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

his way through the system in a few years to check on you.”

Libby smiled and nodded. “That sounds reasonable.”

Mathla nodded. “It does. It is a pity. I had a plan to combine your genes with that of the monks. It would have made for some entertainingly pigmented children.”

She nodded and reached for the cup, and poured water for Mathla and herself. “So, what will be the procedure once I learn the steps?”

“We will send invitations to the ancients, and if they respond, you will go to their territories and take the memories that they offer to bring them here for transfer to a crystal.” Mathla smiled. “Once we can get the data into the crystal, we can make copies and send it to archives. Yes, it is only from the perspective of the ancient, but that is the point. They are the thoughts and awareness of one particular point of view in moments of history.”

A bowl was brought for her to wash her hands and then excellent food was set out to be eaten without utensils. Libby smiled, tore some bread, and went to eat the stew with a pinching motion that she had learned on one of her trips through the middle east.

Being single with a good education and a supportive family had made her life interesting. Aside from her five-year stint as a wife, she had enjoyed every minute of every day—even the terrifying ones.

“I can see how one pinpoint of history could definitely be fascinating.”

The avatar smiled, gesturing to her plate. “Your people eat this way?”

“No. But I have travelled a bit on my world, and this is one of the methods used to eat.”

A slight understanding came to Mathla’s eyes. “You travelled a lot?”

“When I could. It became difficult as I aged, but I still did what I was able to. I just didn’t drop off cliffs anymore.” She smiled.

“Well, given that you have some life experience, you will be able to work on creating a memory crystal for yourself. I think that will be an excellent first exercise.”

Libby finished the food and drank her water. “Well, if I am given a cubicle, I can drop my pack there and get started. Is there anywhere I can get a second robe?”

Mathla smiled. “You will only need the one. When you begin going to the ancients, you will wear the clothing that they are familiar with. It helps to create the connection.”

“Okay. But, how is that going to be a thing? I was told that I was being altered to scale in with the rest of the monks, but right now, the only ones near my height is you and Yelfon.”

The slow smile on Mathla’s face explained it in a rush.

“I was scaled to match the ancients.”

“Correct. They don’t respond well to the monks, so having someone who can look them in the eyes as a sort of a peer might be what we need to get them to part with more of the memories.”

Understanding finally struck in full. “They won’t give them up. You have this great idea, and they won’t share their memories. You have vendors and clients lined up, but you can’t get the ancients to give up any good memories.”

Mathla frowned. “What would you know of it?”

“I owned a travel agency. I told people what they had to see and where they wanted to go. I highlighted the beauty of ruins and the vistas of the open ocean.” She chuckled. “It was wonderful doing the research, and I could always find the beauty in it, but there was horror, and that left a mark as well. Do you have an archive for me to read up on their worlds if they do respond in the affirmative?”

The avatar smiled. “I believe we could find some information.”

Libby nodded. “Excellent. Do you have any questions?”

“Why did you volunteer for this? The alterations are rather extreme.”

“They are not much different from what my normal appearance used to be. The blue hair is new, but the eye colour is mine, and the height is just expansion. The silver dot. I have no idea what that is, but it seems benign.” She shrugged.

“It is your port to transfer the information to a crystal. You will see.”

Libby nodded, and the avatar showed her to her quarters and how to activate the palm lock.

It was time to find out how this system worked.

Chapter Five

Novice Libby knelt with the others and focused on picking through her mind and selecting a singular memory to focus on. She touched the crystal to her forehead, and when it warmed in her hand, she lowered it.

Master Kiol stopped in front of her and took the crystal, popping it into a reader, and his eyes widened at what he saw.

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Choose another one.”

She looked in front of her. “I have no more crystals.”

He delved into the pouch tied to his belt and handed her a crystal.

“What memory would you like?”

“Your first time with conflict.”

Libby nodded and focused, going back to listening to her mother screaming at her father and her father trying to calm her mother. Libby’s bare toes were visible, and she knew this memory. She was eleven months old, and her mother had passed out on the bed while Libby was in the tub. Her father had come in in time to rescue her.

She pressed the crystal to her forehead, and when it warmed, she extended it to him. He slid it into the reader, and he frowned. “This isn’t you.”

“Those are my toes. I was an infant. My parents were arguing. My first time with conflict.” She sat with her hands on her thighs.

He stared at her, and his mouth opened and closed. “Go to the contemplation garden and face the mountains.”

She got to her feet and moved through the kneeling novices struggling to hold their memories. She got to the edge and walked on toward the path that would take her to the contemplation garden. This