Some Delicious Isekai Bullshit

"That there were other worlds, invisible, unknown, beyond imagination even, was a revelation to him."

-Kim Edwards

*****

The air fell heavier upon my chest in Indreneas. This was the first thing I noticed as I walked through it's door. I had entered a dusty, dark, circular room, the only source of light being the open door to the library. I tried to step back in. There was no problem. It seemed I could enter and exit as I pleased. This was a relief. I returned to Indreneas and found a spiral staircase leading up. As I headed up the spire, I passed several empty rooms. I also noticed that as I moved up, the state of the tower became increasingly severe. Stairs were missing, walls had large holes blow into them, and the general state of the tower was certainly not ideal. Every room on the way up had been cleared out, until I finally reached its peak after about twenty minutes of climbing the stairwell. Inside, there was a bit of furniture and a man in what appeared to be a nightgown. He quickly noticed me, scurrying back against the wall before his face softened. It was Mandreg Ontolark, the master of this spire.

"Give me my book."

His face returned to its panicked state.

"M-master Librarian. What, ahem, what brings you to my humble spire?"

He rubbed his hands together with a shaky smile on his face.

"My book. Give it."

I extended my hand and motioned for him to deliver it to me.

"Master Librarian… I…"

Damn it.

"What the hell is going on, Mandreg?"

I squeezed the bridge of my nose. I felt a headache coming. I'd bet money that this bastard didn't have my book. The tower was empty and dilapidated, and he didn't appear to be the same honorable wizard I'd formerly met.

"It's only been a month. What the hell did you do? Where's my damn book?"

He got on his knees and crawled towards me.

"Please, I beg of you. Master Librarian. The darkness… the ancient enemy… it returned. It took the minds of my Acolytes, and from me, it took my magic. I… I sold your book… I had to survive, please…"

His eyes started to tear.

I sighed.

"Who'd you sell it to?"

I asked, my voice tired and annoyed.

"S-such lost, ancient magic… I- I would sell it nowhere else but the court of the royal wizard. He has it! I'm certain!"

A royal wizard. God, this sounded like a pain.

"Go buy it back."

I cast minor discharge and approached him.

"Now."

Unsurprisingly, he didn't end up having my money. My threats worked immediately, though, and he agreed to bring me to meet the court magician. We exited the tower. Outside was a long stretch of open plains. The wind blew cool, weaving through the tall blades of grass, and the smell of summer lingered on the air. For a moment, I was enamored with its beauty. And then I looked around. To the left of the tower, a pile of headless corpses, their skulls separated perfectly from their necks. My heart went silent.

"Mandreg."

"Yes, M-master Librarian?"

"When you said that the darkness took their minds, you… this?"

A somber look crossed his face.

"It… it is unfortunate. I lack the strength now to even carry their bodies. The coroner will arrive in two days time to see to their funerals."

Two days… how long have these corpses been here? How long has he watched them rot?

"And you, your magic?"

He lifted his shirt. I was appalled. There was a crater carved out of his stomach. They ate out his fucking mana core.

I felt like vomiting. Those headless bodies. I'd seen this handiwork. It was the static that attacked me. God damn it. He said it had suddenly returned? Then how many people were under siege, in how many worlds?

"Let's go."

I had to get out of here. I needed my book. I couldn't wait until I was forced to stay, or I might become food for the static.

We took a carriage into the Capital. It was half a days ride, and then another few hours walk to reach the court of the Royal Wizard. It was a wide one-story building, and was adorned with intricate murals and carvings. It took up the space of a city block.

This must be a powerful wizard. Though I didn't know how strong the magic in this world was, in order to be granted such a lavish court, his magic must contribute significantly to the kingdom.

Stationed in front were two guards on either side of a large double door. We approached.

"HALT!"

Their spears crossed in front of us.

Before I could speak, Mandreg bowed down with his frail body and made an appeal to the guards.

"Before me is the Master of the great Library. He wishes to request an audience with his grace the Royal Wizard."

The guards gave him a foul look.

"Such a fool. The Library is a fairy tale, and yet even if it were real, why would someone of such noble status be guided by a beggar?! Begone before I have your head,"

Said the one on the left.

They did not seem to have any plans to let us through. Dammit. This was supposed to be easy.

I grabbed Mandreg by the arm and dragged him away from the guards into the busy street.

"Mandreg."

"M-master Librarian, I-"

"Forget it. Is that the wizard who has my book?"

I pointed to an elaborate mural on the left side of the complex. It depicted an older man with short hair and sharp, distinguished features dressed in a red robe.

"Yes, Master. That is he, Baron Daugontel, the wizard in servitude of his royal highness. I will find a way to…"

I ignored him. I already had a way inside, so long as those guards weren't skilled magicians.

"Where can I get a robe like that?"

Night soon came, and after digging up a similar robe out of the spire, I once again approached the wizard's court. My face had been changed using

[Shift Visage]

To closely resemble that of the wizard and my robes had been dusted and cleaned. It wasn't a perfect disguise, not in the least, but hopefully under the cover of darkness, it would at the very least allow me inside the court. So I turned the corner and once again approached the guards. They hit the bases of their spears on the ground, and the gilded double doors slowly opened. I stepped inside to the Royal Wizard's court. It was time for some espionage.

Inside, there was nobody except for two women dressed like servants who had opened the door for me. They didn't even look up at my face, instead keeping their heads toward the floor as they silently dispersed. That was fortunate, since it was plenty bright in here, oil lamps lining the walls. I wasn't sure how my hastily made disguise would fare in the light.

I started to wander the empty halls. What occurred here, for a single man to occupy all of this space? I didn't see anyone, let alone apprentices or students. Instead, the rooms mostly resembled laboratories, glass vials and beakers filled with liquids of strange colors lining tables. I finally reached the center, where an ivory-lined door opened to a study.

Within was a single large desk, with bookshelves lining the walls. I looked at the shelves. All were texts on science and alchemy. It seemed that this was the specialty of the royal wizard. Even Mandreg hadn't been familiar with his power- it seemed to be a well kept secret. An alchemist? I wonder what that kind of magic could accomplish? Regardless, there was only a single book I was here for, and it was just in front of me on the desk.

"The Tenth Circle"

Just as I reached out to grab it, a voice echoed from behind me.

"What business do you have in my private chambers, imposter?"

[Name: Calvin Sanchez]

[Title: Librarian]

[Skills:]

[Radial Observe Motion /Active/ [LVL 2]:

Extend thin strings of mana in an orbital fashion, sending a signal to the caster when a string is disturbed.]

[Shift Visage /Active/ [LVL 2]:

LEVEL UP- ALLOWS FOR GREATER MODIFICATION OF FACIAL FEATURES.

When active, slightly morphs the facial features of the user into the desired form.]

[Transmute Material /Active/ [LEVEL 1]:

Allows the user to shift electrons within a small amount of matter, transmuting it permanently.]

[Minor Discharge /Active/ [LVL 1:

Conjures a small explosion.]

[Wind Step /Active/ [LVL 1]:

Manipulates the wind to increase the caster's agility, as well as reducing their weight.]

[Counterfeit Mana /Active/ [LVL 4]:

LEVEL UP- COUNTERFEIT MANA TAKES A SMALLER PHYSICAL TOLL AND GAINS GREATER EFFICIENCY.

Upon activation, your mana will appear to be far greater in density than it really is, attracting greater quantities of mana at a much faster rate and creating a more threatening aura within your mana reservoir.]

[Interpreter (3/5) /Active/ [LVL 2]:

Learn any language recorded in the Library by hearing it spoken or seeing it written and subsequently activating the skill.]

[Book Search /Active/ [LVL MAX]:

Search the records of the Library for a specific book by title or keywords.]

[Body:

A wizard's body, enhanced by magic and the Library's blood.]

[Authorities:]

[Authority of the Library Operator]

[Binds:]