And as Tingen's cherry on top... fourth and last, perfect my own death by the end of the year.
It was Monday of the following week, and Irina was currently slouched over the biggest and most comfortable sofa in Alexandria.
Let me recap the mess of these past few months. Actually, let me write them down. This way, I can check for strange coincidences. I can't trust that damned Quill.
Just as Klein did in Sefirah Castle, Irina materialized paper out of thin air, and writings began appearing on it.
I, Elena, died (?) while falling off a terrace during a party at the headquarters of the "Alexandria Company" simply because, due to the earlier rain, the ground had become slippery. That's on me for being an idiot. Anyway, after that, it's just black... then Irina's memories entered my head (an orphan with no recollection of ever drinking a potion). I 'woke up' with Dunn pointing a gun at me because Leonard had suddenly hugged me, influenced by the pocket mirror (officially registered as a sealed artifact) which wanted to return (?) to me. Damn, was it strange to meet them for the first time—those two looked just like the fanart and official drawings. Fine men... very fine specimens of men; especially Leonard. I appreciate beauty whenever I see—
"Hey! No, stop—" Irina flailed her hands at the floating paper in front of her. "You don't have to write me appreciating the charm of a man! Damn it, how do I control this thing to not document every single thought I have?!"
She huffed, then continued her mental narration.
Dunn knocked me out, and I woke up in the Nighthawks' basement. I bullied Leonard for a while before Dunn and Daly intervened... then I bullied Dunn as well. Not the best first impression, now that I think back on it...
They thought I was a Beyonder losing control (true, since I'm a Sequence Six, and the original Irina could not control it), but they crossed out the idea. Daly used her power as a Spirit Medium to understand what happened through my memories. But after I fell asleep... I woke up here for the first time.
Irina lazily glanced around at the endless bookshelves stretching into the sky, obscured by what seemed to be the very essence of darkness. The ground beneath her feet was smooth and transparent like glass, separating her from the swirling black mass beyond.
Her gaze landed on a sofa to her left, reminding her of that strange first and only encounter. 'He' had called himself Nefiref, a Great Old One—or as Irina liked to think of him, a great old idiot.
He was packed, not gonna lie... his body was divine~
She chuckled softly to herself. "Get it? 'Cause he's a—UGH! Why am I talking to the air? Am I already going crazy? Is this what losing control feels like?! I was just talking about his body! Why do I sound like a creep?!"
Irina groaned, hiding her face in a pillow. "It's not my fault he was hiding his face for my sanity!"
After a prolonged silence, more words appeared on the floating paper.
Thanks to 'Him,' I learned the following: I belong to the Equilibrium Pathway (which apparently exists outside of the novel?); I'm a Sequence 6 (Forgotten Mage) with sealed sequences for my well-being (currently Sequence 8, History Teacher); if I don't die (or worse?) I'll become the next 'Warden of Alexandria' (a Great Old One? Will I need to assimilate another Pathway? What about the Uniqueness? Missing information.); also, I'm currently 'Half,' so my control over this Sefiroth (Library of Alexandria) is limited. I can enter thanks to a ring 'He' gave me (currently on a necklace under my clothes for safekeeping); 'He' will be going to sleep indefinitely (haven't seen him since).
Irina raised her head from the pillow, staring at the ceiling as another paper appeared beside the now-filled one.
I woke up, got cleared by Daly, slept, got 'offered' a job (they had to keep me under surveillance, but I wanted the place anyway), went to the orphanage, gathered my stuff, and moved out. I found out about a flat near the Captain's and moved in on the same day (on Dunn's recommendation), cleaned it top to bottom, and called it a day.
She scoffed at the memory of the next day. I still remember it clearly. The library receptionist disrespected me just because of my clothes! Can you believe it?! Anyway, I read some books about History, Ancient Hermes, random novels, and Roselle's plagiar—I mean, creations. Definitely original creations. Yes.
Leonard came to pick me up since I missed my appointment with Dunn. I read 18 books in eight hours by the time he arrived. I reported to the captain in his office, kidnapped Leonard to go buy a pocket watch, and later got dinner together. Friendly relationship acquired :D
Irina chuckled. "Smiley faces on paper look strange~"
The next day, I started mysticism lessons with Old Neil. Spent the afternoon shopping and chatting with Daly. That night, a Blood Moon occurred, and I had a strange nightmare. I don't remember much, but it felt like I was losing control. I entered the Library hoping it would help—and it did. On that same night, I found the book 'May It Lead You', which had strange sentences identical to the whispers and ravings I heard. Most of it is unreadable though. To this day, I haven't figured out what language it's in.
Irina slapped her cheeks, jolting upright. "I tried so hard not to think about it that I almost forgot! The very next day, I met Amon!! What was 'He' even doing in Tingen in the first place?! It surely wasn't his main body... but still! Amon is AMON!"
The next day, I started learning ancient Feysac in the comfort of my apartment since it was Monday. On Tuesday, I received my first mission with Leonard. We went to an abandoned cemetery outside town to investigate, but I ended up in the forest, following a strange trail. I found a run-down mausoleum with an open tomb—complete with a skeleton.
"I borrowed the book it was holding," she mused, "from the Second Epoch, but I couldn't read it."
She rolled her eyes at the missed opportunity. "Reported to Dunn, went back with more Nighthawks to investigate, found nothing. End of the day."
Then, nothing happened for an entire week. I did start shooting practice, but I wasn't very good—still terrible at it, honestly. My aim sucks. She sighed. I did find some useful bookshelves in Alexandria though, ones about the Fourth Epoch, ancient artifacts, sea routes, methods of travel, and even some 21st-century recipes.
"The following Tuesday, I got my first solo mission—" Irina whistled. "Boy, what a mess that was. I was supposed to investigate some incidents related to a haunted office at a university. But everything went wrong. I literally fell out of a window... while it was raining! I destroyed the police uniform they gave me—forget the clothes! I was in misery~"
She sat up straighter, the memory clear in her mind. Weather? Gray, rainy, windy, cold—in the middle of summer as well! On my first try: a gust of wind pushed me over the threshold of a window that should have been closed. I ended up in the infirmary, got bandaged, and left with a fresh set of clothes. Could have used a shower though; I was covered head to toe in mud, blood, scratches, leaves, and who knows what else.
Second try? The windows shattered, filling the room with jagged shards. I nearly slipped on the wet floor after the door slammed shut. Then, the chandelier almost fell on me (thank the Gods my spirituality flared up, warning em of the danger). Not to worry, instead, I hit the bookshelf and got a new bruise.
Third: on the way back to the company, multiple stray horses and kids kept jumping in front of the carriage, just to spice things up.
Irina huffed, her annoyance growing. "You'd think that after reaching the security company, I'd be safe. But no, Leonard just had to burst open the door and hit me full force! At least he caught me before I tumbled down a flight of very steep stairs."
She rolled her eyes at the memory of what followed. "Then, after leaving Dunn's office, Rozanne smashed a cake in my face, spilled hot tea on one shoulder, and accidentally stabbed me in the other. That was painful! But did it end there? Obviously not! I hit a table and knocked over a vase that shattered on impact. To not fall, I tried grabbing the wall but NO, there had to be a giant-ass painting hanging right there. The nail snapped, and that stupid heavy intricate frame hit my HEAD and. I. Fell. On. Shards."
Irina sighed in exhaustion. "Zero out of ten. I don't recommend this experience to anyone."
A new paper appeared out of thin air and writing began forming on it.
Two weeks flew by, and finally, we had a Girls' Night. During that time, I figured out what my pocket mirror does. If I brush someone's hair, I can later watch the memory in the mirror. The longer I brush, the longer the memory lasts. But, I have to think about the person or memory, or it'll be random.
I created an honorific name for myself, (The Warden who abandoned its Origin, the Protector Mage who uncovers Time, the Guardian of Knowledge surrounded by Void) to be able to sacrifice the mirror and watch the memories in the Library, away from prying eyes.
Two days later, I found out Leonard and Dunn went to investigate Klein Moretti. I ended up meeting him that same day. A couple of days after, on a rainy Friday, we (Klein, Leonard, and I) were assigned to that kidnapping case. It was solved without any issues or strange coincidences. Everything went according to the novel. Unfortunately, the next day I was forced to start physical training. She groaned at the memory.
Old Neil took Klein and me to the black market the following Wednesday and everything flowed smoothly.
Irina raised her arm, the sleeve slipping down under its own weight, eyeing the thin scar on her shoulder. "Now, back to a couple of days ago."
Sealed Artifact 2-049 arrived with three colleagues from Backlund. It was the first time I realized my Spirit Vision could see past the black box holding 2-049. Thanks to my big mouth, those three became very interested in me, suggesting I move to Backlund.
During the trip to the warehouse, I finally realized how my protection works. 2-049 targeted everyone multiple times but never me. The fight proceeded like in the novel—except for when that damn clown decided to shoot me. "Thank the gods Leonard was there to yank me away. Shortly after I..."
Her memory went blank after that. "I forgot everything from that point until I got blown away by something and landed far from the fight." She tried hard to remember but when nothing came to mind she shrugged with clear disinterest. "It couldn't have been that important."
I screamed at Dunn not to touch the notebook, explained my reasons with veiled lies, and we inspected the warehouse before heading back to the company. The trip followed the novel.
Irina let out a heavy breath. Once back, Old Neil helped with some ritualistic magic for healing and I dozed off; until the topic of going to Backlund returned. After a heated 'conversation,' as well as almost getting attacked by Aiur not long after (thanks Dunn for the protection), and another discussion the following day, we managed to compromise. Officially, I'll be moving to the Backlud Diocese in the upcoming years.
She leaned back, running her fingers through her hair. "And that's basically it. Tomorrow, I'm back to work, and I'll also get invited to Klein's dinner to celebrate him becoming an official Beyonder. Not that I'd know—no one's told me yet."
It was night, the crimson moon hanging high. Dinner had started at six, at a corner table of the old Will restaurant, but multiple hours had passed.
Klein stood before Irina in a lone alleyway behind the restaurant, looking her straight in the eyes.
"Are you also from Earth?"