Ancient Thought by Viola Grace (literature books to read txt) 📗

toxic, but wonderful. They were destroyed when the great cities on Lurar fell.”

“You travelled, as well.” She smiled.

“Oh, I did. My line still continues on in the Adru-Skari. The Tah family have my blood.”

“You keep track of them?”

Oshuan nodded. “I travel to the abbey and use the link to the archive to seek information on my birth world.”

“When was the last time you checked on it?”

Oshuan cocked her head. “Two hundred or more years. It has been a while.”

“What do you think creates an ancient?” Libby chuckled. “Aside from time.”

“I don’t know. I think it starts as a devotion to remaining alive that your world recognizes. It answers, even if it has no avatar, and your aging stops.” Oshuan smiled. “I have met true born immortals, by the way. They are a strange bunch, and they have to watch their reproduction so carefully.”

“There are actual immortals?” She knew her eyes were wide.

Oshuan chuckled. “There are. There are beings in the stars that you can only dream of.”

“Will you tell me about them?”

“So that you can put them in the crystals?” Oshuan suddenly got canny.

“No, screw the crystals. Just tell me. I have always loved talking to other travellers, and now, I know that there was so much more out there. It is slightly frustrating to be wedged in place.”

Oshuan blinked at her comments and giggled. “Why don’t I start with the ancients that are here? There are twenty-six of us, and once folks get curious about you, they are going to ask for you.”

“I will deal with them as I meet them, but if you know of any that are trouble, I would appreciate a warning.”

They ate and discussed the other ancients, what to watch out for, and how to avoid issues.

When the afternoon light was moving, Oshuan smiled. “If you want that memory, come on.”

Libby drank some water and got to her feet, following her host out to a stone garden with a large rock in the centre. Oshuan sat on the stone, and Libby followed the gesture and knelt at her feet, taking the smooth and scaly hands with her own.

“The first time I saw the sun, hm?”

“Yes.” She watched as the ancient turned her face to the suns, and the memories started flowing. Libby sat and absorbed the memories of light, warmth, the feeling of strength and energy. It was a memory of complete wellbeing and hope. Joy. There was so much joy in that memory.

She took the memory and placed it in the crystal.

Oshuan looked serene. “Anything else?”

“The first time you saw a night sky, if you can remember.”

Oshuan closed her eyes again and left the happy memories take her to the first time she saw the stars. They sat quietly together as the memories of the stars drifted through her mind.

When the transfer was completed, the sun was setting. Libby asked, “Do you want to see the outfit before I go?”

Oshuan smiled. “Save it for next time. I think I am overdue a trip to the monastery.”

Libby nodded. “If you are there and want to have some bad tea, ask for me.”

The woman hissed and giggled. “Thank you for your visit.”

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

Oshuan chuckled deeply. “You should ask Yelfon for his hospitality. The sparks would fly, I am sure.”

“Why?”

“Ask him, and you will find out.”

Libby snorted and was walked to her disk. When she was back in the air and heading for the monastery, she smiled. The ancients weren’t all going to be so much fun, but Oshuan had been a great way to start.

Master Kiol greeted her with his scanner when she landed. “Have you brought a memory, Master Elizabeth?”

“Yes. Two.”

Mathla walked up and crossed her arms. “What are the memories?”

Libby smiled. “The first time she saw the sun, and the first time she saw the stars. The emotions behind the images are hope and wonder.”

Kiol took the crystals, and he took in a deep breath before stiffening his shoulders and slipping in the next memory where he smiled, and Libby could see that he wanted to spread his arms wide.

She put her disk back on the charger and stretched. The suns were down. “So, I guess I missed dinner.”

Mathla linked arms with her and walked her toward her private quarters. “I think we can have something made for you.”

“As long as it isn’t bug-related, I will eat anything.”

“Ah, she tried that with you.”

“Of course. They weren’t bad. I think we cleared most of the plates. I hate those big beetles, though.” She made a face.

“You ate them?”

“Of course. She was my host, and it was what was offered. I ate it, and I would eat it again.”

Mathla hugged her close. “You are quite the excellent investment.”

Libby knew she was, but she really wanted to look up Yelfon and hospitality, but she didn’t know what he was. “What species is Yelfon?”

“His people turned into the Dremarai. I don’t know what they were originally called.”

“Ah. Can I look up Oshuan’s people?”

“Of course. But that will have to wait. You have been getting quite a few requests in the last hour. Most do not require a costume if that is better. What did Oshuan think of your outfit?”

“Nothing. I explained my reasoning, and that was that.” She chuckled. “We talked to each other like people, not like I was trying to bribe her into an experiment by highlighting a moment from her past.”

“Well, based on Kiol’s expression, you got a usable memory. Did you enhance it?”

“No, and I didn’t blur it or put music over it either. They are just moments. Pure moments that people forget about. Oh, and the one of Oshuan’s first night sky can be used to pinpoint exactly how old she is if you are good at stellar cartography.”

Mathla laughed. “You are definitely worth every credit.”

Chapter Seven

The next three ancients that she saw were all polite and enjoyed her visits. She ate a number of things as it seemed that it was the benchmark for how capable