5.2

The house called for him.For some time Ben felt a kind of pull inside him. It was barely perceptible, Ben sometimes wasn't even sure if it was really there. But it was. It seemed as if the walls were drawing him to them, closer and closer to their heart.Ben hadn't learned much about the house. However, he had noticed that the further he walked to the left from his room, the older the hallway appeared. The colors seemed duller, the wood older, and the first traces of rust were showing on the door handles. The house was calling from that direction, Ben was sure of it. He trotted down the hallway and rattled various doors. The light told him it was time to turn back, but Ben kept going. He didn't know exactly why, but he felt it was right.Next to a door, the eyes of the skull lit up. Ben hesitated. Somehow he knew, whatever was behind the door, would be useful. In one jerk, he turned the rusted doorknob.

The door opened. In surprise, Ben lost his balance. He stumbled into the room. All around, countless books stared at the intruder. Complete, they decorated the side walls of the room and shone down on him in every color imaginable and unimaginable. In the center of the room stood a long wooden table. Benches adorned with pillows were lined up along it. They resembled the pillows in Ben's room, only much smaller. The wall behind the table was made of stone. It was the first gray wall Ben had seen in this house.In the wall, something was engraved. It was small and because of the dim light, Ben had to step closer to decipher the words.

Hello traveler,

if you read these lines then you have my pity.You got into something you shouldn't have gotten into.I don't know under what circumstances you became a pawn. I don't know your name or your story, but if you are able to read these lines, then you have a right to know more about your situation.That is why I have created this room. 

It is a place of truth and enlightenment.

That is the only and least I can do.

Ben looked around the room. Truth?That could only mean the books. He took a closer look at the shelves. The books all looked brand new and untouched by the greedy claws of time. Not a speck of dust was in sight. Just as Ben was wondering which book to start with, he heard a dull clap. Alarmed, he looked around. A book had fallen out of one of the cabinets. Coincidence? Rather unlikely.The book had a soft leather cover and the title was written in a language unknown to Ben. As Ben gently picked it up, the characters began to move. Ben let out a sharp cry and dropped the book again. The characters slowly crawled through the leather until they formed a new title.The Book of Fools

It was thin but when Ben gently picked it up he felt a terrible heaviness. He sat down at the table and flipped randomly through the pages.

Fool of Time

A very interesting company. I have never had much to do with her although she is my cousin. I can therefore write very little about her character except that she has always been a collector of rare flowers.Someone who has come in contact with her can stand the test of time. Life will be long for him, very long. Said creature will age very slowly - physically and psychologically. Recognizable by a small roman twelve in the place of contact. Generally rather harmless. There is no reason for termination.

Further down the page was a Roman twelve. Ben flipped to the next page.

Fool of Deception 

He's always been the black sheep of the family. Honestly, I think he always had some psychological problems and they for sure haven't gotten any better with time. Nowadays, as far as I know, he lives apart from the rest and cares little for your world. I hope it stays that way.Creatures that have survived contact with him are characterized by downright irrational behavior. Unfortunately, their abilities are unknown to me at the moment. Recognizable by a dancing clown at the place of the touch.Attention! Said creatures go mad with time. Termination required.

On each page was a fool with a short description and a matching drawing. Ben turned the pages faster, his pulse quickened. Maybe he would find the skull and find out what it was all about. And indeed he found it. His shaky finger ran along the ominous words.
Fool of DeathAs soon as you think you are near him, flee! This is undoubtedly the most dangerous of all fools and he brings nothing but death and the end. I am ashamed of him, he has given away everything to be able to participate in this madness. I am ashamed of myself. I realized my mistake much too late, much too late. Again, he is very dangerous!Living beings that survive contact with him should not really exist. I spent a lot of time shielding my brother from this world. But if you should ever encounter one, be warned. Said creatures are capable of many terrible things. They are guardians of the gate to those who have already completed their time in this world. And they can open the gate at will.Terminating them is not possible for you, so just in case, I have built some cells in this house that suppress the abilities of said creature to a certain degree. Recognizable by a skull at place of the touch, avoid as far as possible! I repeat said creature is very dangerous!
Further down on the sheet was a drawing. Ben began to tremble.
The skull stared at him and grinned maliciously.