Irina smiled, "So, Madam Daly is a genuine spirit medium who can help me uncover what really happened?"
That could be dangerous. I don't have the Goddess watching over me to shield Daly from the secrets I carry about this world. The last thing I want is for her to lose control because of me. Besides, I'd prefer to keep my true identity to myself, whether from Madam Daly or even the Goddess.
Dunn nodded, "Initially, we suspected you were a Beyonder losing control. While that theory hasn't been completely dismissed, it seems unlikely. If that were the case, it would have been apparent to us by now. We believe something else is at play. Given that you're here and Madam Daly is with us, it would be a shame to let this opportunity slip by. We simply ask for your cooperation to help us find the root of the issue."
Irina's eyes lit up with curiosity. "Absolutely! I'm eager to learn what really happened, and any explanation would be greatly appreciated."
Let's hope this goes smoothly. Maybe I even have a mysterious Deity on my side— yeah no way, I'm not that lucky!
Daly chimed in, "In that case, let's get started."
As Daly began to light some candles, Irina closed her eyes. The scent of incense filled the room, making her feel drowsy and disoriented. Daly's voice echoed all around her, coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once.
Meanwhile, in an unknown place, Irina found herself enveloped in absolute darkness, a chilling air wrapping around her like a suffocating blanket. Her mind exploded with disjointed thoughts, interrupted only by a sinister cacophony.
Warden... Fate... Fallen... Warden... Fate... Fallen...
It just won't stop bombarding me!
It felt as though another presence occupied her mind, whispering and screaming simultaneously.
Should I ignore it? I can't even understand what it means in the first place!
Slowly, Irina began to clear her thoughts, emptying her mind of everything, leaving her consciousness to fend for itself.
Learning to empty my head of thoughts has been a skill I learned long ago; it's proved useful in many situations... mostly the kind I'd rather not relive or turn into unwelcome memories.
She was unsure how long she lingered in that state, but soon, she felt her consciousness begin to detach from her body. It was as if something vital was slipping away, her very identity entwined with it. Numbness crept through her body, yet she still felt capable of movement.
She instinctively searched for something—anything—yet was met only with the oppressive void that surrounded her.
As she turned, a figure materialized before her: a girl floating in the darkness. Long, dark hair framed her form, almost obscuring her entirely. She wore an old, dirty beige nightgown, and in her hand, she held a beautifully adorned gold pocket mirror.
Is that...
It took Irina only a moment to realize that the girl was, in fact, herself, and she was observing her own body from a third-person perspective as if she were a ghost.
In an instant, her eyes snapped open, revealing a plane that had been hidden from her.
She was surrounded by towering bookshelves crammed with ancient tomes, novels, binders, and every imaginable variation of literature. The shelves stretched infinitely upwards, obscured by an impenetrable darkness, and beyond a few meters, nothing was discernible.
The void she had experienced earlier seemed to extend far beyond the limits of her vision.
The ground beneath her was smooth and transparent, like glass, revealing the same dark mass below that obscured her sight.
Slowly, she pushed herself up from the cold surface and surveyed her surroundings. A cozy couch, along with a few other sofas, sat invitingly around a coffee table just a meter or two away.
I have no idea how I ended up here, but of all the places to land, why the cold ground instead of those inviting couches?!
With determination, she stood up, ready to explore this strange new environment. No one is here to invite me, so it would be polite to wait... Just standing here… for who knows how long.
With a growing smirk, she began to walk. Yeah, I'm not doing that.
Irina chose the most inviting sofa and settled into its cushions, her curiosity piqued as she examined every corner of this mysterious place.
Before long, she sensed a gaze upon her. Glancing to her left, she noticed a figure lounging casually on the adjacent sofa.
"Are you comfortable?" he asked.
"Quite. Thank you for your warm hospitality," Irina replied, a hint of sarcasm lacing her voice.
Silence enveloped them. No response came from the entity, and the unsettling feeling of being watched lingered.
Isn't he going to say anything? Fine by me. Let's see how long this little game lasts.
As she studied him, it dawned on her that she couldn't actually see him.
I know he's there.
I'm absolutely certain of it. I can picture his face, body, and legs, yet the small details elude me.
His silence continued.
I can sense that one arm rests over the sofa, and one of his legs is folded over it, not touching the ground. He has long black hair, some strands shimmering like blue gems. Is that the back hairline? It spills all over him, the sofa, and the ground… But I still can't 'see' parts of him. I don't know what his eyes look like, nor what's on his chest and wrists, since there's that strange dark-thingy covering it.
Even with this knowledge, his form remained elusive. When she looked in his direction, all she encountered was a blank void, devoid of any details. Yet, an image of him persisted in her mind, overlapping with the darkness around her. It felt like a distant memory, knowing someone was present but unable to recall the specifics of their face or appearance.
"You've been staring at me for a while. Am I that handsome?" he quipped, a hint of playfulness in his tone.
Bold.
"As if. I can't even see you properly," Irina shot back, her irritation masked by curiosity.
He chuckled lightly, the sound echoing softly in the library.
"Of course not, you'd lose control if you could."
No freaking way...
"Are you a God?" she asked, trying to mask her surprise.
Who is this guy? I don't remember any God looking like him.
"Yes, just call me Nefiref. Don't worry, knowing my name isn't dangerous. Many have long since forgotten it."
I've never heard that name in my entire life. Where did he come from?
"You look surprised. Does it not match your memories of this world?"
Irina froze at his question, her thoughts racing. How does he know? The silence stretched for a few moments as she struggled to respond.
This is unexpected. Is he an outer God? Even if he is, how does he know about my knowledge of this world? Is he bluffing? Should I play along or lie?
Nah, too risky. I don't want to dance with death right now.
"So you caught me. Who are you?" she asked, deciding to be straightforward.
"A Great Old One, the Sovereign of Dimension. I have many titles, but the one you need to know right now is 'The Warden of Alexandria.' This is the Library of Alexandria. It contains all knowledge—from every person to all objects in every single world that has ever existed, spanning from the past to the future."
"That feels impossible. How can you know so much? You'd go crazy holding all that information."
Another chuckle escaped his lips.
"I don't. Didn't I say so earlier? I'm the Warden of Alexandria, not its Master or Lord. My role is to protect it from external influence. As long as I live, as long as a Warden resides in the Library, this place shall never disappear, nor shall its knowledge fall into the wrong hands."
That's... wow... There's no way something like this exists, right?
Irina was momentarily speechless, struggling to process his revelation.
A full laugh echoed through the seemingly empty library.
"Where did you think knowledge was stored, silly one?"
"But— I mean— future knowledge?!"
She felt a sudden sense that the entity was amused by her reaction.
"Of course. Humans believe in predestined events for a reason. Don't wear that sorry face now, this is the destiny everyone carries. If you don't like it, you can always change it."
"But... didn't you just say it's predetermined? You're contradicting yourself!"
"You can deceive Destiny itself," Nefiref said, his voice steady. "It's difficult, but not impossible when you have the entire cosmos' knowledge within reach."
Seriously...? Ain't no way...
...
"...Why... why am I not losing control?" Irina muttered, confusion evident in her voice.
"Because you come from the Equilibrium pathway. Their strength lies in protection, allowing its Beyonders to hold dangerous knowledge without succumbing to corruption or madness."
"Plus, you're inside the Library and you're a Half Warden."
Why does that sound similar to a certain someone's future situation?
"Half Warden?" she echoed, trying to grasp the meaning.
Nefiref nodded slowly. "This means you'll have free access to the Library, able to enter whenever you wish. I'll be going to sleep soon, though, and I can't say when I'll awaken."
"Wait a second! You're just dropping a massive lore bomb on me!"
Another chuckle slipped from his lips, light and teasing.
"You're talking about lore drops? You know the future of this world, while I do not. Not that it matters to me; I care little for what happens next. Whether it falls or survives the apocalypse, the only one I care about is you."
That sounds wrong on so many levels...
"That was quite a romantic thing to say," Irina replied, "but your tone is way too amused for that."
Nefiref laughed then, a deep and unsettling sound that sent chills down her spine.
"Oh dear, you are the future Warden of Alexandria! Of course, I care about you. If you were to suddenly die, I'd have to search for someone else to fill your role. Who knows how many more thousands of years that would take?"
That's... not what I was expecting.
"Uh... so this is about laziness, then? Wait, you searched for me? Me specifically?! I feel so special!"
She felt 'His' smile widen, a strange, chilling warmth in the empty library.
"You make it sound so unique, but I'm afraid I'll have to shatter that illusion."
'He' leaned forward, resting 'His' chin on his hand, 'His' heavy presence and unwavering gaze still locked on Irina.
The darkness surrounding 'Him' seemed to dance as 'He' spoke. "The birth of a new Warden is rare, but not unheard of. It's my responsibility to choose one when I'm awake and not asleep. You just happened to come from the Equilibrium pathway, which is fortunate. It saves both of us a lot of time in raising your sequence, especially since you're already a mid-sequence Beyonder."
Irina's heart raced at the revelation, her thoughts swirling. "I'm mid-sequence?! Really? But why don't I feel any superstrength or special abilities?" Confusion clawed at her brow.
Nefiref's gaze softened, almost amused. "That's because I sealed them. That body was practically dead. I tried to keep it alive, but it started to lose control. Then your soul entered Irina and fused with what little remained of her." He paused, gauging her reaction. "To help you grasp your powers, I placed a light seal on you. Gradually, you'll be able to remove it. Just treat it like a normal potion, the process will be much faster than typical sequence raising."
Irina felt a flicker of understanding. "I see... so what sequence am I?"
"You're a 6, Forgotten Mage. For now, though, you can only access level 9, which is Bookworm. Soon, you'll reach 8, History Teacher, and then 7, Custodian."
I'm already at sequence 6... that seems a bit excessive, even if I can't utilize it yet. The thought made her head race. At least I won't have to hunt for potion materials and waste a fortune.
She hesitated, curiosity bubbling to the surface. "If I were to ask for the names of the higher sequences, would you tell me? Or are you going to say something like, 'With great power—knowledge—comes great responsibility'? I see your point, so I don't expect you to—"
Nefiref suddenly shifted, 'His' interest piqued, the shadows deepening around 'Him'. "5, Dweller of Time. 4, Knowledge Seeker. 3, Preserver of Fortunes—"
"Whaaat?! Just like that?! No warning or anything?!" Her voice rose in disbelief.
Is that punk smiling? Why does he look so amused?! The thought raced through her mind, a mixture of frustration and incredibility.
"2, Retainer of Fate. 1, Guardian of Destiny—"
"You—!" The revelation struck her like a lightning bolt.
That not-so-Great Old One's smile is widening!
"0, Equilibrium. Great Old One, Sovereign of Dimension, and jada jada. Are you happy now?"
'His' tone was teasing with a hint of satisfaction lacing his words.
...
"Do you want the full title of Great Old One—"
"Oh NO!"
Irina shook her head vigorously. "Nope! I can wait, really!! No need to keep going!"
Nefiref chuckled softly, a sound that echoed in the vast emptiness around them. "If you say so."
'He' shrugged nonchalantly, as if the weight of 'His' revelations held no significance. As if 'He' didn't just reveal the names of all the sequences! Irina's thoughts spiraled. All that's left is for 'Him' to hand me the actual potion formulas!
Nefiref interjected, "Oh right, about the formula—"
How the f—
Irina's shock was palpable as she cut 'Him' off. "Nope, nah-ha!"
What the actual fu—can 'He' read minds or something?! The idea sent a shiver down her spine, making her feel vulnerable under 'His' gaze.
"Don't worry," Nefiref said, a smirk playing on 'His' lips. "I don't plan on giving them to you. It's not like you need them right now, and if you do, you can always search for them here."
Silence hung heavily in the air between them. Irina blinked, struggling to comprehend the gravity of their exchange.
...that was anticlimactic.
The entity seemed to tire slowly, the darkness around him deepening.
"Need something else?" 'He' asked, 'His' tone almost casual. "If not I'll send you back and then myself to some well-deserved sleep."
This fellow! Irina thought incredulously. How did someone like 'Him' become a God?!
She shook her head, refocusing. "How do I enter this Sefirot?"
It's obvious this place is a Sefirot—who wouldn't get it?
"Just write 'Alexandria,' and you'll automatically enter. Oh right, I forgot. Wait here for a second."
And just like that, 'He' vanished from the sofa. Irina barely had time to process the abrupt change before 'He' materialized again in the same position, as if nothing had ever happened.
With a casual flick of 'His' wrist, 'He' tossed her a simple gold band ring with a small deep blue gem glinting in the light.
"Take this," 'He' instructed.
Irina frowned, catching it and later crossing her arms. "It's customary to talk first and then act."
How annoying! I can't decide if I like 'His' personality enough to tolerate it or if I just... despise it.
'He' shrugged again, dismissively. "Whatever."
No. 'He''s just a nuisance.
"Two questions," she said, narrowing her eyes at 'Him'. "First, what is the ring for? Second, do I have to write on paper?"
Nefiref leaned back, 'His' expression thoughtful. "The ring will allow you easier access to the Sefirot. Your sequence is low, so you'd need a special ritual to enter, even though you're its half Warden. You can write on other materials—"
"Air?" she interrupted 'Him', a grin spreading across her face.
The figure stopped mid-sentence, staring at her with an expression of genuine confusion for once.
"What?" 'He' asked, tilting 'His' head slightly, as if she'd just spoken in a foreign language.
Irina couldn't help but chuckle at the rare glimpse of uncertainty etched on 'His' face.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Can I write on air? Like some magical girl transformation!?"
"Uhm... yes...?" 'He' replied, clearly unsure how to respond to her enthusiasm.
A smile broke across her face as she began to play with the newly acquired ring, twirling it between her fingers.
"Can it be with any pen?" she asked, her excitement bubbling over.
"Yes, of cour—" 'He' started, regaining some of his composure, but before 'He' could finish—
"What about my finger? Can I write on air with my fingers?!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in delight.
With an exhausted sigh, Nefiref replied, "Yes, it should work."
"Should?" Irina raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile dancing on her lips.
"I've never tried it while being a lower sequence. I preferred the traditional method—"
"Perfect!" she interrupted 'Him' once more, her laughter echoing in the vastness of the library.
"You never considered the possibility, just admit it," she teased, her grin widening.
Nefiref fell silent, his expression caught between exasperation and amusement.
Gotcha, boy!
"I'm better lol," she declared triumphantly, chuckling.
Nefiref raised an eyebrow at her casual confidence. "Did you just say 'lol'? You know what? Out. I need sleep, and the time difference isn't that great. Daly will soon realize something is off."
Irina smirked. "So you're not that great after all."
'He' waved a dismissive hand. "Amanises holds the authority over concealment among other things, not me. Now go."
"Wait! When will you wake up?" she asked, curiosity tinged with concern.
Why is 'He' smiling so creepily? She thought, feeling a shiver run down her spine.
"Dunno~" 'He' replied, a smug expression lighting up his features.
This smug ass—
In an instant, absolute darkness enveloped Irina, and she felt her consciousness slipping away like sand through her fingers.
Five minutes later, back in the dimly lit basement of the Tingen's Nighthawks squad, Daly spoke "Well, that's all, dear."
Irina felt a wave of relief wash over her. That ended much better than I thought.
"Really?" She asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Daly nodded, her expression serious. "You clearly don't remember, or perhaps you're not even aware. The fact remains that you're a Beyonder, even though you've never drunk a potion or have any recollection of it."
I should be questioning this, right? It would be strange if a civilian knew about Beyonders.
"What potion?" Irina asked, faking a piqued curiosity.
Dunn leaned in, his tone matter-of-fact. "That's right. Beyonders are those with 'special powers.' They acquire those powers by drinking a potion corresponding to the pathway they belong to. There are multiple pathways, which means many different potions, each granting distinct abilities."
The Spirit Meidum interjected, "Your pathway is Bookworm, even though you're of a higher sequence."
Dunn's gaze sharpened as he turned to Daly. "Which one?"
She hesitated, her brow furrowing as if she were searching through foggy memories. "I'm not sure. It was hazy. She should be at least a sequence 8, 7 at maximum, given what you told me about what happened. I didn't feel any other special qualities."
The Captain seemed deep in thought, his mind racing through possibilities.
"That Pathway complicates things," he finally said, his voice tinged with concern.
"Why so? Is it like a super weak one?" Irina asked, her tone light, trying to mask her anxiety.
Dunn turned to her again, his expression serious. "You can't define pathways with—"
Aaaaand I zone out. Irina thought, feeling her mind drift. I'm not hearing all that long-ass explanation after reading 1,400 chapters.
Dunn's voice kept going in the background, with Irina struggling to mask her boredom and disinterest.
Hmm... yes, Sleepless... yes, different powers... yes, Seers, Mystery Pryer... when does this long thing end?!
"...and so Bookworm is a recent pathway," Dunn continued, oblivious to her distraction. "It was discovered no more than 50 years ago. No one knows where it comes from, but the Evernight Goddess herself reassured us it's a safe one that does not hail from an evil existence. None of the churches have implemented it, as higher sequences remain a mystery."
Daly nodded thoughtfully, her gaze steady. "Coming across a Beyonder from this pathway is extremely rare, even for us. They hold no physical strength but can digest information easier and faster than normal. They also have easy access to cogitation and spirit vision, from what I know."
Why does it sound disgustingly weak? At least Klein was able to do divine things like a true seer! I can just read faster... this is so unfair!
Irina couldn't hide her frustration. "Basically, nothing more than what an actual bookworm or someone who likes to learn doesn't already have. Great! It's absolutely nothing special…"
Daly, sensing her disappointment, urged her not to dismiss it. "Don't look at it like that! As Dunn said, sequence 9 holds a small enhancement. You're a sequence 8, so I'm sure you have other abilities. Also, raising your sequence is much harder than you think."
Irina fell silent, her mind drifting back to her previous conversation with Nefiref.
"Why don't we let you rest for tonight?" Dunn suggested gently. "We can keep discussing it tomorrow."
Daly added, "That would be a good idea. Much has happened, and you've been through a lot in the last couple of hours."
After their advice, Irina finally realized the exhaustion that had been creeping up on her.
Adrenaline and excitement work in beautiful ways. I'm sure the moment my head touches the pillow, I'll instantly fall asleep. I really can't wait!
But first, she reminded herself. Priorities! I have to ask before I lose my chance.
With newfound determination, Irina turned towards the spirit medium, her eyes alight with fervor. "Madam Daly, there's something of vital importance I have to ask of you."
A serious expression settled on both women's faces, and Dunn immediately straightened his back, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.
"Please, ask away," Daly said, her tone earnest. "I'll try to help as long as it's within my capabilities."
After a moment of deliberate suspense, Irina posed her question. "I absolutely need to know where you got those clothes. You have to share with me the name of the boutique or the tailor because I am in love!"
Dunn's eyebrows shot up in bewilderment. That's an astonished expression if I know anything.
The Spirit Medium's serious demeanor crumbled, and she burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Oh, my Goddess! Haha... Of course, dear! I'll make sure to get a free day of work, and I'll personally take you there."
Irina couldn't help but smile at Daly's radiant joy. Daly's face is beaming with light. For someone from the death pathway, she's radiating so much warmth that I just can't help but feel happy too.