Bookshelves as tall as a small house.
The smell of paper.
And a damp odour.
*Blink*
To my right there's a wooden door with a raven insignia on it.
And to my left there's bookshelves.
A lot of bookshelves.
There's a desk with a small light.
Several papers, ink and a feather are on this desk.
(What's going on?)
I stretch out my hand in front of me.
They are tiny soft hands without any blemishes.
I rotate them looking at the back of my hand.
There's a long red line on it.
Touching it stings.
(where am I?).
All around me there's bookshelves filled to the brim with books.
The only space without books is the door.
It makes me think that if the creator of this room could've placed books on the ceiling and floor… they would have done so.
(I guess I should look around)
Briefly I question my own sanity.
There's too many scenarios going on inside my head.
Was I abducted?
Is this an Isekai?
Maybe I just woke up from a long dream and am having trouble getting accustomed to reality….
Well those are just some of the possibilities.
This could be something I wouldn't be able to understand.
In the end I decide to act.
After all, we humans are pragmatic creatures.
As long as something works….. We might as well call it perfect.
But honestly there wasn't much of a logical reason…. I just didn't want to stay still.
Especially not in a situation where the next actions might decide my fate.
I walk up to the desk.
It's surprisingly tall.
About twice my height.
And the chair isn't much better either.
I have to use my whole body to climb atop of it.
Well maybe the chair isn't tall….
…Maybe I'm just really small.
My legs look kind of weak and feeble.
Like those of a kindergartner.
My mind also can't focus much.
Mmmhhh kind of like I'm actually a-…
…OH look there's a book.
I open the book.
But there aren't any pictures.
Kind of lame.
I look at the leather cover.
There are strange signs on it.
Some I seem to understand, others I don't.
'Theory of ######## Magic ######'
My first instinct is to throw it away.
Because books are for nerds… am I right guys (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧?
But something is holding me back.
The red line on the back of my hand itches.
Something inside of me is holding me back.
Making me read this extremely boring encyclopedia looking book.
…
…
…
But even with that desire….without being able to understand most of it I can't get myself to continue for long.
I wonder how long I was reading for.
There are no clocks and no windows so I don't know what time it is.
But more importantly.
Why did I read this book?
Aren't there more pressing matters right now?
Even if I wanted information…shouldn't I first look through the room?
*Grab*
I grab some paper and the feather pencil.
It's a beautiful gray feather pencil.
On the tip there is some silver metal adorning it elegantly.
I dip it in the Ink glass.
"STOOPPP!!"
I shout.
My breathing turns heavy as I grab my head.
A throbbing headache coming from the front of my head starts spreading throughout my brain.
"Arggghh"
Laborious breaths.
My head feels horrible and I'm sweating bullets.
(WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON???)
But I still need to focus or I feel like I'll lose my sense of self.
"Haaahh Haaaah"
"Haaaah"
It takes me a whole minute.
Or at least it feels like that, till I regain some semblance of control.
Bits and pieces of memory flash before my eyes.
I'm Zahir.
Zahir Umbra Aphelion the bastard son of Count Aphelion and a worthless piece of garbage,who should be grateful he hasn't been fed to the wolves yet.
…
…
No.
NO!!
That's not me,
But who am I then?
*haaahh*
If I knew this would've happened I would've studied philosophy.
Who am I?
What a useless question.
Much more pressing would be… Where am I?
And where am I going to get my next meal?
I guess some worries are meaningless.
Still this is definitely a weird situation.
I wouldn't judge if someone in my position got a panic attack.
To be clear…. I mean me.
Yup… I think I am getting a panic attack.
*Gulp*
I swallow a huge chunk of saliva.
Or is it vomit…. I don't know….. Let's just forget about it.
Instead, let's look around.
Sure I seem to be losing my mind, I don't know where I am and this body isn't mine… or maybe it is… who knows.
But It's better to do one thing at a time-...
*Knock Knock*
And just as I decide that I hear a knock at the door.
A small food slot opens.
Some food and a water flask are dropped in.
"Dinner is served young master!"
I'm stumped, mouth wide open.
Behind the door a raspy, old but very refined voice announces my dinner.
I walk towards it and see some bread, a bit of bacon and cheese.
Looking rather appetizing.
"....."
Silence.
..
..
..
Neither of us says a word.
The man behind the door doesn't move away and seems to be waiting for something.
Maybe he wants to hear a thank you?
But he just put food in through a food slot… like he was feeding some kind of animal.
I don't think this is a normal situation, and by the looks of it I can't leave this room.
Still even if I'm wrong I was getting kind of hungry so I say.
"Thank… thank you for the meal."
…
…
…
More silence.
"Young master! You know that you can't answer like this… after all this is your punishment for being incompetent, what if the head of the house hears this… do not think he will be as lenient as I am!"
The old man says.
It doesn't sound like he's lying.
But why does it feel like he's being dishonest?
I hear a trolley, most likely the one meant to bring my food roll away.
But… This is my chance to get some information from him.
I need to grab it.
So I speak up.
"Sorry… but how long am I going to stay here again?"
I try asking because it seems like a rather harmless question that won't show that I'm not the original Zahir anymore.
..
..
.
.
Silence again…
…
*Tap*
*Tap*
*Tap*
Calm steps going towards the…. Until they stop.
Only the door keeps us from looking at each other directly.
Calmly and gently with just a hint of disappointment I can hear the man saying.
"I will have to tell the young Miss about this. And she will have to instill the rules of the punishment into you again."
A shiver runs down my spine.
My heart starts beating, cold sweat forming.
Goosebumps all over my body.
But I don't notice any of that.
Something trumps over all of these sensations.
FEAR
My hands start twitching.
Eyes are as wide as they can be,
But all I can feel is fear… Fear of the consequences once my mother hears of this.
No longer do I question my position, or why I know the young Miss refers to my mother.
Only fear engulfs me.
"...I… I… Im sorry"
I whisper.
…
"..please…"
…
..
.
"PLEASE DON'T TELL MY MOTHER!!"
I shout.
A shout from the depths of my soul.
…
…
…
..
Silence Again.
"...please…"
I whimper.
Tears running down my soft cheeks.
*CLAP*
The food slot opens.
The room starts feeling cold.
I can see bloodshot eyes look through the small opening of the food slot.
I can't breathe and fall on my ass.
If my fear before was because I didn't want to disappoint my mother again and seer her cold eyes,
This one was real fear.
Fear of dying.
"Don't you dare let me hear another word from you!!"
Said the man behind the door.
Before closing the food slot again and walking away.