Main Point of View (Main POV)
I got lost in the forest, and this situation is truly an extraordinary misfortune. Even though this forest isn't considered dangerous, I still feel scared of some things around me. So far, I've been walking for hours without finding my way back.
I looked in all directions, and amidst the trees, there's a cave. Although the cave is quite mossy, there's something strange about it. In front of the cave's entrance, there are various carvings of humans, humanoid creatures, dragons, and the most prominent one is a chalice symbol.
I approached the cave and entered it. An odd sensation enveloped me, as if I entered a small layer controlling this journey, and then passing through myself. It's uncomfortable. Luckily, I brought a flashlight to help illuminate my way in this darkness.
*Fwwoosh*
A burning sound is heard behind me, and I turned. It's a floating fireball providing gradual illumination to this tunnel, similar to a very bright modern lamp.
I turned off my flashlight and proceeded cautiously. There's no telling if something dangerous awaits in this place. Several minutes later, I found some cursive writing in Latin.
"Knowledge shall be given to everyone regardless of who they are... Uh, what else? However, if one knows a lot, that knowledge becomes a double-edged sword. Even when given, not everyone will accept it well, even if it's the truth."
"Anyone who gains forbidden knowledge shall be cursed by it...
"Ha? By it? By whom? Oh, let's read again."
And that curse will make your eyes cry blood, your ears bleed, and your mouth bleed simultaneously. Additionally, you'll experience pain as your organs are destroyed, your eyes crushed and healed at the same time every time you recite the lines of that knowledge orally..."
"It's a terrifying curse."
I read the sentences on the stone board with horror, and at the same time, the wall next to the board opens, revealing sunlight illuminating a stone on top. On the stone, there's a book that looks like something from the Middle Ages. I approach the book and take it.
"The Adventures of Robert Ferro-a-velha Behind the Giant Ice Wall..."
Suddenly, the book distorts and turns dark with golden letters, seemingly made of real gold.
"Encyclopedia of Forbidden Knowledge?" I mumble while opening the book. However, I suddenly feel an immense pain in my ears, internal organs, eyes, and nose!
"Uggghhhh!!! Aaaaahhhh!!!!! Seriously! Why?! Why does this hurt so much?!!!" I scream in agony, falling to the stone floor, writhing from the excruciating pain. I feel my brain, organs, eyes, and entire body being shattered and repaired simultaneously. The most painful part is the feeling of something inside me breaking and rupturing but always returning to normal.
"AAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!!!"
My screams fill the room for a full 30 minutes, and finally, the pain subsides. I lie weakly on the stone floor, covered in blood flowing out of my body.
"Ugh... This is so painful..."
I say weakly, still tormented by the pain I experienced before, struggling to breathe. I am completely unable to move my limbs, and even speaking feels excruciating.
I gaze at the book I had read before. My blood flows towards the book, and surprisingly, the book absorbs it. Damn it! My consciousness is fading... No! I don't want to die!! After that, my consciousness completely disappears.
(Third-person point of view)
In the dark room, like a temple, a man lies sprawled on the floor, covered in blood. Blood flows from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth as if drawn towards the book lying beside him.
For fifteen minutes, blood continues to flow from the man until it finally stops. His clothes and body are clean, and there's no trace of blood anymore. The book levitates in the air, opens, revealing pages filled with unreadable writing. The writing begins to move out of the book, entering the man's head. The book's pages turn, and each page becomes empty as the letters float into the man's mind. This process lasts for five minutes, and finally, the book closes and falls back to the floor.
(First-person point of view)
I open my eyes and see the previously dark room is now brighter. I can see clearly, even though my body still aches. I decide to stand up and approach the book. The book that previously had unreadable text is now blank.
I see small points of light in the room, scattered and flying in all directions. It feels unusual, but I'm not disturbed. I walk towards where I entered the room before, moving slowly and leaning against the corridor wall. I see bright light ahead of me and quicken my pace.
I hope what I see is a view of the forest as before, but now I find myself in the middle of an ocean, flying in the air. I am flying towards the sentinel gate.
"Sentinel gate?" I ask myself. "How do I know about that?" I feel a headache. "Is this what they meant by forbidden knowledge?" I don't think so. This shouldn't be something taboo.
I walk towards a large platform and stand at the front edge. This object is flying very fast, and I can already see a giant gate made of stone that looks very ancient. Near the gate, there are some houses with inhabitants that look like humans living alongside penguins. They look surprised as they stare at me.
I'm also briefly surprised, but I realize that this object, which I'll call Vimana, reminds me of the flying objects from Indian mythology. Vimana flies quickly, passing through the gate and ice walls, then maneuvering to the left. I also see a continent moving to the left. That's probably Thoth, the wandering continent. I'm sure I'm heading towards Avalon, the resting place of King Arthur.
I sit down because my feet hurt and see Vimana flying towards Avalon Island. This time, I'm absolutely sure as I see the tall watchtower that looks like Merlin's.
Soon, Vimana slows down and lands in the middle of a vast expanse filled with beautiful flowers I've never seen before. I jump down to the ground and see Vimana glowing and emitting something like tiny dots of light, then disappearing.
"Gone?!" I shout. "Where did such a big object go?!"
I fall back in surprise, then try to calm myself. "Of course," I say to myself. "In this world, there's magic. It's impossible for such a large object to disappear without magical help."
"I didn't expect someone to reach Avalon with a Vimana I've never seen," says a woman's voice from behind me. "And it seems you're an ordinary human who recently learned about magic."
I turn around and see Merlin, the one who oversees the world from the tower in Avalon and is also known as the great sorceress and mentor of King Arthur.
"It seems your mana also shows signs of that cursed encyclopedia, doesn't it?" she asks.
She smiles sweetly, but I'm not sure if she's a good person. Based on the information from that book, she's quite cruel and likes to play games.
"I am Merlin, the sorcer
ess who accompanies King Arthur's rest and also watches over the world from the tower in Avalon," she says. "Nice to meet you, young man."
She bows her head, maintaining her noble appearance. She looks graceful with her innocent and pretty face, coupled with her desirable figure. Her white hair is tied in a low bun, and she wears a white top and blue skirt with black stockings and high-heeled shoes, along with a white cloak with gold stripes and a magic wand with a round dagger at the end.
"Y-yes, nice to meet you, Miss Merlin. My name is Alistair Bracegirdle," I reply, stuttering with fear towards this woman. Information that appears in my mind tells me she's dangerous and should not be challenged.
"Well, how about we have some tea and talk a bit first, Mr. Alistair?" she asks, reaching out her hand to me while keeping her smiling face. The wind blows in my direction, fluttering the flower petals, creating an atmosphere like in a novel. Her smiling and adorable face sticks in my mind.