Chapter One - The Library Dictator [Video]

[knowitowl]

[Now that things seem to have gone back to relative normalcy here in the land of Luceti, Wan Shi Tong decides that it is time to introduce himself to the community. Thus there will be a video feed of a very tall owl as he stands over his journal.]

Greetings citizens of Luceti, I am Wan Shi Tong, he who knows ten thousand things.

Due to my abduction from my own world and library, I have commandeered the one within this village. I will be the sole authority of the collection from this point on, and as such, there are a few new rules.

First of all, anyone who wishes to use the library must first offer new knowledge to add to the collection.

Secondly, none of the material within can be used for malicious intent. There is no exception to this. I do not care how noble your cause may be, whether it is against each other or our captors here.

Finally, I will no longer allow any materials to be removed from the building.

If these rules are not followed, there will be consequences.

Also, in regards to the last rule, all outstanding books and media must be returned for inventory. If you do not comply, I will send my assistants to retrieve them.

That is all.

[And with that the feed will end.]

Comments

[knowitowl]

[Wan Shi Tong regards her impassively.]

And if I did, would you destroy me as the humans would? I assure you that he was most cooperative. There was no need to use force. In fact he is one of my assistants.

[windandrain]

[She nods once, and her body shimmers, taking it's natural form instead of the mask of humanity. She's now of a height with Wan Shi Tong, eyes an electric blue. There's no reason to bother with pretense.]

If you harmed him, I'd have little recourse but to return the favor tenfold. The Laws of Heaven are quite clear on that. I will take you at your word for the moment.

[Too long fingers reach up to stroke her chin thoughtfully.]

Moving on. You are a knowledge spirit, yes? Are you able to see marks upon the mortal soul?

[knowitowl]

[Ah much better. Now they can look eye to eye.]

It is never my intent to harm where it is not due.

[He may be strict but he's no monster. At her question though he tilts his head.]

Please be more specific.

[windandrain]

[She tilts her head the opposite way, the gesture almost birdlike.]

A ban. A blessing. I've placed them on certain mortals throughout the village, including Helios. It's a mark of protection, placed on their soul.

[She waves a hand, and two letters appear in the air in glowing blue. 匿 and 土]

Did you see these?

[knowitowl]

[Wan Shi Tong looks as the symbols appear.]

I did.

[windandrain]

[She snaps her fingers and they vanish.]

Then anyone you see with those markings is under my personal protection. If you can see the markings, that means you're a spirit of sufficient power to understand what that means. Harm those individuals, and we will have a problem.

Do you understand that, Wan Shi Tong?

[knowitowl]

I understand. But as a spirit you must understand my position as well. Should any of those under your protection decide to harm, steal, or abuse the knowledge here, we will also have a problem.

[windandrain]

I am no simple spirit, first of all.

[Airily, she waves a hand. Humility is not a virtue she possesses in spades.]

And second, that is the other thing you and I must discuss. These rules of yours will not be acceptable for the vast majority of the population. Particularly those who's stories exist in other realities.

[knowitowl]

Neither am I.

[Humility is also a virtue he lacks.]

That is something they will have to accept. I will protect this knowledge with all my power, and in doing so I will be protecting them as well and assuring that all knowledge is available to everyone.

[windandrain]

That, unfortunately, is not acceptable.

[She rests her hands on a table, clawlike nails tapping on the woods.]

I will be blunt. Some of the people here exist as fictional characters in other people's worlds. Many of those individuals do not wish those materials be made public. You do not have the right to keep that knowledge here for the public, if they desire it to be kept private.


I understand your desire to safeguard knowledge, but the private lives and pasts of individual residents are not yours or anyone else's to pry into.

[knowitowl]

Hm. I did not consider this.

[ he is willing to be reasonable and hear her out.]

What then do you propose?

[windandrain]

You're new. Of course you didn't.

[Her nails continue to click.]

Allow the removal of such materials from the library. They aren't for you or anyone else to read. Period. That is the only real option with regards to those books. Allow the people who are featured to decide ultimately what they do and do not want public.

[knowitowl]

[ He considers this for some moments. While he has some misgivings, Wan Shi Tong is not a malicious spirit. He merely wants to protect.]

Very well, I will allow this. I will trust that your judgement is sound, and at that I would hope we can reach an understanding.

[windandrain]

I believe we have. You're in a new world, and I know how difficult adaptation can be, but you'll have to make some sacrifices.

[She stops tapping her fingers, resting her palm on the wood instead.]

With regards to the rest of your rules, I don't particularly care and I can abide by them with some allowances. I've written and left entire volumes of tales of my life in this library, I trust that to be sufficient payment. I reserve the right to remove them at any moment.

[She gives him a flat look.]

And I will continue to read outside in the library's gardens when it's warm. You're welcome to request collateral each time I take a book outside and to check that I return it, but you have my word I will not steal anything.

[knowitowl]

[Wan Shi Tongs expression is flat as well, as it has been the entire time. Though an owl face doesn't leave much room for expression anyway.]

This is acceptable.

[He trusts her far more than he would any mortal.]

[windandrain]

[Well, with that settled, she nods. She just saved you, Wan Shi, you just don't know it yet. And...with regards to the second rule she hardly needs a book to tell her how to be malicious. She is that already, when she wants to be.]

Good. Now, introductions. Do you know who I am?

[Easiest to just play that game, really.]

[knowitowl]

[Who said he needed saving? Gosh.]

If I am not mistaken you are Saori Kimura, a goddess of summer storms. I have already read your writings.

[windandrain]

[Eyebrow raise. She'd expected some of that at least. Though, he'd forgotten the titles.]

Correct. Though, my proper name is Saori Kimura, the Daughter of Wind and Rain. As yours is He Who Knows 10,000 Things. Admittedly, I hope you know more than that.

[And then.]

And my writings? The books I've left? Or my journal entries?

Sob. That wasn't in her info. Oh well.

[knowitowl]

Of course. However I do not think it necessary to expound on things we both know.

[And to answer her question.]

Both.

[He spent all the time since he arrived during the shifts to do nothing but read.]

She doesn't announce often, and she has other titles that he wouldn't know either...

[windandrain]

No, it's entirely not.

[Not that time was ever really an issue.]

And that is quite impressive. I certainly didn't leave short stories in those books, though hardly all the details of my life. Yet that puts me at a disadvantage, as I know nothing beyond your name. What should I know of you?

Oh okay lol

[knowitowl]

Keeping up with centuries worth if information requires me to be a fast reader.

Hm, you are correct. I am from the world of the Avatar, you probably know him. I have my own library that I have kept for centuries, originally built for the betterment of the human race. It did not go as planned.

[windandrain]

I'm familiar with both of them, I'd call them friends.

[But he already knew that. And given the spirits seeming dislike of violence, and her own knowledge of humanity in general...]

I take it that the library was abused, thus the reason for your second rule?

[knowitowl]

Indeed. Wars have been waged by the misuse of knowledge.

[windandrain]

And by the lack of knowledge, as well.

[A gentle reminder that ignorance was as much at the root of conflict.]

[knowitowl]

Yes, that is why I brought my collection to the humans to begin with. However, I now regret this decision.