Lau Daiyu leaned over a manuscript, one of the many strewn across the large pine table in the center of the library. So deep was the in whatever she was reading or thinking that she did not hear Eirik approach her from behind. Eirik was born Æscgást, as his name would suggest, but his aptitude for study had seen him transferred into the Kexin tribe as a young adult.

"What is it that captures your mind?" he inquired, causing Lau Daiyu to jump slightly as she was returned to the world.

"You needn't speak so formally, Eirik. We are colleagues here." She muttered, smoothing the corner of the manuscript her arm had crumpled during her startled jump.

"You know as well as I that the way of my speech is selected out of a personal quest for verbal perfection, not out of any particular reverence for the recipient of my words." Eirik replied smoothly.

Lau Daiyu glared, though mostly at the stubborn parchment that had decided its path to perfection was to be a crumpled eyesore on the otherwise pristine parchment. "Eirik," she said. "if you must know, I am reviewing these manuscripts sent from the Order Schools in Xibalba. I have been tasked with filing them, and transcribing the information most worthy of being passed to LUX general knowledge."

Eirik rolled his eyes. "The task you seek to accomplish seizes at time more than a tree to the earth. Why do you torture your mind with mundanities better left in the realm of the apprentice?"

"Because some of us truly enjoy examining new knowledge from far off lands. Take this manuscript. It describes the voyages of a 'James Nathaniel' of Albionia. He discovered many new peoples on uncharted shores. Truly it is fascinating that all the wold we knew was only half of the picture. That is not a waste of time to you is it?"

Before he could speak, she turned back to the table. "Though admittedly it isn't particularly helpful information. There is indeed a new land in the seas east of Albionia, but that is of little interest to the Order beyond sheer curiosity. We have no need for new shores."

Now, Eirik may now be of the Kexin tribe, but the love of the sea instilled in him at birth had never left. "Lau Daiyu, I think it foolish to cast off so great a discovery like a mere mooring line! The world is as round as a tangerine, so were we to sail from Chakat into the sea, we would alight on the lands of James Nathaniel from astern!"

Lau Daiyu rolled her eyes. "Surely you fancy yourself original, as if no scholar has before connected the globe to the new lands."

Eirik shrugged off her sarcasm. "Not even in the slightest, my lady! But I doubt any scholar of Kexin descent has seen the opportunity for what it is!" Eirik began to pace as he entered into a soliloquy. "My people of birth, the Æscgást, came to these lands from oversea. Though we saw fit never to leave, only by giving ourselves to the wind and the sea were we provided the opportunity to stay. If there are new lands over the sea, it is a squandering of opportunity not to give ourselves to the wind and waves again."

Lau Daiyu scowled, now thoroughly of a mind to return to her studies. "I think you elevate the situation far beyond reason. These lands were interesting, but the people primitive. There is no enlightenment to be gained in the new lands."

Eirik pointed at her, and said "Then you sadly are not graced by the same enlightenment as I, Lau Daiyu! These are new lands, nay, a new world within our grasp! It is only fitting that we should go, and ensure Aumwen touches distant shores, and brings back the bounty of knowledge there is to be had!"

Rolling her eyes again, Lau Daiyu replied with scathing sarcasm. "Then why don't you attempt to get the funding necessary and put together an expedition. Perhaps you can be LUX's James Nathaniel."

Missing her tone, Eirik's face lit up. "What a wonderful idea! While I would love to stay and exchange words, I have much to do!"

"Wait, I didn't mean-" began Lau Daiyu as Eirik ran from the room, but before she could finish he was around the corner. "Oh well, at least it's quiet now."

OOC: Part one in a short series of exploration posts for LUX. This is the only post that will be written as a real-time narrative, so expect journals to come.