On the way out of the section of rooms my people were in, the voice of Mao reaches my ear.
If I may ask, where are you from?
Ive been prepared for such a question since I arrived in this world, so it doesnt take much to suppress any errant subconscious actions in myself as I respond.
From sowhere quite a distance away, Mao. How about you guys?
I can see her eyebrow raise from the imdiate rebuttal. With a slight smirk, she responds.
Hmm quite a distance away, you could say.
Clearly, she got the ssage from it.
Normally, I wouldnt handle it this way, but her origins seem to be also strange. Coming at it in this direction allows to neutralize the conversation.
Despite her sisters action, though, Ling still seems curious.
So can you tell us what your ho was like?
Hmm thats not as bad, but still dangerous in so ways. Ill give a softer answer for this one.
Maybe once we get to know each other better, sure.
I smile a bit after this, which seems to be enough to satisfy the two that theres a chance of knowing more.
After this, I tap the cart bracelet to summon the vehicle over to us. And just as expected, I can see one of them approach along the rails in the distance. I finally have ti to see how it lifts off from the rails, floating up as if picked up and carried by so unseen force.
Which it isnt. Its just the formation at work, pulling it along in the air.
It stops in front of us, with its doors now open. The two wait for to climb in before following closely behind. After another illusion sequence, we are soon off to another area in the library.
The underwater portion.
This library section is actually mostly underwater, filled with thods, knowledge, and technique that are related to the concepts of water, liquids, and other related attributes.
All the items here are protected or impervious to the detrintal effects of the water, with so even being tied into the features of the area. Which is like how the modular buildings in the previous area had so higher realm ssages hidden within the structure.
Now, the real question is how the heck do other people survive there?
It should only take a few monts of searching to get full details, but the answer cos to quicker than the scan does, as pools of water cover the track. And it is only getting higher and higher.
I imdiately think of the two beside and whether I might need to do sothing, but quickly realize that this would have to be normal for the library, because otherwise it would be a death sentence to choose this area. And things like this within the sect, for new mbers, would definitely have so form of protection or warning beforehand.
Adding that the twins arent panicking, I decide to sit back and watch what will happen before making any sudden moves.
Interestingly, the path we are traveling on seems to dip down at an extrely slow rate. While the water level is also growing, it is still on the track level, below the platform/ground level. Once water reaches just under the platform level, the slope of the rails angles downward. Deeper into the dark waters below.
While I keep my eyes trained ahead to maintain appearances, sothing that seems to make the twins disappointed that Im not reacting to, my senses are watching as the water finally crosses the point at which it should pour into the cart.
But it doesnt.
An invisible bubble surrounds us. Supplying air, while keeping us safe from the waters below.
And, from what I can sense, the water pressure. Because as we keep going deeper and deeper, its easy to see that all of this will be far below the safe range for a regular human being.
Despite the dangers, the surrounding area is truly awe-inspiring, though. Various types of architecture of all styles seem to be in play.
Romanesque courtyards, with books lined along the pillars. Buildings and pathways reminiscent of Gothic styles sprawled about. There are even a few different styles that Ive only seen in space fantasy, almost maddening in shape, made of materials not like those on earth.
this feels like Im delving into an ancient underground storehouse of different cultures. Maybe the common the is that these are all areas that fell beneath the oceans of this world.
We are quite the distance from the oceans, though. But, if I think about it, I think a portion of this country, The Chiu Continuum, borders one of the massive oceans of this world. If Im not incorrect, this whole country is just an alliance of nation-states and sects. Maybe this is related sohow to all of that?
I have little ti to mull over this, as one twin speaks up.
Oops, sorry! We forgot to check so books from a shelf near here. This will only take a mont.
Ling sounds a bit rushed, as I can feel the cart slowing down a bit. Luckily for , this change in pace has the cart go off the rails and towards one of the buildings.
We actually float over to one of the Gothic style buildings that reminds of a cathedral with its massive stained glass windows. The doors to the building are ajar, as the cart moves into it. In the corner of my eye, I can see a few shadows dart to one corner and out of the building.
It appears there are creatures that live in the library, as well.
Mao and Ling dont seem concerned as we arrive at one wall near a window, with a stack of books laying within the rocky crevasses.
Just like the modular area, despite the great differences in appearance and styles, these storage areas and pathways are still clearly marked for their sections. Making it easy to understand how the two would know to co to this area for one of their tasks.
Even with my normal attempts to appear unfazed, even I pay particular attention as Ling reaches toward the edge of the bubble, out of the cart. As her hand passes through the barrier, I can see a mbrane cover her hand and then the book.
Ahhh, so thats how it works. I wonder how far it will go out?
Mao answers this unspoken question as she moves to assist her sister.
She opens the door of the cart and steps out, completely clearing the bubble. And around her entire body is the sa mbrane. She seems focused on flipping through several of the other books, which the water seems to have no effect on, other than the pages flipping in the water slowly.
This explains how people can still get things out here. It still raises the question of how far away from the cart you can get, but from what I can tell, it would likely follow you around a bit, making it a bit of a moot point.
While we are here, I cant help but peer around at the crazy surroundings in this building. Artwork from another age, scrolls depicting and explaining about massive battles and historical situations.
I can see them sneaking peeks back at as they seemingly mindlessly flip through the pages of their books before placing them back.
why do I feel they were just using this as an opportunity to show off a little. Or to get a reaction out of .
Well, if so, they succeeded, because all of this is pretty wild.
Seemingly satisfied with the interest Ive shown, they head back into the cart. Mao then says sothing that imdiately catches my attention.
That should be it for here. Well head deeper into the more secure areas of this section then. The cart will take us through the outer court portion, then to the inner court, where your people should currently be.
Interesting.
So, each distinct area has its own concept and has different levels of security within each. What crazy differences would there be between the public area and the outer court if this is already the public one?
and then we still will go even deeper.
This will certainly be sothing to rember.
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