A Pleading Man

Yoru leans back in her chair, fidgeting with a quill pen as she looks over the pile of parchment on her desk. Besides her own records, Yoru looks over the other Scribe's writings, approving those with clear and concise wording, and sending back those that fall short. These Records will eventually find their way to the library and into the hands of foreigners and Rajin women. As Rajin men are unable to comprehend the words, their wives and mothers will read to them.

Yoru has always found information to be more powerful than any sword or spear. During her time as the Head Scribe, she has made sure that her people have access to as much information as possible. She has made many improvements to the Scribe office, one of the first being the Foreigner Records.

The elderly Rajin detested this change in the beginning, demanding that no foreign writings other than Gira Mersa's work be added to the library. Yoru knew that knowledge of the other civilizations would benefit her people greatly, and it frustrated her to no end that this was being overlooked. After bickering with the proud elderly Rajin for months, Yoru realized that there was another way.

Like a starving hunter, Yoru searched the city for young Rajin girls that fit the requirements of a Scribe, luring them into her office. Most were hesitant at first, but after witnessing the friendship and teamwork shown by the other Scribes, they eventually gave in. Yoru repeated this process, again and again, secretly tasking each new Scribe with the Record of Foreigners.

This resulted in a plethora of foreign knowledge. Planets, ecosystems, cultures, and ongoing wars within the Praesi. Some of the acquired information even pertained to the Utherians, which helped the Rajin army in their battles immensely. On top of this, word spread to neighboring planets about the Rajin Scribes and their mountain of knowledge. Yellen began to see a much higher number of foreigners, resulting in even more information and a booming economy.

Those that once argued against Yoru's plans were dumbstruck, their flawed thinking dropped on their faces. This reaction gave the young Head Scribe no small amount of satisfaction.

After this event, Yoru gained the respect of every woman within the walls of Yellen. Each new innovation and plan presented by Yoru was accepted unanimously. Some of these plans have resulted in failure, however, the successes far outweigh them.

Yoru smiles to herself as she reminisces on her time as the Head Scribe. It is amazing to think that all of this stems from reading Gira Mersa's Records in her youth. Reading about the Savior's adventures and the worlds they visited with her mother are some of Yoru's most fond memories. To record those worlds and the people that inhabit them is now her life's work, yet after all these years, Yoru finds herself wanting more.

To leave these pages and visit the places they describe herself is Yoru's ultimate dream, and now, she has a chance to do just that.

Cage is a mysterious man, and until recently, Yoru had found his past to be impossible. However, the tall tale is becoming more of a reality by the day. Cage's powers are as mysterious as the man himself, yet those powers may just be able to make Yoru's dreams a reality, freeing Kyro and Ingen from the chains that hold them here on Raj.

Thinking of exploring the Praesi sets Yoru's anxiety off slightly. It is her dream, true, but she had let that dream die long ago. Now it has been revived, and to let it die once again would break her. Cage is confident that he can do this. But Yoru, she cannot help but think of the many ways it could go wrong.

Yoru takes a deep breath, thinking of her late son. The memory of Mavyl's smile still stings her heart. She knows she will have to move on, but there is not a minute that goes by without his face passing through her memory.

Yoru decides to return to her work, her mind has wandered for far too long. She sets quill to parchment, glancing up at the door ahead of her. Yoru gasps, dropping her quill as she sees a figure standing in the doorway. Stepping through the open door, the figure is revealed to be a large man with a lion-head, a cloak covering his body. The black material fails to hide his hulking body, a size that just barely loses out to Ingen.

"I did not mean to startle you," the man says, "I apologize." His thick mane is a brilliant white, and a long, red scar stretches across his snout, tiny flakes of black scabs on the edges. It must be somewhat fresh, a week or two old at most.

Yoru nods slowly, "Don't worry about it. There is a reason that my door is always open," she responds. It takes a second, but Yoru recognizes the man, the Tanzide she had seen in the library the previous day, "And you are?"

"Klash," the Tanzide answers, hovering at the edge of the room.

Yoru can see the hesitation in the man's face. "Klash. I can't say I've ever heard such a name. My name is Yoru," She smiles, gesturing to the chair in front of her desk, "Please, sit. Make yourself comfortable."

Klash glances at the chair, nodding. He walks over, lifting his cloak so as to not sit on it, and settling on the red cushions. His thick frame just barely fits between the arms of the chair. Under the cloak, silver armor is partially revealed, riddled with dents and scrapes.

Yoru meets Klash's orange-eyed gaze, and the Rajin woman furrows her brows, "This is my first time meeting a Lion-class Tanzide. Forgive me, but I expected you to be more... prideful," she says, elbows on her desk, fingers clasped together under her chin.

"I should be," Klash responds in a soft, deep voice, "My brothers often hound me for my lack of... presence."

"You seem respectful, which is a rare trait. I believe that makes up for it, somewhat," Yoru says, a slight smile on her lips, "Anyway, what brings you here today? Seldom do Tanzides enter my office, much less a Lion-class."

Klash pauses at the words, sighing. Worry and exhaustion twist his beastly face as he begins to speak, "The Utherians have begun to invade Mammoria. The smaller cities are being invaded as we speak, and it will not be long before the main kingdom, Ferilae is targeted. My people are doing all they can to hold the Utherians off, but our forces are spread thin. We need help, Head Scribe."

Yoru raises her silver brows, gazing into the orange eyes of Klash, "This is the first I've heard of this. I..." she trails off, a question rising in her mind, "I fail to see how I will be of any help. I am only one woman."

"Yes, but you are not just any woman. Every planet in this branch knows of your store of information," Klash responds, his words genuine, "Raj is one of the last planets in this branch to be unconquered, and I have no doubt your thirst for knowledge has aided the Rajin army on that front. There must be something, some secret that will help me protect my home."

Yoru nods slowly, lips thinning to a line. Yes, her knowledge has helped, but it is not the main reason for the Rajin army's repeated victories. If Yoru gives this man the information he needs, a blade will meet her neck within the week. The Rage Stones would make the entire Tanzide army stronger, possibly enough to overpower the Utherians. However...

Kyro's face flashes through her mind. Even if she could tell the Tanzide about the Rage Stones, Yoru knows the cost that comes with the increased power they give. Rajin men have survived the addiction and withdrawals, but would the Tanzides be able to do the same?

Yoru stands from her desk, walking around it as she makes a decision. She looks at Klash, white dress clinging to her body, "I can't give you the golden apple that will save your people, but I'll do what I can. Come with me."

Klash stands, easily towering over Yoru. He nods, "Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet," Yoru responds, turning and walking to the door. She leads Klash to the library, which is rather empty on this day. As they reach the back of the library, Yoru sees the Librarian sitting at her desk, arms folded, head drooping. She's asleep.

Yoru steps up to the desk, snapping her fingers close to the librarian, "Wake up," she calls. The women does not budge, and in response, Yoru slams her fist against the desk. The librarian jolts awake, eyes wide as she looks at Yoru. Her cheeks flush with embarrassment, "I-I'm sorry, Yoru. I-"

Yoru raises a hand, "I know about your condition. I understand," she says.

The Librarian nods, "Thank you," she says, a slight smile on her lips, "What can I do for you, Head Scribe?"

"Keys," Yoru opens her palm to receive something. The Librarian nods, reaching under the desk. Metal jingles, and the woman pulls a metal ring with keys on it. Yoru receives the keys, nodding as she turns from the desk, "I will return them."

Yoru leads Klash past the Librarian, to a bookshelf in the corner, the many shelves reaching all the way to the ceiling like every other.

"That woman has a condition?" Klash asks curiously as he stands beside Yoru.

Yoru nods, craning her neck up to the top shelf, "Yes. She and many other Rajin women have serious bouts of tiredness. Sometimes they cannot resist the urge to sleep," She says. After years of research, Yoru and other Scribes have found that this condition may be an effect of fathers abusing Rage Stones. The genes passed on are altered by the drug, causing many different defects in children. Constant drowsiness is one of the most common.

Yoru throws the thought from her head, pointing to the top shelf near the ceiling. One end of the shelf is covered by a wooden panel, a keyhole at one end, "What we need is behind that panel," she offers the keys to Klash, holding one up above the rest, "Use the ladder and grab everything in the compartment."

Klash nods, taking the keys. He grabs the ladder leaning against the bookshelf, using the wheels at the bottom to roll it to the correct position. The Tanzide then begins to climb, the ladder creaking under his weight, cloak hanging from his back.

Yoru watches the man climb, hand on her hip, tucking a loose piece of silver hair behind her ear. She wishes information didn't have to be hidden like this.

Years ago, when the influx of foreigners began by Yoru's doing, a man tried to steal every bit of information on Utherians. He was apprehended before he could escape, and the records were returned to the library safely.

After days of interrogation, it was found that the man was from a neighboring planet that had been conquered by the Utherians recently. With the promise of his family's safety, he came to Raj under the order of the Utherians, tasked with destroying all information on the race and its army. The City Guards had suggested that the man be executed, but Yoru came to them with another idea. They allowed her to speak with him, under the close watch of Perlo and his highest-ranking guards.

Yoru told the man that they could send him back and his family would be safe. All he had to do was lie. The man accepted, spreading the falsity that the information on the Utherians had in fact been destroyed, and since then, the Yellen City Library has been safe from attacks and attempts at thievery.