The rain fell heavily, soaking through his thin coat as he stumbled through the deserted streets. His breath came in short, ragged gasps, each step a struggle against the storm that whipped at him from every direction. He had been running—running from something, or perhaps toward something—but he could no longer remember what. All he knew was that when he turned the corner, the world had changed.
One moment, he was in the familiar streets of his city, the next he found himself standing before a towering castle, its silhouette stark and imposing against the night sky. The sky here was not his own, the stars unfamiliar, twinkling in alien constellations. The air was thick with an oppressive energy that pressed down on him, heavy and unwelcoming. He felt out of place, like a lost traveler who had taken a wrong turn into a dream or a nightmare.
His name was Aoust a butler by trade, but here, in this strange world, he was a man without purpose. He had no recollection of how he had come to this place—only flashes of memories that felt distant and fragmented. All he knew was that he did not belong, and that this castle, with its dark, jagged towers and walls that seemed to whisper secrets, was a place of great significance. He took a step forward, drawn inexplicably toward its looming gates.
As he approached, the massive iron doors creaked open, as if anticipating his arrival. Cold, stale air rushed out to greet him, carrying with it the faint scent of decay. Aoust hesitated, the weight of the unknown pressing on his chest, but something compelled him to move forward. He crossed the threshold, his footsteps echoing in the grand, empty hall that stretched before him.
It was a palace of shadows. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, dripping with cobwebs, their candles long extinguished. Tattered banners lined the walls, each bearing the crest of a kingdom Aoust did not recognize—a serpent entwined around a blackened crown. It was a symbol of power, but also of something darker. Aoust shivered, feeling the eyes of unseen forces watching him from every corner.
"Welcome, outsider." The voice was deep, resonant, and carried an authority that made Aoust freeze in his tracks. He turned to see a figure standing at the far end of the hall, cloaked in shadows. The figure stepped forward, revealing a tall man with piercing eyes that seemed to see right through him. His robes were dark and ornate, covered in arcane symbols that glowed faintly in the dim light.
"I am the Librarian," the man said, his voice calm yet commanding. "Guardian of knowledge, keeper of secrets, and the one who knows the true nature of this world."
Aoust felt a chill run down his spine. The Librarian's presence was overwhelming, and there was something about the way he looked at Aoust —as though he knew everything about him, every thought, every fear. Aoust instinctively took a step back, but the Librarian merely smiled, a gesture devoid of warmth.
"I know why you are here," the Librarian continued, his voice echoing in the vast emptiness. "You are not of this world, but you have been brought here for a purpose."
Aoust swallowed hard, his throat dry. "I don't understand. I don't even know how I got here."
The Librarian nodded, as if he had expected this confusion. "You were drawn here by the unraveling of a story—a story that must be rewritten. This world stands on the brink of apocalypse, and at the heart of it all is a single figure: the Princess of the Kingdom, a woman of unparalleled cunning and cruelty. She is the villain who will bring about the end, unless someone can change the ending."
Aoust listened, trying to make sense of the Librarian's words. A princess? A villain? None of this felt real, and yet, as the Librarian spoke, he felt the weight of those words settle on his shoulders, heavy and inescapable.
"What do you mean by 'change the ending'?" Aoust asked, his voice trembling slightly. "What am I supposed to do?"
The Librarian's gaze hardened, and for a moment, Aoust saw a flicker of something—sadness, perhaps, or resignation. "This world is bound to a narrative, one that has been written and rewritten countless times, each iteration ending in catastrophe. The Princess is the catalyst, the one whose actions set the stage for destruction. You, Aoust, have been brought here to find the true ending—the one that can save this world."
Aoust shook his head, overwhelmed. "But I'm just a butler. What can I possibly do against someone like her?"
"You underestimate yourself," the Librarian said, his tone almost amused. "You have a gift for seeing what others overlook, for finding the hidden threads that connect seemingly unrelated events. And that is exactly what you will need to do. You must infiltrate the castle, serve as her butler, and get close to the Princess. Learn her secrets, understand her motives, and, most importantly, find the path that leads away from ruin."
Aoust felt his heart pounding in his chest. The task sounded impossible—suicidal, even. To serve a villainous princess, to try and change the course of a world already set on a path to destruction? It was madness. And yet, something in the Librarian's eyes told him that he had no choice. He had been chosen, and now, whether he liked it or not, he was a part of this story.
"What if I fail?" Aoust asked quietly, the weight of the question hanging in the air.
The Librarian's expression darkened, his eyes flickering with a cold, unspoken truth. "If you fail, the world will end. And you will be trapped here, a witness to its downfall."
Aoust felt a chill settle deep in his bones. There was no turning back. He had been thrust into a world of shadows and secrets, with only a faint glimmer of hope guiding his way. The Librarian handed him a simple, unmarked book—blank, waiting to be filled.
"This is your story now," the Librarian said, his voice echoing like a distant whisper. "Write the ending that this world deserves."
As Aoust took the book, he felt the weight of his new reality settle on him. He was no longer just a butler. He was a pawn in a game of fate, tasked with the impossible mission of saving a world from the grip of a villainous princess. The rain outside continued to fall, relentless and unyielding, as if reflecting the turmoil within him.
And so, with a reluctant but determined heart, Aoust stepped forward into the unknown, the doors of the castle closing behind him with a resounding thud.
The game had begun.