"I don't understand," Raven repeated, staring at the bronze disc with narrowed eyes. "This object... shares mories?"
Javir sighed, carefully replacing the glass case over the artifact. She'd spent the last twenty minutes trying to explain the situation to Raven, who looked as confused as her typically expressionless face could manage.
"Not exactly," Javir said. "It creates a connection. When you touch soone, you experience a random mory from their perspective."
"That seems..." Raven paused, searching for the right word. "Invasive."
"That's putting it mildly," Javir agreed. "It was designed that way. The mory Snare was a weapon, created during the Human Rebellion as a way to spy on nim."
Raven tilted her head slightly.
"How do I know if it's working?"
Javir couldn't help but smile. Of course Raven would need proof rather than taking her word for it.
"Well, you'll find out the next ti you touch soone." She glanced at the ti crystal on her desk. "Speaking of which, I need to find lisa. She's showing her sister around campus today, and I should warn her about our... new developnt."
As they exited Javir's office, Raven stayed unnervingly close, her eyes fixed on Javir's face.
"Does it hurt?" she asked abruptly.
"Does what hurt?"
"Seeing other people's mories."
Javir considered the question.
"Well... physically, no. But I suppose you could make an argunt that it hurts emotionally? I an, people's private monts should remain private."
Raven nodded thoughtfully, then asked in the sa flat tone:
"What's the probability I'll see sexual mories if I touch soone?"
Javir nearly tripped over her own feet.
"I—What?"
"lisa explained that nim need regular sexual contact to survive. Kitsune engage in sexual activity frequently as well, as it energizes them. Statistically speaking, if mories are random, and a significant portion of people's morable experiences are sexual in nature, then—"
"Yes, yes, I get the point," Javir cut her off, her cheeks burning. "Look, just... try not to touch anyone for now, alright? At least until we figure out how to fix this."
"Understood," Raven said. "I'll make a list of questions about this phenonon to ask lisa later."
[Gods help us all.]
---
{lisa}
"So the disc is called the mory Snare?" lisa asked, leaning against one of the library's massive bookshelves. Hazel was a few tables away, happily engrossed in a beginner's spellcasting book that Ms. Milly had recomnded.
The old librarian nodded, her weathered hands sorting through index cards with practiced efficiency.
"That's what they called it, yes. Nasty piece of work, if you ask ."
"And it was used against nim during the Rebellion?" lisa pressed, keeping her voice low.
"Among other things," Ms. Milly replied cryptically. "The humans of that era were... resourceful in their quest for freedom. Many things we'd consider unconscionable today were standard practice then."
lisa frowned.
"If it was such a powerful weapon, why hide it away?"
Ms. Milly paused her sorting, fixing lisa with those ancient eyes.
"Because, child, so victories leave a bitter taste. So weapons, once used, make you question whether you deserved to win at all." She resud her work. "Besides, after the Rebellion succeeded, there was no need for such... thods. The nim were already subjugated."
The word hit lisa like a slap.
[Subjugated. Right.]
She pushed the thought away. This wasn't the ti to revisit those issues.
"Ms. Milly, you knew about the disc all along, didn't you? Did you think I was going to find it?"
The old woman's lips quirked into a small smile.
"I've been the keeper of this library for longer than you might guess, Miss Blackfla. Very little happens here without my knowledge."
"Then why didn't you warn ?"
"Would you have listened?" Ms. Milly countered. "Or would discovering the truth yourself make a more lasting impression?"
Before lisa could answer, a familiar voice caught her attention.
"There you are!"
She turned to see Javir approaching, with Raven trailing silently behind her.
[Oh no,] lisa thought. [Raven's eyes look even deader than usual.]
"Professor Folden," Ms. Milly greeted with a respectful nod. "I was just discussing literary history with your student."
Javir's expression made it clear she didn't believe that for a second.
"lisa, we need to talk," she said. "Privately."
"Is sothing wrong?" Hazel piped up, suddenly appearing at lisa's side, her tiny hand clutching the spellbook to her chest.
Javir's stern expression softened at the sight of the young nim.
"Nothing to worry about, little one. Just academy business." She glanced around. "Perhaps we could use one of the private study rooms?"
Ms. Milly produced a key from her sleeve with surprising dexterity.
"Room three is available. Do try not to make a ss."
As they filed toward the back of the library, lisa placed a reassuring hand on Hazel's shoulder.
"Why don't you keep reading while I talk with my professor? I'll be right back."
"Can't I co too?" Hazel pouted. "I won't tell anyone about your secret disc thing."
lisa froze, while Javir made a choking sound.
"How do you know about—" lisa began.
"I heard you and Ms. Milly talk about it," Hazel said casually. "You're loud."
[... Fair enough.]
"Fine," lisa sighed. "You can co. But you have to promise to stay quiet."
Hazel mimicked locking her lips and throwing away the key.
Once they were inside the study room—a small, cozy space lined with bookshelves and furnished with a round table and comfortable chairs—Javir got straight to the point.
"We have a new problem," she said, nodding toward Raven. "She touched the disc."
"I touched the disc," Raven confird unnecessarily. "Javir says it will make see other people's mories. I haven't tested it yet."
"That's... not good," lisa said, then caught herself. "I an, not that I don't trust you, Raven, but this whole mory-sharing thing is kind of a huge invasion of privacy."
"I agree," Raven said. "It's unethical. But potentially useful."
lisa stared at her.
"Useful how, exactly?"
"Information gathering. Strategic advantage. Blackmail potential. Sexual research."
Javir and lisa both stared at her. Raven blinked. lisa covered Hazel's ears.
"... What?"
"Hm?" Raven tilted her head. "I've been aning to improve my skills when it cos to-"
"And this is why we're concerned," Javir cut in. "The mory Snare was designed as a weapon, and it's all too easy to use it as such, understand? Anyway, I believe I've found a solution. According to my research, the mory Snare can be deactivated if all affected parties touch it simultaneously during a simple ritual."
"Define 'simple,'" lisa said warily.
"Nothing dramatic. We just need to acknowledge the mories we've seen and, essentially, agree to close the connection."
"So we all touch the disc at the sa ti and say 'I saw so stuff I shouldn't have, my bad'?" lisa clarified.
"More or less," Javir nodded. "Though with a bit more formality."
"When can we do it?"
"That's the issue. I need to confirm a few details first, and we need everyone who's been affected. That ans you, , Jaylin, and now Raven."
lisa groaned.
"Heh, don't worry, I'll explain all of this to her," Javir said. "I'm eting with her tomorrow afternoon to discuss her project with you. I'll tell her about my progress then."
"Our project!" lisa slapped her forehead. "I completely forgot. She's going to murder ."
"I won't let her murder you," Raven said with absolute seriousness. "That would be against academy rules."
A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Javir opened it to reveal Isabella, who bounced into the room with her usual exuberance.
"Heyaaa! There you all are! I've been looking everywhere! Gods, you know how tough it is to find so good c-" Her eyes landed on Hazel, and her face lit up. "Oh my goddess, Hazel's here!?"
Before anyone could stop her, Isabella had scooped Hazel up in a hug, twirling her around. Hazel threw her arms and legs out like a superhero.
"Isabella!" lisa interrupted. "Put her down, you're going to make her dizzy!"
"Ugh, fine! I guess we hate fun around here," Isabella complied, but kept an arm around Hazel's shoulders. "So what's with the secret eting? Planning sothing fun? Ooh, is it for the spring festival? Please tell we're doing that couples' costu contest thing! I already have ideas!"
Javir cleared her throat.
"Actually, Miss Sumr, we were discussing a private matter. Perhaps you could show young Miss Blackfla around the courtyard while we finish up?"
Isabella's tail drooped in disappointnt, but she recovered quickly.
"Fine, be all mysterious. Co on, tiny Blackfla, I'll show you where all the cool students hang out!"
"Don't," lisa warned as Isabella led Hazel toward the door. "Don't show her anything... inappropriate."
"? Inappropriate?" Isabella gasped in mock offense. "I would never!"
The mont the door closed behind them, Javir collapsed into a chair.
"That was close. The last thing we need is Isabella finding out about the mory Snare. Can you imagine?"
lisa could, all too clearly. Isabella would probably touch every person in the academy just to collect juicy gossip.
"So, what's our next move?" she asked.
"I'll confirm the ritual details tonight," Javir said. "Tomorrow, I'll speak with Jaylin. If all goes well, we can perform the ritual tomorrow evening."
"And until then?" Raven asked.
"Until then," Javir sighed, "continue to try not to touch anyone."
Raven nodded solemnly.
"I will do my best. Though I admit, I am... curious."
"Don't be," lisa advised.
As they left the study room, lisa's thoughts drifted to all the mories she'd accidentally witnessed over the past few days.
Part of her couldn't help wondering if she could, like Raven wanted to, use the mory Snare sohow. There certainly were people in the city in need of help. She couldn't deny that much.
For now, though, she had more imdiate concerns... Like rescuing her sister from whatever "cool" places Isabella was showing her.
[Please don't be the secret make-out spot behind the dining hall,] lisa prayed as she hurried after them. [Please, please, please...]
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