Chapter Text
You’re falling.
It feels like you’ve been falling forever. Until you hit the ground. “Oof!” You face-plant onto the wood floor ineloquently. No memories of how you got there, you dont bother to get up, instead looking around.
Its a library, bookshelves lined the room, reaching sky high and going further. Was there a ceiling? The room continued on and on vertically. Everything was colored a brownish hue, a cozy vibe.
A loud snap echoes, and suddenly someone stood before you. You peer up at the stranger as far as your neck could tilt back and see a woman dressed in a victorian style dress standing before you, pulling yourself up to see her face.
Blue hair cut short fell over bright yellow eyes set on a pale face. She had a distrustful look on her face, and held a book in her arm.
“How did you find yourself in this place.” She says more as a statement rather than a question. “There should be no way for anyone to get in.”
you glance up at the limitless space above you, “I think I fell from there.. But who are you, and where is this?”
Your answer mustve not been the one she wanted as her expression sours,
”Do not play games with me,” she didn’t seem to believe you, “I am not a fan of verbose speak, I find it annoying. Answer my question without any frills.”
She doesnt give you any time to respond, asking another question; “What have you come here for?”
“Nothing.. I have no clue how I got here.” You answer as earnestly as you could. “I don’t even know where this is..”
The woman sighs, snapping her fingers
In an instant, the both of you were brought deeper into the library.
The room looked limitless once again, bookshelves rising into the sky with no end in sight, meanwhile straight from where you stood was a staircase going farther than your eyes could track it, the bookshelves continued around the stairs. The room was lit by candles, and the strange glow of the stairs.
While you looked around, Angela had walked ahead over to a table sat in the middle of the room. She pulls out a chair from somewhere and sits down, leg crossed over the other. She finally speaks back up;
“My name is Angela, the director and main librarian of this Library.”
You nod, “It’s great to meet you..” You glance off to the shelves, muttering. “So this is a library, what books do you keep here?.” A closer look at the bookshelves made you realize there weren’t many books, in fact there were none..
Angela does not respond to your question, “I have come to a conclusion. I cannot send you back, not knowing how you entered and simply sending you back could be a danger to the library. So instead I shall have you help me.”
“What could you need my help with…?” You can’t imagine you have any particular skills that would make you different than anyone else. You were rather ordinary.
“You will help collect books, as a resident of the city, you’ll be helpful in a multitude of ways.” What an odd way to phrase that… Yeah you’re a resident of a city, which one is the specific one she’s referring to?
Angela doesn’t notice your expression, continuing to speak, “Of course, I cannot allow you die so that shouldn’t be a concern.”
“What exactly do you need my help with?”
“Should you accept my offer, you’ll be receiving guests. Guest who I personally invite and write invitations to. You’ll entertain them during their receptions.” She explained vaguely, you borrow your eyebrows,
“How would I entertain them, exactly?”
“Simply deal with them in a physical manner, as each guest will be faced with an ordeal, should they surpass this ordeal, they’ll receive their books.”
Your eyes widen, “you want me to fight people??” You’re never been in a fight, you wouldn’t know the first thing about one. “I cant!”
“If you die during the reception you’ll be brought back, if thats your concern.” Angela seemed to try and brush off your concerns,
“no! I cant fight! I don’t know how!” You shout. “I dont want to die what so ever!! Send me back!”
Angela didn’t stop you as you ran off.