New World, Who’s This?

History should never perceived as false… right?

“Here you are then, the perfect place to start.” He pulls a book off the shelf, a book that looked far too heavy for him to handle, but he made it look as if it were a piece of bread. But it wasn’t all that heavy I realize, once it was in my hands.

“It’s one of my favorites. One of the first books I read as a boy. Tells you a bit of everything, so then you know what to look for next in your reading endeavors.”

The cover was worn, it’s definitely old. The book itself held no title.

I opened it to the first page. The pages themselves were fragile.

“When you’re finished, I’ll give you the next book. But please, don’t take this out of here.” He says kindly, but I could tell there was a warning to his words.

He turned to walk away from Melanie and I.

“Wait, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Did past champions keep journals?”

He was quiet for a while. Contemplating over what I just asked.

“The last champion did, the only one I was aware of that did. He was the only one to visit me out of all of them. Of course, that was near the end. But I don’t know where he kept it, I’m afraid. He died in his sleep, from old age.” Ivan chuckled. “Yet here I am two hundred and two years old.”

My eyes widened. Well that is quite old. How long does everyone live here?

“If you’re here till late and it gets dark, there are plenty of candles and matches around here, unless you’re a fire elemental. Then you don’t need a candle at all. Good luck my dear.” And with that he walked away, slowly, to another set up steps that leads to a third floor with a door. He turns around before entering. “Also, if you’re hard of seeing like me, you will find a magnifying glass to be able to see clearer in the drawers of the different tables downstairs.” And with that he went through the door and closed it.

Must be where he sleeps i perceive.

I walked down the steps to the first floor, Melanie behind me. I sat down on one of the chairs. Thankfully enough it had a cushion on it.

——

I hadnt even gotten through half the book before I realized that Melanie was standing behind me with her head bowed.

“Melanie, why aren’t you sitting?” I ask her. I had been so engrossed in my book I didn’t notice a thing around me.

“Oh, we’re really not supposed to, in the case you’d need anything…” she trails off.

“Sit down.” I pat the seat next to me.

“A-are you sure?” She squeaked.

“Of course you can.”

She down next to me.

So far what I learned from this book is that it seems every creature on this world live for quite a long time. Elementals lives close to 250, wolves 200, Fae as well. And orcs have us all beat by 300 years. Nothing was written however about the rest of the creatures living on this world. Nothing about the demons, nothing about the vampires, nothing. Besides that they’re the villains in every story. One bad thing happens, demons. Another bad thing happens, vampires, another bad thing? You get the point. And all of the pictures of them looked like caricatures. Can’t say any of this book is unbiased.

Ugh.

Why do I feel like, none of this adds up? The things that are being blamed on the predominantly non-human looking creatures. Almost sounds like history repeating itself like in my old life. I need to keep an open mind. This is a new life, a new start.

There was a lot on the dragons, which was kind of neat. The pictures were well detailed as well. Not like that of the demons, vampires, goblins, golems, orcs and serpents.

I only had a few pages to go.

“My lady, it’s almost time for dinner.” Melanie’s soft voice interrupts my thoughts.

“Alright, I only have a few pages to go, I’m sure we won’t be late.” I smiled at her.

She didn’t look convinced but she didn’t say anything.

I looked down at the final few pages, and didn’t expect to read what I just read.

I sat back in my chair. The last few pages were blank. Except for the very last one. And it read as follows:

‘One thing is for certain, there used to be peace in this world. I have yet to find what caused this discourse. To whomever may be reading this, please take caution. I’m long dead now, so if you’re someone reading this with there intention of trying to turn someone in, you won’t be able to do anything about me. But to those who are only learning, champion, or champions, proceed with caution in this world. Nothing is as it seems. Trust your gut, keep yourself safe, as well as those that can’t protect themselves.

-Gerald the Curator’

I closed the book.

I need to read more. That last bit solidified my misgivings of this world. And my distrust of the Elemental kingdom.

And I haven’t even been here a full week.

I wonder why Ivan choose this book. To maybe see if he can trust me with his own knowledge of this world.

But I needed to put all these thoughts on the back burner, once again.

I need to play this smart, and not get myself killed in the process.

“Alright, I guess it’s time to go eat dinner then. You must be hungry too!” I smiled at Melanie, but her face looked crestfallen.

“Yes my lady, follow me.”