soul_logs | [OPEN]

The pursuit of true knowledge was never an easy thing, and nothing exemplified that more than having to scale Shibusen’s stairs once again. The promise of what the library might contain for Zeratul was well worth it though, and if it provided what he needed he would walk these stairs every day. His days as a scholar made this place irresistible to him, despite the fact that it was filled with the most archaic method of storing information. The paper books and tomes were old and well preserved, but they would not last forever. Unless the humans here began transcribing them to a more permanent vessel, he would mourn the loss of so much knowledge.

The next obstacle after the stairs was the heavy reliance on written language. Although his people had continued the practice of their writing, he had little to no exposure to human languages. With some help from the librarian, Zeratul gathered an impressive stack of books, split between foreign language dictionaries, grammar guides and anything that happened to catch his eye. It was going to take some time learning and deciphering these new languages, but it wasn’t something he hadn’t done before. Once he had mastered it, he could begin delving for the real information he had come to find here.

Zeratul managed to commandeer a table near the corner of the library, pushing the chairs out of the way so he could sit comfortably on the floor. At the very least the high ceilings here made it easy for someone of his height to navigate, but the size of the tables was unfortunate. He sat in silence, hunched over one book or another, thumbing through pages carefully to avoid damaging them with his claws.

Cybele had wanted to have something entertaining to read, and so she went to the library to find something. The Witch did as well. She'd bee-lined right towards the 'non-fiction' section regarding Witches, and pulled one of the books from the shelf. It was bound to be an entertaining read, and she wondered how many times she'd laugh at the content and how it was more 'fiction' than anything else.

Her tail swished behind her, the gesture showing her amusement, before the Witch took the book and moved over to find somewhere to sit. Cybele paused, however, at the sight of the giant seated on the floor. It wasn't the first time she'd seen suck large guests, but she hadn't been interested enough to approach any of them yet.

Stalking over to the table the alien sat at, Cybele shifted to her side and moved to slide her backside onto the flat surface. She swung her legs up and around next as she moved to sit cross-legged on the table and facing the giant guest. Tucking her lion-like tail around her, it flicked subtly with interest while she looked at the strange creature.

"You ain't no kishin egg, that I be knowing, but do d'em humans go runnin' in fear thinkin' you be one?" The Witch asked with a growing smirk on her face.

Considering the other library patrons were just as content to ignore him, Zeratul did not look up until Cybele was suddenly between him and the books. He was instantly suspicious, and irritated, his heavy brow knitting together. Leaning back to maintain some distance between them, he shut the book he had been studying, and gave her a hard look.

"It has not happened, but I have not been here long," he said evenly. "Do you require assistance with something?"

Doubtful, but he had to ask. He glanced at her tail briefly, curious about what species she was. She looked human, but that was clearly not the case.

He was an odd one. How did this creature eat with no mouth! There were so many possibilities, and that curiosity burned to discover why. It was a pity that she couldn't just take him back to that laboratory she once had... but such was the price of being able to take her revenge.

"That be a disappointment, that is," Cybele muttered with a sigh. Now where was the fun in that? Maybe it might still come, but until then... shaking her head, Cybele dropped the book onto the desk as she leant in closer to get a better look at this one's face. "How'you be sustainin' that body of yours with no mouth?"

Of course she would ignore his question, and was apparently deciding to get even more familiar whether he liked it or not. Zeratul recoiled as she moved in, raising one hand to swat her back.

"What business is it of yours?" he replied. "Leave me in peace!"

Under normal circumstances, he would have no trouble indulging curious questions. But this woman was pushing his boundaries, her brashness reminding him a little too much of the Queen of Blades.

It was curious, on her part, to see him talking without moving his jaw. Was it a Meister ability? Some form of telepathy? But not two way if he couldn't read her thoughts in return. The fact that he was already bristling at her antics didn't deter her, but only stirred the Witch on to find out more while she skillfully avoided the swatting attempt.

"I'm curious 'bout you," Cybele said without shame. She wasn't know for having any filters on her thoughts when she wanted to say something, and knew exactly what buttons to push when she wanted to annoy as well. It was a bad combination in the rare moments she wanted both, such as it was right now. "Such'a large form hav'ta consume large amounts of food. D'em kishin eggs eat human souls, 'da beasts the flesh of the livin', and you?"

She was that determined, then. He resigned himself to having to entertain her, but if she pushed too far, he would simply leave. There was places in this city Zeratul could not go thanks to his size, but he had a feeling the same worked in reverse.

"And I," Zeratul said, pulling his tattered cloak around his arms. It was a defensive gesture, closing himself off. "Obtain the nutrients I need from the sun and stars."

She didn't need to know any more than that.

Cybele waited with baited breath to see if he would bristle again or answer her curiosity. The pulling of the cloak had her laughing beneath her breath, and had her smile widening when she realised the gesture. Did he feel threatened of her?

"Do you go up to 'em? Take that energy for yourself?" The Witch asked. This time she was genuinely curious. She'd never met anyone else who could go into space like she and her sisters could. Maybe they could have a race.... well... once she got her full magic back. If she'd won then she'd take that tattered cloak of his just so then she could see beneath it all. Maybe study him.

Her curiosity was hardly endearing considering the way she carried herself, and he continued to watch her with a guarded expression. He found her quite disagreeable.

"You are familiar with how a plant sustains itself with the giving light of the sun, hmn?" he asked in turn, pointedly ignoring her other question. A handful of the people he'd spoken with here were familiar with his species, and he assumed those people were at least halfway friendly with either Tassadar or Selendis. It made him wonder if she was a new arrival here, or the other protoss had eluded her.

She pouted with disappointment when he dodged her question. Cybele didn't hide the fact that she'd noticed it either, and that despite her style of speech, she'd just displayed herself as having a sharp mind and eye. Flicking her tail back, the Witch spun herself on the table to only half face the guest as she shrugged.

"I be familiar with," Cybele said before leaning back and supporting herself with her hands on the table. Glancing lazily at him, the lion-witch muttered, "You be sayin' that you sustain yourself with such energy."

If she was trying to be seductive or coy, it was completely wasted on Zeratul. At the very least her body language was easy to read, although it was unfortunate none of it indicated she was going to leave soon.

"Indeed."

He doubted that would satisfy her, but he hoped to bore her by withholding information.

The lack of answer had her sighing. Where was the fun in that? Watching him from the corner of her eye, the Witch gave no prior warning to her gesture as she was suddenly reaching out to pull aside the cloth obscuring the lower half of Zeratul's face.

"You got some scar hidin' under there?" She asked while trying to answer her own question.

Zeratul was on his feet in an instant, batting her hand away from his face and the cloth. His weathered hide was scarred and aged from his long years and battles, but there was nothing that he was hiding.

"Enough!" he roared, though his shout was heard only by the Witch. His quick motion was what startled most of the patrons, and he hunched over, glaring at the woman. "You try my patience, female."

This one was quick, she'd give him that, but Cybele was hardly intimidated by the roaring cry. It was interesting, hearing his voice booming within her mind and knowing that she was the only one who could hear it. Such a useful ability, if one were to use it correctly.

Cybele smiled when he called her 'female'. It was a large and toothy one despite the glare, and it was obvious to everyone in the room that she was far from intimidated by the entire gesture. "Why do you wear it boyo?"

He found the grin irritating, angry that she seemed to find him so amusing. Standing had put a few more feet between them, and after a moment Zeratul crouched back down. This time he was well out of range, but he didn't want to disrupt the rest of the library.

"Why do you wear what you wear?" He asked in turn.

This one seemed so serious, and it would be entertaining only for so long, she was sure. Cybele was surprised when he crouched back down though. Mmm she hadn't expected that at all. She'd thought that this was all over and done with, but maybe it wasn't.

"It be what I've found," the Witch said with a shrug. Shifting on the table, she swung them back over the edge before pushing off of it. Cybele stretched up above her head before moving over to crouch down in front of the large being. "Do you always answer with twisted words?"

Zeratul bristled slightly when she moved in closer again. He was running out of space to put between them, and if this kept up, he was going to have to leave. Unfortunately, he was loathe to leave the library and the books he'd found, and it was the only reason he was still here.

"Do you always antagonize those that wish to be left in peace?" That should be answer enough to her question.

She was amused, and this one seemed to play similar games to what she did, but in a less hostile way. He was unhappy with her close proximity. Why was that? He wouldn't tell her, but she would make it difficult for him to avoid her.

"You be a curiosity to me," Cybele murmured with a grin. Her tail swished happily behind her, much like the cat that got the canary, while she kept this one within her line of sight. "For such a big fell'a, you don't like others being close."

Whatever species this woman was, she was definitely a predator. He had been toyed with by someone like this before, and letting it happen again was out of the question.

"No," was all he said in response. The less he offered her, the less she had to goad him with.

The lack of response did nothing to deter her. She'd leave eventually, but it would only be on her term and not another's. It was obvious that she wasn't put off by his reaction at all, but encouraged by it instead.

"Can't win d'is war if you don't let d'at partner close," Cybele said with a light laugh on her voice. Shrugging her shoulders, she set her hands on her knees while leaning a little more in towards the big guy. "Unless big fell'a don't fight? But the BREW wouldn't bring in d'a useless."

He stiffened at her approach, but didn't back away any further than he already was. There was only so much space left in the library, anyways.

"Indeed? I was unaware you were my partner," he quipped. Zeratul refused to take the bait on calling his willingness to fight into question. While Cybele kept leaning in, Zeratul simply folded his arms over his chest, covering most of his body from sight with the worn out cloak.

Cybele laughed at that, and didn't bother hiding her amusement. The dreadlocks on her head shifted from side to side as she shook her head, and she sat her chin in the palm of her hand while she watched him react to her presence.

"I be no Weapon or Meister, boyo," the Witch said with amusement clearly in her tone. "But you be one or the o'der. Meister?" It had to be if he was speaking to her in such a way, since a weak Weapon couldn't use such things unless transformed.

A denizen of this world, then. He hardly cared who or what she was at this point, and showing any interest would encourage her to stick around.

"Correct," he said. Now that she'd ceased advancing on him, Zeratul let his gaze drift off to elsewhere in the library. Not that he wasn't aware of her movements, but he wanted this conversation to end.

She regarded him with her sharp gaze, taking in everything from his gestures all the way to the obvious feel that he wanted her as far away as possible. Shaking her head, the Witch chuckled more to herself as she got herself comfortable.

"You be'a funny one," Cybele said. "You seek answers. That be why you be in d'is cover of books, but you don't be seekin' well."

Despite his efforts to the contrary, Zeratul turned his head back to her at that last statement. He had devoted his life to the pursuit of knowledge, and she was judging his methods? Then again, books weren't usually the first place he looked. First hand experience was the better teacher, but that had been in his own universe.

"Is that so?" he asked, arching one brow.

[OPEN]

[Library]

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