At a section containing ancient civilizations…
"Oh wow, look at this!" David said. "Who would've thought there are so many civilizations from all across the worlds?"
"I don't know why you gave all this up in the first place, Barbara. You have a lot of material to research, from the looks of things." Nesma said.
"True. but when I succumbed to the curse of the Cheetah, I left that profession behind. I became a hunter, not a researcher." Cheetah explained. "I will admit, to a certain degree it does feel somewhat right to come back to this after so long."
"Glad we can help you get back in the swing of things. I mean, there's still a lot about the worlds outside that no one knows about. So, this might actually help get back in the saddle a bit, maybe leave some of your worries behind." Kokoro said.
"Yes, it sometimes feels quite nice to go back to your roots every once in a while." Leopardmon said.
"Speaking of which, Nesma, right? You got a story to share?" David asked.
"Well, as you know, I am a Bastet, so you can probably tell that I come from a desert very much like what you would call Egypt." Nesma said. "Being treated like royalty, having attendants at your beck and call… It does feel nice, but it just didn't feel natural."
"Well, cats are considered royalty in Egypt. That at least hasn't really changed, it seemed like." David said.
"I was patrolling the borders with my subordinates Kareem and Bassam when bandits attacked me. Reformed Society rescued us, and we became a part of their task force against Bala." Nesma said.
"Task force? You guys must've been busy while we were in the Stone World." Kokoro said.
"News about Grandmaster Rain Bow's death was spreading like wildfire, and the temple descended into full-on chaos over who would be the next successor. Someone had to keep the situation under control. And since you guys were stuck in the past when it happened, according to them, they had no way of contacting you." Nesma said.
"Yeah, we were caught up in something, and there wasn't any time to tell you guys about Stone World. It was kind of a desperate situation." David said.
"Apologies for that, there was so much happening during our visit." Miriam added.
"There is no need for apologies. We've been informed of the situation when Ishihara came to get us for these dungeons." Cheetah said. "It was still a shame that we missed out, but we knew that Bala's coup was more important."
"Still, you're making it sound like you were forming your own Suicide Squad. Amanda Waller sure won't appreciate that someone took her job." Leopardmon said.
"Better someone else than her, that's for sure." Mari said.
"Yeah, we became aware of how she operates. She doesn't appreciate the crews she assembles. Heck, she would've shipped them off to Universal Prison herself if they stepped out of line. Government corruption at its finest." David said.
"Couldn't agree more." Mari said as she picked up a peculiar book.
"Then for your sakes, you better not get sent to Belle Reve. She'll put you through literal hell." Cheetah said.
"Noted." David said.
"Especially you. Your heart is too pure for that kind of life." Cheetah said as she stumbled upon a peculiar entry. "What in the name of… You all might want to take a look at this."
"Hm? What's this?" David asked.
"1000 years ago, a great evil known as Valizark was spreading despair and destruction throughout all that it could reach." Leopardmon read. "Once an ordinary man, his insatiable desire for power has caused his vision to warp into a demonic entity of evil. Until six knights clad in the armors of the six primordial elements banded together, and gathered all of their energies into a powerful Elemental Sword that sealed him away, at the cost of being sealed themselves. Every few years, the seal becomes broken and the cycle begins anew, the knights sealing Valizark away again, hoping that in one future cycle, they will be able to break the chains of their fate, and be able to live the lives that they have desired."
"In a way it's almost similar to what the Equestrian Pillars went through." Miriam said.
"Hmm… this guarantees some investigation, as it's almost more than likely to be affiliated with the Element Universe dungeon." Cheetah said. "Although, we'll get to that location when it is the right time."
"Yeah, no use rushing into it right away, if we don't know what to expect. After all, that universe was only discovered recently." Kokoro said.
"Yes. So let us continue our journey of knowledge." Cheetah said.
Meanwhile in another section...
Tanya and a group with her were checking out a section devoted to figures of infamy when she suddenly laid her eyes on a certain book.
"Hm? Now what's this book?" Tanya asked, reaching for it, but found it hard considering her stature. "Damnit, why couldn't I be reincarnated into a body with longer legs?!"
"I got you, major." DJ said, taking the book out and handing it to her.
"Thank you." Tanya said in a tone of resignation as she opened the book. "Hm… the Witches of Sin? Haven't we heard Mythos Hearts throwing that title around during down time?"
"I believe so." Necroapache said. "I, for one, wish to know about these witches. They seem rather important to the world that Mr. Subaru has found himself in."
"Like you wouldn't believe. We actually ran into a supporter for one of them." Zebei said. "Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti. That guy was a nutjob, but he was a pretty staunch supporter of the Witch of Envy."
"It looks like these witches represent the Seven Deadly Sins, and according to this, all of them were involved in infamous acts." Tanya said.
"It seems six of them have been long dead for 400 years. Only one remains. Satella, the Witch of Envy." Nercoapache said. "The one who cursed Young Subaru, I believe."
"This book says she also killed the other six witches. But they are just as infamous themselves." Tanya said. "Daphne, the witch of Gluttony, created Demonic beasts to cause havoc."
"We know. We actually slayed one of them. The White Whale." Lloyd said.
"It spread a mist that could erase people from existence entirely, even memories." Thorani added.
"But that's just the first one. There are two more. The Great Rabbit, and the Black Serpent. Speaking from experience, I don't think the issues with Daphne's Demon Beasts are over just yet." Tanya said. "I'm not sure when we'll have to deal with them, but something tells me we will, and I have a feeling we may be meeting these Witches of Sin before long."
"Isn't that kinda impossible because Satella killed the other six?" Legolia asked.
"The dead have many ways of communicating with the living." Bassam said.
"So we might be meeting them one day…" Ethox said. "...I feel like that adventure is going to be a difficult one."
At another corner of the Library….
"Would you take a look at this?" Kendo asked as another group looked around. "They've got books for practically every subject in the universe here!"
"It makes you wonder how much information Mag and Mell have been gathering. Some of this may be pretty useful to have." Hope said.
"Wonder what this one is." Simon said as he pulled out a book titled... "The Sakura Cosmos."
"Sakura Cosmos? Is that some sort of galaxy?" Kaibara asked.
"It's a section in the Future Universe. Like its name, it is a galaxy of blossoming cherry blossoms. Or at least that's how I've heard it described." Jet said.
"According to this there is an entity known as Mother who resides beyond it." Simon said. "And it's said those who make it to her are born again and she grants wishes too." he said flipping a page to show a woman with long flowing cyan hair and the page next to it a map.
"Sounds pretty interesting. Might be a place we'll get a closer look at someday." Hope said.
"Yeah, I think we should hold onto this." Simon said. "I want to look more into it later and we should share it with the others too." he added, dismissing it into his pocket dimension.
"Are you sure taking a book out of this library without checking it out first is a good idea?" Kendo asked.
"I merely put it away for safekeeping until we checked out." Simon said. "Besides, those thieves were taking out books without a care in the world and they didn't even need to check out."
"I know those librarians said it didn't matter as long as they weren't vandalized, but still, better we do this properly." Sectonia said.
It wasn't long before they all departed from the library.
"Huh...it's not collapsing." Meowth said. "Maybe it's got something to do with the dungeon masters."
"I guess Mag and Mell want this place to stick around." Hope said. "That's fine by me. Whenever we need information, we'll be sure to come here whenever we can."
"Indeed. But for now, let's continue our adventure." Spade said.
"Yeah...it was a fun detour, but now it's time to find our next dungeon." Jexi said.