Pascal sat in a towering library.

Books lined the shelves, and the shelves lined every wall. A central stairwell led to additional floors with more books, and the floors of the library went on forever in both directions. The library contained a dizzying number of books, yet even more could be manufactured at will. 

The book in front of him listed professions from the past. It contained records on the duties of ancient magi, adventurers, soldiers, and more. If a profession had ever existed, the book contained it. And now, for the second time, Pascal finished reading the book.

He turned the last page and let out a long sigh. "Is this really it?"

His question was answered by a white ball of a light. It appeared in front of him and a robotic voice echoed out.

[ Confirmed. The Tome of Professions contains one million three hundred thousand seven hundred and twenty two professions. Total professions recorded in history include nine hundred thirty three thousand two hundred sixty eight. The Tome of Professions contains 139.37% of all professions. ]

The ball of light finished speaking, then blinked out of existence. However, the question had been a rhetorical one. He knew the answer from the start.

"This is no good..."

Pascal leaned back in his chair. He sat at the edge of the stairwell, and his eyes trailed up the floors of the library. A dull white fog obscured the top of the tower, but he knew it continued several dozen more times than what he could see. Books filled those vast floors with more knowledge than one person could ever hope to learn, yet they didn't contain the answer he was searching for.

He let out another long sigh and called out for the white ball of light again. "Dia." 

[ Summons Confirmed. Pascal, what can I help you with today? ]

"Please run a personality analysis and find the profession that suits me the most."

[ Confirming, please wait. ]

The white ball danced in a circle, tracing figure eights through the air. A few moments passed, then a blue holographic screen appeared behind it.

[ Pascal, Congratulations! The profession that suits you the most is... ] 

A small drumroll ran and a jingle played out of the white ball. 

[ Green Mage! A Green mage specializes in healing and supporting others through Nature magic. They have been known to engage in many professions, from woodworking to adventuring. If you'd like to learn more- ]

"Enough." Pascal waved his hand and the screen disappeared. "It's still the same..."

If he was honest with himself, he was a little interested in it. Perhaps slightly more than the millions of the other professions he had read about, but only slightly more.

"Green mages are lame..." He shook his head at the thought of becoming one. "Dia, put the book back on the shelf, please." 

The ball of light floated towards the book, and a cone of light enveloped the thick volume.

[ Return Confirmed. Beginning cleanup. ]

"Thanks." He gave a small smile at the ball of light, but it only gave its usual reply.

[ Gratitude Confirmed. ]

He turned away and headed towards the exit. Every floor contained a different path out of the library, and this one would take him closer to his quarters.

He stepped out of the exit and into a hallway fifteen meters tall. Despite being indoors, trees grew along the length of the hallway. Bright artificial lights shone down from above and green golems wandered around, watering plants.

Pascal stepped up to one of the green golems and smiled. "Hey Emmy, working hard again today? How are these plants coming along?"

[ Query Confirmed. This shell has been in operation for four hundred seventeen thousand, six hundred eleven consecutive days. The current flora in this hallway, twelve-fifteen gamma, are operating at one hundred and sixteen percent efficiency. Their current status is: Healthy. ]

The green golem replied with its usual robotic voice. It sounded identical to the other golems, but he swore their tone changed depending on their color. The Emerald variation before him had a slight ring to their voice, almost as if they were singing in a strange monotone way.

"Keep up the good work." Pascal patted the head of the green golem and nodded. 

[ Gratitude Confirmed. ]

The golems grew beautiful plants. The trees, despite only being a few days old, gave off a vibrant color in their leaves. Their thick trunks would have normally been impossible to have grown in such little time. However, through the magic of the Emerald golems, they grew a thousand times faster than trees in the wild. If he had one complaint, though, it would be the transient nature of it all.

Every week, the Emerald golems grew new trees and plants. The new flora was just as beautiful as the vegetation it replaced, but he still thought it a shame. The emerald golems claimed it was to keep the surroundings fresh, but Pascal always thought it a waste of perfectly good trees.

He turned and left the small green golem to its devices and continued his walk down the hallway. A few ponds and creeks carved through the path, with Lazulite golems playing in the water. When he crossed a bridge, he always watched the aquatic golems for a bit before continuing on.

This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

He reached the end of the hallway and stepped through a small breeze of warm air. Fans blew from the transition of the hallway, ensuring that none of the humidity would spread to the rest of the city. As he exited the green hallway, he came across a barren white walkway.

Dozens of windows lined the stark hallway. Fields of wheat and crops lay on the other side of the glass. Artificial lights cast the same nutrient rich rays down onto the fields and people hurried through the fields.

Pascal stopped to watch a person on the other side of the window. They sped between the rows of crops, chanting spells to accelerate growth. In ten minutes, they grew an entire field of potatoes and harvested them just as quickly.

The person finished harvesting the last crops and stood up. When they noticed Pascal, they gave a friendly wave and he returned it. They trudged up to the window and the pane of glass disappeared.

"Pascal, long time no see."

"It has been some time, Freja."

The woman on the other side wore overalls and a straw hat. Mud caked her boots and legs, but she still wore a grin.

"Sorry for not noticing you earlier. We're getting close to ten billion potatoes grown by human hands. Every day is pretty exciting, you know?"

"Sounds like it..." Pascal rubbed his chin, looking at her. "Do you still like being a Green mage?"

"Of course, and we're still waiting for the day you join us. I'm sure you'd be able to break the record for the fastest field harvest."

"I have no idea why you would think that..." Pascal sighed and shook his head. "I'm still undecided, you know."

"Keep telling yourself that." Freja smiled and glanced back at her field. "Why don't you help me with a harvest? You'll figure out faster if you like it or not."

"No thanks. I think I'll stick to my bonsai tree."

"Suit yourself, but is there something on your mind? You seem off."

Pascal looked behind Freja, at the field of upturned earth. Just a few minutes prior, it had been filled with life. However, it was now empty. Just like the trees from the hallway before, the plants around here were all destined for death.

"I'm fine. Just still trying to figure out if I want to become a Green mage or not."

"You can always change your mind, you know? The longer you wait, the more time you waste away doing nothing."

"Hm." He gave a noncommittal hum, but nodded. "Well, I'm off. Take care."

"Sure, take care." 

Pascal turned away and the glass window reappeared. He continued walking down the hallway again, occasionally glancing at the other fields of crops and the people working them.

At the end of the white walkway, he came to a junction. More hallways led to the cafeteria, living quarters, and a laboratory, with further staircases leading to different levels within the city. 

He headed to the cafeteria first. It contained mostly empty tables and chairs, but the small counter in the back served food. He waded through the empty seats to the counter and called out to the golem working there.

"Emmy, can I get the usual?"

[ Order Confirmed. Boiled potato, steak, and collard greens. Side of Custom Salad #1. ]

A small green golem stepped out of the back, carrying a plate of food above its head. A steak and potato steamed off the porcelain, and two sides of greens sat next to it.

"You already had it prepared, thanks Emmy." 

Pascal took the plate and rubbed the head of the emerald golem.

[ Gratitude Confirmed. ] It lowered its arms to a T-shape, did a spin and a half, then walked back into the kitchens.

Pascal nodded to himself, then headed out of the cafeteria, food in hand. He took a right and went down some stairs to the dorms. Inside, he navigated a maze of hallways before finding his room.

"I'm back." 

He announced his arrival to no one. His room sat empty, as always. 

"Whiskers, you there?"

Several high-pitched squeaks emanated from a vent in the wall. He brought over the salad bowl and the chittering grew louder. A small head pushed out through a hole in the vent. Whiskers, as he had grown to call the rat, lived in the vents of the city.

"Dinner time."

Pascal set the salad bowl down on a side table. Whiskers fully emerged from the vent and climbed down a small stick to the table. According to the library, the bowl of vegetables contained most of the food rats liked. It had been a hit so far, at least.

Whiskers began nibbling on the salad, and Pascal sat down at the desk. He worked on his own food while looking over at the bonsai tree.

The potted tree sat on the desk in front of him. The twisted and neatly pruned branches were proof of the effort he had labored over its growth. He spent years working on it, and he enjoyed the look of it, but he knew there were more impressive ones out there.

Other people in the city had larger, more beautifully trimmed trees. They could sculpt a bonsai tree in days rather than years. Some could grow ten at once, pruning and sculpting them simultaneously with Nature magic. Even he could admit that the resulting trees were more impressive than his, and they took a fraction of the time. However, none of those were this tree.

He continued staring at it as he ate. The small artificial light above fed the plant. Over many years, the tree had blossomed from just water and light. Rather than using spells, the plant had grown on its own strength.

Pascal finished the last bite of meat and let out a small sigh. After finishing his food, he began cleaning up and turned in for the night. 

—

The next morning, he headed back to the library. He passed through the empty fields, the green hallway, and stepped back into the Tower of Knowledge.

"Dia." He called out and the diamond golem appeared. "I've decided what I will become."

[ Please Confirm. User, Pascal, wishes to update their profession status? ]

"Yes. I've decided that I will become... Not a Green Mage."

[ Confirmed- What..? ]

"Hm?" 

It sounded like the white golem spirit had just spoken in surprise. However, that was impossible. The unfeeling golems of the city could never be surprised.

[ C-Confirmed... You'd like to update your profession to "Not a Green Mage"? ]

"That is correct." Pascal nodded. 

[ Error: No such profession found. Would you like to create one? ]

"Yes." He confirmed with a nod. The current Green mage profession was lame, so he would make up his own profession that wasn't a Green mage.

[ Seriously..? ]

"Hm?"

[ Confirmed... Updated user, Pascal, profession to 'Not a Green Mage'. ]

* Up next: Anything But Green Magic