As soon as I stepped out of William’s office, ticket clutched tightly in my hand, I felt a sense of determination wash over me. I approached the counter he had pointed out, noticing that this line was moving faster than the others. The efficiency of it all was a bit unsettling, but I was eager to get on with things. Before I knew it, I was at the front.
"Hello," the attendant greeted me, his voice tinged with a thick accent that made me pause for a moment. "Have the rules been explained to you?"
I hesitated, uncertainty flickering in my chest, but I nodded. "Yes?" I replied, my voice more a question than a statement.
"Excellent," he responded, his tone flat, almost mechanical. "You may proceed. Only one book today." He gave a curt nod and waved me through, his expression remaining as unreadable as stone.
I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry, as I passed him and stepped into the library proper. The sight that greeted me was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Towering shelves lined the walls, stretching upwards toward a ceiling that seemed impossibly high. Each shelf was crammed with books of every shape and size, some so old they looked like they might crumble at a touch. The air was thick with the scent of aged paper and something else—something magical. The combination made my skin prickle with a mix of anticipation and unease.
As I stood there, trying to take it all in, Blake’s voice suddenly broke through my thoughts, her excitement palpable. "Finally! I was about to die of boredom waiting for you," she exclaimed, bounding up beside me. Her long, flowing blonde hair swayed with her movement, and her green eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. Despite her bulky, athletic build, there was a gracefulness to her that made her excitement almost contagious. "I got stuck on guard duty after I cleared my daily, so I couldn't join you, but I can help you pick your first book. This is going to be so good, just wait! Have you ever seen a magical mural? It’s a bit like that..."
Her words tumbled out so quickly that I struggled to keep up. "Wait, slow down. What's the rush?" I asked, trying to rein in her enthusiasm while battling a growing sense of anxiety.
"Sorry," Blake laughed, the sound light and infectious. "I get like this when I’m excited. The first time can be challenging but wonderful. I'm just so happy for you. You're gonna lose your V-card."
"V-card?" I asked, still feeling out of my depth. My heart began to beat a little faster, a knot of apprehension tightening in my stomach.
Blake’s laughter echoed warmly, a reassuring sound that eased some of my tension. "Your first time entering a new world, silly! That's what we call it. Each book has its own rules, monsters, and treasures. Didn't the ticket guy explain that to you?"
I shook my head, a frown creasing my forehead. "No, he just nodded and let me through, like we’d met before or something."
Blake sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes in exasperation. "Typical. Well, that’s what I’m here for. Let’s pick out your first challenge!"
Before I could respond, Blake grabbed my arm, her touch firm and guiding, as she pulled me toward a nearby shelf. Her urgency made my heart race even faster. "Oh, I don’t know which level to choose for you. We have so many options," she said, her voice brimming with excitement. "You’re a cleric, so you can handle higher damage levels, and with self-healing, you're perfect for anti-range challenges."
As she spoke, Blake began piling books into a towering stack, her enthusiasm infectious. We moved toward a section of the library where odd, rickety tables sat, their surfaces worn with age. Her pace quickened, and I found myself swept up in her energy, even as a small voice in the back of my mind urged caution.
She set the stack of books down and began separating them into four distinct columns. "So, each of these stacks is a different type of portal," she explained, her tone shifting to something more serious. "Each world will be vastly different from the others, but they share a general theme that makes it easy enough to catalog and categorize them."
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She pointed to the first three stacks, their covers varying in shades of gray and brown. "These here are what we call anti-magic zones, though that’s a bit of a misnomer. You can still use magic, but only on yourself. Clerics and paladins tend to thrive in these worlds. I definitely recommend them. The other thing that makes these books stand out is that they’re also anti-weapon worlds. You can’t wield weapons—but the enemies still can."
I blinked, trying to process the implications of what she was saying. "Wait, what? Why would I want to enter a world without magic and without weapons?" I asked, my voice tinged with incredulity.
Blake leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Because of the rewards," she said, a glimmer of mischief in her tone. A surge of greed bubbled up inside me, and I had to swallow hard to keep it in check. Greed could be a dangerous motivator in a place like this.
“Alright, that sounds promising,” I conceded, though a note of caution still lingered in my mind. “But let me hear what the other options are before I jump on it.”
Blake nodded and gestured toward a stack of blue books. “This next stack will take you to races—a no-holds-barred contest between you and up to three other penitents, racing against the speed demons of the universe. Jaguars, cheetahs, mythical creatures… you name it.”
I grimaced at the thought, picturing myself in a futile sprint against some mythical beast. “Yeah, I don’t know if that’s the right call for a cleric build,” I admitted, imagining the likely disastrous outcome.
“Will you hold on and let me finish explaining?” Blake snapped, her tone sharp with impatience. “Geez, you’re more impatient than children on Rellis Day.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled, feeling a flush of embarrassment creep up my neck.
She waved off my apology, continuing without missing a beat. “While your build isn’t ideal for a race, it doesn’t matter as long as you reach the end. You’re guaranteed a Golden Page.”
My curiosity piqued at that. “And what happens if you win?” I asked, a hint of intrigue slipping into my voice.
Blake burst out laughing, the sound filling the space around us. “Oh man, that was a good one. Win a race against a myth creature?” Her laughter continued for a good minute, leaving me feeling a bit foolish.
I sighed, a touch of frustration creeping in, but before I could say anything, Blake patted the final stack of green books. “And finally, we have this stack of beautiful ladies,” she said with a playful grin.
“These are both the best and the hardest levels to clear.”
I felt a mix of excitement and trepidation well up inside me. “Alright, lay it on me,” I said, bracing myself for whatever was coming.
“It’s a series of increasingly difficult boss battles, versions of first and second-floor fights,” she explained, her tone growing more serious.
“Rats, goblins?” I asked, my initial excitement dimming slightly.
“Giant rats, embodiments of sins, mini-Djinnis,” she confirmed, her expression neutral.
I wrinkled my nose. “Hard pass.”
“You didn’t let me finish,” Blake interjected, her tone sharp with annoyance.
“…fine,” I conceded, not wanting to push her any further.
“At the end of which,” she continued, her voice taking on a more triumphant note, “you get a tier 3 or higher chest from all three floors, which counts toward your item completion rate for all three floors.”
That certainly caught my attention. “Okay, that’s definitely compelling,” I admitted. “For my first ever world, which do you think I should take?”
Blake’s tone became more thoughtful, a weighty pause following. “Believe it or not, the anti-magic one. Hear me out.”
I found myself unexpectedly engrossed in her words. Whether it was her rapid speech or the fascinating topic, I wasn’t sure, but for once, my brain seemed to be cooperating with paying attention to something.
“It’s the easiest of the three because of the penalty. There will be at least three chances for third-level quality loot, and I can’t stress this enough—you can still heal, which will be a big advantage, almost like cheating. Oh, and if you collect the seven hidden Ayrentums in the world, you’ll get an additional Golden Page.”
“Okay, that’s pretty darn awesome,” I admitted, feeling a surge of excitement. But a nagging thought held me back, and I hesitated. “What happens if I fail?”
Blake paused, her voice losing its earlier cheer. “If you fail… you lose everything you’ve collected in that world, and you might not get a second chance to retrieve it. Plus, there’s always a risk of permanent injury or worse.”
I swallowed hard, the gravity of her words settling over me like a heavy fog. “So the stakes are high,” I murmured, more to myself than to her.
“Very high,” Blake confirmed, her tone somber. “But the rewards are worth it if you’re careful.”
I nodded, trying to steady myself. “Alright,” I said, feeling a newfound resolve harden within me. “How do I enter the world?”
Blake’s voice brightened once more, her excitement returning like a ray of sunshine through the clouds. “How else? Read.”