The floorboards groaned and the girl winced, now regretting taking a step at all. Before her lay a hallway. Dark, a little damp, and most definitely run down.

By all rights, this would be a hallway straight out of a horror film.

She clenched her hands and winced, feeling at her still raw burn wounds as her eyes flicked between the various doors. She heard something rustle and she jumped, swiveling her head to find the source.

There.

At the end of the hallway a door was ajar, an orange glow creeping around the edges. She was not alone. Yet for all this was creepy, scary even, there was one thing that truly terrified her—

. . .

"Stupid soldering irons!"

Dawn Sherwood kicked the door shut as she stormed into her apartment, cringing as she felt at her bandaged hand. To be fair, it was her fault. She was the one who wasn't paying attention, let it fall, and—in her infinite wisdom—decided grabbing it was a wonderful idea.

She paused outside her room and peered into the vacant one across from her's, staring at the inconspicuous furniture markings that marred carpet. She sighed, her fury going out as she drifted into her room and tossed her bag to the aether. She shut her door with her back and slid down to the ground as she curled up into a ball, despondent as she smushed her head into her legs.

"I'm such an idiot."

She couldn't even get too mad over her professor lecturing her. It was justified— but she just... couldn't focus. She plopped over, resting her head upon a pile of clothes.

She felt so tired—

...

*drip*

*drip*

"Aw, really?!"

She whipped her face and rolled out of the way of the offending trickle.

"A leak? At this time of year? Why is everything going to shi-"

She realized with a start that this was not her carpet. Her eyes shot open and she scrambled along the hardwood floor to get up, hissing as she put her weight on her bandaged hand.

She settled for scuttling into a corner, placing her back against the wall as she stared around wide-eyed, trying to resolve the darkness. It looked like some kind of run down... work-room?

Regardless, one thing was abundantly clear.

. . .

—She had no idea where the fuck she was.

Dawn kept her eyes locked on the end of the hallway as she pulled her phone out of her pocket and glanced at it.

Still no service.

She had already tried to call 911, her parents, or at least... anyone. But she must be really out in the boondocks. She pocketed her phone as she did a quick survey again.

She had taken a peek into some of the rooms, but among the ones she could actually get into, they were mostly useless.

No windows. Nothing that could be used as a weapon.

She could check more rooms but—that was only delaying the inevitable. She swallowed hard, fighting to move despite the weight that lay in her stomach. She took a shuddering breath, her knuckles white as she stepped—

*CRASH*

—Dawn flinched, but she couldn't stop now. It was now or never. She picked up her pace as she strode down the hallway, tensing, breaking into a run as she reached the door. It slammed open as she barreled through and she whirled, searching for an exit or—or some massive guy with an axe and mask—or—Dawn paused, feeling silly as she scanned the room.

"Huh..."

She had been prepared. Prepared to fight off one imaginary horror or another, or—failing that—to book it. Yet there was one thing she didn't account for, a flaw in the equation that ground her mind to a stop.

No one was there.

She frowned, wondering what caused the crash until she spotted a toolbox, fallen, scattering its contents upon the heavily warped floor. Mice scurried away, fleeing to the shadows in an attempt to escape her notice.

...

She went limp as the adrenaline left her, covering her mouth as she threatened to burst into a fit of relieved laughter. She couldn't allow herself. Afterall, somebody had to have brought her here...

Wherever here was. She reined herself in and furrowed her brows, peering around at the strange, incongruous room.

A hearth roared away as it warmed a small seating area, casting a flickering glow upon a collection of well broken-in sofas. Adjacent was a waist high bookshelf, resting in a knook lined with boarded up shutters.

Yet it was only a small piece, a discordant section of the rotten storefront.

A worn shop counter sat along the far wall. It seemed to double as a workbench, a selection of odd tools rotting away within its confines. The majority of the space contained various displays, including some strange wall mounts and crude stick-figure like mannequins. She tore herself away from inspecting the shop as she turned to a massive door.

"Weird, but whatever. Time to get out of here."

She exhaled, took one last look around as she—

"BOO!"

"Aaaah!"

She whirled and tripped over the toolbox, sending her sprawling to the ground. The source of her misfortune cackled as Dawn snatched up a hammer and sprinted away in a panic. She reached the cover of a sofa, scrambling behind it before peeking out to see...

She blinked.

An old man stood in the center of the shop, as if he had always been there. He was adorned with deep emerald robes topped off with a wide brimmed pointed hat. Both hat and robe were embossed with flowing lines of silver, like waves which swirled infinitesimally to singularity. As she took in the man, she could only think of one thing he could be.

Bizarre but iconic. Unmistakable attire. A—

"—Wizard?"

The man dressed as a wizard swept his gaze around the room as he chortled, appraising with eyes that twinkled like the glint of gemstones. Dawn looked on, bewildered as the man sniffed the air and spun, his laughter ceasing in an instant. He strode over to the shop counter, kicking it a few times before he bent and licked it. Dawn's mouth dropped in disgust as he straightened and stroked his bushy grey beard, screwing up his leathery face.

"I suppose it will do, can't be too picky, yep! What do you think? A good lil' place to hole up in, hmm?"

"Uh, who are—"

"Oho!"

The man—no—raving lunatic trotted over to a mannequin with all the peppiness of a preteen girl. There was a bit of glowing... residue, which the loon swiped up with a blur. He studied the substance, smacking his lips.

"Hmm, yes, yes, perhaps even too nice."

Dawn watched, transfixed as he took a deep whiff of it and shrugged. She gagged as he proceeded to dig around in his ears with a stained goop covered finger.

"Hm—possibility—just how—"

As he rambled, Dawn chanced a serendipitous glance to the door. It was about... thirty feet away? She could make it, and she did not want to stay to find just how crazy this guy was.

She glanced to make sure the man was facing away before she sprung up, uncoiling to make a mad dash towards the—

"And this!"

Dawn's eyes went wide as the man somehow appeared, strolling right in front of her path. She swerved, her shoes screeching on the wood as she tried to stop. It was too late. Her legs caught on his and she tumbled, smacking headfirst into a display case. Everything went white as the old man strolled past, humming a merry tune. Dawn thrust herself up, clutching at her head as she glared at the man.

"Hey! You!"

She homed in on the old 'Wizard', her wariness gone as it evolved to anger and indignation in a second. The man halted at her voice, looking around with bewilderment. She tapped him on the shoulder and he turned, giving her a dumbfound look as he sheepishly pointed at himself.

"Hm, me?"

Dawn threw up her arms, throwing them behind her to indicate the barren room.

"Who else!"

The man gave the desolate space a dismissive glance and shrugged.

"Well you never know."

Dawn hissed with frustration, poking a shaking finger at his chest.

"What's with you! You totally did that on purpose! Why am I here!?"

He tilted his head as he cocked an eyebrow.

"How would I know?"

Her mouth worked, going slackjaw with disbelief.

"Do you see anyone else?! How else would I get here but for you!"

The man scratched at his neck, his lips scrunching up in thought as he pondered this. Somehow he genuinely did seem confused. Dawn scoffed, concluding that he was, in fact, insane. She spun to leave and his eyes brightened as he snapped his fingers in epiphany.

"Ah, I see. You're quite presumptuous aren't you?"

She whirled, marching back to the man with a scowl.

"What!? No! Who else am I supposed to—"

He raised a hand and her mouth snapped shut. Her eyes went wide, her body not moving, not listening as the man paced.

"To suspect, to blame? Ah yes, yes, all perfectly natural. You wake up in some strange place and charge the first soul you see with... what? Abduction? Tell me this: why am I the one responsible for your misfortune?"

He flicked his wrist and her muscles contracted all at once, sending her stumbling away. She windmilled her arms in desperation and managed to catch herself, her face numb with shock as she turned back to the man.

"Wha—how did yo—"

She caught a glimpse of his eyes and froze. Everything about the man before suggested madness. Screamed it. Even his eyes had been glazed over with the fog of it and yet...

She stammered, feeling a chill fall upon her as he picked her apart with his sharp gaze.

"W-Well, I woke up in—that is... this is your place, right?"

He rolled his eyes as he presented his palms in an accusatory shrug.

"Ah so not a thing then, and yet you seem so convinced I am the culprit. Why? Would it make you feel better if I said yes?"

Dawn let out a squeak as he broke out in a wide grin.

"Has it ever occurred to you that you are the one imposing?"

She spluttered.

"Wha—no I just woke up and—"

"Found yourself on someone else's property."

Her vision blurred for just a moment and she jumped as her vision cleared, the man casting her in shadow as he loomed over her.

"My property."

She backed up stumbling, her heart beating wildly as he pursued. She raised her hammer but he didn't care, advancing regardless. Her back hit the wall and she shrunk back, practically melding with the wood as the thunderous man cornered her. She could swear his eyes were glowing as they narrowed in a imperious gaze—

"I should have noticed the instant anyone or anything entered this abode. So tell me girl. Tell me why all of my wards and charms... all of my barriers and enchantments—these things, which would halt even the most esteemed of Warlocks and the most shadowed of Thieves—could not stop or at least detect some random girl."

Dawn quailed, unable to answer as he fixed her in his unwavering gaze. He cocked his head, flicking his wrist as he huffed a dry snort.

"That was, until she started stumbling around like some bumbling idiot."

"Hey!"

He cupped his chin, frowning as he began to pace anew.

"Hmm. Well, it certainly wasn't you that broke through my protections but then how? No—why?"

He peered down at her as if appraising a specimen.

"Odd clothing. Not to mention..."

Dawn gaped as his eyes flashed rosen gold.

"Hm, oh yes; and what's this? Strange—intricate clearly but the purpose? Bah, I suppose I'll find out later, but as for the rest—"

His eyes flickered out as he stepped away and shrugged.

"—at the very least I know you were flung here, but by chance? I wonder if it's—no? Hm..."

As the man returned to his own little world, Dawn, free from his attention, slunk away. She made her way behind the man and stared at his back as he lost himself in contemplation, the glow of his eyes seared into the forefront of her mind. She hesitated, mystified as the words poured out of her.

"Who... are you? Am I... Can you tell me where I am?"

He shrugged, waving a dismissive hand.

"In my life I've picked up many an alias girl. You... You may call me Prontey."

Prontey spun with a smirk and flourish.

"Ah but I do love surprises! Well, I won't say I'm not miffed. Someone—or something—was able to get past me, but without Detect Will... No, no no, too much trouble. Getting notified every time some trifling fraergolem or... sentient cockroach wanders into—"

Dawn watched as Prontey dove back into his own little world, completely ignoring the second part of her question as if she was insignificant. Worthless. Dawn felt her confusion, her fear, converting to fury once more. She trembled before exploding, stamping her foot which produced a crack, painfully loud in the enclosed shop. Prontey whirled, a scowl written upon his face.

"What is it girl? I do not have the time to—"

"What are you even talking about?! Why aren't you listening to—look I don't even want to be here, just tell me where I am so I can go home!"

He watched her pant, taking gulping breaths as she struggled to hold back the tears welling in her eyes. He sighed.

"Ah, well. I fear that would be rather difficult."

Dawn wiped her eyes, glaring as she folded her arms.

"Why."

He bit his lip, tapping his knuckles in succession as he thought, taking his time in replying. Eventually he nodded, seeming to come to a decision as he turned away.

"If I'm right—I suspect you won't believe me."

"What? Why wouldn't I—"

He casually raised his hand, her mouth shutting against her will once more. Her eyes bulged, her hands scrambled up to face as the man approached the counter and peered into the depths of a cloudy glass orb.

"Even if you did. It will be for the best if you... figure it out for yourself. It shouldn't take long."

Prontey swiped up the orb, the shifting vapors beginning to ignite with brilliant hue before he tucked it into the folds of his robes.

"But you could make something of it. I suppose I'll be generous and leave this place to you... apprentice."

He relinquished his control and Dawn coughed as she glanced about the dumpster fire of a space, giving him an incredulous glare.

"What do you mean apprentice? Why would I want that? No, forget it, I'm going—what state am I in? Country? Hold on, don't just leave!"

She watched aghast as he started for the door, his eyes once again glazed over with a thick haze as he cackled and waved a lazy hand.

"Don't worry, don't worry! I'll handle all the paperwork and somebody will come by to finalize the details! Now apprentice, I'll swing by! Probably—Maybe... Show me something good when I do!"

"Wait!"

"Hm?"

He tilted his head, his hand resting upon the knob.

"Yes yes, hurry it along now, I'm very busy."

She furrowed her brows perplexed, trying to read his carefree expression.

"You're... giving this place to me? Why? I mean, I'm not staying, but you're joking right?"

He turned, giving her a shrewd grin.

"What, this old place? I haven't used it in years! I've actually been looking to offload the place—what with property taxes and all—but, can you imagine? Nobody wants this dump!"

Prontey turned the knob and her vision blurred, becoming borderline kaleidoscopic as the man roared with laughter.

"So thanks! I can't wait to see what you'll do to the place! Better than the last fool I hope."

She stumbled around, tripping as she frantically searched for the door.

"What did you do!? You can't just—"

The door clicked shut, her vision slamming back into focus as the room spun.

"Oh god I'm going to be—"

She doubled over and heaved, adding one more stain to the waterlogged floor.

. . .

Dawn looked around the silent, dust ridden room. The warped wood, moldy couches, and moth bitten curtains, complete with complementary rats. All her's apparently. She wiped her mouth as she hauled herself up, treading towards the door.

"Well, fuck this. I'm getting out of here."

She pushed through the oversized door and realized she had no idea what was on the other side. She tensed, prepared for any—

"Woah!"

She stumbled out into a covered wooden walkway or alley of some kind, choking from the wave of heat that broke upon her as she scanned around. Everything was wet—soaked really—covered in a thick fog or mist. She took a quick look around and slid back inside emerging a few moments later with her trusty hammer. She picked a random direction and set off, feeling more like she was swimming than walking. She advanced forward, one step at a time, scanning around as she tried to peer through the veil.

"Ugh, I'm dying, what is this place?"

It wasn't even that dark. Paper lanterns hung from interlocked planks, a little over fifteen feet high. They let off a soft glow—that should have been more than enough to see if not for the dusky haze.

She narrowed her eyes and sidled over to one of the walls, a maze work of pipes coming into relief. She watched as water dripped down from the ceiling above, hissing as the drops vaporized on contact with the dull metal. She looked closer and saw the pipes leaking small amounts of steam from the joints where they intersected.

"Well that explains it. But who designed this... whatever this is supposed to be?"

She continued walking, staring at the uninsulated and poorly sealed pipes as she went. It was practically a walkthrough sauna.

"Maybe Finland then? Those guys love... Nah, crazy either way."

On she went, through the deserted tunnels which thrummed with a deep visceral din. Every so often she would run into more shops or residents, all dark, shuttered and boarded as they sat in various states of dilapidation. She came to an intersection and popped her head around the corner, shivering at the view beyond.

"Oh, that's dark. Yeah we're not doing that."

She scuttled past the fork, hurrying to the next lantern.

"Yep, definitely did not see anything moving down there! Nope, just my imagination, silly me!"

She took one look back and hurried away.

. . .

"Finally! How big is this place!"

Dawn dragged her legs along as she supported herself against the wall, now forgone of its steamworks. She almost lost balance as she wiped beads of sweat off her brow.

"Okay—maybe my Finland theory wasn't too crazy after all."

She felt like collapsing then and there, but she pulled herself forwards determined. She could feel it, the rushing of cool clean air. She rounded a corner and—

"Sweat release!"

She fell to her knees, crawling towards something like a balcony, watching the steam through blurry eyes as it poured out and rose away from the narrow exit. She heard the pittering of rain swell as she drew closer and sprawled out onto the soaked wood.

"Bleh~"

She inch wormed her way out of the tunnel, deflating, the freezing water blowing all over her as she flopped over and let the rain pool in her parched mouth. She stared up at the wooden ceiling as she drank down the water with greed, only stopping when her body went numb from the cold. She sat up stretching.

"Oh that felt good! Well, for like, five minutes... hm, I wonder if—"

She grabbed a railing to help haul herself up as she flicked her phone out of her pocket. She leaned over the railing, trying to shield it from the rain as it came to life and her eyes darted across the screen.

"Damn, still no service and my phone is pretty low. Maybe I should turn it off?"

She sighed, her eyes focusing beyond the phone as the screen went black and found herself gazing into water four stories below. Her vision spun as she dropped her phone, having to lunge over the edge to catch it. She managed to hold on, going pale as stared down into the abyss.

"Okay... wasn't expecting that."

She leaned back over to safety, trembling, taking deep breaths as she covered her eyes.

"Okay, I'm okay."

Her heart rate slowed as the rain pelted her, clearing her mind.

"I just need to find out where I am, then I can go home."

She cracked open an eye and her breath caught.

Thousands of lights in every hue imaginable met her eyes, shining through the dark rain and glinting off the rippled water of a grid of wide canals. Gondolas meandered their way through the channels, gliding as they ferried goods or passengers to their destinations. Images of a certain Italian city filled her mind as she watched, the waters themselves seeming to be alit with a glow which shone through their depths.

Yet for all the waters below reminded her of Venice, the architecture above was anything but.

Covered walkways lined the canal, stacked upon each other as the sheer sides rose above the waters. They were rather... Victorian in their construction, with vines ensnaring themselves amongst the delicate railings, arches, and lattice, creeping their way up to soar high above. Her jaw dropped as she looked straight up and saw a bridge as wide as any road spanning the canal a further four levels up. And that was the thing, it wasn't really stories but floors, progressively getting grander as they disappeared into the rain soaked sky. She broke into a fit of nervous chuckles.

"I'm dying, my hand got infected and I'm hallucinating."

She felt the icy rain trickle down her skin as she pried her eyes away to look at her immediate surroundings. She was on an abandoned walkway the size of a small street, the interior wall filled to the brim with what looked to be warehouses or workshops. A flash of movement caught her eye and she looked up, seeing figures loitering around on the upper floors.

"Oh good. I'll just find someone and they can explain—"

She threw up her hands, gesturing around, before spotting and heading towards a small set of stairs. She heard a set of muffled voices as she approached and brightened, picking up her pace.

"Hey—did you hear about that new crew? That nasty one? I heard they've been seen in the Steamwarrens."

"What really? You mean that group that's been lurking in the Still—"

She reached the stairs, calling out with glee and relief as she went up two at a time.

"Hey! Can you help me? I woke up in this weird place and I'm lo—agk"

She reached top and skidded to a halt, her windpipe constricting as the two monsters turned.

"Oh hey! We don't get your kind to often! What's that, need hel—"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Dawn jumped down the stairs in one go, she felt something snap but she didn't care. She sprang forwards, booking it towards the tunnels.

The two looked at eachother.

"What's her deal?"

His companion grunted and shrugged.

"Humans."

. . .

Dawn's footfalls echoed throughout the steam soaked hallways, her lungs burning as she turned a corner and charged straight into darkness. She slowed, brows knit with confusion as she whirled, looking back the way she came.

"But I followed..."

She raced back following her steps as best she could. Turns out her best wasn't that great. She rounded a disparate corner, throwing up her hands as she found herself in yet another murky intersection.

"Oh come on!"

She cast about the maze of corridors as her eyes flickered.

"I can remember, I can't get lost! Let's see, I need to calm down. What do I rememb—"

She jumped as a crash rang out with the mind piercing screech of metal on metal. She spun around, shaken, her entire body electric with fear.

"No, I need to get out of here! I need to—"

She darted off as a groan filled the air, the pipes vibrating with waves of overpressure as she plunged ahead into the dusky mists.

. . .

Dawn slowed, covered in rivulets of sweat as she doubled over panting.

"How—big is—this place! Must have been—thirty minutes? More? Less?"

She shook her head like a dog, only affecting to smack herself square in the face with her long sweat soaked pony-tail. She spluttered and spat as her eyes burned with the sting of salt, trying to peer through the inky mist. Her head ached as she only made out vague shapes in the shadows.

"Gotta—keep—moving."

She took a step and her leg quivered, overcome with the strain of injury and heat. She tried to take a few more before giving up, her legs jelly as darkness encroached upon the edges of her vision.

"I should rest—just for a sec."

She made out a little outcove and fell over, slithering her way into the cubby-like space as her eyelids drooped.

"Just for a—"

She passed out, laying in a heap as the tunnels thrummed around her.

The shadows moved.

. . .

Dawn opened her eyes, groaning as the multitude of ceilings spun, her vision blurry.

"Bleh, my head."

She rubbed her temples and rolled over, almost knocking over some sort of tin full of... She stared as she worked her parched tongue over cracked lips.

"Gimme."

She effectively face-planted into the tin and inhaled the water within, only parting when she drank every last drop. She rolled onto her back and gazed up, watching as her split vision became whole. She frowned, the spinning room coming to a stop as her body metabolized the fluid.

"That hit the spot. Why was I so thirsty anyways?"

She closed her eyes as she tried to think past her still throbbing head.

"Let's see, mist? Lost? Running from—"

Her eyes shot open and she jumped to her feet as she whirled around.

"Oh god! What am I doing? I have to run! I have to find the way—"

Before her lay the room just as she remembered it.

"—0ut..."

The fire was burning low but it was the same. Moldy couches and all. She relaxed as she let out a nervous chuckle.

"A fever dream I guess? Man this must be one hell of a burn."

She flexed her hand and froze, looking down upon nigh pristine flesh, the faintest of scars traced along her palm. She frowned before her eyes went wide, not looking at the tin as she kicked it under a display. Her injuries seemed to be mere figments as her eyes wandered to the door.

"Maybe it was a sign? You know, maybe I should stay here. I mean, I'll leave—eventually, but at least I can find things to help! Who knows, I might even have cell service now! Let's just check."

She fished around in her jeans for a few seconds before frowning.

"Hold on. Did I drop it or something?"

She turned out her pockets as she circled the room, huffing as she rummaged around through the rows of faded, broken-down displays. She stood up from scouring under a couch, hands and knees covered in a thick coat of grey dust as she bit her lip.

"Maybe it's in one of the other rooms?"

She glanced over to where she kicked the tin, shuddering as she pushed down the swelling dread within her.

"Yeah that has to be it. I'll just go check."

She made her way around the counter, kicking the backdoor open with a strained smile on her face.

"Hey creepy hallway, did you miss me?"

Three doors flanked each side of the gloomy hallway with another at the opposite end. That door was by far the fanciest out of the bunch, constructed out of some kind of onyx like stone and covered with decorative carvings which danced along its surface. Dawn strolled down the corridor, her eyes adjusting to the dim light as she inspected the vine-like engravings.

"Who even makes a door like this?"

She frowned as she traced her fingers along the polished slate.

"It's warm."

She shook her head and sighed, withdrawing her hand as she turned to her left.

"And don't get me started on whatever this thing is."

She peered at the antithesis of the artful masonry, a crude collection of rotten planks slapped together with board and nail.

And yet—

Dawn jiggled the handle, grunting as she leaned in, putting her entire weight into the door. Nothing. She stepped back and dashed forward, shoulder charging into the ostensibly decrepit door. A dull thud rang out and she hissed, clutching at her shoulder as she glared at its unmarred surface.

"Is it a trick?"

She could swear it was mocking her as she turned away.

"Well whatever, I just have to find my phone."

She spun and entered the opposite door, the workshop she woke up in. From what she could see, it was the spitting image of what she imagined a horologist's shop to be. A variety of clamps, apparatus and optical pieces were spread amongst workbenches with haphazard collections of tools resting between. Everything ranging from the most delicate of tweezers and grippers, to the most stout of chisels and mallets. She shuffled into the room and bent, grumbling as she rifled along the detritus filled floor.

"It's so dark, if only I had my phone or a flash-Light—FUCK!"

She fell over, rolling, clawing at her eyes as a sea of spots filled her vision. She peaked out from under her hands as her sight cleared. Light had filled the room coming from... well she couldn't quite tell. She pulled herself up and cast about the cluttered room.

"Huh, did it turn on when I said 'Light'?"

The room plunged into darkness.

"Light! Huh, a dump like this has voice commands? Well, this makes my job easier."

She resumed rummaging through old boxes and fallen part racks. All empty, all useless. She only found a few things of note, mainly weird tools she didn't recognize, but one made her pause.

"What is this? A crystal?"

She picked up the glowing viridian gem and rolled it around in her palm.

"It's warm and is it—vibrating?"

She stared at it for another second before shrugging and pocketing it.

"Well it is pretty."

She looked around the rundown room, even further destroyed from her search.

"I guess it's not here huh?"

She got up, clutching at her stomach as she meandered over to the door.

"Ugh, I'm getting pretty hungry. I wonder if this place has a kitchen? Maybe behind that stupid door?"

She paused on her way out looking around the mess of a shop.

"What a weird place—Light!"

The shop grew dark once more as she shut the door.

. . .

"Light"

The room flickered into view as she stepped into the spacious study. Dusty bookshelves lined the walls surrounding a small seating area flanked by an unlit fireplace. A few desks were scattered around the place but the utilitarian—if basic—library had little else of interest. She glanced around doing a quick inspection of the floor as she pursed her lips.

"I don't think it's here either! Where is it then? Did I miss it?"

She had already checked the only other room she could access. A storage room of some kind, though there wasn't much to check. Just a barren, empty room. She bit her nails as she bounced a foot with frayed nerves, lost in thought.

"I haven't found anything useful either, what am I going to do? Maybe these books will tell me something?"

She wandered over to the shelves, frowning as she scanned the decayed bindings.

"Ser Antinion Vander's Compendium of Mythical Beasts and Monsters—4th Edition, Plantlife of the Snarehorn Basin by U'Goroth Graskall, A Modern Treatise on Endari Leaders composed by Enthalial Drae?"

She sidled away.

"Woah, whoever owned this place was—wait Prontey? Yeah, this is definitely his kind of crazy."

She stepped up to another shelf.

"Let's see what's here—wait—Enchanting manuals?"

She giggled and took the first one off the shelf.

"Now this is funny, like those Dragonology books I had when I was a kid."

She hefted it up with a grunt.

"But like... way more serious. I wonder what—"

She flipped the book open and her face fell.

"—they'll say..."

The world faded as the words inscribed on the page sprang forth and flowed around her. Glowing, morphing, changing. Drawing themselves out into diagrams, encompassing the space around her. In her. Through her—past, present, future... all to outline what the author considered to be the most basic of concepts.

She mirrored it, became it, so naturally as if it was there all along. Feeling connections as it—or was it herself?—inscribed theory into something more.

Formulae or something close flew and flashed between points of intersection. Telling her. Showing her, how it all fit.

As she reached the capstone, everything converged upon her retinae and condensed before merging. Becoming reality. A thousand sights, a thousand sounds, a thousand smells, tastes, sensations. Yet most of all something else, something new. Look and feel.

See beyond and know

Dawn dropped the tome and it snapped shut as she fell to her knees. Blood trickled from her eyes, nose, even her ears. She coughed and some dribbled out of her mouth.

She could feel it even now. The room alit with it as she sat. The books which looked so mundane before were now bonfires in her sight. Even the walls glinted as her darkness encroached upon her vision once more.

It was then she realized. No, not realized but stopped. Stopped lying to herself. She broke into a crazed choking guffaw.

"Well—I guess I can't deny it any longer, huh?"

She sagged and collapsed, struggling to breath.

"I just didn't want to believe. I mean how can you accept... this?"

She curled up into a ball as she drifted away, blood mixing with tears as she fell to dreamless sleep.