LSRO: Chapter 25 - Golems (Patreon)

Golems are fun.

I've always had a soft spot for Golems. I hope you like the Library golems.

And now, for the rough chapter you've all been waiting for!

~~

Chapter 25

Golems

There were a lot of things Quinn wanted to do right then. Getting stronger was the highest number on her list. Then maybe understanding exactly how the Library works and how to utilize her connection better. Far down that list, at the very bottom to be precise, was her wish to venture out and find bits and bobs needed to replenish other aspects of the Library.

As she waited for Lynx to answer her question of what they needed to do, something dawned on her. "Wait, have you checked out that storage container we got from Kajaro?" she asked.

Lynx's visage brightened. "Not completely. I haven't cataloged everything in it. There could be some of the things we need in there. That's a good idea. Thanks," he said.

She didn't pull him up on his slight condescension. He probably didn't mean it. He was very preoccupied, as far as Libraries went. She'd realized that he often got preoccupied with everything. He had a bit of a scattered mind, really.

"Okay, anyway, what can we activate with the stuff already on hand?" she asked.

"Yes. Best to concentrate on that first," he said, and she got the impression he'd been running other computations or whatever he did when he was multitasking. "We can create a few golems, I believe. Summon a couple of return trolleys and we can definitely do the guidance system -- at least at the basic level, anyway. That's why you needed to get the dimensional book in the first place. Our ability to locate potential library seekers is hampered without guidance accuracy."

Quinn allowed herself a moment to absorb that. "Okay, so explain to me, is the return trolley like our little friend who scooped me up after the bookworm fiasco?"

"Oh, you mean Carty?" He asked and proceeded to speak without waiting for an answer. "Yes, the return trolleys are really similar. So, you already know how that's going to operate.

"Carty?" Quinn asked despite her best efforts not to.

Lynx raised an eyebrow. "We've already established I'm not the best at naming things."

She laughed softly. "But you're a Library, how can you not word well?"

He simply shot her a glare and she backed off, changing the subject. "How much sentient furniture does this place have?"

"Apart from Dottie, there's a couch, a wardrobe, a bed, and a couple of lounge chairs." He listed them off easily.

She mulled that over, fairly sure the bed she'd used hadn't been one of them. "Okay, am I ever going to meet them?"

When Lynx answered, he sounded distracted. "Probably, but they're just in a different wing of the castle right now."

"The castle?" She crossed her arms and glared at him some more, but he didn't even turn to look at her as he answered.

"The Library. Stop being pedantic." Then he shook himself and turned toward her. "What do you think we should do first?"

She glanced around the Library in its state of disarray. "We should probably do the golems first."

"That's very decisive of you," Lynx said.

"Well, one of us has to be," Quinn snapped out and took a deep breath to steady herself. "Okay, golem creation. Library, what's the first step to creating a golem?"

"You could have just thought that at me."

"Yes, but you're standing right next to me, so why don't I just ask you?"

"I won't always be standing next to you, so you need to get more used to your interface." Lynx pursed his lips and the screen flickered across Quinn's sight.

Golem Creation:

Requires: Golem Supervisor.

Quinn looked at the statement in front of her but decided not to comment. "Okay, then, create golem supervisor."

A screen, much like that in the storage ring from Kajaro, popped up in front of her. There were thousands of squares in this storage area though. All tiny so they were in her vision.

"That's ridiculous," she said.

Lynx looked over at her. "You really like that word, don't you?"

"What word?"

"'Ridiculous.' You use it a lot."

"Well, it's really descriptive and extremely apt for what we've got going on here." When he had a point, he had a point. Then she directed her question to the Library console. "Can I narrow down the storage display to items I need for golem creation?"

Instantly before her eyes, there were about 24 squares left. 23 with contents. The bottom right one was blacked out.

"Oh, that's much better. Show me what I need to create a golem supervisor."

There were hundreds of blocks of clay in this inventory and many parts she wasn't even sure she wanted to recognize. A prompt flashed in front of her face.

Golem Supervisor Creation Access Granted

Warning: Golem Supervisors are Limited - Each Branch can have a maximum of one.

How many Golem Supervisors do you wish to create?

"One," she thought at it. The screen flickered. The words changed.

Golem Supervisor Capacity Criteria

She paused and looked at Lynx. "What does that mean? Capacity?"

He glanced up at the message and shrugged. "What do you want it to be able to do?"

"I don't know, Lynx. What do I want it to be able to do? Can't you just create these?" She felt a little flustered.

"Technically, no. There are fail-safes in place, just in case."

"Just in case what?"

"Let's just say 'just in case.' We'll leave it at that." He sounded sullen about it.

Well, two could play at that game. Quinn was disgruntled as well. "This need-to-know basis is really starting to piss me off."

Lynx shrugged. "You just want one, and you want it to be able to do all pertinent functions to maintaining the Library."

She looked at him. Directed her thoughts toward the screen again. "Capacity. All pertinent functions involved in the upkeep of the library."

Golem creation initiated.

Duration 1 hour 59 minutes 56 seconds

Warning: Avoid Incubation Area

"Okay. What does that mean?"

"Yeah, just don't go downstairs. There'll be an incubation chamber down there now."

"Incubation chamber? Is this like birthing a golem?" Quinn was genuinely curious.

"No." He said, but didn't sound like he meant it.

"Why does it sound like it's actually a yes?" Quinn asked.

"Golems are created in a chamber. It's a weird process to observe. So just leave it be. Your supervisor is being processed." Lynx already sounded weary.

"Fine." Quinn moved on, even if she was sorely tempted to go downstairs and have a look. "Return trolleys. Will we have the ingredients for that?"

"Take a look." He said, watching her closely.

Quinn realized she should have figured that out on her own. "Access inventory for return trolley parts."

The inventory screen popped up again. There were so many more than 24 windows for this one.

"Wow, that's a lot of parts. Why are some of them redded out so I can't really see them?" She asked, turning to Lynx.

"That means you can't access them right now. There's not enough power to use those items." He paused for a moment, and then amended himself. "At least not to use them and still leave the library with functional reserves."

"What sort of power would you need for a return trolley? Doesn't it just take books here and there?" She just envisioned little trolleys running here and there.

"You'd think that," Link said. "But, you know, think first."

She asked the Library to show her its blueprints. The scale that appeared before her was more than she'd ever imagined. It was massive. So many avenues were blocked off right now, but she could easily tell how much work they had to do.

Quinn did. "Oh my gosh. The library is huge. A school?"

"Yeah, we are nowhere near that level yet. First of all, you need to activate all of the different wings. You need to make sure the branches are all completed first. The alchemical and medicinal, horticultural, culinary, weaponry, combat etc."

"Okay, I get it. I get it." But she felt a renewed energy surge in her. This was actually amazing. "Then we'll activate two return trolleys, I think. Two basic return trolleys. Not rudimentary. Basic. Level up. Does that sound like a good idea?"

"Yes, it sounds like a great idea." He flashed her a grin.

Quinn turned back to the console. "Activate construction of two basic return trolleys."

Trolley Construction activating now.

Return trolley construction complete in 1 hour, 36 minutes and 25 seconds.

"Excellent." For the first time since she got there, Quinn actually felt in control. "Guidance system requirements. Basic guidance system."

Basic guidance system requirements met.

Energy levels 423 out of 75.

"Okay, I don't know what that means, but it looks like we've got enough." She glanced at Lynx who just nodded, so she continued. "Activate guidance system. Basic level."

Guidance System Activated

Open Library to all Library Cardholders?

There was a thrum and a pulse that shot through the entire library.

"Not yet," she said. "Let's just keep it locked for now."

Library Locked.

And a checkmark appeared next to it.

"Okay, is that what we need for now?" She asked, still excited by the progress.

"Yes, that's about it," Link said. He sounded tired.

She took a long hard look at him. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just. I need more books checked back in. More items collected." He smiled. "But I think everything might even be okay."

Quinn sighed, "I really wish you hadn't said that."

"Why? Why shouldn't I have said that?" Lynx asked, genuinely curious.

"It's one of those things where when somebody says that, anything that could have gone wrong is probably going to go wrong."

Lynx grimaced. "Great. Like enough hasn't gone wrong already."

Quinn clapped her hands together, "Now that we've started setting all that up, we have a couple of hours to kill. How about we go and check on Malachi and get some damn food back in my stomach?"

"You really eat a lot," Lynx commented.

She shot him a side-eye. "No, really, I don't. Generally, we're used to three meals a day and I've been lucky to get one right now. You need to feed me decent food."

Just as they were about to reach the sick bay, Milaro walked out. "We're not in there anymore. Malakai is fine. He just needs to sit and eat food and rest a little bit. Come on, I'm whipping up to eat."

"You're cooking again? This is fantastic," Lynx exclaimed.

Milaro raised an eyebrow in Lynx's direction. "Well, for now, I'll cook. I don't generally do so. I usually have people to do it for me. However, our new librarian requires sustenance."

"Yeah, I get it, I get it," Lynx said, sounding like he was the most long-suffering Library manifestation ever. "She's already activated a supervisor golem. Everything will start to fall back into place in the next day or so."

"My, my," Milaro said, "I'm glad to see you're moving along nicely. Malakai tells me he wishes to overtake your combat training since I'm going to lend him to the library as an assistant anyway. Seems like that's a pretty good fit, don't you think?"

Quinn nodded and sat down next to Dottie as Milaro walked towards the stove and began cooking.

"How did you go? You got everything? I'm so proud of you," Dottie said, her words practically running into each other.

Quinn raised an eyebrow at the bench. "You really have changed your tune since I first got here."

Dottie preened. "Sort of, maybe, sometimes."

Quinn wasn't exactly sure how to read the bench.

"Well, I apologized for being presumptuous. I didn't realize that you didn't have all the information that you should have, and that you'd been dragged here by Lynx. I sincerely do apologize for my behavior. I have your back. Let me know how I can help."

A lot of things passed through Quinn's mind right then. For one, Dottie was a bench. She really had no idea what benches could do. "So, are you able to morph your shape as well?"

"No, I'm a bench. A benchakistotallus is what I am," Dottie replied.

Quinn blinked and stared at the bench blankly, bringing up the info even as the bench kept talking. "I don't understand what that is."

Dottie

Status: Sentient

Species: Benchakistotallus

Power Level: Intermediate (Stationary) - non-progressive

"I'm a creature, I haven't been brought to life by magic. There are lots of us scattered throughout the universe." She leaned closer like she was sharing a secret. "We're not furniture, we just look a little bit like furniture."

But that just made Quinn even curiouser. "And why are you here?"

"Knowledge, of course, like the rest of you. I have a fire affinity," Dottie explained.

Quinn squinted at the bench. "Isn't that like really dangerous when your limbs are wooden?"

"Well, yes, I guess, sort of." the bench seemed a little taken aback.

"Well, Dottie, I am glad to make your acquaintance, and that you are here, and that you have my back. Thank you." Quinn tried to sound as formal as possible.

Dottie definitely had a smug expression on her very wooden carvings. Quinn then turned her attention to Milaro who was lounging in the corner.

Malakai simply stared at her. "You like that bench, eh?"

"Well, she's pretty nice. We've grown on each other," Quinn replied.

Malakai chuckled. "Yeah, I can see that. Anyway, once I'm healed up tomorrow, we're going to start your training."

"Great," Quinn muttered. She'd really just like a nice long relaxing sleep.

Malakai kept going as if she hadn't said anything at all. "And now I'm an assistant, we need to go over my permissions in the library,"

"Isn't that jumping the gun a bit?" Quinn said at the same time that Lynx raised an eyebrow and said. "Really, are we? How about we put you on a probationary period?"

Malakai grinned at them both. "Fine by me. Less responsibility all the way."

Milaro interrupted him. "Less responsibility is bad, Lynx. Make him earn his keep."

Lynx shrugged. "He's going to train Quinn. That way, I don't have to make myself solid. It drains less energy. While we're out of immediate danger and pretty good for a good chunk of time, I still don't want to use unnecessary energy until more of the books have been returned and allowed us to filter more mana. Luckily, I think we're gonna be fine."

A few moments later Milaro was done cooking and placed a wonderful plate of steaming wild rice potato vegetable mash stuff in front of Quinn with a delightful aroma that she couldn't quite place but really wanted to devour. Not everything about this new world was bad. She gobbled it up, loving it, and was really tempted to lick the bowl.

Milaro chuckled at her actions. "I've cooked before, but I've never really had anybody enjoy it quite as much as you do. It's very simple fare, you realize that, right?"

"When you're starving, it sometimes tastes like a feast," she said meaning every letter, then held out her bowl again, shaking it hopefully. "And it really was good. I could do with more,"

Milaro laughed again. "Fine, but this will be enough. You don't want to overeat when you haven't been eating frequently." He shot a glare at Lynx.

"What?" said the Library. "I keep track enough. She hasn't lost weight, I don't think."

"You should take better care of your librarian. You used to take amazing care of Karradine." Milaro admonished, his tone serious.

Lynx's scowl could have scorched earth for a moment. Something had changed in his tone when he spoke. "I'm rusty, okay."

He obviously didn't like being reminded of his last librarian. Or perhaps he didn't like being reminded that she was gone. That was definitely more the undercurrent coming from the connection she had with the Library.

Wait, stop, rewind.

It was definitely there, like an attached string. Or maybe like a magnet that radiated this sense of self from the library. Wow, that was complex. Quinn couldn't wait to see what else she could do, what they could do. That was dangerous. Had she just sensed some of Lynx's thoughts? Maybe... but that was about as far as her train of thought got.

An alarm blared out, not like it had when the core was in restricted power mode. No, this, this was a different alarm. A very vocal one.

Warning. Warning.

Golem Supervisor Incubation Period Shortened.

Golem Supervisor Completed.

Golem Supervisor Not Within Normal Parameters.

"Damn it," Quinn said, taking a deep breath and pushing herself up out of her chair to rush with the rest of them to the check-in area.

"No way!" Lynx said his eyes myriad of colors, blinking furiously. "I didn't mean anything by it, I didn't want this to happen."

Quinn glared at him and tried not to be too angry about missing her second bowl of food. She'd get to it later.

Instead she stood up, flexed her arms, and glared at the Library Manifestation even as smoke began billowing up out of the spiral staircase to the basement. "I told you so."

~~

Taddaaaaaaa

No one likes an I told you so ending bwah hah hah

Much love

KT