The Scrolls of Alkiti. (Alberdyne Style)

Scrolls of Alkiti

Easy Quest

Requirement: None

Reward: 1,000 zeni

A thief has stolen scrolls of Alkiti's prophecies for the future from the Grand Library. Track the thief down and return the scrolls, before life-changing information is leaked to the general public.

Prologue.

Blurred. The world was a blur, and that's how things were perceived by Al's eyes. He had no control over his body in that state, and it caused him to panic for the briefest of moments. Once he had settled into the dream, all he could do was tag along. So as he traveled along in the dream, he realized he recognized where he was. Alkiti's Grand Library! As he knew the building quite well, he knew where he was in the building. There were many sections of the building that were off limits to the general public, and a few that were even off limits to Alkiti's students. Without being told, he immediately knew he was in one of the red zones. All around him, there were tremendously dangerous tomes and texts forbidden to the general populace due to their volatile nature. Al wondered how he had ended up in that particular red zone, somehow, he knew which red zone he was in. One of the most classified sections of the entire library. Feeling a cold feeling in his gut, Al wondered what was about to happen. Walking through the large chamber, Al searched for a specific text. He wasn't sure, but a part of him knew what he was looking for. At least what the body in his dream was looking for.

Making his way through the Grand Library's forbidden zone, Al gasped once he was at his destination. It was a very specific old book, known as a Grimoire. Al had heard of those books before and a part of him desperately wanted the secrets stored within. If only he could take a peak. Each of the books were kept in display zones, but Al's hands deftly avoided the security measures. Whoever this thief was, Al immediately knew that the fellow was not to be underestimated. When Al's hand passed through the security bars, they were immediately shut down. The display for each of the works in this area were individually safe-guarded a hundred times over. Yet, this thief was somehow able to get past them. When the security bars dissolved, Al knew what was gonna happen next. The book was grabbed without anything to stop the event. A few moments later, Al knew that he was escaping the Grand Library from an alternate escape route. No other book had caught Al's interest, only that specific Grimoire had been the target.

After all, Al knew that his client was paying a tremendous amount of Zeni to get his hands on a working Grimoire.

This was his chance...

***

...To wake up from the horrible nightmare. When Al awoke next, he realized with a start that he was not in his bedroom. He was in a jail cell! Al was bound tightly, and had an inhibitor crown placed upon his head. The crown was designed to greatly dilute psychic potential. It was made by the ancient Kanassans and was a relic of the old technology. Al stood up from his position, and strangely, he had not felt fear. What was that dream just now? Al heard a loud argument occurring outside his prison, and he recognized the voices immediately. One of the voices belonged to his Father, Michael Cormyr, and the other belonged to the Kanassan Prophet named Alkiti. Once Al heard his Father speaking, he realized that he would much rather rot in prison than have his Father help him. Al sighed and went back to the corner of his cell. It was in the Kanassan's city's main prison center, where the most dangerous of criminals were kept. Al was kept in one of many floating cubes that were see-through, strapped completely down. He could not even speak because he was bound. He was free to walk around in the cell however. The most frightening part to the young Kanassan was that the Inhibitor Crown stopped him from using his psionic's powers.

Al couldn't stand being so crippled. As he waited in the cell, he looked down into the chamber below, he saw his Father and Alkiti in a heated argument. Several other Kanassans were present, likely guards and soldiers. Feeling helpless, it dawned on him that maybe he hadn't been dreaming that event of the night before at all. It dawned on him that he might have actually stolen the Grimoire. Al had no choice but to listen to the argument that the two men were having.

"My son would not do such a thing! Some other hand is behind this." Michael Cormyr was saying. "We both know that the technology used in the Grand Library is not military, and can duped." Michael continued. "Furthermore, the images do not indicate my son was involved at all. It was only a Ki Signature that you based your assumptions off, and not physical evidence. My instinct tells me we're dealing with a Changeling." Michael said.

"Nonsense." Alkiti was saying. "After a careful analysis of all of the footage, it was determined that your son was involved. However, there is another problem. It has come to our attention that your son no longer possesses the item that was taken. We may need his help to return it. It is clear that he is working with others in this matter, and they must be brought to justice. However, this does not mean that your son will earn a pardon I am afraid that is out of the question. He must serve his sentence as is our Law."

"Damn." Michael cursed. "How do you intend to extract the information from my son?" Michael asked.

"We already have, it is being analyzed as we speak." Alkiti responded in a grim tone. "Michael. That information that was stolen is not meant for mortal hands. Your son somehow knew exactly where the Grimoire would be, and it was stolen despite every security measure we put in place. This cannot be. For a student of the Kanassan Arts to use their powers in such a way, you know what will happen once his sentence is up." Alkiti said. "I am very sorry Michael. But your son has made his choice, and he must now pay the price."

"Is that your final decision, Alkiti?" Michael asked.

Al knew that tone well, there was venom in Michael's voice.

"It is." Alkiti said. And then turned to look at his guards. "Gentlemen, please escort Michael from the facility."

WC=1,074

Sitting in the cell, Al felt helpless. He could see the other prisoners in the dungeon, but that's not what really disturbed him. What disturbed him the most was how quickly the Kanassans were willing to turn on him. Al thought about the strange dream he had, and it dawned on him that it had not been a dream, but rather, an actual event. Could I have really taken something out of The Grand Library? But if so, how did I manage to get passed the locks and safeties? This doesn't make any sense! Al was leaning against the back portion of the cell as he concentrated on the dream he'd had. The more he thought about it, the more it had actually felt like it was more than a dream. The coincidence was too real to ignore. What if it had been me? And I just can't remember? Al had always fancied himself a good and decent Kanassan. He had even worked as soldier from time to time, to earn his own keep and begin to write his own story. However, the recent events of his life had taken a sharp turn for the worse.

Al wanted to cry, but he remembered his fierce, Kanassan nature. He wasn't prideful like a Saiyan warrior might be, but he was fierce and determined. Kanassans were a lofty group, and he pondered escape. Then, another thought passed his mind. I can escape, but if I did, I would only be bringing more shame to my family. Damn, how did I get myself into this mess? And why is my memory all fuzzy? Al closed his eyes and attempted to recall the events of the theft, however, Al he saw was blurred images of what he had allegedly done. Those blurred images could be used by the Kanassan psychics to condemn him further. Soon, Al saw the images he was looking for. It was when he had come across the book that was stolen, and that was what interested him. More so than the actual part of sneaking into The Grand Library. Al had accepted the fact that somehow he had stolen something without actually realizing he had stolen something. Something else is happening here. It might be a frame job. But then, where is the book? Al kept his eyes closed as he attempted to recap the last few moments before he was taken into custody.

Flashes burned through his mind, and he saw what needed seeing. The location of the book, in the last place the would ever think to look. Al put a fingertip on his forehead and sighed. The book, no, The Grimoire, lurked within Al's physical soul then. There was no way they could find the book hidden within the depths of The Omniverse, no matter what technology they used. Al knew that, and for whatever reason, there was some comfort in that. Without realizing it, hours had passed as Al had searched within himself for the secrets of the event. I did somehow take the book without realizing it. But how? Al somehow understood that the secret lurked within The Omniverse that Kroniths could master, and his Father had always told him he had the potential. Al sighed, there it was again. I am thinking of Father. No matter how far I go, I am always stuck underneath his shadow. I will have to break free of this madness. As he thought that, he could hear more people talking underneath him. Looking down from his sitting position, he saw The Prophet, Alkiti talking to several of Kanassa's master psychics.

"Has the data been analyzed?" Alkiti asked.

"Aye, sire." There was a pause, and the soldier continued. "However there is one huge problem. During several parts of the transmission the data blurs out, and we can't analyze any further. But it is certain that the boy was responsible for the theft."

"Then how come he doesn't remember?" Alkiti asked.

"We have theorized that he is the victim of a mind-hack. A powerful one at that." The soldier was saying.

"Could it have been an Astral Worm?" Alkiti asked.

"Possible. But there is no conclusive data. Our analysis shows that it was in fact him, only he wasn't aware of it."

"Either way he has to follow the laws of our people. Keep him in the cell until he has served his time, and make sure he is watched at all times." Alkiti continued. "I do-not want anymore shame to come to the Cormyr household after this event. Just keep tabs on him at all times." Alkiti continued to speak. He was looking up at Al by then. "Shame though, he was one of our most prospective students then he pulls this sort of crap."

"The ascended fall steeply." The soldier said quietly. They were all looking up at Al at that moment. "We will keep him under constant surveillance. One thing that bothers me sire, is where is the damned book currently? Our research could not locate it."

"It could be forever lost if it passed from Alberdyne's hands to someone else without our knowledge, or his own." Alkiti said. "This is a major disaster. Those tomes are not meant for mortal hands."

"Recovery of the tome takes priority?" The soldier asked.

"Put your best men on duty." Alkiti continued to stare at Al grimly. "Make sure this event is put permanently on his record. His student life is done. Where as he could have once been a Hero, he is no Michael Cormyr. He just wears the Cormyr name, see to it that he no longer wears it." Alkiti said. Then he looked at the nearest soldier. "Strike the Cormyr name from him. He will have to write his own story as little more than an Orphan. He will no longer be known as the Son of Michael Cormyr. Furthermore, the boy will no longer be Michael's apprentice. See to it that these matters are done." Alkiti ordered.

"By your command, sire." The soldiers all saluted, and left the large prison chamber.

Alkiti, however, remained behind and stared up at Al.

You were once one of our greatest prospects. Al could hear Alkiti's voice speaking into his mind through the art of Telepathy. Where is the book you little rat!?

Al screamed. It was the Kanassan art of psionic's torture. Al knew that Alkiti could delve deeply into the mind, but the secrets that Al possessed were his own to keep. The Grimoire had chosen him! I will honour this secret to my very death! Al thought back to Alkiti as the two powerful minds temporarily became as one unit. Al and Alkiti screamed at the same time under the weight of the psychic barrage. Even with The Inhibitor Crown attached to his cranium, Al's mind was still quite powerful. He had trained against his Father, Michael Cormyr and succeeded to complete the training. Only to fall from grace, eternally. Al screamed loudly as Alkiti assaulted his mind with the vast psionic's potential. Al knew that Alkiti was also using The Inhibitor Crown against him. The small power gem that fueled the cruel device glowed with power, and Al felt tremendous weight in his. His skull felt like it wanted to burst open. You'll never know anything! Al cried out in a strained telepathic scream. It seemed to Al that Alkiti was having a hard time keeping command of the boy's mind.

WC=1,269
Alberdyne WC=2,343