Books. Stacked and layered all around, hallways and rooms of books. Canyons and valleys made of books. Books and books galore. An overwhelming number of books. From old and dusty to thin and flexible, various tomes and volumes about various material. Unicorns, magic, mythology, and various other arcane studies. All of them looking around, words peeling off those books and flying around.
And in the center of this bookstorm, the flurry of words, was Bell. Wearing just a T shirt and shorts, he was at a desk that was covered by books, a large thick book in front of him that might be bigger than he is.
"And here, you need to read and study these as well" Maze said as he dropped another stack of books to the side of him.
"No! Its so much studying! My brain hurts! My head hurts! I need to go outside!"
"You need to study! You need to answer your questions!"
"Not like this! I need a bath!"
Maze took out a bucket and a sponge.
"Then take off your clothes and ill wash you down while you study"
"Nooooooooooo!"
The lamenting scream could be heard early in the morning, as Bell rolled out of bed with a thud, landing on the floor with a thud. The morning light basking his body, the only pleasant thing as his room was quite hot.
"Puuuuuudddiiiiiiing" Maze said, as he rolled over and off the bed as well.
The AC was on the fritz again, but also it was never allowed to run overnight anyways. His father had taught him how it was important to be energy and eco-friendly, both types. Granted, all the power in the city was green basically, but still. Due to the heat wave, things were getting taxed and repair crews were scarce, but even so given the overwhelming heat outside, AC could only do so much anyways.
The two boys got up, having shared a bed. It was partly for safety reasons, which was why Maze's weapons were right on the nightstand. But also, Maze had been answering more of his questions until they fell asleep each night, getting him at least a little more up to date. Bell sometimes needed things repeated a few times because this was all a lot to wrap his head around, so the two had fallen asleep next to each other every night. That, and they had hit it off right away. They seemed rather different at first glance, but it seemed they were quite compatible as friends. Maze even insisted he could sleep completely nude just fine since Bell was as well.
After that, their daily schedule would be that they would both take a shower first thing in the morning. Both of them were covered in sweat. Maze asked why Bell didn't just make an exception during the heat wave, but Bell was determined to be responsible almost to a fault. That said, Maze found it pretty easy to drag him into childish mischief and fun, so he figured that Bell deep down wanted to let loose and relax.
As they got into the shower and cleaned off, Maze would help drill some more details and facts into him.
Reflections and Boundaries were far more common than one would think. However, one could typically only enter if they had supernatural energy, knowledge of the supernatural, or were dragged in or tricked into entering by a supernatural. Although, Reflections had more exceptions to that then Boundaries did by quite a bit.
Orcs and Ogres were higher and more dangerous creatures, but otherwise were similar to Goblis. Each also had various subtypes that might be higher than the base form, like Hobgoblis.
Those who master the manipulation of magical energy are typically known as Wizards, Sorcerers, Witches, Enchanters, ect. Incidentally, they all typically represented a different way of manipulation and spellcraft, and none were gender specific. Male witches did exist.
There were various gods, but they also might have come from beyond the veil. That said, there were rules and limitations regarding what they were allowed to do with their mighty power in the world, which is why they became to be believed as myths and legends, and why they dont seem to really control the world at all.
Details like that were important. However, when Bell asked about the Emporium, Maze slammed his hand on the shower wall with one hand and quickly leaned in close to Bell.
"It's best not to talk about her too much, or her shop. She is...a very odd one. And she somehow always knows".
"Everything she says always sounds seductive, but it always feels so hollow. Though, perhaps that's just because of how she looks".
"It's complicated. She is incredibly loyal to her husband, but for some reason acts and speaks in a way that can be easily misunderstood. At least part of it is to mess with people, but I think there is a curse involved too. I suppose it's hard to live for thousands of years without a curse or two, or a few eccentricities".
"I see..."
After that warning, the two got out and dried off a bit. They had cooled down a bit from the shower, and Bell turned on the AC to try and bring the temperature down while they brushed their teeth in the mirror.
Maze, looking to change the topic, decided to be a bit playful.
"You know, considering how short you are, I could teach you some wrestling moves I know to help defend yourself".
"You just want an excuse to wrestle. Also, you are only a single centimeter taller!"
Bell tapped a button on the mirror, and suddenly their heights were displayed on the glass.
Bell: 133cm
Maze: 134cm.
They were in fact only a centimeter apart. Both of them quite short. Bell's doctors believed it's possible the shock of his mothers death might have somehow impacted his body, that and he found it difficult to eat properly for a time after. But he had no idea if Maze had a reason like that.
No. He probably does, given what I have seen already.
Bell thought that to himself as they finished brushing their teeth. After that, the two would play some video games and eat breakfast while sitting on a towel, finishing up with an air dry. It was especially necessary for Bell. Maze seemed to be a slow dryer as well, but Bell with his fur had his own issues.
However, it was thanks to Maze's tutoring and help that Bell had made a bit of a breakthrough. He found that getting soaked no longer immediately forced a transformation...but only when he was near Maze.
"It probably helps that you got the Seal under control as well...but perhaps, you just needed a friend to open up to you, someone who trusted you and you could also trust".
Bell had a feeling that was a large reason why Maze had done what he did, but he also just had an open and friendly personality it seemed. Made Bell wonder exactly what had happened that drove him to become a Bounty Hunter. At first, Bell just didn't have the mental capacity to deny Maze. Between the heat, and the shock of combat, it had been too much. But Maze was also just that type of person.
After that, what they did next depended on the day. If they were going to be inside all day, Bell preferred to just wear an overly large T shirt. He offered Maze more, but Maze just copied Bell. Sometimes it was just too hot and they didn't even do that, but thankfully it never got as bad as the fire elemental incident. Otherwise, if they did plan to go out, they got their clothes ready. Maze had the rest of his stuff moved over here, so he had more then one outfit now, but considering all the blue, it was clear what his favorite color was.
However, today they had plans.
"No more studying today right?"
"Well, not as intense studying!"
"I will take it!"
Bell had studied so hard he had various nightmares last night about being consumed by books. For some reason, ancient lore had not been digitized at all, despite the fact people had been digitizing records and books into the internet for over 50 years now.
So Maze had gotten him a number of tomes. That said, he also helped him get what he needed to set up his own sanctum. It was surprisingly easy, although apparently that was partly due to the existence of the Reflection. The fact the building had a Reflection made it significantly easier to form a Sanctum, a folded space within one's home. A way to make it bigger on the inside.
The closet door was used as the gateway. In order to enter, one had to tap each side of the doorway three times, and then knock on the door twice. This was after adjusting the mirror in the room to point upwards, and making sure both alarm clocks were sealed and protected. When all that was done, you move the doorknob left right, left right, and then you open the door.
Stepping through it felt almost like stepping through a timespace vortex, but only for a moment. It was...an acquired feeling, but it was worth it. Inside it was large, several rooms large with three stories. The basement was going to be a workshop area, although for now it was mostly empty and didn't have anything in it. Then there was a dojo/training room. There was also a room with litterally nothing in it, with a heavy door that was sturdy. The door couldn't be created naturally, but Maze...acquired...some heavy stone that did just the trick.
In fact, most of the rooms were empty still. It wasn't like he could ask Maze to pay for everything, and he just didn't have time. Maze mainly just decorated the study area, and put in a bit of a workshop for himself as well as a place to store his luggage that would be...ill advised...to show to other people or let them find.
Incidentally, Bell had learned a number of things about Maze. First of all, he always traveled with plenty of gear and weapons. Almost all of them magically enhanced in some way or another, if not just being straight up magical constructs and tools. It was probably why he was so familiar with Sanctums. Rifles, pistols, knives, grenades, drones, a satellite uplink because he had his own magically enhanced satellite in orbit that he "acquired" from a former target.
Secondly, he was buggly and friendly, but he was sensitive about his past. Any question about it, he would evade. Even when he would talk about it, anything beyond the last two years was vague and obscure, leaving out very few details. Also, Mazemillion Jones? Not his birth name, he chose it himself.
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And third, when it came to targets and threats, he could end up being cold and ruthless. It was like a totally different person, but traces of the look he got in those times were similar to when he seemed to think about his past, the part he avoids talking about. A sort of longing, look into the distance look.
There is also a fourth that Bell couldn't help but notice. And that is, not a single time did he hear about, see or hear him talk to or communicate with, or in any way get or receive anything from, his parents while he was with Bell. Not a single peep.
And Bell could roughly just tell himself, so he didn't bother asking. Not yet at least. But he was already sure of what the truth was. And that it was without a doubt a very sensitive and touchy subject to address. Bell knew that from personal experience, with his own mom.
Maze was a bright warm sun, but like the sun he was always moving and always circling. Never once stopping, and letting it catch up to him.
Oh, and his favorite color was probably blue.
With that all said and done, Maze knew of one thing for sure. A place they absolutely had to go.
"We will need to access the Sorcerer's Stacks".
"What is that anyways?"
"It's a sort of magical library. It has very specific rules, and the librarian can be quite dangerous if you anger him. He is always watching and monitoring the place somehow even while he is out, and supposedly it has connections to various bookstores and libraries across the city".
"Wait. Even normal ones?"
"They might not realize it, but yeah. Why?"
"I have a friend whose family runs a book store. I could check with him, see if he has a lead".
"That would be great. I still dont know where it is myself, so getting that lead would be huge".
With that said, Bell decided to call Ruu. He quickly got picked up.
"Ruu's Bookstore. What can I do for you today?"
"...did you rename the bookstore after yourself?"
"I mean, it sounds good right?"
"You answered like that because you saw the caller ID didn't you?"
"Maaaaaayyyybbbbeeeeee!"
"Fine. Anyways, I heard this crazy rumor, and I wonder if you knew anything about it?"
"Don't tell me it's about the people who went missing at the park".
"No, it is not about them. Wait, did more people disappear?"
"A few women did. The police are kinda freaked about how they all did, since they were kinda tough. All Ex-Cons, with priors for kidnapping and trafficking and assault, among others".
"And any kids go missing as well?"
"A few, but less than last week so far by a good bit".
"Well anyways, that's not what I actually called about. Have you heard any rumors about secret, underground libraries?"
"Oi oi, you are not going to cheat on me are you?"
"What? No. You know your bookstore is the only one for me, at least for my book buying needs. I'm just kinda curious if you know anything about it".
"Relax, I am just messing with you. I have heard the myths, about the secret, mystical library known as Sorcery Stacks. Supposedly it exists in a space between spaces, on the boundary of reality and the astral. That it contains knowledge from the Library of Alexandria, America's Attic AKA 13, that it houses the remnants of Pandora's Box, and that those who read the texts in the Restricted Section can go insane. Supposedly books fly from shelf to shelf, and without supernatural abilities or incredible skill and physical abilities, one cannot even reach it".
"...that's all kind of impressive".
"If it is real, yeah" Ruu added on. Bell remembered he still never told him about supernatural stuff. He wasn't even sure how.
"Ruu..." Bell rolled that name off the tongue.
"Don't worry Bell. You have had enough to worry about. No matter what, I will always be your friend. So whatever is going on with you, you can tell me when you are ready".
Bell gasped. He knew I was keeping something?!
"...sorry".
"It's all right. Everyone has things that are hard to talk about, and cant be told so easily. I have my own secrets you know" Ruu said, his tone returning to a playful note. "Just remember, I will get sad if you let yourself get hurt. Make sure you not only stay safe, but enjoy yourself as well".
"Thanks Ruu".
"Anyways, rumor has it there is a train that can take you there. Platform 7".
Bell wiped away tears, as he focused on what Ruu just said.
"Platform 7? But that..."
"Supposedly doesn't exist either, I know".
As well made as the city's public transportation system was, some screw ups were inevitable. One of the bigger ones was Platform 7. Every station was supposed to have one, a singular connecting line to everywhere in the city. The rest only had specific routes, and you would need to transfer here and there, but not Platform 7 trains.
Of course, it did actually exist. It was just called Platform 8. The screw up had been regarding the numbering. They ended up labeling every Platform 7 as Platform 8 instead. It was rather interesting, since 8 could be interpreted as a sideways infinity, a loop, just like what the route was. Supposedly there were stations marked as Platform 7 throughout the city, but they all got sealed off or sealed away or otherwise built over.
"According to urban legend, there is a train that still goes around them, fulfilling its original purpose of being able to take you wherever you wanted to go. Supposedly you can use that to reach the Stacks. The only others supposedly are being invited by the Librarian, or finding the entrance, but Platform 7 is probably your best bet".
"Does that mean you have a lead on it?"
"Yeah. It is actually near a station that had that one incident I mentioned to you last week. The one where those mob guys were apparently chasing after a young boy?"
Bell, the young boy in question, remembered that well.
"...yeah".
"Supposedly if you go down the tracks of the abandoned station in the direction of Terminus, you will find it. At least that's the myth. Hey, if you do find a secret, hidden library, don't forget about my store okay? And if you get lost or it seems impossible, just turn around. Don't force yourself".
"Don't worry, I wont" Bell stated.
"Love ya, pal!"
"Nice talking to you as well".
Hanging up the phone, Bell looked back at Maze.
"I got us a lead. It isn't exactly the best news, but we should probably be fine".
"Probably?"
"Remember how I told you before I got caught in the ritual site, I was running from those mafia people? Yeah, so its around where that happened, and its probably in their territory".
"...I am bringing the sniper rifle".
"In the Underworld?"
"Trust me, better safe than sorry".
With those words, the two headed out.
----------------------------------------
The two somehow managed to make it in time to the abandoned station, as Bell released his suppression. It wasn't at the time limit yet, but even if it was still bearable discomfort, he found it far more pleasant to not suppress his true form still. As such, he wanted to only use suppression when he had to or when he was training it, although lately his training was yielding less results now.
And now that getting wet only decreased his time, rather than outright ending it, that was one boon at least. At least usually, there were some exceptions still.
The bus ride had been the worst though. It had been unusually packed, and everyone bumping into him seemed to make it harder.
They got off the platform and began to head down the tunnel, going the opposite direction of the ritual site. In retrospect, he should have turned this way back then, and head towards Terminus. Could easily lose people there. But he isn't all that used to danger now, let alone back then.
Either way they headed down the dark, deserted tunnel. Their footsteps echoing through the dark, the overwhelming feeling that something wasn't quite right. Compared to the blistering heat above, the tunnels felt chilly by comparison. And the further down they went, the chillier it got.
And with every step they took, a growing dread filled Bell.
"...something is down here".
"Yeah. You can feel it in the air. The whole city burning up above, and freezing down below".
As the two boys made it down the tunnel, they found a fork in the tracks. One had a sign pointing to platform eight, the other to platform six.
"...well, this is peculiar".
"Which way do we go?"
"Hmmm. Ruu said Platform 8 took over for Platform 7, so we should go towards Platform eight".
The two followed the tracks towards Platform eight, as the chills got worse and worse. They heard something that sounded like the howl of a beast behind them, and began to speed up a bit, but the cold was biting into their progress. They avoided the rails in case they were still alive, especially since being near Bell could cause them to spring alive at any moment.
That was when they made it to yet another fork in the road. The signs had a different style to them, but the words were the same as the last one. One pointed to track six, the other pointed to track eight. Same directions as well.
"Did we go around in a circle somehow?"
"No, the signs are different. But otherwise it is identical...then again, this entire tunnel looks identical".
"...why are the signs different then?"
"Who knows. I guess we keep going towards eight now".
"Wait wait, seven is inbetween six and eight right? And a numbering issue occurred? Then maybe, if we start towards eight, and then go to six..."
"We find the station in the middle!"
It was a brilliant idea, and made a lot of sense. As such, they continued on their way. The sense that they were really isolated down there continued, and occasionally they heard a flapping of wings and a clattering of metal behind them. But so far, nothing came out to attack them at least, as they continued down the tunnel.
And then, they came across another fork in the road. Different signs again, but the same thing as before. One pointing towards eight, and one pointing towards six.
"We are just going around in circles! And in this annoying eerie silence!" Bell shouted, kicking a can that was on the side of the track. That was when he paused however. "Wait, silence?"
"Bell?"
Bell perked his ears up, and listened. Really listened.
"...Maze, do you hear any subway cars at all?"
"No, but we are on an abandoned track right?"
"Yeah...but that is the thing. This is underground, with a lot of echoes, and lines criss crossing each other. There is no reason for these huge sections of six and eight to be this silent for this long".
Maze looked around, and noticed something.
"There are no maintenance doors anywhere here. I don't see any power boxes or such either".
"Also, Track Eight is a singular large looping track. No way it has huge sections shut off like this, and neither would six either I would say. It just is not possible".
"And we haven't passed a single platform or station".
Bell looked around, at the wide and expansive tunnel they were in.
"This...we are in a Reflection, aren't we?"
"Yeah. It looks like this is an Infinite Labyrinth. Which means we need to get out, and fast".
Bell looked at Maze. "What do you mean?"
"There is a very real chance there is a Minotaur down here as its guardian".
"Well how do we do that then?"
Maze put his finger to his right cheek as he tilted his head a bit, explaining from memory. "In mythos, it was thanks to a string that was used to help the protagonist guide his way out of the labyrinth. That way he could find his way back".
And if you get lost or it seems impossible, just turn around.
"Wait wait, but this isn't an endless amount of different paths. This is a fork in the road right?"
"Yeah? What is your point?"
"Forks have three directions. We followed eight or six every time, but..."
Bell went over to a nearby wall, and cleared off the dirt on the wall. It revealed a sign that said Platform 7, pointing in the direction they had come from.
"Forks actually have three ways out, not two".
"Of course! To escape the labyrinth, you turn around and go the way you came!"
The two went back down the way they came, as they heard snarls echo throughout the tunnel.
"Run for it!"
Bolting down the tunnel, one foot after another, the pounding against the pavement as they rushed down. It was then that they saw a station come into view. And it was marked with the number seven. The two quickly jumped and pulled themselves off of the tracks, as a subway car with monitaur horns on it came down and reached the platform.
"...we made it".
"That is one hell of a Reflection".
"I seriously need to just tell Ruu the truth and ask him for advice on how to deal with my stuff. He always has the absolute best answers".
"Yeah...that was probably luck, but still".
As they said that, they got up and got to their feet. Their bare knees no longer freezing against the harsh cold that had been permeating the tunnel before. The Platform had no one else there at the moment, except for someone...or something...at the ticketbooth.
They approached the booth, to find a skeleton moving around on its own. He appeared to be managing a few controls, while also writing a report.
"Kids ride free, so you dont need tickets".
"Ah yes. Thank you. We were wondering when the train to Sorcerer's Stacks would come in?"
"It already has" it said, despite lacking a voicebox. The two turned around, and saw that there was now a subway there. The Minotaur one had zoomed by, but this one had just appeared out of nowhere. Furthermore, the sign on the side clearly stated it was heading to Sorcerer's Stacks.
The two stepped onboard, and found themselves in a rather nice looking bar carriage. There was another skeleton managing it, and it poured each of them a glass of milk.
"Next stop, YOUR DOOOOOOOM!" the skeleton said, causing them to go on guard. However it then switched to a casual voice. "But first, Sorcerer's Stacks!"
"...did it just..."
"...fake us out?"
"Oh yeah, totally. I swear, fleshbags are so easy to trick" the skeleton said, laughing as he handed them their milk. "Besides, everyone knows your real doom will come from the stacks themselves. Hope you are ready for the study session of your lives....or perhaps, your deaths".
And so, the skeleton cackled as the subway proceeded to its destination.