{Sora's pov}
I opened my eyes to darkness. It was calm, quiet, and peaceful.
I had finally died. Of course it was darkness. I never really believed in anything like gods or fate, but honestly… I didn't hate this.
No noise. No people. No expectations. Just this soft nothing, stretching out forever.
For the first time in years, I could feel myself breathe. I was finally at peace and could feel some liquid on my cheek. I wiped it away and realized it was a tear. I was actually crying.
I'm finally free.
I wiped my tears and smiled for the first time in years, enjoying the darkness floating in nothing, closing my eyes.
Then I heard it. A creak, faint but enough to make me snap my eyes open.
I squinted, trying to find the source. Nothing. The darkness didn't change.
And then, out of nowhere, a door appeared. Made of wood, iron hinges black as shadow, just there in the void.
Maybe I should have ignored it. Maybe I should have stayed in the darkness, enjoying my peace. But that would be boring.
I reached for the door handle, fingers brushing the black, cold metal. The door groaned and swung open.
Light spilled out. White, soft, warm—and oddly safe. I hesitated.
'Do I really want to leave this peaceful darkness?'
I stepped through and found myself in a library. Endless shelves spiraled above me, impossibly tall, impossibly deep. Books of every size, shape, and color crowded the aisles. Some floated in the air. Some teetered in towers so high I couldn't see the top. The smell hit me first—parchment, dust… and something else.
I looked around in amazement and grabbed a book. Curiously, I tried to read it, but a voice stopped me.
"I wouldn't open that if I were you."
I turned. A boy with green curly hair covering his eyes wore a green T-Rex onesie and grinned.
"Why?" I asked.
"Geez, because you might die, and that would be bad for you."
"Wait, what?!" I dropped the book, staring at him.
"Who the hell are you?" I muttered, starting to rethink my decision to enter the door.
The boy bowed playfully. "My name's Ian, librarian of this beautiful place filled with books, sweet Sora."
"How do you know my name?"
His grin vanished. "You have questions, but you can keep them. I don't wanna answer. As for your name… I used a skill for that, but I think it'll be fun to give it to you."
A soft ping sounded. A notification appeared:
{You have been given the skill Veiled Insight}
I stared in shock, and Ian laughed. I decided to test it on him.
'Veiled Insight'
[Name: Ian
Age: ⟠⟁⟟⟡ ⌖⟠⟟
Rank: ?%*&^&^
Status: Alert
Attributes:
Strength:⟟⟠
Agility:⟡⟠
Endurance: ⟠⟟
Mana Output: ⟠⟡⟟⟡⟠
Perception :⌖⟟⟡⟠
Intelligence:⟟
Luck: ⟠⟡⟟
Skills:
{Hidden}
Traits:
-Trickster
- Observant
- {Hidden}
]
A sharp pain shot through my eyes. I rubbed them, wincing. Ian laughed.
"Did you seriously try reading my Status screen? Idiot. I'm too powerful for you to do that."
I blinked, trying to steady myself. The flickering screen faded, but the glitch lingered in my mind. My vision cleared just enough to see the library. Then another ping sounded:
System Quest Activated:
Choose a book from the children's section to read and complete it.Reward: NonePenalty: DEATH
I had no idea what I had walked into. Ian looked at the quest and laughed again.
"Here," he said, handing me a small, shimmering card. "Library card. Newbies like you only get access to the children's section. Don't wander off. You're still learning, sweet Sora."
He pointed at a section of the library that looked colorful and childish. I walked toward it, browsing the books, all with cute covers and playful titles. I finally stopped at a familiar one:
Little Red Riding Hood.
The cover was deceptively sweet—a little girl in a bright red hood holding a basket—but the edges shifted slightly when I blinked. My fingers itched to grab it. The pages rustled like whispered secrets, and I could almost hear a heartbeat from within the book.
"I choose this one."
Ian's grin widened. "Little Red, eh? I hope you enjoy it. Remember, sweet Sora—this is the children's section, but even here… some books bite. Or cry. Or both. You won't know until you try."
I flinched. "I'm just reading it, though."
He smiled and shrugged. I opened the first page. A chill ran down my spine. My vision swirled, the library blurred. Ian's grin stretched wider.
"Enjoy the ride, sweet Sora. That book's got stories… darker than you think."
And then… once again I lost consciousness.