86. Borrowing Books

There's not much time. We should split up.

Even if we split up, this place has got two levels. How are we going to do this?

The lower floor is a borrowing area, open to the public. The upper floor is a research area. You need to get permission to gain access.

We don't know which floor they keep the Dragon Orchid materials on, that's why I think we should split up.

Waaah!... So many books to read and I can't sit down to read them! Maybe just for a little bit!

Eriri, our objective is Dragon Orchid intel.

I know, I know! I'll take this side, !

In that case, I'll go this way...

(So many books! There's no way we'll find it in the time we've got... Surely there's a faster way to do this...)

This looks useful. No lock. I wonder if I can just do a search. Input keyword... ''Dragon Orchid''. Okay, hit Enter.

?! Awakener, what have you done?!

I-uh-uh... SORRY!!!

Alarm! Coming from that direction!

Dammit! Just when Katch is away...!

We've got to knock out those guards.

Did you do a search for ''Dragon Orchid''? That's bound to set off an alarm.

My bad...

Never mind. Time is tight. Awakener was well-intentioned.

... Goddammit. Next time, think before you act. Got it?

Yes...

Hey, guys! I think I found something amazing! Get up here!

I think I know what's on the other side of that door...

I'd love to get in there and take a look around, but it's not going to be easy to smash down this door.

I don't know about smashing it down. As soon as you touch it all hell is going to break loose.

You both have a point. But there are other places we need to check. This room can wait.

But there are so many books!... We'd have to come back here every day for a year...

(When I first came to Teslovik, I remember, was it Sova?, told me I should do more reading...)

Awakener, don't just stand there. Start looking!

Ah, sorry. I was just remembering something you told me once. Remember when you said, I should read more to broaden my horizons? Well, I think I finally understand what you meant.

(If I knew a bit more and had better judgement... maybe I'd be able to help find the answer to Eriri's question.)

... Sorry, I'm getting side-tracked again. Time to focus on the task at hand!

Ah! No, it can't be...!

Have you found something?!

A Compendium of Glassware! I've got to have it! Do you know if they still sell them?

Stara, we're not looking for ourselves here.

...

Eriri... You're getting carried away. Does that book have anything to do with the Dragon Orchid?

Doh! (Coughs)... ah... um, haha. There's just so many to choose from...

... (Sighs)

Guys, sorry to interrupt you, but the patrol is coming back around this way.

They must have put on extra guards with Katch gone. These guys just love their work.

It won't be long before Katch gets back. We should get ready to leave.

Argh... We went to so much trouble to get in here, and look! We've got nothing to show for it!

It wasn't realistic to think we would find any clues in such a short timeframe.

Regardless, it's too late to send for reinforcements... We'd better pull out.

Okay, Awakener, I don't know what you're looking at so intently, but we've got to get out of here.

Wait a second. This passage here... Could it be referring to the Dragon Orchid? ''The jade is round and dark and covered in coiling dragons. As black as ink, it is the Emperor's symbol.''

Ah! It certainly sounds like it could be! How did you find it?!

I noticed the beautiful gold dragon on the cover and picked it up for a closer look.

Well? What does it say next?

Let's see... ''In the Emperor's hand, no army can stand before him, racing through the desert, indomitable and heroic.'' ...?!

Wow... Hearing that gets me all hot and bothered.

Does that mean the Dragon Orchid is a kind of weapon? That would make a lot of sense...

Okay, let's get it out of here before Katch gets back!

Alright!