FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

In humanity, magic occurs when we interact with magical beings. Demons, gods, spirits, fairies, dragons. It can be as simple as a touch or as complex as a deal. Pacts with demons are the most known of this type but faith and worship of gods far outnumbers those, people just aren't aware that they are selling their souls. But the most powerful people are the result of mixed blood. One parent human, the other something else.

The Grand Archive is a mix of library, records and a temple. It is a massive place shrouded in magic from times that were forgotten by those we have forgotten. It is run by the Seer, the oldest and most skilled prophet in the Archives. An army of prophets called Writers spend their lives recording everything they see, everything that happens in the world. They work in three large groups. Those who see what will happen. Those who then see what actually happens. And those who see what effects it had on the world.

There is yet a larger force of workers who care for the Writers' needs and more who take the Writers' work and organise it into the massive Archive. It is a never-ending work. The Seer lives in the top room of the Archive's tower. It is not a large room and sparsely furnished. There is a bed, a chest and wardrobe, a large window, a fire and a writing desk with plenty of supplies of paper ink and quills.

The Seer himself was not an old man but his work had visibly and mentally aged him, his wispy hair was white and his body thin. He had been still in his bed when he suddenly sat bolt upright with his eyes wide and staring. Only the full moon illuminated the room. After several motionless minutes the Seer suddenly called out.

"Jon! Boy, come here!" The Seer threw off the heavy covers and climbed from his bed. He moved across the dark room to grab a robe from the wardrobe then dropped into the seat at the writing desk as the door opened and his young servant Jon entered.

"Seer? You called." He whispered. Talking loudly was frowned upon in most of the Archive. Several of the librarians even took vows of silence.

The Seer took a moment to answer. He was busy scrawling on a piece of paper. "Yes. Wake Jelena immediately. Have her find everything we have on the children of the Firsts and bring it here."

"Jelena sir?"

"The Chief Librarian!" The Seer turned to scowl at Jon. "Now you fool!"

Jon wasted no time in getting away from the Seer's disapproving scowl. As soon as the door closed the Seer regretted the outburst. He would have to make it up to Jon somehow. When someone was elevated to a high position like the Seer or the Chief Librarian that is what they became, names were supposed to be left behind.

The Chief Librarian was only a floor below the Seer. Jon hesitated outside the Chief Librarian's door. She was known to be very strict and not afraid to punish those who displeased her. Eventually he knocked. Almost as soon as his knuckles connected with the door it opened. Jon couldn't help but jump back.

"You have been standing outside my door for almost a full minute. What do you want!"

The Chief Librarian looked the same age as the Seer but unlike him she was actually old. She was tall with long grey hair always in a bun, even now, she was quite fit for her age and always immaculately dressed and perfectly organised. Now she wore a heavy robe over her nightgown.

"The Seer sent me." Jon blurted out.

"I should hope so. Why else would you visit a woman at this time of night?"

Jon tried to stammer a response but the Chief Librarian cut him off. "What does he want? Spit it out."

"He wants everything we have on the children of the Firsts."

"I see. Follow me then." The Chief Librarian stepped out and closed the door. There were no locks, stealing was pointless when people knew it would happen before you did. Jon followed her down past the rest of the Librarian's rooms and past the servants rooms to the ground floor. This was a large open room full of desks and alcoves where people could read or work. There was a single attendant present stood near the large double doors to the outside world.

They continued down into the basement, a maze o rooms and corridors on multiple floors that seemed to have no end. By the time they had been walking for nearly twenty minutes Jon's curiosity got the better of him. "Who are the Firsts?"

"They are what they sound like. The First of their kind. Terra the earth spirit, Caelum the air spirit, Aequor the water spirit, Aduro the fire spirit, the Demon King, the Queen of the Fairies, the god of creation. They are the most powerful of their ilk. It is very rare that they produce children. Some of them can't produce human children."

They had gone down six flights of stairs and Jon had lost count of the number of rooms they had passed through but eventually they arrived at a shelf identical to all the others. The Chief Librarian knew exactly where to look however. She took several books from the shelf and handed them to Jon before turning and walking away.

"Are there many more?" Books were heavy and Jon didn't relish the idea of carrying too many all the way back.

"That is all of them."

"Oh." Jon replied a little confused. "Didn't we come from the other way?"

"This way is faster." The Chief Librarian answered flatly.

"Then why didn't we come that way."

"We couldn't."

Jon sighed and gave up. He just followed. They went up one short flight of steps and through a door. Jon stopped dead. They were back on the ground floor. He turned back to the door as it closed on the narrow shadowy stairs. He pushed it open again and found himself staring at the wide well lit stairs they had used before.

"The Seer is waiting!" The Chief Librarian shouted over her shoulder.

They found the Seer sat at his desk staring at the paper. He didn't notice them entering until the Chief Librarian spoke up. "This had better be important. You know I don't like being disturbed at night."

"What?... Oh yes Jelena. Thank you for coming. Have you brought the books?"

"Yes. What is this about?"

"A First has sired a son. This child is going to destroy us."

The Chief Librarian was a little shocked. The Seer's visions were never wrong, he could see every possible variable and calculate not only what was the mostly likely path but exactly which would be true.

"Destroy the Archive?"

The Seer shook his head. "Destroy humanity. Everything."

"Which First?"

"I don't know." The Seer replied for the first time in his adult life. "Check the records. How many children of the Firsts are alive? Start with those born in the near future or past."

The Chief Librarian didn't need long to check the records. She handed three sheets to the Seer then turned to Jon. "Go to the Writers. Ask the attendant on duty to find any notes about the Firsts.

The Seer was reading the papers handed to him.

Demon King, son, village of Ford in north of the Lowlands of the Royal Kingdom, second half moon of 1489.

Six signatures followed that. Six Writers had seen it.

Terra, son, forest outside Bankfoot in the highlands of Pict. Fourth Full moon of 1412.

Only one signature followed that one.

"This must be a mistake." The Seer commented. "The Earth spirit cannot possess humans."

"It will be confirmed tonight by the Present group."

The Seer read the final entry on the list.

Demon King, daughter, village of Ford in north of the Lowlands of the Royal Kingdom, second half moon of 1500.

This one only had one signature. It was dated later than the record of a son and a note suggested the possibility of an inaccurate interpretation.

"So it looks like a son to the Demon King."

"There are ancient writings that speak of the Demons invading the world. We thought they were influenced by religious writings of the time."

"I recall. Perhaps we were mistaken."

"What should we do?"

"We cannot let the child live."

"Isn't there another way?"

"I cannot predict the path. The Firsts are... they are so tightly woven into fate itself that they can manipulate their own paths. Only strong decisive actions can force them down a path they do not choose."

Jon returned then with a single piece of paper. He handed it to the Seer. The Seer went pale as he read it. "Thirty four Writers have seen the birth of the child. Their visions were not clear but that many cannot have made the same mistake. In light of this and my own vision..." The Seer hesitated. "Send riders to Bankfoot. Kill every newborn son in the area."

"Are you sure Seer?"

"The risk is too great. We must not let my vision come to pass. If we do nothing then the future shows nothing."