[If mistake spotted let me know. I want to be able to fix it as soon as possible. Seriously please and thank you]
I woke up, not in the usual cold place I was familiar with. No, this place seemed different. It felt different, I don't know how to explain the feeling. But, It was the death and grim feeling I have in this place. This place had to be one of the buildings in the shopping district, seeing as there was books and other materials on the shelfs.
There was a receptionist or a front desk on the side with a skeleton. The skeleton had on a purplish color robe, with a necklace around its neck. As a place with undead, you think you would find a skeleton in it. But, no this was my first time seeing an undead..clean. It didn't move or jerk the way the other ones did. Just a normal dead skeleton, why was this guy or pal not undead but everything else was.
I walked around the shop looking at the materials and the books that were on display. I had never seen anything like these things. There was what looked to be fingers, claws, and other body parts in jars. With flowers, that were actually glowing among other stuff. This was the most magical pace in this 'otherworld' that I had seen. Besides the undead, and that annoying fucking small undead that throw fire, water and other shit at me.
Maybe, this is where they learned magic at or at least some kind of it. I don't know what I was expecting, but when I picked up the book I realized I couldn't read it. Which was something that I should have figured seeing as how I couldn't read anything in this world. I don't know why but I felt kind of dumb for thinking something special would happen.
I explore the place for a little bit, marking the cool things in the shop. I saw a picture frame in the very back of the shop on the wall. The picture was of a castle, with knights raiding the ground underneath it. There was a man at the top of the tower, throwing spells at the knights below. There was a message written at the bottom of the picture, but I couldn't read it.
I was going to leave the shop, as there was nothing else I could do here. But, stopped as I was about to make my way out the door. There was this stupid thought that went through my head on a DnD campaign that I had been part of with the group, before the argument.
In it our team was going to leave, but Darren did a perception check and we found something in the room we were in. I knew that DnD, was nothing like the real life thing. But, what if I miss something because I was impatient and left. Besides what was out there for me anyway. Undead to fight and relief some of my anger on.
No, been there done that multiple times already. I haven't been here, and should see if there is anything at all for me. I looked through the place completely this time, moving books from the shelves, the flowers, and other materials. Looking at every single corner of the place and didn't or couldn't find anything else. None of the books could be read, I didn't know anything about the plants here, and for the other materials I couldn't make heads or tails on what do with them.
I came back to the only thing that I hadn't touched in the room, the picture. Maybe, there was something here but honestly I wasn't too hopeful. The painting was hard to move, as it was heavier than I thought it should be. Luck for me I didn't break or damage it.
Behind the paint was a brick wall, with nothing else to it. Should have figured, nothing here.
Sighing to myself I put my hands on the wall to steady myself for what was to come. Another day of fighting these undead and demons and dying…Great. Pushing my hands off the wall I heard a
'click'
Which lead to one of the bricks opening, and a weird key whole being formed. It didn't look like a normal key but of something else. It was a circle hole, with blue glowing writing circling it. It looked like…the necklace.
The skeleton was still there, dead as could be. It had the necklace around it`s neck that I hoped in my heart would lead to me finding something. When I took the necklace off of him, I saw a ring on his finger too. I decided that if I was going to take a necklace, and need it then I might need the ring too.
Going back to the back wall of the shop, I saw that the circle key thing hadn't changed. Which was a good thing. Placing the necklace key into the key hole I heard more
'clicking' sounds
It sounded like a dooring opening. That was exciting, I explored this place for months and hadn't found anything like this before. The door finally opened, and it lead to a small downward staircase.
The staircase was tight, and I doubted anyone who was of a 'bigger' size would fit in it. The walk down was annoying, as the stairs and the turns were so close to each I almost…I did slip a few times. When I finally got to the very bottom of the stairs I was shocked.
It was another city. Complete with buildings that were craved from the underground stones. There were blue lit lanterns that made the place feel magical. There was also a central building at the end of the path. The place looked beautiful. I didn't see any undead, monsters, or demons so I took it as a bonus and major win.
Most of the paths lead to either the central castle looking building or lead to other part of this place. I didn't know what path to take so, decided that the best place was probably the big central building.
It took me some time to get there, but during my walk there I couldn't believe that this place was underneath me this whole time. What was this place? Why was it here?
I finally made it to the building. It had huge doors at it`s entrance, with symbols and I think runes on them. I could only guess at this point what any of it actually meant. When I touched the door, I was scanned or atleast I think I was.
There was an eye ball that opened up, and looked at me. Before focusing on me and then closing. I didn't know what it might mean, so I got ready to fight. Nothing, happened and the doors opened.
Inside had to be the craziest, biggest, library I have ever seen in my life. There were bookshelf's that had to be at least 2 meters high, with books covering every space on each of its shelf. The library stretched on for as far as my eye could see, with a even more floors above me.
If someone was here it would take them YEARS to even read maybe half of the bottom floor. That was being nice, assuming the person was a fast reader and did nothing but read. They might be able to get through half of this.
In the corner of my eye I saw movement. I don't know how I didn't notice it before but there were flying…eyeballs with tentacles behind them. They floated around the library moving books here and there. There was also machinal like spiders and other creatures doing the same thing. The biggest one was a something I thought I wouldn't see in my life but here it was..It was a beholder. Those giant eyeball, with limbs that had eyeballs on them and a small tail that floated behind it.
I didn't know what to do. Before I could one of the smaller eyeball creatures had came up from right side. It looked at me, which I think it was scanning me. It literally turned blue after it was done and left like nothing happened.
The necklace and ring that were in my hand nearly slipped from my fingers during the whole thing. So, I decided that I would put them both on. The ring was a little big on my fingers, but it worked. As for the necklace, it fit on perfectly.
The only reason I did this was because I didn't want to die. It was obvious that the only reason I was even able to get here was because of the items I had on, I assume. I am almost 100% sure that if I had taken these off or something then I would get to see what fighting a beholder and machinal spiders was like.
I didn't want to know how any of these things fought. Hopefully I never do.
I took my first few steps further into the library and nearly ate shit…again. I look down only to realize that duh there was a small flight of stairs leading down to the main part of the library.
I wanted to hit myself so hard in the face. The fact that I was acting 'cool' and thinking I was some badass dude during those exams, and yet here I was slipping on my ass constantly. I was just glad no one saw me do this. If anyone does say anything I will just say 'nothing happened, I was a natural'. But, I doubted I would ever have that problem in this place.
As I made my way down the stairs, I was able to take in more of this place. It like everything else here was beautiful. There was strangely a beholder at the front desk receptionist desk. It was strange to see an actual beholder behind a desk, just sitting..floating..there. Only two of it`s small eyes were open looking around and monitoring everything.
When the small eyes saw me coming, they widen..which didn't know was possible. And, then all other eyes slowly opened as well. It scanned me like the other ones, and then turned into a greenish blue color. We just stared at each other for a little bit.
I didn't know what the colors meant. Could I leave? I walked left and the eyes followed me turning red. No left got it. Turn right same thing. Forward then no.
I felt like I was playing a game of red light or something. I finally couldn't take it anymore and said
"What do you want?"
To my absolute shock a stiff, deep voice said
"Pass"
"Did you just talk to me? What`s this pass, what do your color means?" I fired off my questions, but only got
"Pass"
I kept asking questions and only got
"Pass" in response to it. I don't so mad that I yelled
"WHAT.DOES. PASS, MEAN."
"Pass"
"Here fuck I don't know. Take the necklace and ring..shit fuck!"
"Accepted. Pass"
I was going to fucking scream from anger.
"Can you do anything that isn't just saying 'Pass'. Can you help me read the books or better yet help me find the books."
"Request…. processing…Acknowledged. Aid will come. Please wait."
I tried asking other questions, but was completely ignored by this asshole. It just stared at me, finally after sometime two things came up to the desk.
One of them was the small single eyed creatures with tentacles that wiggled behind it. It was floating at my eye level. The other was one of the machinal spiders, that had a multiple small gems for its eyes. They both looked at me and I don't know which one but one of them said
"Request process. Services here, and available."
"Okay…I have a question" I didn't know which one to look at so I kind of looked at both of them when I said that.
"Acknowledged. Process with inquiry"
Its sound gave me goose bumps, with how machine like it sounded. It sounded like a crappy AI voice over, but with no emotions and this echoing after voice.
"What is this place? And how are you able to speak English to me?"
"Processing inquiry. Inquiry approved for request. 'Place' current location called 'Final library'. Place was given title after Magical practice was banned in year 1249. Second inquiry processing. Inquiry approved. Translation spell functioning at maximum efficiency. If damaged please seek 'Administrator'"
"Translation spell. You mean to tell me that there is a way to read these books! Learn actual magic! HOLY FUCK SHIT YES!" I shouted into the air. Magic..finally. I knew it was possible here, as the demons and small undead did it most of the time. But, If I could this would change everything. I could finally do something against the monsters here. I could finally stop kids from being taken. I could win. Finally…I could actually win
"Statement: Yes translation, available to all mages. Statement: 'learn magic' possible"
"How do I START! What do I do? Please…please tell me."
"Processing Inquiry. Inquiry approved. Statement: Practitioner must first see what branch of Thaumaturgy they are most attuned to."
"Okay! Okay! How do I do that" I was so fucking excited right now it wasn't even funny. I was nearly bouncing from my spot. The only thing I could think of was winning. Winning against the demons here, getting revenge against IT. Freeing the kids, and everything else. Life was finally actually looking up from me. Finally…
"Processing inquiry. Inquiry approved. Follow"
I followed behind the two of my new friends. We went at a steady pace, but I wanted to get there now. I WANTED TO…NEEDED TO. Learn this stuff. It was for my, and my new families future. Nothing mattered.
We finally got to a small door. The machinal spider pressed a few buttons and the door opened. Inside was a small room, with a single tablet that was on top of a pedestal. The spider walked into the room, climbed the pedestal, reached for the tablet with its front hands..claws and moved back to me.
It was…kind of cute. How it held the tablet in it`s front hands like a trophy.
"Thank you" I took the stone tablet from its hands and examined it. There was nothing on it, just a plain stone tablet. Nothing special.
"How do I use this thing"
"Processing inquiry. Inquiry approved. Use blood to determine, branch"
"So, what I just cut myself and pour blood into this?"
"Statement: Yes"
"What else will it tell me?"
"Processing inquiry. Inquiry approved. Tablet will determine potential level, and branch"
"Cool"
I did what it said without much hesitation, was it stupid probably. Did I care, no. This was my ticket to winning. I couldn't bitch out, or puss out here. It wasn't for my mental health, but for the others as well.
I bit my thumb, and as the blood poured, I dripped it onto the tablet. The tablet lit up, and symbols started appearing one bye one. Some of it looked malevolent, which hopefully wasn't a bad thing. Others looked better, or at least I hope it did.
Total there were multiple symbols on the tablet. I looked at it and said
"So, what is my score?"
"Processing inquiry. Inquiry approved. High potential in Necromancy, Soul magic, and Life magic. Medium potential in elemental magic, and demonology. Weak potential in divine magic Statement: New personal has meet basic qualification to be new arch wizard"
"Whoa..slowed down. What does that mean?
"Statement: Destination 'Final library' was built in the year 1255. When constructed creators wanted to ensure that there was always an arch-wizard in one of Thaumaturgy departments. Due, to…ERROR…ERROR…event no arch-wizards have been produced or found."
"Statement: Personnel is first humanoid to meet basic requirements for arch-wizard title. Inquiry: will personnel wish to accept"
"YES! 100% YES! FUCK YES!"
"Request acknowledged. Inquiry: What is personnel thaumaturgy educational level?"
"I don't know anything about magic."
"Statement processing. Acknowledged, following educational guidelines set by Arch-Wizard Mistweaver, Arch-Wizard Stoneforge, Arch-Wizard Sylvanshadow and Arch-wizard creator Frostwhisper"
"Statement: Follow."
"Youuu got it."