CHAPTER 112: PROPOSAL FOR THE FEATHER LIBRARY

Twenty-Fourth Day of the Third Timeline Reset, Vaingall, Fathomi.

Oizys strode through the research wing, her black feather wings twitching with every step. Her violet halo flickered faintly, a telltale sign of her simmering annoyance.

She’d been immersed in the Living Dark Matter project, unraveling its secrets alongside Kivas and Samael, when a summons yanked her away.

A diplomatic meeting? Her? The self-proclaimed head of the New Vaingall Consortium’s research division? She clenched her fists, resisting the urge to summon her tendrils and vent her frustration on the nearest wall.

"Why me?" she thought, her boots clacking against the stone floor. "Samael’s the diplomat. Kivas could’ve sent anyone else. But no, I’m the errand girl today."

The temple loomed ahead, its Claturian architecture a stark contrast to the lab’s sterile chaos. Glowing sigils pulsed along the walls, and stained glass windows bathed the corridor in violet and gold.

Two Claturian guards flanked the entrance, their faces impassive as they gestured toward a figure in a black robe emblazoned with the Karasu crow emblem.

Oizys’s irritation sharpened—another cryptic envoy, no doubt—but as she approached, something clicked. The figure’s small, nervous frame was unmistakable.

A snicker escaped her lips, her annoyance giving way to amusement. "Azulus. Of course it’s you."

She pushed through the temple doors into a sanctum thick with incense and faith.

At its center stood Azulus, her mouse-like features peeking from beneath a high-tech black robe and cap.

Two Tengus flanked her, their black metallic wings folded tight, retractable needles glinting at their heels. Their void-like masks shimmered, warping the air around them—a Karasu trick to thwart scrutiny.

Azulus’s eyes widened as Oizys entered, her hands fumbling with her robe. "Oizys! I—I didn’t know it’d be you."

Oizys’s snicker bloomed into a grin. "Azulus, you little rat. What’s with the fancy getup? Last I saw you, you were dragging me out of that flesh temple. Now you’re playing high diplomat?"

Azulus’s deadpan was still there, but her voice was tripping over itself. "I... I got promoted. After we got back and I reported everything—you, the temple, the timeline shift—they made me a Field Archivist."

Oizys crossed her arms, her wings rustling. "A Field Archivist? Impressive. I told you it’d be dumb of them not to reward you after that mess."

Her mind flicked back to their escape and beginning that they had already shared with one another—Azulus touching that suspicious sigil as the trigger for the whole event, the world twisting, and Oizys landing in this timeline.

Azulus managed a prideful yet shy smile, her nerves easing. "I expected something—maybe a pat on the back—but not this. It’s like I’ve been teleported to the top while everyone else climbed ten mountains."

Oizys chuckled, her violet halo pulsing with amusement. "Sounds exhausting. So, what’s a Field Archivist doing here? You didn’t come all this way just to catch up."

Azulus straightened her posture, her small hands fidgeting with the hem of her black robe as she steadied herself. "I want to establish a Feather Library in Vaingall," she said, her voice gaining confidence as she spoke. "It would be my own headquarters and a field archive for storing information. The Consortium would have direct access to everything I collect."

Oizys leaned against the temple wall, her black feather wings shifting slightly as she crossed her arms. Her violet halo pulsed faintly, a sign of her curiosity. "And what’s in it for Vaingall?" she asked, her tone sharp but not dismissive. "We’re not exactly starving for knowledge here."

Azulus’s hands clenched with determination, her mind buzzing with purpose. "As a Field Archivist, I have access to other Feather Libraries—archives owned by other Archivists, filled with rare information you can’t find anywhere else," she explained. "Instead of navigating the Karasu Association’s endless bureaucracy, the Consortium can come to me directly.

"No delays, no middlemen. And since my base would be in Vaingall, I’d be obligated to help protect it and support the Consortium’s endeavors—whether that’s fighting or strategizing."

Oizys tilted her head, her sharp grin softening as she weighed the proposal. Her gaze flicked to the Tengus standing silently behind Azulus, their masked faces giving nothing away. "What about your shadows there?" she asked, nodding toward them. "Are they loyal to you, or are they still tethered to the Karasu?"

Azulus didn’t hesitate, her voice firm and unwavering. "They’re mine," she said. "The moment they were assigned to me, their loyalty shifted completely. The Karasu Association has no hold over them anymore."

Oizys’s grin widened, her approval clear. She raised an index finger to her temple, her halo flaring brighter as she reached out telepathically to those relevant enough for this diplomatic decision

After a brief pause, she lowered her hand, her expression casual but deliberate. "Samael’s on board," she said. "And Kivas, the Consortium’s leader, agrees to the deal with one condition."

Azulus’s small frame tensed slightly, her dark eyes narrowing with cautious anticipation. "What’s the condition?" she asked, her voice quieter now.

Oizys chuckled, her wings flexing as she leaned forward. "Nothing heavy. You just need to trade and interact with Vaingall. That’s it—no grand demands, no hidden clause or ruse~"

Azulus blinked, her surprise evident as her hands loosened at her sides. "That’s all?" she said, almost to herself. "I braced for something impossible—taxes, oaths, restrictions. This feels too simple. I thought the leader of the Consortium would ask for more."

Oizys’s laugh was warm, her tone teasing but genuine. "Kivas isn’t a tyrant—she prefers allies over pawns. Besides, you’ve already shown you’re not here to waste our time."

Relief washed over Azulus, softening her features as a small smile broke through. "Thank you," she said sincerely. "I’ll make sure this works—for all of us."

The air between them lightened, and Oizys’s curiosity took over, her voice shifting to a more relaxed cadence. "So, how’s life been since we last crossed paths? This Field Archivist gig must’ve turned your world upside down."

Azulus’s smile turned wistful, her thoughts drifting. "It has," she admitted. "One day I’m a scout dodging trouble, the next I’ve got Tengus following me and a library to build from scratch. It’s a lot, but I’m finding my footing."

Oizys nodded, her gaze drifting to the temple’s glowing sigils as she considered her own path. "And Monochara?" she asked. "How’s it faring after the Nihil shook everything up?"

Azulus’s expression darkened slightly, her voice growing softer. "It’s stable, but there’s an edge to it now. Director Cayame’s difference since Vervendi’s death—harder, more guarded."

The conversation flowed naturally from there, a blend of updates and reminiscences. Azulus shared her dizzying rise through the Karasu ranks, her voice tinged with pride and disbelief. Oizys countered with tales of Vaingall’s experiments, her enthusiasm slipping through her usual sarcasm.

For a moment, the temple’s divine hum faded, leaving just two women bridging the gap of their shared past.

Eventually, Azulus glanced at her Tengus, her tone reluctant. "I should start working with the Claturians to find a spot for the library."

Oizys’s grin returned, playful. "Don’t let them drown you with their enthusiasm. And if you need a any help, you know how to call me."

Azulus’s laugh was soft, genuine. "I’ll remember that. We’ll talk soon."

With a nod, Oizys left the temple, her wings rustling as she stepped into the corridor. The meeting had been a success—Azulus’s Feather Library was a coup for Vaingall, and catching up had been a bonus.

"It has certainly changed for the better, now that I’m no longer shackled by that temple of flesh."

It was nothing but a blessing for Oizys to be able to return to this very timeline where the Crimson Helot wasn’t wrecking havoc and killing those she held dear.

Obviously, the fact that she was a soulmate to her own version of this timeline was not in the bingo list, but it was certainly not a deal breaker for her.

At times, Oizys wondered if her comfort and feeling for this life and version of Vaingall was nothing but an illusion, manifested from her very own desire.

She was afraid that one day, she woke up from this dream., and found her muscle and arteries still chained to that accursed temple, as there was nothing to do but waiting for the inevitable future, a full course of despair and solitary prison that awaits no one but the whim of fate.

"I... really need to stop thinking about that."

Her thoughts turned to the lab, her pace quickening. She’d been away too long, and Kivas’s zeal for the Living Dark Matter was contagious. "What’ve they gotten into now?"

But as she swung open the lab door, her grin vanished. The room was a wreck—tables flipped, walls charred with sigil burns, dust blanketing everything. Kivas and Samael lay sprawled on the floor, smeared with black residue.

Limbo Tier Divine Constructs darted about, their translucent forms tidying the mess with eerie precision.

Oizys’s wings flared, her voice sharp. "What happened here?"

Kivas lifted her head, her grin wild and unapologetic. "Just a small hiccup. But trust me, we’re onto something huge."

Samael chuckled, sitting up. "Huge enough to nearly bury us, apparently."