Chapter 158: The Holy Library, But a Price Will Follow
Nicklaus groaned, he no longer felt cold, he felt warmth, he stirred awake groaning once again as he slowly opened his eyes and met with dark skies. When did it get so dark? And how long has he been unconscious? He forced his body up in response so that he could get a better look at his surroundings, but then he felt the ground with his hand, he quickly lowered his gaze and found grass? It was warm and fresh. He looked backward and found the same bluster he was in just a moment ago, this was two seasons playing at the same time, right before his eyes, what sort of wonder or magic was playing right before his eyes?
His eyes trembled as he rose to his feet, his gaze still at the snow up ahead and then his eyes trailed the ground seeing the trail of snow puddles and then to the path he was in where there were grasses, he have never seen something like this, for it was so wondrous and magical.
But wait! He should be in the snow, he should be dead... then how did he get here? How was he able to make it to the other path of the season, to warm grass? And then his mind lingered on the warmth he felt and the feel of fur, someone or something saved him, he was sure of it but what could it be?
At the sudden light that shone behind him, he turned, finally setting his eyes on what lay before him. There were two big lampposts standing tall before a gate, the metal a clean white iron, and he saw an ancient inscription embodied with the iron, it was not in English but an ancient language, he thanked the elders for all the lessons they gave him about different language, for he understood what it meant.
"The Holy Library" he read out loud and in his voice flower roots in green color climbed on the gates and then forged something that appeared to be the face of a man, but in the green roots, so there were no definite features, the white flower bloomed on the corners. The face coughed, making Nicklaus jump slightly at the sudden sound.
The face raised an eyebrow when he saw the young boy before him.
"Well this is new, a visitor in my home?" His voice was loud and strong and sounded old. "What could a small creature like you be doing in this path, perhaps lost?"
"Who are you?" Nicklaus asked not fazing even for a bit, he stood bold and out of fear and this struck the root man’s interest. "No... what are you?" Nicklaus adds the energy radiating from this root man was powerful. It didn’t seem like a normal magical creature for this was something more, able to take a form in a root, a spirit maybe?
"I’m Basker, the anchor and spirit of the Library," he said proudly and raised his head high up showing how superior he was.
"Basker" Nicklaus intoned as his eyes went wide. He suddenly remembered when he read about the Holy Library, another name for the Holy Library was ’Basker’. "You’re the Library itself... you have no physical form, the very spirit of the library", his eyes shocked.
"Yes boy... I AM the library I the root, not the flesh of course for I’m shameless and have no form, I’m HE that houses trillions of knowledge... I broke the anchor that holds me to the Realms so that Mortals and the magical creature cannot exploit my knowledge, for it is sacred and shall remain that way", he looks down at Nicklaus. "Now I will not ask again... what is a boy like you doing here?! And how on earth did you get here, I haven’t seen a creature like you forever"