Memorable Soul

It was bright, way brighter than any building Memor has entered before, from the roof and walls dangled lanterns and candles numbered in the hundreds. The inside was much more spacious than what it looked from the outside, it might have been its pillars messing with his perspective.

The interior of the library was no less elegant than its exterior, even from where he stood, encased by rows of bookcases on his sides, he could make out the intricate carvings on the walls. The bookcases that surrounded him were all in polished mahogany, its design no different from the rest of the building.

At the end of the path he stood on, a large marble slate served as a table for the librarian. It could almost be compared to a long table, its size made the man behind the desk look comedic.

Memor approached, the librarian was entranced in the book in his hand , not detecting the incoming customer.

He is really into that book, huh? He stood in front of the librarian for a few seconds, before knocking at the table to gain his attention.

The librarian looked up in an annoyed expression, he then glanced around, his face shifted to confusion."Is it night already?"

Memor looked around as well, through the rows of bookcases he could spot the empty desks and chairs receiving the afternoon sun from the wall to ceiling stained windows.

I guess it's still too early for anyone with a day job to come in. The librarian looked back at Memor, squinting his eyes behind his reading glasses to inspect the customer.

"You've never been to the library before, have you?" The librarian asked, lifting his glasses with a hand.

Memor shook his head.

The librarian placed a book mark on the page and closed and stopped his reading, focusing back on Memor, his expression was still one of displeasure despite his attempts to hide it.

He doesn't like me breaking his routine, huh? Memor looked around the library and said,"Where are the books on Mnemonists?"

"On your left, sixth row, fifth shelf."the librarian pointed to his right then said tersely.

Memor nodded, then he raised a hand and drew circles with his finger."I'll look around a bit."

He didn't bother, opening his book, he ignored Memor. Seeing this Memor did the same, he strolled around the library appreciating its intricate details, at times he would skim through books he found intriguing.

Having just explored the right side of the library, which mostly stored novels, biographies, and poetry, Memor Walked past the middle path, he peeked at the librarian, not much changed to him, still silently entranced in his book.

Exploring the library was amusing, but the wrongness remained. With every passing second he spent inside he felt more and more disturbed. It must have been the years of indoctrination that made him fear the library in some inexplicable way, even if his emotions were locked up, some primal drive remained.

Ugh, I need a distraction! Just then he walked to the other side of the library, rows of desks lined the wall, all made of mahogany wood, all were empty except for one before the last desk, a red-haired girl sat quietly flipping through a book.

There is someone here after all. She looks young, I've never seen her in the village before. Memor didn't pay her much mind, but just as he was about to walk in between the rows of bookshelves, in the corner of his eyes he spotted blue.

No way, right? He turned back, staring at the girl for a while till she lifted her head to change her sitting posture. Memor was right, the girl's eyes were blue, they were dazzling just like Iro's.

In that moment, he felt another wave of disgust, not from the girl but from where he was at.

I don't have enough time to read the book on Mnemonist, I might vomit halfway through, Ugh! Memor looked in the direction of the red-haired girl, his gaze lingering for a bit too long, but the girl didn't notice, she was too focused.

That ain't such a bad idea if I… Memor straightened himself, then he took a step in her direction. Once he stood next to her she still didn't notice his presence, thus he tapped her on the shoulder.

"Oh!" she jumped in shock."You scared me there."

She really is into books, huh? Memor chortled internally, then he asked with a soft smile and the best gentleman impression he could muster."I'm sorry miss, I just had to ask, are you perhaps Iro's daughter?"

"Y-yes, uh do I know you?" She replied, still a little shook from the initial confrontation.

"No no, I just um, I was just wondering if you could do me a favor?" 

The red-haired girl calmed herself down then asked in a cheeky voice."Can I know your name first?" 

Memor reached out a hand, offering a handshake,"I'm Memor, you can call me Mori."

"Alara," she shook his hand, then said in her best impression of a lady's voice."Now , Mr. Memor, how could I grant you this favor?"

She seems friendly, well I came on as a bit of a comedian, rather than a lustful youngster. Memor sat comfortably in the seat next to her."You are a Learner, correct?"

Alara raised an eyebrow,"yes."

If what Iro had said during our last trip was true, Alara here should probably know quite a few books in this library. Added to the fact that she is a Learner, it would be an understatement if she said she knew everything in this library. 

Memor looked at her with relaxed eyes, his smile faltering a bit, it was the disgust."If I'm correct, Learners can transfer memories to others?"

"Yes."Alara answered with hesitance.

"I was wondering if you could transfer me everything you know on Mnemonists."

Her face dropped at the sound of Memor's suggestion. It was a frown so deep, Memor had never seen it before, not even on the face of his uncle.

Memor raised his eyebrows,"did I say something wrong?"

"..."

He was ignored, Alara had focused back on her book, not paying Memor any mind. Memor sighed, he knew he had crossed a line he shouldn't have from the look on her face, but he just had to ask to make sure. He stood and took a step away.

Haa, I can only come by again tomorrow if Uncle Ceres lets me. I don't have enough time to read. I should ask if I can borrow the books, huh?

As he walked to the front desk, which was a row behind where Alara was sitting, he heard a loud voice from behind."Wait!"

Memor turned around to see Alara rotated to look at him with the same frown from before. She patted the seat next to her, as if threatening him to sit down, but with her small stature, it almost looked comedic.

Memor sat back down, he watched as Alara closed her book and looked him straight in the eye."I'm willing to explain it to you. No memory transfer."

Hmm, that could work. I can get distracted by her voice, huh? Memor smiled then said,"I'll gladly listen to your voice Miss Alara."

She nodded, a faint smile revealed on her lips."Now, Mori, what exactly would you like to know?"

"Everything really, but we can start with Learners."

Alara nodded."So um, A Learner is a person who was lucky enough to awaken in the Memory Domain, of course other domains have their own type of Learner. They are called a different thing. Um but in the Memory domain, they are called Learners…"

Simple, she probably knows a lot about the other domains too?

"...As for their abilities, there is Mind Path, which allows the Learner to transfer memories to another person under consent. And…there is Memorable Nerve, which lets the Learner feel things differently."

"Differently?" Memor asked, tilting his head.

"Well it's complicated, they feel the emotions of a certain memory they choose. That is how…like the hunters, when they go out of the village they are not protected by the Fragment Shield anymore, so they use Memorable Nerve to control their emotions so as to not get affected by Passion's Curse. Oh and they have better memory and a stronger physique."

Memor nodded.

"As for how these abilities work. Um, when one becomes a Learner they gain a Phantom Self.

"Phantom Self?"

"Well let's start with the Phantom Realm, the Phantom Realm holds everything we can't see. That is the memory of objects, the emotions of objects, the potential of objects, oh and this also applies to people, it's just that most can only be seen with their consent with Mind Path…"

"As for Phantom Self, it is just a medium for you to sense and see the Phantom Realm, and it also connects to the soul. Um, that should be about it for Learners."

Memor nodded and asked,"What about Grade 1 Mnemonists?"

Alara looked down in thought, organizing."Grade 1 Mnemonists also called Mind Shifters, gain their abilities from Memory Fragments which can be found in the Memory Domain, as for how they are created, I have no idea. As usual, they get a memory and physique buff and three new abilities. Mind Break, which makes it possible for the Mnemonist to 'break' into someone's mind and read their memories. There is Memory Beast, the Mnemonist can turn a part of their body to that of a beast, but they have to know the animal, not just on the surface level." She leaned closer to Memor then whispered."I once saw my dad dissect a Skruck just to learn how to turn his arm into its claw."

And I thought Iro was a nice guy.

"Finally there is the Unique Fragment Ability, and it's exactly as it sounds, most Unique Fragment Abilities are the same, well…not exactly, there are a few common ones which most people get. As for how they receive this Memory Fragment, mostly it's given from the council members in the village, in cities it is from the authorities or the Church of Mnemosyne. Oh and not every Learner can consume a memory fragment, in some way you have to be worthy? I don't know what they mean when they say that, but if a person was worthy they can feel its call through the Phantom Realm, like me right now."

"You feel a call right now?" Memor raised an eyebrow.

"Well, I feel the call all around me, they say that the Fragment Shield interferes with the call… and that's about it."

"No Grade 2 Mnemonists."

"I have checked the book here after Grade 1 Mnemonist, all the book shows are blank pages."

Memor nodded then stood up, it was a lot of knowledge to take in as a normal man, he needed time to organize his thoughts, and the feeling of disgust has come back after she ended the discussion on Mnemonists.

Memor looked down at Alara and smiled, then said in his best gentleman expression."Miss Alara, I must leave as it is getting late, I have enjoyed your company."

Alara nodded a hint of sadness slipped through her face, Memor walked away, but then he turned back."Oh by the way, I was curious, why have I never seen you in the village before?"

Alara lowered her head and said in an embarrassed tone."Well I usually spent time in the library."

That would make sense. Memor looked down at the embarrassed Alara, from deep within him an emotion slipped out its seal of flowers, pity.

I guess I still have some semblance of life, huh? Memor looked down at ALara and said."Me and my friend Luni hangout at the lake near the tavern. If you are not busy, feel free to join us."

With that Memor walked away not looking at her face not hearing her reply—he was about to vomit.