"How long has the librarian been working here?" asked Laudis with clear disappointment.
"About seven years, sir. She didn't ask for any salary — the king takes care of her basic needs. She often falls asleep at her desk reading a book," replied Thomas.
"Call me Laudis, please," he responded with a faint smile.
"As you wish, Laudis."
"How many books does the library contain?"
"It is the biggest collection in the North. It was never counted, but I would estimate that there are about 300,000 books."
"And what's the librarian's name?"
"To be honest, I didn't care to ask. I only pass the letters to her."
"I see..."
Walking through the corridors, they saw the stained glass windows dying the brick floor crimson red. The paintings depicted hunts, nature, portraits of former kings, and animals. The scenery was still, yet not boring — it evoked an unexplainable sense of comfort in both of them. After a while, both of them finally arrived. The black double doors had the sign 'Library. Do not disturb!'
"There she is. If you want to ask me something, go to the room number five, that's the left wing of the castle."
"Thanks," he replied lightly.
"Just be careful when you ente—"
Laudis opened the doors. Suddenly, the sound of falling books filled the room. When the kid turned around, Thomas was already absent. There she was, the mystical librarian. Her outfit consisted of a beige button-down shirt, brown trousers, black shoes, and a belt. Her hair was straight, dark blonde, and resembled a wild creature. She wore thick, wooden-framed glasses. Her brown eyes were severely enlarged, almost like they were bulging out. Judging by her appearance, she looked to be around twenty-seven.
"Mail or someone else? Wait, who are you? I've never seen you before. If it's about the taxes, I don't care. I don't earn anything, thus I won't pay even one silver," the librarian stated, constantly adjusting her glasses.
"I'm neither of the persons you're thinking of. I'm only here to read in peace. Do you mind sharing your name, madame?" responded Laudis with a half-hearted smile.
"My name? I suppose you can call me Elisabeth. And what about you?" she replied with a disoriented look.
"Laudis, it's a pleasure to meet you, Elisabeth," he replied, grabbing her hand and kissing it gently.
"Oh! You have good manners... By the way, how old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"Crap. Nonetheless, feel free to use the library, just don't destroy anything, kid," stated Elisabeth, picking up the books with disappointment.
"Got it."
After he walked past her, the smile quickly faded away.
'I want to die. I want flames to enter my body and burn me from the inside. I wish I could cease to exist. I am a wicked and pathetic idiot... Ahh! That's better, I had to play the role for a while, but now I can finally use the library in peace. After all, the ends justify the means. Now, something about Olimpian Gods or Will. It has to be in the history aisle,' thought Laudis, searching for a book.
The books mostly covered recent history. Few were behind special glass; they were titled 'Genesis of the Mundusia' and divided into five parts. To his surprise, there were the first, the second, and the fourth parts. The third and fifth ones were absent. Elisabeth mentioned that they were stolen around fifty years ago by an unknown suspect.
'No luck in history. I guess I can check the magic part. I don't have high hopes for that, also,' thought Laudis with a pessimistic acceptance.
He was right. Books mostly covered the use of elements, alchemy, spells, auras, and such. Nothing about the things he cared about. He stumbled across a bronze door with the sign 'The Banned Books'.
"Excuse me. Can you allow me to enter that part?" he asked with the same forced smile.
"Why bother about those in particular? There are many books around you, yet you choose to read the banned ones?" wondered Elisabeth with an uncertain look.
"I want to learn something about the Olimpian Gods. I'm really into those myths."
"Mhm... Fine, you can have the keys, here," she passed down a key chain with a skull replica.
"I really appreciate it."
"Just return them after you're done."
Laudis stood before the forbidden doors. They were made out of bronze and had carved images on them depicting strange symbols unknown to him. He inserted the key and rotated it. The doors opened. The hinges were in good condition, so it wasn't hard to push them. Laudis entered the secret room. Filled with books, but they were uncategorized and placed chaotically. Completely inconsistent with the rest of the library. He searched for the answers and found only one book. 'Olimpian Gods and their origin' by Seissylt Hier. Judging by its condition, it was at least two hundred years old. On the cover, there was only a depiction of the eye. It resembled Will's form. Instead of a white with black iris and pupil, it was black with white iris and pupil.
'Did the dye fade? Is that Will or someone else? I need to find out, it's pretty thick... I have to start rea—' thought Laudis.
As soon as he opened the book, the destroyed pages filled him with despair. Every one of them was covered in scribbles. Most were pure abstract, but some Laudis deciphered as 'don't trust', 'devil is near', 'the slaughter', and 'kill the gods'. The ink, or so he thought, was dark red. At closer inspection, he realised the phrases were written in blood.
'What the hell? Who thought it was a good idea to use blood instead of ink? Most of the scribbles were drawn in dark red ink, but the words are clearly bloody. Their author probably didn't have much time left, judging by the rough strokes and fuzzy handwriting. He had to resort to the final option. One thing was certain: he was a madman, a genius, or even both. Oh! He left one, that's something...' thought Laudis with a startled face.
Only one page was left intact. It was a weird drawing with no caption whatsoever. It was a black figure with massive wings; they were standing backward. They were holding a sword in their raised right hand and a book inscribed with strange symbols in their left. Under the image, there was the phrase written in blood, 'Vur Ceso Thamino Pi Tesing Remo', which he didn't understand whatsoever. Suddenly, Laudis' body was penetrated with a strange chill. A chill of excitement. A chill of intrigue. He glanced behind his shoulder to see if Elisabeth was watching, then ripped out that page. Laudis hid it in his left boot; he had a strange feeling of its importance. Then the kid left the room and went to the magic aisle. He picked up 'Magic basics' by Sofie Kopp. The boy started reading the book sitting in the corner.
"There are seven core elements of magic: Fire, Water, Air, Earth, Plant, Shadow, and Light. Most people can cast basic spells with every element, but they specialise in one or like a few in two. The most common ones are the first five I have stated; the Shadow and Light are different. To even have a chance of becoming a Light sorcerer, you have to be born into aristocracy, royalty, or knighthood. Still, there is about a sixty percent chance of acquiring it. The Shadow is quite the opposite. To obtain it, you have to experience a deep tragedy before the age of the mana release. It happens right before you turn ten or eleven. There are also things called semi-elements and synthesised elements. The first ones are created by altering the structure of their magic essence; the second ones are made by combining two elements. There is no limit to them. You can always change the smallest proportion of elements or change the structure of one just a bit to create a new one. Naturally, most are too unstable to use. The widely used semi-elements are listed here: Sand (Earth), Ice (Water), Wood (Plant), and Stone (Earth). The synthesised elements are: Glass (Sand + Fire), Magma (Fire + Earth), and Obsidian (Magma + Water). You can combine semi-elements with normal ones or even other synthesized elements with the core ones. Now I will proceed to explain the seven elements:
Fire — a typical offensive element with no to little defensive use. It is commonly used to cast wide-range spells, to control multiple opponents, and to stop bleeding.
Water — a defensive element with some offensive use. Its spells can heal, create barriers, or alter bodies of water.
Air — another offensive element; unlike Fire, it has literally no defensive use. It is known for high damage per second. Its sorcerers can walk on air, strike with powerful air blows, or suck out the air of the opponent's area.
Earth — great defensively and offensively. Advanced users can summon earthquakes. Usually provides walls, ramps, traps enemies in place, or creates spikes made out of hardened dirt.
Plant — a supportive element. It can also be used both defensively and offensively, but not as well as the previous ones. The best healing element; it can create traps, barriers, and enhance people's strength with simple blessings.
Light — another supportive element, but with no offensive or defensive possibility. It enhances allies with powerful blessings and provides simple healing. The thing that gives it an upper hand is the fact of weapons and armor blessings. Also, if its wielder is a Light element user, the blessing's type can be evolutionary, which means that with every use, the equipment becomes better.
Shadow — the most unstable element. The user can create illusions of himself, teleport through shadows, and lastly, cast curses.
Both blessings and curses are divided into five categories: Common, Rare, Epic, Mythical, and Legendary.
Blessings:
Common blessings. For them, you need to be a Plant or Light element sorcerer and say the incantation, for example, "Blessing of Vitality". This blessing is the most widely used for its effect, giving the receiver small mana and stamina regeneration.
Rare blessings. For them, you need a basic item or items that can be partially or fully consumed, for example, the Blessing of Eden. It requires the golden apple, which can be easily bought at the market. Granting the receiver faster wound healing.
Epic blessings. For them, you need to be a Light sorcerer. With this rarity, you can now bless an item (of course, you can still bless people with them, depending on the blessing), for example, the Blessing of Hephaestus. It makes the user's armour more durable and immune to slashing attacks. It costs a high amount of mana — around sixty to seventy percent of the user's full mana capacity.
Mythical blessings. Unlike Epic ones, you have to be a Light sorcerer and also wield the item. Now you are capable of using evolutionary blessings, granting you a greater power with the more time you spend using the item or items, for example, the Blessing of Poseidon. It gives you the ability to glide on water and immunity to rust. This tier requires both mana and the item (fully consumed) sacrifice.
Legendary blessings. The most powerful ones, but at the cost of having to find the scrolls containing the full incantation of them. The only one that I am aware of is the Blessing of Zeus. It makes you immune to lightning, and if you are a Fire sorcerer, you can use the Lightning semi-element without any training. It also costs you a precious offering, many experienced lost limbs, memory problems, losing a skill, or such. The price varies."
'It awfully sounds like the power Will talked about. The power that comes with great consequences. I'd better finish off the basics before leaving the library,' thought Laudis.
"Curses:
Common curses. Cast by the Shadow element users only, they contain negative elements with no enhancements, for example, the Curse of Quick Blindness. As the name suggests, it causes temporary blindness. Depending on the mana usage of the cast
Rare curses. They have to contain a bare minimum positive effect, for example, the Curse of Turtle. It cuts the target's speed in half, but grants him about thirty percent physical attack damage reduction.
Epic curses. They require an item or items, for example, sand for the Curse of Mirage. It makes your target see physical illusions (he can interact with them) at the cost of giving him a random percentage of your own mana (five to fifteen percent).
Mythical curses. They require hard-to-obtain items, for example, the claws of the vampire for the Curse of Night Creature. It cuts off three chosen by the caster senses at the cost of doubling the target's physical strength. Also, the curse can be self-targeted.
Legendary Curses. They are only achievable by the high-end Shadow sorcerers, costing an immense amount of mana. Many require special items. The only one known to me is the Curse of Vampire King. It grants the chosen human the power of a vampire. Keeping consciousness, but losing the will to do anything. Target's actions are influenced by the Vampire King.
Curses can also be set in three groups: positive, negative, and mixed. The names come from the power they grant. The positive has more upsides than downsides. The negative has more downsides than upsides. And the mixed are mixed, that is, they have good sides and bad sides. They can be useful in certain situations, but bad in others. Also, every curse can be self-targeted and become a self-curse. It has the same effects and such, but the only thing that matters is that you have to use both of your hands to cast it."
'Oh man, I've read a lot for sure. I still have to learn about auras, but I'll do it tomorrow. It's night already, judging by the lack of sunlight. It's better to leave the library now and go to sleep,' thought Laudis with a tired face.
The kid stood up and placed the book in its place. He almost left the room when the librarian stopped him.
"Do you know the purpose?" asked Elisabeth, reading a book.
"Purpose of what?" he wondered with a surprised expression.
"Of life, my dear."
'My dear? What is she talking about? Ah, she is probably reading out loud. Ha! She is so pathetic...' thought Laudis.
"Every time I wake up, I look in the mirror and I see my belt, the same thought comes to my mind. Should I tighten it up around my neck and let go? Can it end my agony, or will it be another one? Just what would happen? Would I be brought up to God or cease to exist? Sometimes, I wish, I wish I had never been born... Why are humans born when we are destined to die? It doesn't make any sense. Does it really matter whether I die now or tomorrow? Hell if I know... But I think that maybe there is some meaning. A meaning in this cruelty called life. Maybe you should create your own story and live it. My story... My story would be called the Ballad of the Fool, I suppose. After all, I'm just a pawn in the game of chess. Well, I am sure of one thing. I would rather die from someone than from myself, at least I would have a normal funeral," whispered Laudis with a subtle, yet finally a real smile.
"What? Did you say something? Sorry, I was probably reading out loud," replied Elisabeth with a disoriented look.
"Nothing in particular, but I'm leaving now. See you tomorrow," he replied, raising his hand as he left.
"Yeah, see you..."
Laudis walked through the corridors of the castle. They were pretty much the same for the most part, only the paintings varied. The moon lit up inside with intense white light. After a short walk, he met his destination. The kid came to the Thomas' room and knocked, but there was no response.
"I'm coming," he replied and opened the door.
The bed was in the corner, and next to it was the desk with a vintage chair. A pack of cigarettes and a notebook were lying on the wooden furniture. He wondered whether it was appropriate for him to open it. Laudis placed his hand on it, but quickly drew it back.
'I might have little to no empathy, but at least I can respect that, for now... I don't think that he possesses any helpful information. It's better to leave the room and—' thought Laudis.
In the corner was a silhouette of a male. Suddenly, a light coming from him lit the whole room.
"You are quite respectful, I guess. I heard the knocking and decided to test you. Sorry for that. Also, can you keep those cigarettes a secret between us? King dislikes smoking very much," replied Thomas with a calm face.
"Sure, man, no problem for me. Now, can I get a key to a room or should I get the bedroom in my self extent?" he replied, bemused.
"No, no. Here. It's the room next door; you can help yourself with the guest bathroom."
"Thanks."
Laudis went to his room. It was just the same as the previous one; he opened a window and undressed. The kid hid the image under the right shoe insole. Lastly, the boy decided to cover the source of moonlight with a material and lie on his bed. Staring at the ceiling made him feel melancholic.
'I don't know why, but I experience déjà vu and deep sadness at the same time. Almost like I was already in a castle or even lived there. Ha! I am really delusional. Me in the castle like some aristocrat? Good joke on me. I guess it's time to meet him again. I await you, Will...' thought Laudis with closed eyes and ironic smile.
His soul drifted away, just like the time he woke up. The boy felt the strange air and started to sense the light. As soon as his eyes opened, they saw again the same image. The space with no floor, ceiling, or walls. The Shrine of the Omnipotence waited for him.
"Welcome back, kid," said Will in his humanoid form.
"Y—Yeah, greetings Will," he replied with an unwell look.
"Oh! I forgot to recreate the passage between dimensions. Tomorrow you won't experience anything like that anymore. Sorry about that."
"Thanks. Now, I have only one offer. I want to have a conversation at least fifteen minutes long with you every time I am here. What I mean is that I can ask for advice on trivial matters. Like basic knowledge and such."
"Starting off with a request? I guess I can think about it. Then what's your offering? Remember that if you neglect its price, you can even lose your life," he responded with a grim look.
"Ha! So you aren't that nice after all... I will sacrifice my ability to play every musical instrument I know. That is the guitar, the tambourine, and the drums. I learned to play them when I was about eleven and had to earn money. Some troubadours taught me, since that day, I lived off that for four years. Then I decided to hunt the vampires and sell the products, but you probably know that stuff, right? You are a God after all."
"No, I did not know it. As I've said, I limit my power; therefore, it is new information for me. I would be bored if I had full knowledge about you, wouldn't I?"
"I guess so. What about the deal?"
"Too little, I can have a four-minute chat with you. You can relearn it quickly."
"What about this? I will lose my whole musical sense. I won't know how to or even learn to play the instruments."
"That's something better. Still, it isn't that valuable; the maximum time will be nine minutes."
"Nine minutes and thirty seconds," replied Laudis with a smirk.
"Deal," said Will, reaching out his hand.
"Wait!" the youth remembered the crucial thing.
"What now?" the entity replied with disappointment.
"Did I lose my memories?"
"There is only one thing I can say for now. Your memories aren't the same as they were when you were born. Can you?" the being tried to seal the pact.
"Right..."
As soon as Laudis shook his hand, he woke up.
'Now that's what I'm talking about. No near-death experience, just like normal sleep. Still, the one thing I know about my past is that it was altered. Precisely, lack of my memories to the age of seven,' he thought, checking his shoe insole.
The page was still intact and inside the shoe. He dressed up and left the room, locking it. Laudis headed to the bathroom. Suddenly, from nowhere, someone strangled him. The two muscular arms wrapped around his veiny neck. He tried to headbutt the aggressor, but the attacker dodged it with ease. His hands were locked in handcuffs.
"One word and you are dead," whispered a deep voice.