Night had fallen; the sun had set a few hours earlier, and the students were already in deep sleep in their dorms.

Dariu made sure his other two roommates were asleep before he could sneak out to finally head to the library. As he was about to leave the room, he heard Naylu's voice.

"Is it time?" He whispered.

"Yes, but you're not coming." Dariu whispered back.

"Why?"

"You're injured, Naylu."

"Kornos said it would be safe."

"And we can't fully trust him. It's better not to take any risks."

"I understand... Be careful out there."

With a nod, Dariu gently and cautiously opened the door, ensuring it made no sound.

At the entrance, Silas leaned on the door frame, waiting for Dariu, and together they stepped into the darkness.

"Raya," Dariu intoned, conjuring a ball of light to illuminate the surroundings.

"It's quiet," Dariu remarked as he walked alongside Silas, "seems like Kornos was truthful."

"We don't know that yet, stay on guard."

"I know. How many stones do you have?"

Silas raised his hand, indicating two stones.

"I have two as well. Let's hope it's sufficient."

The pair reached the entrance to the forest and exchanged glances before boldly stepping inside.

"So, you're a Nayum adept, huh?" Inquired Dariu.

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Make a conversation with me, I'm not interested in befriending you."

"You're one odd guy, you know that?"

"You're the odd one."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"In what way am I odd?"

"You're going around befriending people in a slaughterhouse, Dariu. You know that the majority of us won't survive, don't you?"

"I'm fully aware of that."

"Then don't play friends with the dead, take it as an advice."

Dariu lowered his head with a disappointed expression, and they both remained silent until they reached the library.

"We're here, are you ready?" Asked Dariu.

Silas nodded yes, prompting Dariu to push open the wooden door.

Beyond the door lay a neat and organized reception office. Luxurious red wood adorned the walls, framing elegant and sophisticated sofas. The floor was adorned with a large yellow carpet featuring beautiful motifs. Positioned at the center, between two wooden doors, was a reception counter. An elderly woman, with tied gray hair, small brown eyes covered with big square glasses, and a prominent mole beneath her right lip, stood behind the counter.

"Good evening," welcomed the woman.

"You're not going to expell us, right?" Asked Silas.

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

Silas and Dariu shared confused looks. The lavishness of the surroundings contradicted the harshness of Arcadia, resembling a noble's dwelling. And the woman, unfazed by their presence, not only ignored them breaking a rule but also displayed a lack of understanding when it came to the notion of expulsion.

"This is a library, right?" Asked Dariu.

"Indeed it is," answered the woman.

"So, then... Where are all the books?"

"Do you have a membership?"

"No... Is it necessary?"

"It is."

"How do we apply for one?" Inquired Silas.

"This way," the woman responded as she referred to the door on her right.

Hesitant, the duo walked towards the wooden door. Silas grabbed the handle the slowly pushed the door open and, before going through, made a halt.

"What's the matter?" Asked Dariu.

Silas turned his head back, gazing at the woman with a look of confusion.

Curious, Dariu nudged Silas aside and entered through the door. On the other side, he encountered a similar reception counter with another woman behind it, who appeared identical to the first one.

"Well, this is... Peculiar," he commented.

The room was nearly identical as well, with the exception of two doors on the sides, facing each other.

"Are you here for a membership?" the woman asked, her voice also mirroring that of the other woman.

"Yes," answered Silas.

The pair approached the counter, and the woman retrieved two papers from underneath, placing them on the counter alongside a quill pen.

"Please fill this form."

They both picked the forms to review the required content, the paper read as the following:

Name:

Place of birth:

Age:

Reason for joining:

"This seems simple enough," said Dariu as he picked up the pen to start filling the form.

Before the pen touched the paper, Dariu hesitated. Lifting it once more, his face shifted into a thoughtful expression. As if grappling to recall something, he gazed upward with a furrowed brow, lost in contemplation.

"Wait... What was my name again?" He asked Silas.

"Are you serious?" Questioned Silas, "how can you forget your own name?"

"I... I don't know."

"Your name is... It's..." The black-haired boy with sleepy eyes attempted to remember, but as if struck by the same curse, couldn't recall.

"And mine is... I... Who am I?" He poundered.

"And where am I? What is this place?!"

The black-haired boy's gaze darted around, his expression a mix of confusion and a subtle hint of fear. He hesitated, glancing right and left before freezing, finally turning to the brown-haired boy with a touch of apprehension in his eyes.

"You," he referred to the other boy, "do you have something to do with this?"

"What? No! I'm just as confused as you. I can't recall a single thing either," he then looked at the woman, "this woman however, I think she has a hand in this."

"What have you done to me, old hag?!" The black haired boy angrily questioned.

The woman remained silent.

Furious, the black-haired boy approached the woman with vile intent. Just as he was about to grab her shirt, his hand froze midway.

"Why can't I touch you?"

"You are in a library," the woman said.

"A library?" Asked the brown haired boy, "what were we doing here?"

"You were about to fill this form to apply for a membership."

The boy picked up the form and glanced at the content.

"Perhaps you need assistance?" Inquired the woman.

"So you know who we are, don't you?!" yelled the black-haired boy, attempting to approach the woman before being blocked by the arm of the other boy.

"Yes, we need help filling this up, please."

"You will find the help you seek through these doors," she referred to the two doors on the sides.

The two boys took a few steps back and observed the doors.

"What's beyond that?!" Questioned the black-haired boy, but didn't get any response.

"I think there only one way to find out," said the other.

"Only one through each door, please," interrupted the woman before they could open the door on the right.

"What do we do?"

"We split up, obviously. I don't think we have another choice, and it's not like I trust you anyway," answered the black-haired boy before he went to the other door on the opposite side.

The brown-haired boy grabbed the handle, then froze in his place as he contemplated his action. After several moments, he let out a sigh and pulled open the door.