Preliminary Research (Job)

Deshi stood quietly before rows upon rows of books in the library of the guild hall, his golden eyes scanning the spines of the books before him. He was looking for something of interest to study not only for himself, but also the red head that waited quietly at a table for him. Strange really. He usually did not participate in study groups, but it seemed that he and this one had the same idea to actually do research on the regions around the area. Interestingly enough after a bit of chat, he found the guy was also interested in the same place, he was looking into – Morgate Town—so they formed this small group to study together. Did he mind? Not really. He supposed it was nice knowing that there was someone else within the guild that either didn’t mind danger or had a curiosity for the macabre like himself. Either way he would eventually find the book he was looking for before pulling the large volume off the shelf and carrying it back to the table.

Settling into a chair next to the other, he would place the book down and open it to the first page. Glancing over at the other briefly, he would eventually move the book so it rested between them before he reached into one of his hidden pockets and pulled out a small notebook and pen. Glancing over at the book he would begin to read.

In the past Morgan town was a small town that built itself from the ground up using various methods of both technology and magic to grow. The town found an economically balance and through trade became a place of richness; however, things changed when a guild called Basilisk Fang decided that the place was a good spot to start testing their weapons instead. Thanks to the weapon testing, the town was destroyed and became a ruin. From what he gathered the place was a dangerous place full of radiation and looters, but of magic he wasn’t quite sure as he scanned the pages.

In the past there had been magic. It helped the people run their business and go about their daily lives, but after the accident the mention of magic became less and less. Did this mean Basilisk Fang wiped out all the magic and replaced it radiation? Or was the place simply too dangerous to try and risk documenting if anyone that was still there could wield magic?

He had to wonder as he continued to read the book and scribble down notes in his notebook. He kept reading not worrying about the passage of time. He made sure to pace himself so he wouldn’t agitate his reading partner as they continued to dive deeper and deeper into the large volume of dry words.

He would jot down the important details of the place quietly, the sound of his pen the only thing breaking the silence between him and the other man. It was strange really. Having another sit and study the same thing as he did. He thought the presence would be bothersome due to not being used to such thing, but in the end he found it more comforting even if he didn’t know this person well. Heh. It made him wonder if he secretly craved company under it all or maybe he simply was fine with this one because he too was quiet and not one to rush and flip pages to make an already dry book, frustrating to try and get through.

Whatever the case was he would continue to read only pausing to stretch and look away from all the words for a small break. He might’ve gone back to what he was doing if the other hadn’t spoken to him. “Yet those traits are exactly what make it appealing to me,” he would pause to look up at the ceiling as he tapped his chin in thought with the pen he had. “I understand the place is rather dangerous considering all that has happened to it, but I am still curious about how life has thrived there and also if magic was erased or still exists there. “ He would look over at the other. “How about you?” After all it wasn’t everyday that he found another wanting to read a dry text about a ruined place also.

Deshi would hear the words the other spoke and take a moment to consider the words spoken before opening his own mouth to respond. “People are only one part of what creates magic. The land itself has magic too that it shares with the living. While it is true that if people exist magic can be there, I would think weak if the land they stood upon was dead or rather lacking its own essence. Though…I suppose other things can take place of natural magic and create something different depending on circumstance,” he would say before smiling a bit. “It seems we have curiosity in common then.” Even if it was a bit twisted considering the circumstance, it was still there wasn’t it? As for that last question…

The man was quiet for a moment as he folded his arms and rested them on the table. He would lean forward with a hum as he thought. “I’ve heard things on the wind about them. A guild seeped in dark deeds looking to take over the world by any means necessary. I’ve also heard that they create dangerous weaponry, but I didn’t believe it until I heard of this town. Outside of that, I know nothing of the guild. What about you?”

“That is a valid point, but in some cases yes the land and the people are so connected the balance of magic and how it is used can be dependent on the land. I can agree people do have their own abilities that stand outside this and fortunately, I do not depend on the land for my power; however, I have seen others that do and the effects the land being altered takes upon them. The results are…interesting to say the least.” A good chunk of mages relied on themselves to generate magic, but there were some scattered round the world that relied on the ancient magics that connected them to the land around them. It made him wonder just how much the land played into the people’s lives of this destroyed town or if like Loki said it didn’t matter at all.  He supposed the only way to answer that question was to actually go and visit such a place wasn’t it? Hmm maybe.

Whatever the case, he would need to finish this book first wouldn’t he? He would think as his eyes turned to the new page and began scanning it for information. He would listen as he jotted down a note or two from the page. “Interest in the town itself or something else in general?” he would ask before scratching out a part of the note he was writing to word it differently, so he wouldn’t confuse himself later on.

Pausing to scratch his head a bit, he would frown slightly in thought. “Well to each their own. I prefer to keep an ear out for such things. Keep me on my toes rather than be caught off guard not knowing what I am up against….” For various reasons this was important to him, but he wasn’t about to chat about that here. He had his reasons for keeping an eye on the “light” and the “dark”, but choosing the middle ground for himself. That aside though, he would eventually fall silent to go back to reading the book.

“Well some can move and some don’t have that ability. I am not sure what else has happened to the place, but I would think the ones that have stayed might not have a choice or if they did found a way around radiation. I don’t expect a big population though. I would think many have gotten sick or died off.” He would say as he paused in his reading of the book to give the other a small shrug. Humans and nature were a lot stronger than one assumed and as a result many things could survive in places one least expected them too. As for the other answer, he would hum at that one as he considered something for a moment.

“How would you feel about going to that place and seeing it all for yourself?” he would ask as he watched the other carefully for a few moments to see what sort of answer he received. Regardless of what answered he received, he would snort slightly at the next comment as he third eye closed for a bit.

“I like to keep my ears open about them. Even if it is not much it gives me some heads up on what I am facing. True, it cannot prepare me for a true fight if one of the members should come around to mess with me, but at least I know what it is and to be cautious. Better than going in completely blind. As for siding I am fine right where I am now. Inbetween.” He would say before looking back at the book. “I suppose we should finish this, huh?” he would say giving the other a small smile.

“It is a possibility.” After all if this place was used for weapon testing maybe no one decided to stay around at all, provided they were able to leave or weren’t wiped out from the initial testing. A radioactive area would be hard to survive in, but there were odd cases in life of people doing exactly that for one reason or another. As for the wild life, well he was pretty sure that it had altered too. He couldn’t imagine large wild life there, but the plants and insects might’ve adapted and stayed. Still he would have no proof unless he could actually go there and document it.

“But of course. We would take every precaution we could before entering the place. The last thing I would want was for someone to fall sick or die because of this.” He loved his data, but he loved his life more, so he definitely wouldn’t waltz into such a place so lightly. As for the chat about dark guilds went, he would hum a bit as he nodded. “Ah. Well unless I was hunting something in particular I don’t dig to deep beyond keeping in tune with the rumors or other passing words I hear.” There was no need. Besides he had bigger fish to fry anyway then trying to keep up with every last detail of the darker guilds. The way he approached the matter was that if they came at him, he would deal with them then and that was that.

In any case, he would eventually turn his attention to the book they were reading and shake his head at the comment given. “No. That sounds like a rather boring life.” He would say before leaning forward to begin reading the book again.

It would take about an hour or two more before the pair would finally run out pages to read and the book was closed. Stretching to work out the stiffness in his back, Deshi would stand up from the table and look at the other. “Do you still need the book?” he would ask as he carefully placed away his notes and pen.