The Systems Challenge-Chapter 431: Entering the Library

If it was the library they were looking for, Elmo didn't see it.

Yeah, it was a stone building, but it certainly didn't scream 'library' to him. If anything, it looked closer to a run down resort building with the waterfalls and other scenery around.

Although he did notice a suspicious clump of large flowers that he thought could be more carnivorous flowers. Only they were well out of the way and he hoped that they wouldn't try to come for them, or even to block the only exit from this place, which was the way they'd come, before they were done with this 'library.'

The building itself was made from a stone that looked like it might have been carved from a single piece, although Elmo suspected that he'd be able to see that wasn't the case when he got closer to it. The building sat up on top of a hill, so it wasn't clear if the building continued on past that, but if it didn't, the building itself didn't look that big. Which made Elmo wonder how it would be able to hold all the books it was supposed to hold in the first place.

If Kim hadn't assured them that this was the location, he wasn't sure he'd have believed it in the first place.

There was also a stone walkway up to the building that started about midway from where they came into this valley and the building entrance. The walkway was made from the same stone, as far as Elmo could tell, as the building itself, although here it was clear that the stones were placed down together, in a kind of appearance that made Elmo wonder if these had been cut into stone bricks before they were placed in the walkway.

"Sure this is it?" Elwin asked skeptically. "With all the moisture in the air, I'm not sure if any books would be able to survive very well here."

"Well, let's take a look anyway," Patricia said, sounding more enthusiastic than Elmo would have expected. "If nothing else, we can test out the pond to see if there's anything in its depths."

Elmo glanced involuntarily at the pond. It didn't look that deep to him and it was clear water, so he doubted there would be any mystery as to what was under its surface, but he didn't feel like arguing with her. While he didn't understand what she was playing at, he had even less interest in trying to figure it out.

Especially if it somehow got him roped into whatever it was that she'd been up to.

"If there are books that cover anything, I already know what I'll be looking for," Elin said, looking like she was getting more and more excited the longer they waited.

"Maybe I'll be able to find out what happened back home," Heather murmured so quietly that Elmo wouldn't have heard her if she hadn't been walking next to him when she spoke.

Elmo couldn't help but sigh. While he had books that he'd like to find himself, he doubted it'd be that easy to not only find them, but to read them. As he certainly didn't expect that the books would come in any language he was likely to understand. Not with the library being on this world.

"Well, we're not going to find out anything about it if we don't enter," Jonas remarked, pulling Elmo out of his thoughts.

After Jonas said that, it seemed to kill the mood for making comments about what everyone hoped they might find in the library, most of which Elmo hadn't paid any attention to. As he had his own concerns about it and what he'd like to find. Such as either more spells or how to move from one world to another. Even though he seriously doubted that there'd be anything in any of the books in there. Not with how they had been moved by those in charge of this competition to this specific world.

As they walked towards the only apparent entrance to the building, everything suddenly started feeling larger to Elmo somehow. He wasn't sure how or why, but the entrance of the building which at first had only seemed as large as a regular doorway was now towering over them, much like Elmo imagine skyscrapers would if he ever went into a major city.

At first he thought it might have been his imagination, but when they actually reached the doorway, he realized the grass on either side of the walkway were much larger too. Plus, he noticed an ant that looked like the size of a horse walking by doing its own thing, not paying Elmo, or anyone in his combined group, any mind. Like it had better things to do than investigate these newcomers, regardless of anything else.

Doing his best to push this new information out of his mind, Elmo shifted his pack, conscious about the bag of books that he'd brought along with him from the hydra's lair. He wasn't sure if there was a reason for them, but he figured that it was at least worth a shot. Since this was supposed o be a library, after all.

With their reduced size, it took longer than Elmo had expected for them to reach the entrance. They had a small lunch on their way to the entrance. Not stopping for longer than necessary. Though, it wasn't discussed, it just seemed to happen on its own, everyone understanding that they needed to reach the entrance as quickly as possible before it got dark and any number of dangers could attack them without them being able to do much about.

The day had reached late afternoon before they finally reached the entrance to the building. Elmo wasn't sure if they really had until they had entered far enough that the shadow of the entrance covered them. Which was probably five feet at his normal height, but here, he estimated it was probably closer to five hundred, at least.

Almost as soon as they left the sunlight, a small shadowy figure approached. It seemed almost unsteady as it came towards them, but still maintained a steady pace. Then before anyone could say or do anything as the figure landed on the floor in front of them, maybe two feet tall, it spoke.

"Greetings," it said, it's voice closer to a squeak than a regular voice. "Welcome to the Library of the Ancients. If there's anything you're looking for, just let me know. I'd be more than happy to help."

"Do you know where a book that would have a spell to let two women have a child together is?" Elin blurted, making Elmo chuckle a little.

"Of course," the figure replied respectfully. "You'll want 'Prenatal Magic' in section 297."

Elmo blinked. He hadn't thought that there would be a book that contained a spell like that. "Is there a spell in that same book that would allow two men to have a child together?" Elmo asked before anyone else could, as he felt his eyes begin to adjust to the dimmer lighting.

"Naturally," the figure replied graciously. "Any spells related to having a child would be in that book. Even if you wanted to bear a child with just yourself."

Elmo blinked. As far as he'd be concerned, that would make the child a clone of himself, but he couldn't say if that would be completely accurate, since it was possible that two of his X chromosomes would connect, making the child a girl. Although, as he glanced at Kim, he figured that in a woman's case, that might be closer to the truth, but he couldn't be sure.

He especially didn't want to start a discussion about it, either. At least not with anyone, except maybe Elin and Heather, that were around him right then.

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves," Kim called out, looking like she might be getting annoyed by the side topic they'd gotten on. "We still need to see if the book we came here looking for is in fact here."

"What can you tell us about the Book of Living?" Elwin asked, not even glancing at Kim, as if he hadn't heard her say anything. Although, he was pretty sure he was only asking because Kim said something to get all of them back on track.

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"The Book of the Living?" the figure asked, though the shape was starting to look like a book to Elmo, with a head sticking out of the pages. "I feel like I should know where that is, but I just can't remember. It's familiar, but I shouldn't have forgotten any titles of the books here."

"What if someone else already got the book, so this thing doesn't remember about it anymore," Patrick remarked.

"I am not a 'thing!'" the figure roared, although it sounded more cute than threatening. "I am the Keeper of the Library of the Ancients! If you want me to help you, then treat me with more respect!"

Elmo couldn't help but glance at Patrick. He looked like he'd just as soon tear the pages out of the talking book as he would treat it respectfully. Which would be a problem if the book they were looking for was in fact in this library rather than having already been taken out.