well, life goes on." He blinked a few times. "Dark...magic...? Magic... hmmm..." He paused for a few moments. "Mage? I'm afraid not. But this magic interests me. This "malediction".Do you know where I could find a book regarding other magic?" He pondered the subject for a while before he simply shut the book and put it gently back in it's place. "Come. Let's ask the librarian here." The nuit began to make his way to the grey-haired woman at her table. A few questions lingered on his mind. "How far back do your records go?" Blunt and straight to the point. "Is there any way of tracing one's history back a few centuries?" He awaited a response before laying out his next inquiry. "Hmm... I see... What do you have about the various magics? Just something general at first, I'll go deeper later. Oh, while we're at it, what about Symenestra culture as well? I'm not too familiar with your people's customs and manners. Forgive my rudeness."

[Poison]

„I have no idea how far back the records go“, Sariya replied and shook her head. „I’m not the librarian! I don’t think they go back centuries though. Were would they store all the books? They would need a couple of houses just for the records!“ As she heard the Nuit sigh, she added, because she couldn’t bear to see anybody, not even a dead man who went from body to body, sad, „Maybe there is something left somewhere though.“

„I don’t know“, she answered as he asked her where he could find a book regarding other magic. „I’m not really all that familiar with magic. I’m not a mage.“ She sounded almost as if she were apologizing as she said that. „I agree. We should ask her.“ She followed him to the librarian.

The librarian looked up from her book and her eyes widened. It was unclear whether that was because she was facing a Nuit or because the question had come so abruptly. Maybe it was because of both things. Either way, she just stared at Malefic for a few moments before she answered – and ignored the somewhat timid girl behind him.

„A few years“, she replied and focused her golden eyes on him. „There might be older records somewhere else though. As for whether there is a way to track one’s history back a few centuries, I don’t know. Not through ordinary means, I don’t think. You’d probably need magic – or maybe somebody with a gnosis mark for that. People that have been blessed by the gods are capable of a lot of seemingly impossible things.“

She narrowed her eyes slightly.

„Why do you want to know? Are you not familiar with your history?“

„As for books on magic … we have several. Follow me.“ She walked over to a nearby shelf, pulled out a thick, leather bound book and leafed through it. From the looks of it at least a dozen different authors had contributed to it. They had each used their own color of ink. „This book provides a general overview of magic, what djed is and what kinds of magic exist. I would start with it. As for Symenestra culture …“

She gestured for him to follow her. „Here is a book about the basics of our culture, our holidays, our language, our attitude towards things. You will find that many things that people on the surface say about us aren’t true. They tell lies about us just like they tell lies about your people.“

She handed him the second book.

„I will need your signature. You can keep the books for one month. If you need them longer, you’ll have to talk to me again.“

[Malefic]

Something left somewhere... He contemplated that for a second or two. Where? Next he considered what Malediction was. At Sariya's response, he puzzled over. She sounded like she was apologizing.Why? "Do you wish you were a mage? Doesn't it interest you what it is and how it works? It's fascinating!" After being very blunt in asking his questions, he noticed the raw surprise on the librarian's face. Surprised to find a nuit, eh? She was simply staring at him for a while now. For a nuit, who has lived for centuries, patience is the most abundant resource. But somehow, the mere 30 seconds of the librarian's staring completely depleted it. Malefic was beginning to be ticked off. Finally, after seemingly waiting centuries, came the response. He heaved a massive sigh. Only a few years? Would he never find the answer? „There might be older records somewhere else though. As for whether there is a way to track one’s history back a few centuries, I don’t know. Not through ordinary means, I don’t think. You’d probably need magic – or maybe somebody with a gnosis mark for that. People that have been blessed by the gods are capable of a lot of seemingly impossible things.“ Excellent! There is still hope!'He smiled brightly. Or, well, as bright as a dead man could smile. Admittedly, that wasn't very much, and many could see it as a threat. Hopefully the librarian wouldn't. "My history? I don't even remember it a bit! At one point in my memory, everything just suddenly seems fuzzy. It's probably because I didn't care, but now I'm curious. Very curious. Also, what is a gnosis? Do you have a book on it? What magic would help? How does it work? Why would a god be willing to help me? Why-" He stopped himself from continuing his incessant barrage of questions, deciding to let her answer first and then to simply study his questions in Kalinor's books. Mal let the golden-eyed woman lead him to a shelf filled with dusty volumes, one of which the librarian withdrew and displayed to him. The nuit's eyes gleamed dully at the sight of the contents. Though only an overview, if was still some juicy knowledge. At her gesture he tore his attention from it and forced himself to concentrate on the librarian's words. "Here is a book about the basics of our culture, our holidays, our language, our attitude towards things. You will find that many things that people on the surface say about us aren’t true. They tell lies about us just like they tell lies about your people.“ The book was placed in his hands."Well of course. Many are quick to judge. I'm sure I could just ask you or Sariya about what I read, and it's vadility. Correct?" Shrugging nonchalantly, he produced a feather and ink from his pocket. He took them earlier from a desk. Placing the point of the feather on the paper, he abruptly paused, his eyes grew wide, and he gaped in shock. "W-what's my name?!"

[Poison]

„No“, Sariya replied as he asked her if she wished she were a mage. „I mean, it would be interesting, but I doubt the matriarch of the Orphine Web would teach a mere waitress. I might as well wish for the sun to shine in Kalinor or for the women of our race to survive.“

She shrugged her shoulders. She had mainly apologized because he looked like he could really use somebody who was familiar with magic right now and she couldn’t be of any help in that regard. Sariya hated disappointing people, even if the people in question were just walking corpses. But deep down magic did fascinate her!

The librarian in the meantime looked rather annoyed, as if it was Malefic’s fault that he had forgotten who he was and one stern look from her could make him remember everything again. „A gnosis is a gift from the gods, a special ability“, she explained. „And yes, we have books on gnosis marks.“

She directed him towards a shelf to the right. „Of course most of our literature on gnosis marks deals with Silakrov since we are Viratas‘ people, but you should find information on a few other gnosis marks as well. Just yesterday a surrogate came here and gave us some interesting information about her goddess Morwen.“

She frowned as question after a question came. Who did Malefic think she was? Some kind of divine being that could answer several different questions at the same time?

„You will find the answers in the books“, she told him. She was about to add something when she heard his surprised question. „I don’t know what your name is“, she said. „And if you don’t know it either, you’ll have to make a name up. Any name will do. I just need a signature before I can give you any books.“

[Malefic]

„No“, Sariya replied as he asked her if she wished she were a mage. „I mean, it would be interesting, but I doubt the matriarch of the Orphine Web would teach a mere waitress. I might as well wish for the sun to shine in Kalinor or for the women of our race to survive.“ Malefic stared blankly at Sariya for a moment or two. Everything she had just said had been news to him. "Who's the matriarch? Whats the Orphine Web?' He scratched the back of his head a bit. "Well, if you want to be something else, why don't you? Knowledge can build skill, and from that knowledge you could be something else. If you want, you could be a mage. Or someone who plays some kind of instrument. Or even a warrior if you truly desire. I believe there is no obstacle that knowledge cannot overcome!" His mind was wandering a bit, thinking about gods and their gnosis, Hmmn the nuit thought, "How many gods are there? What doe-" He stopped himself once more. "Could I get a book or two about the gods themselves?" Mal seized a book from the shelf that was motioned to, another thick volume. The stack of books he held in his arms was growing rapidly. Soon, given Mal's weaker strength, he'd be force to set them down. Three books were cradled in his extinct arms so far. Good start. Still want more, though. He docked the books onto a nearby table and turned to the librarian to sign. Once again, the librarian was frowning. She seemed like a grumpy kind of person, devoid of empathy and filled with apathy. "Umm...name...name...name..." He closed his eyes and thought hard. What was it again? Contrary to her belief, the stern gaze she bore had no effect on improving this memory. If anything it probably distracted him. After a minute or two of just thinking hard he decided to give up. "Bah, forget it. Can you come up with a name for me, Sari? Just anything will do." Malefic's hand fidgeted slightly out of annoyance. He should remember. He definitely should have remembered. Feather held at the ready over the signing area on the checkout paper, he awaited Sariya's reply.

[Poison]

„We Symenestra call our families ‚webs‘“, Sariya explained shyly. „So the Orphine Web is really the Orphine family. The matriarch is the oldest member and the head of the Orphine Web. She is an accomplished mage … and a bit scary …“ The young woman whispered the large part as if she were afraid that the old mage would suddenly appear.

„Because I don’t know how!“ she complained. „I can’t just visit the matriarch and ask her to teach me magic! I don’t know how to convince her! And I’m afraid of what my family would say. Some people are really suspcious of magic, and my family are among them!“

Doing what you wanted was probably easy when you were a Nuit that lived forever, but it wasn’t so easy when you were a Symenestra of twenty years that had never left Kalinor, but she didn’t say that. Instead she just sighed and followed Malefic and the librarian through the library.

„I have no idea how many gods there are“, the librarian answered. „There are too many to count them all. Sometimes gods die and new gods are made. And then there are the Alvina …“ She paused and pulled a book out from a shelf. „This book contains a list of the most well known gods.“

She looked at the stack of books in Malefic’s arms and furrowed her brow. „You will need somebody to help you carry those“, she observed. „Perhaps your young friend …“ She looked at Sari who wasn’t sure whether she wanted anybody to assume she was friends with a Nuit. „… can help you carry the books home.“

Sari looked a little overwhelmed as Malefic asked her to name him. „Ummm …“ she made. „I’m not sure … I’ve never named anybody … hmmm … How about Vidario?“ She said that very quickly, and then she added, „He was a scientist that taught us children of Kalinor for a while. You are bit like him. You want to know everything.“

[Malefic]

Mal chuckled at Sari's fear while she spoke about the matriarch of the Orphine Web. This race seems more or less like spider-people. Like they were a hybrid formed from the peculiar combination of man and arachnid. Interesting... they even refer to families as 'webs'. Do real spiders even have families? He pondered it for a few moments, digesting Sariya's words. "Scary, eh? Is she... He leaned forward toward her and made a grotesque expression on his face. "...scarier than me?" His scary expression was interrupted by his own snickering. A joke. "Ehehe... sorry about that... How long had it been since he last cracked a joke? So what is your...uh... 'Web'?" The nuit stroked his chin. "Is this Matriarch of the Orphine web the leader of this city? Does she hold a high position, or more like a respected elder? It may be easier than you believe..." Malefic considered it for a few seconds longer. "What's so bad about magic? Seems rather useful to me." Why would such a useful discipline be frowned upon? Though he knew little to nothing about magic, he understood that magic had great potential. It is, after all, magic. He cocked a surprised eyebrow. "Gods can die? And be born? Does that mean that a mortal such as you and I could become one? Do you know how?" He had always thought of gods as indestructible tyrants who would simply play with the mortals' lives out of boredom. Why else should so many unfortunate things happen? Why so many tragedies? So much death? I must learn more to understand them... "An Alvina? What's that?" He accepted the book, placing it on top of the stack in his hands. 'Friend'. Friend? Was she his friend? What is a friend? He stared at her for a few moments, measuring her up for the first time. Though they only met a small time ago, he felt like she was the best friend he had ever had. Well, that he could remember. Damn this ridiculous memory... He sighed and heaved a few books over to her. "Vidario...Vidario..." He tested how it sounded on his tongue. Then he noticed it. "'Was'? What happened? Could I meet him?" Some strange warmth arose from his cold, dead, body as he finally obtained a name. Why did a name make him happy? What was a name, really? Gah! I need to learn so much!! He scratched the feather against the paper, enscribing his new name "Vidario" on the portion where he was obligated to sign. "There. May I study now?" Mal blinked a time or two.

[Poison]

„Well …“ Sari thought about it. Was the matriarch scarier than a Nuit? „She’s alive, same as me, so that would theoretically make her less scary, but she’s old, and she screams at people and hits them with her cane. And she knows magic, a lot of it. People say she’s a little mad because of it. So I really don’t know. What is scary about you besides the fact that you are undead?“

Sari had finally stopped stammering for good, but her eyes were a little wide as she said ‚undead‘ and she looked as if she didn’t particularly like the word. If she didn’t think about it and didn’t look at him too closely, she could momentarily forget what he was because he sounded just like a living person.

„My Web is the Dandelion Web“, she answered. „And the Matriarch isn’t the ruler of the city – although she could be. They say she could have had the position, but she didn’t want to put up with all those fools on a daily basis. No, Alesanya Hyacinth currently rules the city with her husband.“

„I don’t know …“ She shrugged her shoulders a bit helplessly as he asked her what was so bad about magic. „People overgive. They occasionally go mad. You can do bad things with magic. I suppose people always tend to be suspicious of things they don’t know.“

The librarian looked at Malefic disapprovingly as he wanted to know how to become a god. He sounded as if he were a little too power hungry. People should be content with what they had in her opinion. „I don’t know how. And I don’t think we have any books on how to become a god in the library, otherwise Kalinor would be full of gods. You can read about Aquiras whose heart was stolen by Sagallius however.“

„An Alvina is the combination of mortal and divine interaction.“

„Vidaro is dead“, Sari interrupted the librarian who seemed about to give Maelfic a lengthy lecture on gods and how ambitions to become one were really bad. „He left for the surface to look for a surrogate for his wife and never came back. I’m sorry.“

The librarian gave Malefic the hint of a smile as he signed the form. She was happy that she would be rid of him soon.

„Yes, you may“, she replied.