Chapter 361 (1/2)
Book 3, Chapter 97 – The Mysterious Wolfblade
After the war for the Blisterpeaks, Nucleus was like an ant-hill someone kicked over For theout of the ordinary had happened He spent most of his time in the library, just as he had before they were almost annihilated
The library was an elegantly constructed building, constructed of sound-proof materials that kept the din of the outside at bay Theinto another world
Towering shelves stuffed with books rose all around For all this ular occupant
Wolfblade was perched high upon a ladder and looked out over the library The books were spread all over like a whirlpool of knowledge They seeh the roo the towers, Wolfblade's nificant
This collection of books were a microcosm of all hue of the world at his fingertips It was society, and culture, distilled into words on a page and placed here for safe keeping
A single hout the ages… it was impossible not to feel small
As Wolfblade was busy conte this, tendrils of yellow sand invaded the rooather A few e, with red eyes and dark bark-like skin The deht with it the stink of fear and destruction
Wolfblade sensed the deently closed the book in his hands “Every time I'm here, I am confronted with the idea that there is no other place like it in all the wasteland There's e here than a man could hope to learn in his lifetime And yet, all of these books represent just the tiniest fraglory that will eventually be forgotten For such a small people to have such a vast history… it's funny that the so-called Gods and demons do not even know their own history”
The Caliph of the Sands was not opposed to Wolfblade's wry co ti creature It is enough, however, to seize the moment The past doesn't matter, it is the future that is important”
A somewhat derisive snorance from birth to death If we do not know ourselves, then we cannot kno vulnerable our beliefs are We cannot kno laughable our pursuits are, or hoorthless our sacrifices are If you never take time to know the past, how can you be sure the future you seek is the one you desire?”
A flash of light flickered in the de?”
“No I a, one ofthe heights I've acquired But the altitude does afford er view”
“What do you mean?”
“Like a man who sees a shadow cast over the world, but does not knohy they form – for beyond it is a vast and inscrutable sky of darkness And I was careless enough to catch a glimpse”
Wolfblade's words were as profound as they were enig for a time in silence
What did it matter, none of this orth consideration This one had always been strange, and his style of thought was never Abaddon's proverbial cup of tea The de what he had to So he stopped waxing philosophical and changed the subject “Are you beco accustomed to your new vessel, ancient one?”
“It is adequate, though too weak At present, ree”
“Heheh… but it is the most incredible power in the world You are indeed the maddest fiend I've ever met If word reaches Gehenna that you're alive, it will definitely cause a stir aed the subject “Speaking of Gehenna, it appears they have begun to stir There is one a the wastelanders with the hellion Arun to court disciples, but I do not know for how long”
A seldorim expression crossed Abaddon's hideous face If those cowards were stirring, then it
But he was certain the fiends of Gehenna were incapable of doing anything noteworthy Abaddon had long abhorred their company and had never wanted to call himself one of their number Now that the ancient one and his unfathomable mind was here, he had even less inclination to bother with theet in his way then the Caliph of the Sands was not disinclined to eli trouble in the wastelands
“You should not underestiht in the great war and have survived to today The scope of their vision is far beyond the ken of those who came after, like you You are too impatient, and do not understand the cost in blood and effort that er one is for glorious success, the ht low”
Abaddon took exception to the scolding, but before he could respond so so, he threw it toward Wolfblade “Enough for now Someone comes”
His words hung in the air as the demon's body melted away into dust and floated away on the wind
Wolfblade snatched the iteiven him from the air
“What are you still doing in here,female voice filled the library A woled perched on her head walked in Her long, silvery-grey hair and alluring figure never failed to stir the dark passions of the uest fro for soht ry”
The Dark Atoanization in a hundred years that stood up against the full ht of the elysian army and survived It stood to reason that lances won from the hidden powers of the wastelands Noas the tiotiations After all, defeating Skycloud would require a collaborative effort
Wolfblade descended from the stairs with slow, deliberate steps Without a note of hurry, and in an aluid tone he replied “It's fine Now that they are here, they won't deign to leave so easily There is no sense in rushi+ng Let them wait”