Chapter 30 : Present

Lincoln stood in awe at the entrance of the Library of Archaia. It was unlike any other he had heard of, a testament to the ancient Alvanian love for knowledge and the extraordinary lengths they went to in its pursuit. Its architecture was a mesmerizing blend of ethereal shapes and shimmering materials, and it felt like stepping into another world.

Gigantic crystalline structures reached for the heavens, their surfaces adorned with intricate patterns that glowed softly with shifting colors. The air inside held a noticeable aura of knowledge, a living entity of thought and intellect. Books, or what appeared to be books, were displayed in a manner he had only dreamed of. Some were encased in translucent orbs, radiating a soft, inviting glow. Others were housed within intricate glass cabinets, their contents visible yet untouchable.

But what truly set the Library of Archaia apart was its mystical nature. It existed on every Guardio Island, and each island held the entrance to this one library. 

A unique aspect that had also earned it the nickname "The Library of Escape." was that here, there was no monitoring, no violence, and its sheer vastness ensured that one could wander for hours or days and never encounter another soul unless they desire it or had arrived together. Lincoln had been told that this library was a haven for those seeking refuge, a sanctuary of knowledge and solitude.

As he walked deeper into the library's ethereal labyrinth, he extended his hand, brushing his fingers against the surface of an ancient tome encased in an illuminated sphere. Instantly, images and words flowed into his mind, like whispers from the past. These were the few readable books. He marveled at the wealth of knowledge they held, their words and images seeping into his consciousness, expanding his understanding of Alvanian history and culture.

However, amidst the accessible volumes lay others that defied comprehension. These books, while tangible, bore an alien presence. Their covers seemed to ripple with hidden energy, and the words within were an intricate puzzle that resisted his understanding. They beckoned to him, offering secrets yet daring him to unlock their enigmatic depths.

As Lincoln delved deeper into the library's arcane treasures, he realized he'd even forgotten why he had come here. He knew he was on the brink of revelations, standing at the ridge of knowledge that could unravel the mysteries of Obsune, the Titans, and his own connection to this world.

Intrigued and determined, Lincoln started looking around the vast expanse of the Library of Archaia. He wondered if there would be a librarian here to guide him but then questioned whether such a figure would exist in a place where solitude was cherished above all. With a sense of anticipation, he decided to rely on his own instincts.

Lincoln concentrated his energy, channeling it into his legs. To his astonishment, it flowed effortlessly, propelling him forward with a grace that seemed otherworldly. It was as if the library itself acknowledged his extraordinary abilities, granting him this exceptional form of access. This was surprising since he had heard that abilities or any form of charge usage were typically ineffective within the library, a measure taken to maintain the sanctity of its peaceful ambiance.

He dashed through the library's endless corridors and alcoves, his senses alert for any sign or clue that could lead him to the knowledge he sought. The absence of traditional guardians or librarians made him wonder if this place operated under different rules. 

Lincoln's exploration of the Library of Archaia led him to some intriguing spots, each filled with its own unique wonders. Amid all this, he couldn't help but notice some lectern-shaped structures, each with a soft glowing orb on top, placed at the corners of the library.

Intrigued by their presence, Lincoln approached one of these lecterns. He hesitated for a moment, not entirely sure what to expect, but curiosity drove him to place his hand gently on the glowing orb atop it. 

To his surprise, a voice resonated in his mind, a telepathic message that caught him off guard.

"Hello, wanderer," the voice greeted him, its tone both warm and curious. "What would you like to do here today?"

Lincoln blinked in surprise but sighed as he came to accept that he'll have to get used to telepathic messages as long as he was in Alvanian. "I want to research on titans," he replied, his thoughts forming words that the voice in his mind could understand.

"Very well," the voice responded, and Lincoln felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere around him as if the library itself was gearing up to assist him in his quest for knowledge.

The surroundings subtly shifted. A towering set of shelves emerged before him, stretching high into the ethereal space. 

The voice queried, "What kind of books are you looking for?"

Lincoln considered for a moment before responding, "Everything I need to know about Titans, and also about Obsune."

"Very well," the voice acknowledged. "Knowledge about the titan king Obsune is very limited. There's only a little that has been passed down by titans from his era. Obsune's time is quite cryptic."

Lincoln nodded, understanding the challenge. "Yes, yes, I know. I just want whatever is available."

"Very well," the voice affirmed. "You'll know which books to pick."

With that, the voice faded away, leaving Lincoln alone with the array of shelves. He withdrew his hand from the glowing orb and glanced at the shelves, noticing that certain books seemed to stand out in a way he couldn't quite explain.

"I guess those are what I need," Lincoln muttered to himself. He extended his hand toward one of the books, and to his amazement, it lifted from its place and floated toward him.

"Well, what do you know," Lincoln exclaimed with a mixture of surprise and relief. "That actually worked."

As he contemplated the mysteries of the library and his own presence within it, he couldn't help but wonder how he had ended up here.

His mind drifted back to the beginning, to that fateful scientific experiment involving a meteorite. It had granted him a unique ability, setting in motion a series of events that had led him to this moment. But now, as he stood in the Library of Archaia, he couldn't help but feel that there was so much more to the story. The meteorite, the abilities it bestowed, and even Alvanian itself—all of it was just the tip of the iceberg, and he was determined to uncover the depths of these mysteries.

With a deep sigh, Lincoln settled into a seat at one of the library's tables. He carefully arranged the books he had chosen on its surface and selected one to start with. As he opened the book, its contents began to flow into his mind, a river of knowledge and discovery that he eagerly embraced.

Lincoln's eyes scanned the text before him, absorbing the intriguing details about the Titans. These colossal beings, remnants of a time before Alvans, stood towering, some ten to fifteen times taller than the average Alvan. Males had an average height of 25 meters, while females were comparably smaller at 20 meters.

The book elaborated on the existence of five distinct Titan types, each distinguished by a specific skin shade. Space Titans, with their dark blue hues, seemed to embody the boundless cosmos. Ground Titans took on a vivid green appearance, connecting them deeply to the terrestrial realm. Flame Titans, adorned in fiery orange and red shades, likely represented the element of fire. Aqua Titans, with their serene blue complexion, hinted at their association with water. Sky Titans, cloaked in misty gray or white, suggested more spirituality and a connection to the wind element.

Each of these Titan types possessed unique abilities and specialties, though Lincoln could feel the weight of this information pressing down on him. He decided to return to this topic later, focusing for now on the mystifying Obsune.

Turning his attention to the book on Obsune, Lincoln compared it with the details about Space Titans he had just read. Obsune, as it turned out, had been one such Space Titan. He skimmed through the section about Space Titans, noting their ability to survive in the vacuum of space without being crushed and their capacity to transform into any alienated species. There were additional perks, like their swifter travel through space compared to land.

As he delved into the book's account of Obsune, Lincoln couldn't help but feel a profound sense of connection to this mysterious figure. He had always sensed that there was more to his dreams and visions than mere chance, and now, he was on the verge of discovering the truth.

As Lincoln continued to absorb the details about Obsune, he couldn't help but be struck by the tragic nature of the titan king's story. Crowned as the Titan King at the age of 250, he was set to take a spouse 20 years later. However, this seemingly promising destiny took a dark turn when, in his 14th year, Obsune was uncrowned. His spouse had already passed away by that time, and Obsune claimed that she had been killed. Yet, his assertion had fallen on disbelieving ears.

Is that why he was called the cursed king? Though that would be quite the stretch.

"Emese..." Lincoln whispered the name, recognizing it from his dreams and visions, where he had seen her through Obsune's eyes. It was a poignant reminder of the deep connection he felt to this figure.

The book held no further information such as why ModCytron called him the cursed king or the circumstances surrounding his eventual presence and demise on Earth. However, Lincoln grasped that Obsune's status as a Space Titan explained the possibility of his existence on Earth. The time differential between Earth and Alvanian was vast. While a few weeks had passed for Lincoln since his arrival in Alvanian, it amounted to only a few hours on Earth.

As he reached the end of the book, Lincoln sighed in contemplation. It struck him that all the books in this library, regardless of their content, appeared to have the same thickness.

Lincoln closed the book, a sense of both fascination and frustration swirling within him. The knowledge he had gained about Obsune was like a tantalizing fragment of a much larger puzzle, leaving him with as many questions as answers.

As Lincoln delved into the closed history of Obsune, one glaring fact remained: he was utterly in the dark about when Obsune had set foot on Earth and when his existence had come to an end. The vast abyss of time that separated Alvanian from Earth cast a formidable shroud of uncertainty over everything.

Questions piled up, each more perplexing than the last. Did humans even exist during Obsune's era? It seemed impossible, considering that even Alvans existed before humans. 

Yet, the possibility lingered that Obsune had been Earth while many events were already unfolding in Alvanian. He might have even been the last titan to die. 

However, Lincoln's assumptions could be off, and Obsune might have trod Earth's soil long before humanity's existence. But if that were true, did Obsune discover Earth, and if so, how did he communicate this revelation to Alvanian? Or did he even relay it? The intricacies of titan communication remained a mystery to Lincoln. 

Could it be just a coincidence that the Alvans just so happened to pick Earth again? Even though it's in one of the further galaxies?

With each question, his mind grew heavier, bearing the weight of countless uncertainties that clouded his understanding of this perplexing chapter in Alvanian history.

He longed for answers from ModCytron, but deep down, he knew the boundaries. Moderators are unique lifeforms that have witnessed the universe's secrets, and simply divulging that information might not be viable. Lincoln vividly remembered the warnings, the risk that engaging too deeply with ModCytron might lead to its very existence ceasing. It was as though a delicate contract governed its continued presence in this universe.

Then a thought crossed his mind, further adding to Lincoln's confusion.

How had the Alvans managed to send ModCytron to Earth, and how many millennia did they have to wait before the human species even came into existence? The numbers just didn't add up, and doubt gnawed at the edges of his understanding.

As he tried to piece together the puzzle, he couldn't help but wonder if Aytrex's words were a carefully constructed lie or perhaps just a fragment of a much larger truth. Lincoln realized that his own theories could only take him so far, and he needed concrete answers.

Determined to uncover more of the elusive truth, Lincoln returned to the lectern.