| |
Sovereign City-State: The Library
17th Day of Month 6, Year 1628 DG
Nearly impenetrable forest, dense with towering conifers, surrounds the Library’s golden gates. The mighty trees barricade the Library in, save for a few narrow pathways that lead to stout stone walls. Thick and wide, the walls outline the borders of the city.
Starlight strikes the gold tunic of a Gatekeeper traversing the parapets atop the walls. The Librarian passes by another in yellow silk, nodding to the Ambassador in acknowledgement. Their uniforms denote a breadth of ranks between them, but the duty on the walls homogenizes all Librarians; they all receive combat and weapons training, and are qualified for the duties this station entails.
The suns have descended past the horizon. The dark of the thicket gives birth to a caravan of travelers making their way along the narrow path toward the gates. Like a beacon in the dark night, moonlight gleams off the metal barriers.
Two moose lead the caravan, followed by an elephant and then a mule at the rear. One moose carries an Ambassador, while her Vice Ambassador, in green linen, rides the other. On elephant-back are three Recorder Librarians, with a fourth following on the mule, and a fifth flying above. The angi Recorder casts deep purple shadows over her fellow travelers.
They reach the gate and the guards recognize the Ambassador. With a respectful bow, they move aside to allow the entire caravan to enter. Just beyond the gates, the group passes by a sign that reads “Welcome to the Library.” In small print underneath, it says, “Nusta. Ista. Hosta,” a motto in Nysabaani meaning, “Knowledge. History. Truth.”
The caravan reaches their drop-off location at the Center, the Library’s hub for government and administration, where the Librarians dismount. The Doruh shift back into their human forms and then get dressed in the clothing they brought along.
Alba, the mari Ambassador, approaches the group of subordinates. “I need your reports on my desk in two days. The MegaFather’s expecting his next ore shipment in a little over a month, so we may be going back out sooner than you’d expect.”
The subordinates nod in agreement.
Alba locks eyes with one pixie Recorder in particular. “No extensions this time.”
The young Librarian blushes and nods.
Alba turns back to the rest of the group and smiles. “You all did very well on this trip and have earned a spot in the promotional trials next week. I’ll forward my recommendations to the promotions team, and you’ll be notified about the date and time of your trials. There are only three Educator positions open currently, but earning a spot in the trials is an honor in itself. Go home and celebrate; you deserve it.”
The excited Recorders journey home, elated to have gained Alba’s approval. She finds Kyoko, her igni Vice Ambassador, in a discussion with the Doruh chauffeurs’ manager. When he sees Alba, he speaks directly to her over Kyoko’s shoulder.
“This isn’t enough, Ambassador,” he grunts, holding a number of colorful stones in his hand.
Alba furrows her eyebrows. “It’s twelve hundred, Uzair. That’s the amount in your contract. Six hundred to SunSide and six hundred back.”
“Please, Ambassador,” Uzair says, “the terrain was very rough.”
“My hooves are killing me,” one of the moose adds, and the mule standing behind her nods in agreement.
Alba frowns. “I’m sorry, but that’s not our responsibility. It was your route, so you determined the terrain.”
Uzair and his chauffeurs exchange glances, then he nods dejectedly before the Doruh shift and depart.
Kyoko sits on the stone ledge of a Stream Network canal and releases a heavy sigh. Alba settles next to her and presents an encouraging smile.
“I know what you’re going to say,” Kyoko starts. “‘Don’t take it personally.’ Right?”
Alba nods. “Correct. The yellow silk just holds a different weight, it’s not you.”
“It is me,” Kyoko insists. “Once you leave next week, everyone is going to expect me to be the next Alba. Full Bonded, perfect Alba.”
“Please stop.” Alba cringes. “I’m not perfect. And you don’t have to be either. Being Kyoko is enough.”
“It isn’t for him,” Kyoko counters. “He still blames me for what happened. After you leave...”
Alba wraps an arm around Kyoko’s shoulders and pulls her closer. “After I leave, you’ll be fine. The Prime will respect you as an Ambassador once you pass the trials next week.”
Kyoko’s eyes widen. “Next week! I forgot to ask!”
“Ask what?”
The igni smiles sheepishly. “For a few days off. My family just moved into the igni settlements on Lily Beach and are throwing a gathering.”
Alba frowns. “You’d have to travel through the night and stay for, at most, a day, if you want to visit Lily Beach and make it back for your trials.”
“That’s my plan. I’ll be back in time, Alba, I promise.”
Alba’s hesitation remains, but she knows how hard Kyoko has worked for the Ambassadorship. She trusts the igni’s judgment. “Alright. Let’s go to the Prime tomorrow morning and have him authorize your leave.”
Kyoko’s smile widens. “Thank you.” She looks up at the moons’ positions. “It’s late. I’m sorry I kept you here so long. Ana must be waiting for you.”
Alba scoffs. “You know my sister is not one to wait up for me. She likely missed me for a day then buried herself in work.”
They embrace and bid farewell, knowing their next interaction will be before the Prime.