Sim stood in front of the board staring at the slips of paper. There were two lists; one was of different assignments and the other was the names of members of each guild. Sim’s heart dropped to his stomach thinking where to start.

“Big brother, Sim!” Caspar shouted.

“Caspar, where is Caleb?” Sim asked.

“He is out with Kavan so I got bored and went looking for you since now we're a team,” He sighed.

“Cool! I am looking for a job right now,” Sim responded.

He felt a hand land on his shoulder turning around. He was surprised to see Caleb grinning as he looked around nervously.

“Um...Caleb?” Sim asked.

“You are way too low for anything on this board,” Caleb scolded.

“Then how am I gonna level?” Sim shouted.

Caleb smirked as he picked up the pencil and tapped it lightly against the board.

“This is the best option,” Caleb grinned.

The pencil fell from his hand and landed on the board between the two lists. Sim was confused as Caleb pushed it the other way with his feet.

“Outside?” He asked.

“We need to get you to level 10 and then we'll talk,” He laughed.

“You should get your armor on first!” Caspar reminded.

Sim hesitated at first before running down the hall his fingers touched the various doors along the way until his fingers went through one door seemingly holographic as he fell into another room the door went away.

[Library of the Fantastical/Hidden Spot Found]

He rolled backward onto his feet as he gazed at a large library in front of him. The ceiling was high allowing him to look up and observe all around him. He quickly spotted the bookshelves lining both sides of the hallway leading deeper inside the building as he made his way toward the shelf he had just entered.

Endless books lined the shelves in rows as far as he could see. Sighing softly he made his way toward one of the shelves and began browsing through the many titles. There were a few books about runes, some novels, some science fiction, and one book which read ‘The Tale of the Four Knights’ by Arthur Rimbaud.

“Finally, you fucking came! Did you stop moping?” A familiar voice chimed.

His face turned red upon hearing the voice. He quickly glanced around the area hoping nobody else was there to witness him blushing.

“Turn to the fucking right!” The voice announced.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“M-Mr. Helix?!” Sim shouted.

“I touched a page that belonged to you and now I am suddenly the librarian?!” Helix shouted.

Sim was shocked beyond words as he watched his college teacher dress in a baby blue leather coat and black pants. His brown hair was pulled neatly into a ponytail with a small braid trailing behind. Helix was wearing a black sweater while black gloves covered his white skin. He wore his glasses resting on his nose.

A maid dressed in green happily came up behind them with a piping hot teapot and two cups, setting them down on the table before excusing herself. She left Helix in the middle of pouring out their tea while Sim sat there frozen with shock.

“Haha it was so funny I thought you would never come,” Helix chuckled.

“Who was that?” Sim asked.

“Her name is Chara and she is so sweet,” He snickered.

“Oh god…” Sim sighed.

He was embarrassed his teacher saw his work in progress. He was still learning and he was doing good enough that it didn't matter to Helix. But for some reason, Sim couldn't help but feel disappointed because he had tried so hard but ended up failing.

“You want some tea?” Helix offered.

“I...” Sim stopped.

“From what I know we have no time frame in which this world will exist from the knowledge given to me as a librarian, but this room only you can enter alone, but the person who made this whole thing happen can not,” He explained.

“Do you know who it is?” Sim questioned.

“No, touching your writing made me the keeper and guardian of your safe zone hence me and Chara have the ability to protect you if he dares to find out or if he can along the way,” Helix noted.

“Can you leave the library?” He pondered.

“Till this world diminishes I will not be able to leave and also what the fuck did you write this weird ass story for? Is it a web novel?” Helix scolded.

Sim was scared to answer that question.

“Look, I have been here for what feels like months, but I cannot stay here indefinitely. This place needs to go the fuck away and soon,” He explained.

“I have been trying to figure out what is going on, but it's hard!” Sim admitted.

“Hurry and find out fast 'cause I actually have a life outside of yours you know!” Helix argued.

Helix gave Sim a nasty look making Sim flinch a little. However, Helix took it back after seeing that Sim wasn't hurt.

“Once you find out who it is, me and Chara will be able to vacate to help you, but also I wanna kick his ass for choosing your shitty book!” He growled.

Sim was speechless. He had no idea how he should explain his feelings and emotions, but Helix seemed to be taking everything in stride. Sim felt like Helix might really be the only person in the entire world that he could trust completely.

“Mr. Helix, do you remember who Della is?” Sim asked.

“Hmm…she was always tardy to classes and annoyed the fuck out of me when she never had her assignments…why?” He thought.

“Everyone has forgotten the reality we lived except you and me,” Sim addressed.

“Once again I am your safe zone hence may be the only human who indeed will know the reality you lived up to this point,” He confirmed.

“I see…do you offer tips or anything other than existing here?” Sim thought.

“You just activated this room so I suggest checking back with me later also I am so fucking mad I was chosen for this role, but at the same time I can’t say it’s not interesting…” He smiled.

“I guess I gotta go then! Thanks, Mr. Helix, and also sorry!” Sim yelled.

“Come back when you can!” Helix waved.

He walked back to find the door had appeared again. He pushed through the holographic door again as a bright light engulfed him.

“Sim, where were you?” Caspar shouted.

“We're late so it doesn’t matter!” Caleb yelled.

He was confused as they guided him outside. They led him past the courtyard, to the large doors. He stood silently next to Caleb outside the main doors as they waited. As soon as they heard someone clear their throat. They turned their heads to find an older man standing in front of them dressed in a suit.

“Is there something I can assist you with boys?” He asked.

“We're just waiting on a friend as he seemed to poof on us,” Caleb laughed.

“Maybe Sim needed a real challenge!” Caspar shouted.

“Wha-!” Sim yelled.

Caspar came from the sky as he threw left and right his metal balls of steel through the air, nearly smashing Sim in the face. Sim blocked it all by grabbing one of the balls with his verdant roots coiled and tossing it back at him. Caleb and Caspar continued fighting as Sim watched on and he didn't care to join in. Sim stopped in the middle allowing his roots to wilt into nothingness.

“You still ain’t nothing,” He smirked.

“Oh right…the earth is a natural rune for Sim,” Caleb pointed out.

“Huh?” Sim asked.

He forgot within seconds what had happened as he gawked at the silver metal sphere on the ground, the sphere was about twice the size of his body. Its surface glimmered like a diamond as it reflected the sun's glow off of it. His hand reached out and picked it up, it felt warm.

“Oh no! Is my sister here?!” Sim shouted.

“What, did you not see me?” Caspar howled angrily.

“Sim, did you really not see that?” Caleb questioned.

“See what?” He asked.

“Nothing…come along we have a lot to do,” Caleb responded quietly.