Fainting, medically referred to as syncope, serves as a built-in defense mechanism. It activates in response to a sudden drop in blood pressure or insufficient blood supply to the brain. When the brain detects this critical reduction in blood and oxygen, it temporarily suspends consciousness to prioritize blood flow to vital organs, particularly the brain. This protective response minimizes potential harm by causing the individual to collapse, allowing blood to circulate more effectively against gravity and restore brain function. Once blood pressure stabilizes, the person regains consciousness, often experiencing disorientation. Fainting can have various causes, ranging from serious conditions like cardiac issues and neurological disorders to less prudent actions such as recklessly challenging one's own neurons out of curiosity.
Elian, a well-rounded scientist, possessed a keen awareness of this fact. Despite his profound fascination with runesmithing, Elian never neglected other intellectual fields. In truth, he consistently delved into various disciplines, such as biology, alchemy, and pharmacology, whenever he encountered obstacles in his runesmithing experiments or experienced significant breakthroughs. However, he refrained from delving too deeply into these areas, primarily to avoid detracting from his dedicated runesmithing endeavors. Additionally, he recognized that his unique runic eyes held little relevance in these other fields, and he couldn't help but feel that pursuing them would squander his exceptional gift. Consequently, he opted to focus solely on his passion for runesmithing.
Although Elian had only a modest understanding of the topic, he remained confident in his belief that fainting operates as a safeguard against injuries when the brain detects a potential threat to its oxygen supply. In response to this crucial circumstance, the brain activates a protective response, scaling down its metabolic requirements and briefly halting consciousness, with the primary focus on safeguarding essential bodily functions. As blood pressure declines, neural activity diminishes, precipitating a rapid loss of awareness in the individual. Thus, when someone experiences fainting, a sophisticated sequence of physiological processes ensues, culminating in the temporary cessation of consciousness and a protective shutdown of the brain.
In essence, when someone faints, they lose all awareness, leading to a state of complete unconsciousness, so.....
"WHAT IS GOING ON!!!" Elian's voice echoed in the darkness.
Although he couldn't see or hear anything, he could unmistakably sense motion. It felt as if he were securely fastened into a seat, blindfolded, and plugged into some unfathomable journey akin to rocketing through a cosmic wormhole. Of course, Elian had no firsthand experience with wormholes, but the sensation left him convinced that this must be what it's like.
Time seemed elusive in this peculiar state. How long had he been in this condition? It was impossible to discern; his thoughts were consumed by the surreal experience, compounded by his sensory deprivation.
Gradually, he managed to quell the rising panic, realizing that resistance was futile. Surrendering to the situation, he decided to embrace the opportunity for rest. He hadn't slept in days, and with the rhythmic motion, the monotonous environment, and oddly enough, a sense of comfort, it didn't take long before he succumbed to slumber. Within minutes, the accumulated fatigue overcame him, and he drifted into a deep sleep, despite the enigmatic circumstances surrounding him.
....
"Wake up, young one," a barely perceptible voice gently roused Elian from his slumber. As he struggled to shake off the remnants of sleep, his furrowed brow betrayed his perplexity upon hearing the monotonous, genderless voice. The source was unmistakably familiar, yet his mental archives failed to supply a matching context. This disconcerting mystery gnawed at him, particularly given his photographic memory.
While he recognized that auditory memories often lacked the same pristine clarity as their visual counterparts, this experience presented an unprecedented conundrum. Elian grappled with the implications of this auditory memory slip, a sensation he had never encountered before.
"Don't worry, I am not dangerous," the voice reassured him, as if reading his thoughts, which it likely was. Elian was utterly taken aback by the reply's timing and precision, which strongly suggested the presence of an extraordinary ability to pluck his innermost thoughts from the recesses of his mind. While he knew of the existence of individuals with such talents, they typically required some form of physical contact and couldn't access thoughts in real-time.
Yet, here he was, face-to-face with someone who appeared to unravel his mind like an open book, effortlessly deciphering his unspoken doubts and fears. There was a glimmer of hope amidst the confusion, for this enigmatic figure had voluntarily disclosed their power—a sign of transparency, and perhaps, benevolent intentions. Elian's thoughts raced as he pondered the possibilities, hoping that this wasn't an elaborate ruse. He remained profoundly perplexed about his current circumstances, unequivocally certain of this person's involvement yet baffled by the lack of clarity regarding how he had ended up here. As he grappled with his own vulnerability, Elian recognized that resistance or argument would likely prove futile in the face of this extraordinary enigma.
Elian opened his eyes and lifted his gaze, attempting to locate the source of the voice, but his initial astonishment was directed at his unfamiliar surroundings.
Seated among towering bookshelves that expanded infinitely in all directions, Elian found himself surrounded by an overwhelming display of books. The shelves were packed with an endless array of volumes, from weathered tomes to leather-bound editions, their spines adorned with an assortment of symbols and scripts. The library was a vast expanse of boundless knowledge, a visual testament to the depth and breadth of understanding. Elian couldn't help but feel dwarfed by the sheer volume of information that surrounded him.
Elian had never stepped into a library before; his books were either digital or procured by servants. However, as he stood in awe amid this monumental repository of knowledge, he couldn't help but realize that not even the most celebrated libraries, including the royal one, could hold a candle to what lay before him.
He shook his head in disbelief, dismissing the thought of even the Museum of Humanity, renowned for safeguarding the entirety of pre-cataclysmic knowledge, comparing to this colossal expanse. The sheer scale of the library was staggering, and Elian couldn't help but ponder just how many fundamental laws of physics had been bent, or perhaps entirely broken, to allow the existence of such a magnificent, limitless space for learning and exploration.
But these perplexing circumstances left Elian grappling with a host of pressing questions.
"Am I still on Earth?" he wondered, his gaze fixed on the seemingly boundless expanse of the library.
And then, a more unsettling inquiry emerged, like a shadow creeping into the recesses of his mind: "Am I still sane?"
Elian was no stranger to the effects of mental energy exhaustion and knew well the dire consequences it could bring. The notion of insanity loomed as a plausible answer—one that could potentially account for the inexplicable series of events that had unfolded thus far.