The Art of Curiosity [Kala]

[Oliver]

9th Glade, 122

There were so many possibilities in the Imperium Library as Oliver had taken the liberty into exploring some of the archives there. Some have infact been collective of Alexander's treasures that he had found in Ecith. Such a place always fascinated Oliver, from the cultural aspects to the wildlife and dangerous adventures he would have. Oliver was a thrill seeker, someone who would drive himself within the face of adversity. His stubborness left him into learning what he can about his grandfather's trails. His secrets, his motivations. Everything. To be curious was in his blood and knowing his inquisitive nature he would go searching and searching until he had memorised every last book in the library.

That afternoon he was in the library, looking for valuable sources to use as case studies for his lectures. For this, he was studying a frequent amount of Synskrit materials, including the Birth of Synnar and other things. However, these Kalzastern tales were often villified in terms to serve the Imperium's need. He would rather research through the articles and catalogues of Ecith's maps and archives; it appeared that Oliver had a job to do.

"I see the famous adventurer is at it again, in the library." The librarian teased as she moved her glasses down from the face and smiled, before Oliver looked at her with an awkward glance "Yeah, the usual." He smiled. Most of the Imperium didn't know about Oliver's obsession and research into Ecith, but it appeared to be a more dangerous and challenging journey, especially when the two empires are at war. It didn't look like an easy road for Oliver's ambitions, but he was going to try and make it work somehow. For now, he needed other plans; something to distract him from taking on the mantle of exploring that particular continent.

[Kala Leukos]

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Kala had a mission in Gel'Grandal. In fact, she had two. On the surface, she was here pursuing financial advantages for her family's zaibatsu. Under the surface, she was looking for any intelligence on the whereabouts of Lord Aoren and Shinsei Talon Novalys. She would gather any intelligence she could, from public opinion to whatever else her clever senses picked up, but there were many other things she could do while she was here. In Kalzasi, she spent a fair amount of time in the Archives of the Academy. When Ser Baudric had been laid up in the Tranquil Gardens subsequent to his battle with a demon, she had brought him books and begun to read some histories from the Gelerian perspective. And so she was now in a Gelerian library, though she hadn't settled on a specific section yet, instead getting a lay of the land.

In one section, she saw a dashing fellow flirting with the librarian. While the man seemed absorbed in his work and the distraction of the librarian, the woman was attentive to her job and caught Kala's glance with a questioning raise of an eyebrow. Kala just smiled and shook her head, indicating that she didn't need any assistance.

She began to peruse a shelf of books nearby, however. Though she wasn't eavesdropping, she was within earshot.

In Kalzasi, Kala wore colors and patterns, a mixture of the mountain style of her home and fashion she had picked up from the Kalzasern court. Here, she was more muted, more sober, without any feathers to suggest her Avialae heritage. It was an attempt to blend in, seeing as she was there to observe rather than draw attention, and what attention she drew, she intended to tie into the narrative that brought her.

She also hoped to find kind souls even in the heart of the Gelerian Imperium. Baudric had one. Surely the entire nation wasn't united in hatred for her homeland and its people.

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[Oliver]

Oliver would often receive gestures around the Imperium; however, Oliver was not one to blow his own trumpet in these matters. He was humble and yet surprisingly self-depreciating about his fame; it may have been the talk of the Imperium, but was it what Oliver truely wanted?

At that moment, he approached a few bookshelves away from the unknown female. He was also looking for contents of Kalzastern history for his class; however, it appeared there was no reliable sources. Most of the books were Imperium propaganda made to disparage and mock their culture. It was clear the Imperium had a huge vendetta against them. Oliver felt it was important to approach the world with an open mind; it was within his philosophy to find out both sides of the arguement. He quickly glanced towards the female, before minding his own business, that was until he was approached by a student "Professor Valentin?" He asked, before he turned around

"Ahh, Kevin. Did you get that assignment done? It's due in within a week" He smirked as he crossed his arms, before the student looked unsure "Actually, I wanted to ask you, but you weren't at your office at the Academy, I was wondering about Vallenor vowels, they seem complex in Ancient Vallenor" The student asked, before giving him a piece of paper with a broken translation on it, followed by a rock; Oliver squinted at the photograph as it appeared to be darkened "I don't think I can make it out, Agh... My assistant's busy too..." He grimaced with a sigh as the student appears to be worried "Do you mind if I keep this?Just so I can look at it later." He asked.

"Sure" He nodded with approval. Oliver smiled "I'll let you know if I find anything" He said as the student smiled as he appeared to be nervous about his assignment, even more nervous than before. However, Oliver wasn't the type of professor to leave his students in dire straits. He always encouraged and helped his students, even if they were hard work at times. "Thanks Professor, I'll see you in the next seminar" He said as he nodded before Oliver smiled, watching him before turning his attention to the task at hand. The question is, what was he doing? Right, searching for articles on Kalzastern history. It can't be that hard right?

[Kala Leukos]

.

In her periphery, she noted there was a professor from the Academy present, as well as a student. Not paying them too much mind, however, she continued to browse. The histories of Kalzasi all seemed to be from an outsider's perspective. The closest she could find was something by an historian from Haqs whose name she recognized. They were a city-state under some influence from the Order of Reconciliation, however, so that was hardly a consolation. While she recognized that many perspectives were necessary, she thought they ought to have at least a couple of accounts from within the city itself. There was the Gelerian account of Kalzasern history she had read, of course.

She sighed and considered writing a shortlist of the most objective Kalzasern auto-histories she knew and making a request that the library purchase them. Perhaps their censors would block the acquisitions, but if not, a few students might get something closer to the truth.

The flirtatious man—professor—moved into her row in the stacks and she couldn't hide her look of disappointment in the selection before smoothing over her features into something more urbane.

"Pardon," she said quietly, her Common untouched by Kathalan as were the majority of accents here in Gel'Grandal. "Please let me know if I am in your way, I am only browsing." She offered a polite smile, and she was quite small, so even if she was standing directly in front of the precise book he needed, it was unlikely she would block his view or his reach. But she didn't want to offend the natives while she was here. Quite the opposite, in fact.

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[Oliver]

As frustrating as it was; it had always been a challenging experience going through the records of the library's collection. He huffed with anticipation, before he turned his head towards the female, who turned to speak. Merely her demeanour seemed shy and reserved; Oliver suspected she wasn't from around the grounds of Gel'Grandal, but his curiousity got the better of him. He smiled politely back at her and shook his head "Oh, no not at all" He reacted in such confidence as he reached for a book titled Era of the War: Synnar's Betrayal It contained the accounts of the Avialae that fled within Kalzasi's reign. He took a look inside the book, flipping it page to page, knowing he couldnt find accounts to prove his case. Perhaps it didn't serve the Imperial Mandate's code of conduct and was eventually burnt and propagandised.

Oliver looked at the smaller female; her clothes were strangely Kalzastern, which sparked Oliver's curiosity even further "I've been wondering, but those clothes. You're not from around here, are you?" He asked as he tilted his head before tilting his head in inspection. However, he thought for a second, knowing how xenophobic he sounded "That's not a problem I'm just... Curious that's all. I'm all for integration and multicultural standards, I just." He paused; knowing how much of a hole he was digging for himself at this point. He takes a deep breath and chuckled "Oh dear, apologies if I sounded rude; I have a tendency to come across as a bit blunt, people don't always like that" He said. Oliver was indeed a man who didn't mince words, although there were times where he has had to correct himself to not cause animosity between peers.

[Kala Leukos]

.

"Ahh," she said quietly, smiling ruefully. "And here I thought I was blending in."

Kala looked down at her clothes. She supposed they were still recognizably outlandish, though she was trying to look less Kalzasern and more cosmopolitan. Perhaps she ought to purchase some clothes here in the city.

"You needn't apologize. I am Kalzasern by birth, so it isn't an insult. And I can appreciate bluntness." She smiled again, a forgiving sort of thing. And it wasn't a lie, though she did appreciate when people were careful with their words, as well. One only wanted to ruffle feathers on purpose, not from a slip of the tongue. Her eyes slipped down to read Era of the War: Synnar's Betrayal, but she didn't comment on the clear bias. Of course, there was bias in the Synnekar version of the story, but history was written by the winners. They had each won, and so there were two official versions.

They had both lost as well. She wished she could snap her fingers and lead her Kathar brethren home, but she knew it could never be that easy, even if she could sunder the Obelisk on a whim.

"Forgive my ignorance, but aren't integration and multicultural standards against the Imperial Mandate?"

It wasn't as though she was going to turn him in to the thought police, but she was surprised one could be so bold with their dissent and not face repercussions. Perhaps he was wealthy and well-connected. Such people were often above the law.

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[Oliver]

"Can't fool one who's travelled to the ends of the earth and back, I could tell somewhat." He chuckled, although not in a demeaning way, but more in a endearing way as he inspected the way she smiled "Say, is there anything you're looking for particularly? It appears that I can't find what I'm looking for either, something which explains both sides of the story to this." He said as he shrugged. To understand the history is to understand both sides of the arguement, but with the reoccurrence in the Imperial Mandate, meant that such history was lost or destroyed. Oliver was open minded and chose to look at both sides of the scale to get a clear understanding of the devastating impact of the conflict that struck the Imperium hundreds of years ago.

The War of Souls.

As Kala suggested, he simply froze at the sudden wording of her statement "Ahh... Yes, I mean... If you think about it, where is our investment coming from to fund all of these projects and these weapons for war? Our taxes. You've been paying your taxes right?" He teased further, knowing it was an offense to Emperor's will to evade taxation "Even outsiders have to pay tax, therefore if you think about it logically, it is indeed a form of integration." He continued before looking at the smaller female for a moment "Forgive me, the prospect sounds rather intimidating." He wondered curiously on why a Kalzastern female was in the Imperium. He knew there had to be a deeper reason, although he did not want to pry.

"Anyway, enough of my political ramblings; I know they can get tiresome" He said offering another friendly smile "I'm sure we may find what we're both looking for somewhere amongst these piles of history. Although you can never tell what is fact and what is fiction in some cases. Oh if only Raxen had his blessing upon me, if he exists that is."

[Kala Leukos]

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"I apologize," she said, solemnly and sincerely. "I did not mean to upset you. And I am hardly the thought police." Her voice was quiet, and would be even if they weren't in a library. "I was merely curious how life under the Imperial Mandate works—in practice as I only have theory at the moment."

Her eyes dropped to the book in his hand again, then met his gaze.

"I have read that book while in Kalzasi. I would give you the other side of it, except I do not wish to be a disrespectful guest in the city and break the Imperial Mandate either." She paused. "From what I gather, Raxen does exist. At least, Talon Novalys claimed to have met him." She spread her hands, thinking that was safe enough to say.

"As for what I'm looking for..." Her gaze raked the stacks for a moment before returning to him. She smiled. "I like libraries. I spend a fair amount of time in the archives of the Academy of Kalzasi, and so I thought I would see how it compares to this one. Perhaps I can peruse the section with you and help you find another selection whose bias is..." She tried to think of a diplomatic way of saying it. "...skews a bit farther from the one you have."

She didn't know the man, but he didn't seem to have the party line so firmly, foundationally supporting his psyche. Perhaps he could handle an alternative view, whereas it had shaken Baudric to his core. But it would take more than simple indoctrination to keep the Kathar Avialae loyal to the state that abused them so cruelly. This one seemed to have done well in Gel"Grandal, though of course, seeming wasing the same as reality.

.

[Rune]

R E V I E W

Lore: 8 each

Points: 10 each

Injuries/Ailments: None

Loot: None

Notes: