Ren laid on the ground. He tried to stand up but miserably failed as his legs gave out. Next, he tried to at least sit up straight, but even that failed.
"Wow, so pathetic. I knew you had a weak body, but come on. Just by seeing the library you can't even sit up, truly pathetic." Ken said this as he high-fived the air, almost as if someone was supposed to be there agreeing with him, maybe even retorting with something like, "Wow, did you see how scared he was just by looking at the ceiling? He might just faint at seeing the books!"
Or something like that.
Before he could continue to ponder any longer, he felt the sinister smile of Ken dim before growing larger than ever.
"Oh, so you're not so ignorant after all! Either way you might want to start learning. After all, you don't even know about the real world."
"So this really isn't the real world, and if the dark sea isn't either… well I'm hoping it's not… then what is?"
"It's hell. That's one thing I can tell you, but what's different from any other world that could exist where humans lived."
"So what? Is the world going into a civil war?"
Ken looked at Ren before he opened his mouth. His face changed to an almost neutral expression. He did not move nor speak, did not react nor act at all, almost as if becoming a statue.
'What the hell?'
Suddenly a gaze fell on his back. He felt fear but nevertheless turned in the direction. There stood… nothing.
Ren had expected to see Ken there trying to scare him, or another being like Ken, whatever he was. But what did pique his interest as he glanced around were the shelves, which held a few books: two white and one red, or was it more crimson? Blackish almost.
Everything else seemed to disappear. Even the weirdly intricate white books paled to the crimson book. It seemed so vibrant, so outstanding, as if everything in life — well at least everything in his life — revolved around that one book.
One step, then another, followed by yet another. He didn't realize that he was walking, but when he did realize it he quickly forgot… or much rather he simply was compelled to walk toward the book.
He walked.
Ken was in the air floating, who seemingly had come back to normalcy without notice. His gaze was wandering to the books but not as fierce as Ren's gaze. Actually, Ken seemed to be roaming around the library almost as if trying to remember where things were, or rather where things should have been.
For the only thing that existed in the library was Ren and himself, and the only objects seemed to be the rows of shelves and the three books. So to sum it all up, the library was empty yet radiated a sense of dread. The dread wasn't such that made a cold shiver run down one's back, but rather dread that almost seemed to be of missing something, almost as if the library was begging to be filled.
Ren continued to walk toward the red book, still in a daze. He slowly reached out for it, feeling the soft and gentle texture of leather as he touched it. He noticed the fog seemed to have been emanating from the shelves and now only became apparent.
'Why wasn't I able to notice the fog before… this whole damn library is too weird and it can't be just any library.'
"Well you're not wrong. This library is very remarkable, and for the fog, consider it an aesthetic of the previous owner. But there is also a purpose for it, but as you know…"
"It'll just get censored out, won't it?" Ren's voice interrupted Ken's in dismay and reluctance.
"Now you're starting to understand it. Also hurry up and read the book before I send you out of here so you don't freeze to death."
"To the real world? Wouldn't it be a trap now, would it?"
"Why would I jeopardize your life when it's directly connected to mine? Such an idiot, I swear."
Ren obliged reluctantly.
'I was going to do it either way. It's not like I'm listening to that damn ghost…'
Before completing that thought, his hands opened the book, and with it came such absurdity as he flipped through the pages…
There was nothing… well not exactly nothing. All pages were empty but one, and even that one barely had anything, and even those few words were bizarre.
Name: Ren JacklenAge: 20Talent: $&@?%Race: Human$@&% @&$#%&: Library of $&%#$Past $@%: 1&Skills: 1 unlocked, $ Lost{A#@: ???Total #$^$$ #*$@%#(
His legs gave out.
Ren sank to the floor, breath hitching as a wave of unease washed over him. It felt suddenly as though the room had eyes, as though something had leaned closer to watch his reaction.
He looked around quickly.
The shelves stood silent. The air unmoved.
His gut twisted, then slowly eased, the certainty settling in that whatever watched him now, if anything did, was not here.
That did little to help.
'Why is my name written here? Who had written it? Did the dream put it here? No… rather why the hell is so much of the information corrupted? I think… wait don't tell me…'
A sinister chuckle escaped from Ken, who was floating around the shelves muttering under his breath:
"Ah, don't we just all love when information is censored. Hey, at least it gives you something to explore."
Then he flinched, his eyes widening. His eyes almost seemed even more sinister than usual.
"Ren, for the sake of our lives, no matter how disoriented you are, just run as fast as you can!"
As he hastily said that, he seemed to stretch his hands and suddenly he clapped them together as fast as possible, almost seeming a little rushed.
The library seemed to shake the very fabric of the world. The furthest shelf instantly dissolved into mist, and then the next furthest one followed suit. Eventually all the shelves and flooring besides a three-foot radius seemed to disappear into mist.
Yet it never ended. Eventually even his very footing turned to mist. It almost felt as if he was free falling, and the fact that Ken was simply floating and falling made it even more apparent.
'Damn… am I about to die? No, don't think that. Ken said run as fast as possible, which means that there's a danger.'
Before his consciousness drifted, he stared at the black void almost as if it was comforting him once more, or maybe it was always meant to do that. There were far too many things Ren still did not understand, and many he still shouldn't understand.
'Why does my head hurt? Or is it my body that's tired… or even my soul? I really don't know. Maybe Ken will tell me. But it might just end up getting censored.'
The black void enveloped the last bit of light he felt.
Then he felt a new light, this one quite different and from beneath him.
Was it just him or did it suddenly get cold for no reason?
As a sudden memory surfaced in his mind, he groaned. It was about something he heard from Ken a while ago about how he might freeze to death.
'I really should pay attention to Ken more. When did I become ignorant? Why do I feel like an old geezer as well?'