Guardian's Origin - The Making of Magic

I was awoken by the strong and distinct smell of books. Light peeked in to my eye lids as I opened it to an unfamiliar surrounding. Towering bookshelves surrounded me as I look around surveying the area.

where am I? Confusion nestles itself in my mind.

How did I get here?. Sifting through my fragmented memories yielded no results.

Is this a library? Where is this? I stood up and decided to explore this unknown library.

Walking for couple of minutes brought me to see shelves after shelves filled to the brim with books of unknown literature.

Just as my hope to see anything more than books waned, a small area presented itself to me.

Within that area is a small number of chairs arranged neatly around some tables.

Large stained glass hung on the roof trickling down rays of light down onto the tables providing natural light to whoever would be reading books at the table.

Nearby, a counter can be seen spilling with books in disarray. A lamp teeters on the edge of the counter as the books try to fully conquer the counter.

"Huh, a visitor.... we haven't had that in a long time" An unexpected voice spoke from behind causing me to turn around in shock.

The owner of the voice, a man seemingly in his twenties donning on a long clean white coat with glasses resting on his nose. His long dark hair seems to absorb all the light whereas his blue eyes seems to radiate a glow.

He looked at me with concern. "My bad, I didn't mean to scare you"

I stared at his face, blinking a couple of times before I realised he was talking to me.

"Are you ok? You seem to be in a daze."

I snapped myself out of it before opening my mouth. ".....Where....am....I ?"

My own voice sounds foreign yet familiar.

"You don't know where you are?"

I nodded my head in affirmation to his question

The unknown man puts a hand to his chin and whispers in a barely audible volume "Weird.... how was he..... new one?.... records none..."

The man then stopped whispering before focusing his attention back on me and shines a dazzling smile on me.

"You must be hungry, I will go grab some food" He then proceeded to walk to a door in a wall that seems to have always been there..... Although has it really?

It took me a couple minutes of waiting to realise that he dodged the question I asked.

The man appeared again with steaming plates of food on hand. The appetising smell of food that tickle one's palate quickly pushed out the thought of repeating my question.

"It seems you really we're hungry" the man chuckled.

Surprised, I wiped my mouth that seems to have been drooling without me realising in embarrassment.

The man beckoned me to the table. "Come sit down and eat! No need to feel reserved"

I walked cautiously to the table and sat down, the man watching me with a smile as I do so.

The moment I took a small bite out of the food, all inhibitions left me and I started scarfing the food down with my newfound hunger.

The man chuckled watching me eat hurriedly like a squirrel however I did not care. Only hunger clouded my thoughts.

After eating for a couple of minutes did my fervour calmed down.

"So what's you name child?"

I looked at the man that has been watching me intently as I searched through my memories.

I opened my mouth to answer " ___ "

"I see ___ huh. interesting name" The man mused.

" Are you the only one here?" My throat finally managing to articulate words without chocking. I looked around as I asked that.

".... Yes, however it wasn't always me, there were others here in the past" For a brief second a dark expression passed through his face before returning back to a smile.

"Ah! how uncivil I am. I asked for your name but haven't given out mine." The man paused for a moment seemingly pondering on something.

He then continued "The name is Alexander, you can call me Alex" He then flashed me his dazzling smile again.

Alex then stood up "I will leave you to finish your food. Just leave the plates there after you are done" He then walked away.

After he left I proceeded to finish the food.

A few minutes later, I finished the food and proceeded to stand up.

I looked around for Alex yet he was nowhere in sight.

Where did he go?

I after looking around for a couple of minutes, I decided to continue exploring the vast library I was in.

While walking my mind wandered about. Where exactly is this place? also where are the others.... Alex said there were others before but not now. So what happened to them?

As I pondered on the question, something in the corner of my eyes caught my interest.

A statue.

Huh... why is there a statue in here? I walked over towards the statue marveling the details and size of it

Rays of light shone down highlighting the statue. The statue sported the figure of a man in his thirties wearing what seems to be militaristic uniform combined with a magician's outfit. He wielded a long staff while a Japanese sword, Katana , hung from his waist. His face showed one of resolution as if facing death right in the face without faltering. A plaque on the bottom of the statue reads "The Father of Magic, Argent Hoyle"

Looking at the statue somehow bought a sense of nostalgia...

what is this.... it feels familiar? however no matter how hard I went through my memories nothing came up

I shook myself from the feeling before looking around the statue to see if there was anything else.

Resting on a table beside the statue lay a thick book. Compelled by something, I walked towards it and picked it up.

"Guardian's Origin - The Making of Magic" read the title.

I held the book for a few minutes before deciding to bring it back to the reading area. Arriving at the area I saw Alex sitting by the counter reading a book.

"Oh you found a book?" Alex looked up at me as he said so.

I nodded in affirmation.

"Hey Alex, did you move the tables and chairs?"

"Hmm?? Nah, I left them as is"

However, in defiance of what he said, I felt that as if something did change...but I couldn't tell what.

In the end, I decided to drop it and just went ahead to sit on a chair.

"Oh that book huh, about Argent Hoyle."

I flinched in shock by the sudden voice of Alex by my side and looked up at him. When did he get here? I didn't hear him at all

"You know this story?" I asked

Alex was quiet for a few moments.

"Yeah... I know that story very well. An amazing man with strong determination. One of the bravest people...." He trailed off. A hint of sadness could be heard from his voice.

"Hmm? You sound like you know him?" confusion can be heard in my voice.

Alex blinked in surprise before doing a small laugh "Nah, I just read it a lot and got invested in the character"

He then pat me on the back before backing off from me "Anyway~ Enjoy the book" Alex walked off.

I was still confused but decided not to pursue it.

I settled myself in the chair and flipped the book to the first page. My eyes were greeted by the first few lines of the story

"20 years before...."