The gentle sounds of Soragant Town stirring to life the next morning were a welcome respite for the two siblings from the previous days that were filled with excitement and danger.
For Sparrow and his sister, Canary, the tranquil atmosphere was a chance to finally savor the fruits of their labor – the rewards reaped from their inaugural realmgate adventure. Both siblings were eager to examine the gains they had earned, the tangible proof of their courage and skill.
The first revelation... both had acquired the passive skill [Scout's Vigilance]. The name itself was almost self-explanatory. This ability promised a significant boost to their senses and perception. The world would become sharper, more detailed, and they would be able to pick up on subtleties previously unnoticed.
More importantly, the skill extended its reach into their very dreams. Even in the deepest slumber, [Scout's Vigilance] would stand guard. Any hint of danger, any subtle shift in the environment that hinted at threat, would instantly snap them awake, minds clear and bodies ready for action.
Next, the realmgate had bestowed the combat style [Hurricane Dance] for Sparrow. The very name conjured images of swirling, blurring motion. This wasn't the straightforward, brutal efficiency he usually relied upon.
Instead, [Hurricane Dance] guided him towards a more flamboyant and unpredictable style. The dance of combat became acrobatic, a flurry of feints and evasions, of spinning attacks and unexpected angles. It wasn't a direct upgrade to his current fighting style, but Sparrow recognized its potential.
In a desperate situation, when brute force wouldn't suffice, the unpredictable nature of [Hurricane Dance] might just offer the edge he needed. It was a tool, a new option to add to his repertoire.
Canary, however, was less enthused by her active skill, [Focused State]. The skill's description painted a picture of heightened concentration, an ability to sharpen her focus to a razor's edge. Supposedly, activating [Focused State] would grant her unparalleled accuracy and faster, more decisive judgment.
On paper, it was a potent ability. In reality, however, it felt somewhat... redundant. Canary had always possessed an innate focus, a quiet intensity that allowed her to cut through the chaos of battle and make pinpoint accurate shots.
In many ways, she was already in a perpetual "focused state" when engaged in combat. The new skill, then, felt like an extra layer on something that was already inherent within her.
Still, Canary wasn't ready to dismiss it entirely. She considered the potential benefits in specific circumstances. Perhaps if she were injured, or afflicted by some ailment that clouded her mind, [Focused State] could act as a crutch, a way to force clarity and maintain her concentration when her natural abilities were compromised. In those situations, the seemingly redundant skill might just prove to be a lifesaver.
Finally, the culmination of their long and arduous adventure wasn't a mountain of gold or a powerful artifact, but something far more esoteric: the dreamscape world known as the [Secret Library]. It was a prize of immense potential, yet fraught with limitations, making it a complicated reward indeed.
The siblings, now titled 'Librarians' in this dreamscape world, discovered that their dominion wasn't absolute. The Secret Library functioned according to its own intrinsic, unyielding rules, woven into the very fabric of its dreamlike existence.
Firstly, the library was only accessible during specific, fleeting windows of time. It materialized only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, opening its ethereal doors at precisely 23:12 and closing them again at 01:12 the next day, all measured according to their current time zone. Missing this window meant waiting days for another opportunity.
Secondly, the library was initially barren, a blank slate devoid of any accumulated knowledge. Unlike physical libraries brimming with tomes, the [Secret Library] started completely empty, a testament to its dependence on its users to populate it with information.
Access to this repository of potential was also heavily regulated. Only the librarians themselves, individuals granted membership, and those specifically invited by Sparrow or Canary were permitted entry.
Moreover, access wasn't physical. Individuals entered the library in their minds, as slumbering consciousnesses. This meant that no object, tangible or otherwise, could be brought into or removed from the dream realm.
The librarians also bore a responsibility to their guests. To invite someone into the library, they had to ascertain the individual's identity beforehand. Furthermore, the prospective visitor needed to be asleep for their consciousness to be pulled into the dreamscape world. It was a process demanding vigilance and precision.
Within the library, both librarians and guests could contribute to its growing collection of knowledge. They could document semi-automatically their expertise in specific fields, translating their understandings into ethereal books that would forever reside within the library's dreamlike shelves.
Intriguingly, the librarians possessed the unique ability to compel temporary guests to share their knowledge in particular areas. Unlike their experiences in the realmgate, this process didn't result in the permanent loss of knowledge for the contributor.
The ominous 'losing knowledge' effect they'd witnessed before seemed to be a consequence of the Devil Sage's power, rather than an inherent property of the library itself, a distinction that offered a measure of relief.
Adding another layer of complexity, each librarian was restricted to inviting only one non-member guest per week. This limitation forced them to carefully consider who they granted access to, ensuring that each invitation was used strategically.
The key to unlocking the [Secret Library] lay in two unique library master-cards, one for each sibling. These cards were not physical as they existed only in the dreamscape, but they were still indispensable as identity markers and were bound to their owners.
Sparrow's card bore the image of an owl, an emblem of wisdom, accompanied by the word 'Wisdom' inscribed in an ancient looking font. Canary's card, in contrast, featured a dove, symbolizing hope, and the word 'Hope' etched in the same archaic font.
Beyond temporary visitors, the librarians could grant full membership to a select few – twenty in total. These individuals could only be chosen from the awakened ones, those with unique abilities and awareness like mystery agents. They would later be marked by library member-cards, each adopting their own unique symbol.
Only these library members would retain their memories of the [Secret Library] and any experiences within it. Temporary guests, upon leaving, would forget their time in the library entirely, their knowledge contributions becoming anonymous donations to the collective unconscious.
Another thing to note was that time within the Secret Library flowed differently from the waking world. The library operated under a dilated time scale, where two hours spent in the real world translated to a full twelve hours within its dreamlike confines.
This allowed for extended periods of learning, contemplation, and knowledge exchange, maximizing the limited access windows.
Finally, the library offered a unique sanctuary for its users. Librarians and library members wouldn't experience fatigue or sleepiness within its walls.
On the contrary, they would find themselves imbued with heightened focus and concentration, allowing them to delve deeper into the library's mysteries and unlock its vast potential.
The [Secret Library] was a complex and challenging reward, demanding careful management and strategic use, but it held the promise of unparalleled knowledge and the power to shape the very fabric of dreams.
---ooo---ooo---ooo---
The lazy Sunday morning sun warmed Sparrow and his sister, Canary, as they relaxed on their porch. The air hummed with the quiet contentment of a day off.
Canary hummed along to a song only she could hear, while Sparrow flipped idly the pages of his newest published novel, occasionally glancing at the birds flitting in and out of the nearby trees.
The gentle peace was shattered when the guest room door swung open with unusual force.
Out strode their young aunt, Autumn Elheart, a figure that seemed to have materialized from a high-action movie. Gone was the relaxed easy-going office worker vibe; in her place stood a woman ready for war.
A worn, brown leather jacket hugged her torso, paired with equally well-worn brown leather pants that molded to her movements. Heavy combat boots punctuated her stride, and dark leather gloves finished the ensemble.
Sparrow, observing her outfits in perplexity, suspected a form-fitting agent combat under-suit lay beneath the rugged exterior. And the backpack slung over her shoulder? He'd bet good money it wasn't filled with travel souvenirs, but rather a collection of weaponry designed to deal with things that went bump in the night.
Without preamble, Autumn fixed them with a sharp, focused gaze. "Row, Ree, gear up! We're going on a mission."
Canary groaned. Their lazy Sunday was officially over.
Autumn didn't waste time on explanations. "I just accepted a mission from the MIST Union. Nothing too heavy, but urgent. Supernatural shenanigans, just a common Vicious Red case."
"Oh, come on, Li'l Aunt!" Canary complained. "It's Sunday morning."
"A perfect time for a mission, isn't it?" A slight smirk touched Autumn's lips, a hint of amusement mixed with genuine encouragement. "Think of it as the perfect training exercise for you two newbies. Besides, don't you want to try your new skills?"
The mention of the new skills was enough to ignite a spark of excitement in both siblings. With a shared, unspoken understanding, Sparrow and Canary bolted from the porch and into their room, a flurry of limbs and whispered plans. The transformation from relaxed siblings to ready-for-anything agents was swift and efficient.
Sparrow, other than exchanging his grey eyepatch with the black one, opted for practicality and speed in his outfit. He layered a comfortable combat under-suit beneath a plain black T-shirt. A black varsity jacket, its white sleeves a stark contrast to the dark body, provided warmth without hindering his movements. Black joggers and white sneakers completed the look, prioritizing agility over heavy protection.
But, the relaxed appearance hid deadly threat. Tucked into a holster at his side, hidden beneath the jacket, sat a semi-automatic handgun, a silent promise of lethal efficiency. That was still not counting his supernatural bare-handed combat power as an
Canary followed a similar vein but added her own stylistic flair. Over her combat under-suit, she wore a black polo shirt, its collar subtly popped. A black aviator jacket, sleek and functional, replaced what-should-be Sparrow's varsity jacket, adding a touch of classic cool.
She chose black denim pants for a slightly more durable option and completed the outfit with sturdy combat boots, echoing Autumn's practicality.
But Canary's real arsenal lay hidden. A leather backpack, seemingly innocuous, was a carefully curated collection of necessities: a tactical knife for close-quarters combat, pockets filled with various different types of elemental shards, various pills and potions for many different situations, and several handgun magazines to ensure she wouldn't run dry in a firefight.
And just like her brother, a pair of semi-automatic handguns were nestled in holsters beneath her jacket, one on each side, a balanced and deadly combination. In addition, she also wore two mystery artifacts: Blink Necklace, the gift from her aunt; and Clairvoyant Glasses, the gift from her brother.
With a final check of their gear, a fleeting exchange of confident nods, Sparrow and Canary emerged from their room, ready to face the supernatural with their aunt. The lazy Sunday morning was a distant memory. The mission awaited.