Records Unknown

I stand between two grand bookshelves which raise to thrice my height. They’re both completely filled from end to end with books. Every which way I could turn, even more lanes of shelves of the same size carry on further than I can strain my eyes to see. The soft and luxurious violet carpets underfoot lay the path across the endless marble flooring and to the heights I can see the separation of stories reaching so high into the heavens that all view eventually fades away into light.

Despite the immense size of the building that seems to continue on without an end, my voice doesn’t carry away as an echo. No matter that I can find no window nor source of lighting, the entire room is lit up to complete visibility.

In stark opposition to the Zodiac Prison which was fraught with an overwhelming, oppressive atmosphere ever looming, I find myself without a single qualm nor worry as I stand still and survey the great library surrounding me. I feel comforted, warm. As if a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

No matter that I reflect on Fortino’s parting, I find myself undisturbed and simply observant to the fact with a sense of peace. Yet I can already tell that the moment I would leave this library, all of the despair would immediately come back to rob me of my tranquility and send me into confusion.

Uncertain but ever curious, I choose a direction to walk and begin forward without a destination in mind.

✩ ✩ ✩

Although I could swear that hours have passed, I feel that it carries the same weight as minutes. I simply continue on my way. Never lost, only unknowing as to where I wish to be. Turning the next corner and into a larger opening where the shelves now shoulder each other and form a rectangular space, I pause for thought.

“I wonder how the others are doing right now.”

In silence, suddenly aware, a spike of intuition fires in my mind. It taps on my shoulder and points the direction towards my right. I about face and find a book within the rectangle of shelves and take it from its place on the mantle.

“Of Wariness for Friends – Upon Incidence of 2030 June”, the title is marked in bold print upon its face.

I open it up and land on the question I had wondered to myself by sheer instinct. As I let my eyes roll across the pages, I begin to read over their whereabouts and well being from bodily health to emotional stability.

Sorrowed would be the most simple way of putting what I’d learned. To the worst, devastated. Despite all that I’ve come to know, I continue in a state of tranquility, even after I’ve come to understand Juna’s predicaments.

“Celine is taking care of Juna the best that she can while I’m gone. I’ll definitely need to show her my gratitude when I return.” Another thought comes to my mind and I openly ponder it to myself. “I wonder what Celine thinks of the situation.”

The library’s lighting shifts from a warm light into a peaceful, blue illumination. At my shoulder now exists an impossibly tall glass window from which a magnificent moon shines its light in between the limitless shelves of the library.

“I apologize, but you haven’t gained permission to access any information private to the maiden of Celine Lucienne residing in the city of Empyrea, Celestia.” A gentle voice speaks to me as if a friend standing by my shoulder.

I glance the direction it had originated from only to discover that I remain alone in the clearing. But I’m not worried and there isn’t a trace of fear in my heart. Although I can’t see them, I understand that they kindly accompany me on my travels through the aisles.

“I should apologize myself. I ought to know better than to think such a thing. I’ve always taken her for a very private woman so I’m sure she would be quite alarmed if I’d trespassed in this way.”

At my acknowledgment, the room returns to its previous form, save for the fact that the window that had appeared remains. A golden dusk now streams in through it and paints the library a cozy madder red.

“I’m grateful to see you, Khiron. I’d known that you would be visiting us today so I’d come to assist you while you’re here.”

Though it remains unspoken, I find myself understanding why my company is invisible to my eyes. It’s in their code to remain as anonymous to all visitors.

“It’s odd. I feel like I know this place but I’m not exactly sure where I am. Last thing I can remember is Fortino’s fate. And before that I believe I’d been with Juna at her bedside.”

“We had spoken in your absence and had come to the agreement that we would desire you to rediscover this sacred place on your own. It is a part of your journey and although we aid you in the ways we can, there are answers that must be found in your own heart.”

“That will be a bit troubling for me once I return, but it is easily understandable. I just hope that I’ll be able to truly remember.”

“That won’t be an issue, have no fear.” They comfort me with a voice that I can easily connect to a smile though it remains unseen.

As I let my eyes briefly wander about, I happen to capture the faint sight of children playing among the rows of the aged wooden shelving. Their laughter plays for me for a sparing moment before it fades away. At that experience, I feel soothed. It chimes clearly as something deeply familiar.

“Before this place had felt like it had no ending but now there’s a window and a view.”

“It had appeared to you as there was a part of your heart that had desired to see an ending for the sake of your own comfort. You’d narrowed down all of this eternal, infinite place so that it would be under the limits of your own acceptance.”

A laugh falls from their mouth but it’s in no way mocking. They laugh with me for the humor I have inside of me. Yet their voice lowers a touch in harmony with my own feelings to what I already know they will say.

“After all, there is much that you yourself have chosen to keep away from yourself.”

I simply remain silent, staring towards their voice. I’m not unsure of what to say, I simply know their honesty and accept their statement as the truth it is.

“I will have the grace to warn you that your time is sparing now. Soon you’ll be making your exit so please make the best of the time you have left to spend here.”

True to their word, I feel my mind suddenly becoming hazy for a second before it returns to clarity. I send a grateful nod their way, take a breath and get to acting.

“Please let me know what had happened to me. In regards to my last memory in Celestia.”

“That is a broad question but I can easily gift you something that will be of help. Check here.”

Despite that I only glance through air, even if I see nothing, I know exactly where their finger points and I take up the book into my hands to flip it open.

“On the Subject of Khiron Carpenter’s Gravest Incidences”.

I open it directly to the page and begin reading.

“2030 June the 23rd, Sunday

“It was truly a life changing day. I had assisted Vestil and the kingdom to clear a nest of Feral which had appeared in the southern commerce city of Skyline. And once more I had encountered Astaroth who had yet again left a powerful Loveless for me to exterminate as he’d departed.

“At first I’d thought to spend the night in the city before returning home to Empyrea, yet Neptanie’s warning kept me from feeling too at ease. It took a single phone call from her to drive my decision to return early.”

“When did this happen? I can’t remember this at all. I’ve never fought a Loveless.” Despite how perplexing it was to read, I was perfectly relaxed and simply curious. “Astaroth? Who is that? But Feral… that sounds familiar.”

I left my wonders behind to make sure I was committing the best of my time towards the book.

“Upon return, the unthinkable happened. An unforeseen influx of Feral had breached way into Empyrea. Hordes of their corrupted ilk made their way into the outer limits of the city. As an emergency response, all of the city’s knights were called to battle. Juna had heeded the call and had left on her way alone. Forgoing any back up, any fellow knights to go with her.

“I’d ran as fast as I could with only one desire firm in my mind: to make for certain she would make it through the night.

“I’d joined a group of knights in the area and had worked with them to route the numbers. And when I’d gone to meet Juna, I’d fought tooth and nail to protect her from the demons which surrounded her.

“I’d been injured in the battle but she was safe aside from the injuries she’d endured. Before I could escort her away, the two of us had been thrust into a nightmare together. I saw to it that she had escaped from that hell, but I’d been dragged back into it and forced to fight my way out.

From there it became blurry. I’d become wrathful, hateful of my enemies unlike I had ever known. My blade tore everything standing in my way into bloodied shreds.”

“That’s not… that’s not how it happened at all… I don’t think it did…”

A sudden spark of imagery lights up my mind and I experience the moment I’d dragged my sword through the neck of a large, shadowed bear that had only retained a shred of its previous form as a once innocent animal.

“That was… a Feral… An animal that had been corrupted by Eclipse’s influence. I’d never fought one in my life. Nothing like that even exists in this world.”

Though I attempt to ponder deeper into this new mystery beyond my own comprehension, I begin to feel tired. All that I am begins to slowly descend into a blur as I feel not my body slacken, but my own grip on my being in this world. I gasp for breath and quickly right myself as strongly as I can.

“I’m… running out of time. I need to know… more…!”

I’d carelessly dropped the book but it had immediately found itself returned to its place on the shelf. Against my growing panic, I know exactly which book I desire to read. It’s such a strong desire, an immense drive. But altogether mysterious and unknown. I realize that I long so greatly for someone. Someone I feel myself missing so dearly.

I begin to feel as if I’m drunk trying to reach for it but I’m spared the trouble as the kindly hands of my company take mercy on me and deliver it to my custody.

“I-I need to see her… I need… Even for just a moment…”

I open the book and my friend helps me by correcting its page. The text printed upon it begins to grow illegible. Not from poor vision but as if I’m losing my ability to read it. I sharpen my focus and look to where the invisible finger points me.

“My most beloved daughter. A priceless and most beautiful gift from her mother who I adore with all of my heart.”

My hands begin to fail and I nearly drop the book, but I feel the touch of my friend whose body is somehow like light. They hold it firm so I can take my final glance at it.

“In honor of our love, I’d named her Rose.”

“I look forward to your return, my dear friend.”

With those final words lovingly playing in my ears, I fall unconscious.

Updated Mondays, Fridays and sometimes Saturdays!

Hello and thank you for your patience! Sleep deprivation is a most wonderous thing that really revolutionizes reality around you as it becomes a most fanciful, tangled blur until you find yourself in a dream bleeding into reality. A statement partially relevant to this story!

Nonsense joke aside, it was a busy day yesterday along with that but here's the new chapter. This marks the end of the prologue section and from henceforth is the story coming along!

Until next time this Monday!