Page 49 of The Alien in the Archive

“Ah, right,” she says. Maybe I’m being paranoid, but I get a hint of disappointment—and it occurs to me that she really wants to be my friend.

“I should come up more often, though,” I continue. “We should get lunch sometime.”

She smiles. “I would like that!”

When we sit down, I look through the window and see an incredible view of the Nautilum glimmering underneath the sea. Thalara is still gathering herself, now braiding her long hair over her shoulder.

“So how can I help?” she asks. “Are you looking for Skollor human consorts? I know you mentioned the Lost Expeditions.”

I hesitate, unsure of how much to tell her. Thalara’s been kind, but this isn’t just academic curiosity; I have skin in the game. Still, if I don’t ask the right questions, I might miss something important…and clarity is best with research questions.

“Actually, I’m looking for Boreans,” I blurt out. “Borean Elixir bonding, specifically.”

Her brow furrows, the mood changing right away. I should have known it would, I know my history. The Borean Empire had a tenuous relationship with the Merati for most of its existence. Thalara might personally know people who were affected.

“Well,” she says. “You have to understand that the Boreans usually purged their records.”

“Yeah, I’ve been running into that same problem in the Obscuary,” I say. “Thus, why I’m here.”

She hesitates. “Right. From what little we know, their use of Elixir was…different.”

“How different?”

“They didn’t perform ceremonies the way most species do,” Thalara explains. “Elixir wasn’t a ritual for them; it was a necessity. It sustained them, extended their lifespans, heightened their abilities. There are even rumors they couldfly.”

I try to feign amazement at that; I’m not sure if it works. “And Elixir bonding…is it permanent? Or could they do it without being stuck with someone else?”

Thalara cocks her head at me, frowning. “That’s…an interesting question.”

Fuck. I don’t sound very historical, do I?

“I mean…if, theoretically, Boreans had Elixir in their blood, would it have Elixir bonded them to someone who drank that blood?”

She looks up at the ceiling, reaching up to tap her chin. “You know…that’s never occurred to me before. But...yes, I suppose so? I’m curious what you’re looking at that raises this question.”

I smile. “I’d love to share it with you when I have a better idea, but for now, are there any books you can recommend?”

“Of course,” she says. “If you’d follow me…”

Thalara rises from her seat, and I follow her as she leads me deeper into the stacks. We walk past rows of shelves filled with holographic interfaces and ancient texts, the air humming softly with the sound of Merati tech and murmured conversations.

“I’ll take you to the section on interspecies Elixir practices,” she says. “While the Boreans were notoriously secretive, some of their practices were documented by diplomats and other scholars from other Alpha Worlds species. There might be something useful there.”

“Thanks, Thalara,” I say. “I really appreciate this.”

She glances over her shoulder with a small smile. “Of course. Always happy to help a friend.”

Thalara stops at a corner of the stacks where a glowing panel displays a rotating selection of titles in Merati; my translator takes a moment to interpret the words for me. Thalara taps a few holographic keys, then the display shifts to a list of files with keywords likeElixir BondingandPsychic Mating Rituals.

“This is where we keep the bulk of our records on Elixir practices,” she explains. “Most of it focuses on the Merati and Skoll, but there are fragments about other species. You might have some luck here.”

I step closer to the display, scrolling through the titles. Some are promising, likeElixir as Ritual: A Comparative Study of Alpha Worlds PracticesandCeremonies of the HyperboreanEmpire. I tap on a few, sending them to a nearby reading station.

“Anything catch your eye?” Thalara asks.

“A few things,” I say, trying to keep my voice casual. “But I’m curious, are there any records on Boreans using Elixir outside of bonding ceremonies? Something more…practical?”

“Practical?” she repeats, tilting her head.

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