Beneath the Dragoneye Moons

“You’re just about ready to class up now! Congratulations!” Artemis threw her hands up in the air. “You only have one real decision left to make. Do you allocate your last few stat points into Strength, Dexterity, or Speed to get them up to level 10, or not?” Artemis paused and thought for a moment. “I suppose you can also try and train them up to 10 on your own naturally. You’d lose a lot of growth time of your main class though, and I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone do it.”

Breathe Elaine, breathe. This was all coming on way too fast. I knew I was heading in that direction. I had no illusion on why Artemis was training me, that I needed to eventually pick a class. I just didn’t think it would happen this fast, this soon. Artemis noticed my distress, and tried to help me.

“Ah it’s fine, you should just focus on it and get it done with! What’s the worst that can happen? Julia murders you?” Never mind. She wasn’t trying to help me; she was enjoying winding me up. I couldn’t think. I had to think. This was too important to get pressured into. Stall, stall, how could I stall?

“Hey, could you tell me if you think I should put my points into a stat, and which one?” Ahha, stalling tactic found!

“Yeah, get speed to 10. Most of your running efforts are going to result in [Running] going up, not speed, so spare yourself the effort of leveling it naturally and just get it. Then you’ll have no excuse!”

I thought about what Artemis said. I mostly asked as a stalling tactic, but she did have an excellent point. I wasn’t going to get too many more points in Speed naturally, and out of the physical stats, Speed and Dexterity were the ones that spoke to me the most. I could save for later. I might find myself needing to boost another stat. Artemis made excellent points. Getting Speed to 10 might unlock more options.

Slowly, solemnly, I allocated my last few points to speed. I looked at Artemis. She gave me an encouraging nod. “Hang on, should we not talk with mom and dad?” I asked. Artemis was being strangely insistent on me classing up right now.

“Eh, what could they say? Just go on, do it, go! Become what you always wanted, what you were always meant to be. You’ll know what I mean when you get there. Don’t worry, I’ll protect you while you’re gone.”

Protection? Why would I need protection? Where was I going? Ah well, Artemis was probably being metaphorical or something. I wasn’t quite sure. I focused on my first class to class up, and got a notification:

[*Ding!* Are you sure you want to Class Up now? Yes/No]

I focused on selecting the yes, and felt my mind sucked away.

I was standing in a library. A library! At long last! Rows of books everywhere, from floor to ceiling! A grand chamber, filled with knowledge, books with spines of all colors. Most were white or grey. Many were shades of pink and red. A few other colors were scattered throughout – some yellows, a green or two, even a violet book inside of a case. There was a staircase leading to another floor, but there was a delicate chain denying access.

“Hello!” A musical voice came from behind me. I whirled around, to see a young woman standing behind a counter, where a librarian would be in a normal library. She had gentle blue eyes, wearing a t-shirt and jeans, with wavy light brown hair going down just a bit past her shoulders. She encapsulated the word “pretty”, with delicate facial features.

“Oh my god! Are you from Earth as well!?” I asked, spotting a familiar band’s logo on her shirt.

She chuckled at that. “Yes and no. I’m you. You’re me. I’m your guide here, the part of your soul that understands the system. Here, with the way you perceive things, I’m the [Librarian]. The book for that class is right here” she took out a pale pink book “but I’d have to recommend against it. Give it a read though, see what it’s like.”

It had been so long since I last read anything. At least nine years. Curious, confused, I picked up the book and started reading. I read of the smell of musty books, of organizing shelves. I read a tale of selecting and curating books. I read of reading books and literature, all day. I read of perfect recall, of knowing where every book in my domain was located. I read of research, of helping people find the knowledge they needed. I read of being the [Librarian]. With great reluctance, I tore myself away from the last page. “Wow.” “Just wow. What a trip. You said you’re against me learning this?”

The Librarian – that was how I decided to call her, since “me” was just too confusing – smiled sadly. “You have the love and the passion needed, and so it’s allowed. But tell me. Can you read in the world we are in? Do books even exist in the world we are in? Would they even allow a woman to be a librarian? We get experience for performing in our class, and a librarian without a library is nothing.”

She was me. I knew I couldn’t argue with her, for the truth of the matter came from my heart. “Maybe for another class…” I reluctantly hedged. And I knew she knew it as well. “Maybe.” A sad smile. “Hey! First library in years. Let’s go reading!” she tried to cheer me up. It worked. Of course it would work, we were the same person. So, I went reading.


[Baker’s Apprentice]. [Yoga Enthusiast].

[Apprentice Tailor].

[Slicer of Fruit].

[Apprentice Archer].