Paper Cuts II

"Is he gone?"

A gaunt looking man walked into the dimly lit room.

"Yes sir."

"Was the trade successful?"

"All two thousand batches are now being readied for distribution."

"Good job."

The red eyes glowed in the dark.

"But I have a question boss..."

The eyes stared at the man as if they already knew what the man was thinking.

But nonetheless, the creature went forth.

"Go on."

"..."

"What do they need "that" for?"

"It's still unstable."

The creature had a faraway look in its eyes.

"Ah yes..."

"Diego."

"He showed so much ambition, but he was consumed by it in the end."

The sickly-looking figure stared away silently. His face devoid of any emotion.

"You see as long as we get good money out of it there's no need to question it."

"Plus, have you seen their products? It's the highest record of sales that we have ever had since we were posted here."

"And they also help us to get rid of that cursed thing. Now look, business has never been better."

The eyes looked back to the man silently stood listening.

"You don't look satisfied."

"..."

"Have anything more to add?"

"Have you never wondered what they are creating that could require such massive amounts of "that"?"

The eyes gently blinked.

"Let me make something clear and this could also be a warning."

"Rid yourself of whatever's blossoming in you lest you'll lead us all into ruin."

"You remember what happened to number nine?"

"..."

"I'm sorry sir."

"..."

"You may take your leave."

With a final bow the man disappeared from view.

"..."

"So, what do you think of him?"

"..."

"Ey, I know you're there, creep."

A leg materialized into the light the rest of the body shrouded in darkness.

"He's treading on a dangerous path."

"How so...?"

"The moment they show the slightest hint of awareness they become a certain risk."

The red eyes stared at the door.

"Let's just see how the situation plays out."

The voice continued.

"It's like walking with a noose around your neck."

"Hope you don't regret it."

"..."

The figure vanished.

Smoke rose from the darkness.

The figure stared at the darkness longingly.

"She reminds me of Cassandra."

"..."

Park tried to rack his brains to come up with a solution.

There was a deep fast throbbing sound.

The circles were now cropping up. They were seconds away from disqualification.

"I can only use "that" now."

"After all its an emergency. Right?"

"Here goes nothing."

He mumbled under his breath.

"WAAIIITT!!!"

"I can prove our innocence!"

The rising circles halted.

"HOWW??"

His voice boomed across the entire field.

"With this!"

Park pulled a medallion out from his chest.

"..."

The circles surrounding Park and the library shattered like glass.

"..."

"Are those the weights?"

"Indeed, High Magus."

The old man stared at the medallion for a long while in Park's hands and back at him.

"Interesting."

"It will be enough."

"Step forth."

"IN THE LIGHT OF DAY AND BEFORE ALL IN THIS EVENT I SHALL JUDGE THE INNOCENCE OF THE SEVENTH LIBRARY, RED SANDS. MAY ALL WITNESS THE TRUTH AND CAST DOUBT FROM THEIR HEARTS!"

{The Weights of Truth have responded to the special phrase and are now activating]

"Someone did his research."

"The Medallion?"

Park offered the glowing piece of metal to the old man.

"..."

"I hope you are aware of the consequences."

"I come before you to speak nothing but the truth."

"..."

The old man looked at Park for a quick minute.

"I trust you mean well."

"We shall now begin."

"Step into the circle."

Another glowing circle formed right beside the High Magus.

"..."

"Did you allow the fifth library to copy your scripts for any benefits?"

"No."

The old man placed the weights on the piece of fabric.

It didn't take too long.

The glow faded away.

"..."

"Innocent."

Gerena heaved a sigh of relief.

"A replica."

"Huh?"

Park felt a breeze move past him.

"Your medallion..."

The old man stared at the dust carried away by the wind.

"...it was a replica."

"Oh."

"I offer my condolences if you had any sort of attachment to it."

"It's ok."

"It came quite in handy."

"Thanks Anu."

"The Last library remains."

The happy elf welcomed them in.

"If you could please lead the way child?"

The doors went shut.

It took a hot minute before a massive boom was heard.

The other libraries stood with their mouths wide agape. Leinharr was no exception either.

Whatever their proxies had witnessed they too had witnessed it.

Three other consecutive booms followed.

The bull spoke up,

"They are actually going to win it this time."

Leinharr couldn't accept it.

"Second place...? Me...? Impossible... How...?"

"Easy there."

"I can tell you from experience that the first few days are usually rough, but it will clear up."

The bull looked back to the closed leafy doors.

"This V guy is a piece of work."

A gnome spoke up,

"Just Phenomenal."

 The bull answered back in full agreement with the statement.

"Exactly."

"Here they come."

The doors creaked open.

{Congratulations]

{Hidden quest has been fulfilled]

{Leave a last impression on ???]

{Reward: Library Upgrade, Favor]

"Why is it hidden?"

{The first sector has finished analysis]

"Ah. This."

"What's wrong with him?"

"He doesn't look too thrilled."

{7/7]

"What?"

"Please ignore him. He does that sometimes."

The High Magus stared at Park.

{Rewards will be issued shortly...]

{The Damned's gift is slightly reacting...]

"High Magus?"

"Sir?"

He smiled.

"Yes?"

"Could we hurry up. We still have a lot of work left to do."

The colleagues turned to look at the mess behind them.

"We'll make sure to provide the required remunerations."

"A... And we hope to see more of this "V" next time."

"Hopefully."

Gerena said shaking their hands.

"They may even be in this room right now."

The lady said.

"What?"

This rattled Gerena a bit.

The other colleagues including the High Magus chuckled.

"Thank you again so much for such a beautiful spectacle."

"..."

The lady turned to look at Park who was still staring off into space.

"I have to do it again?"

"Goodbye Park."

Park absently waved back.

Leinharr's proxy spoke up,

"You're being rude to them, you mutt."

A dark man at the front raised his hand.

"Let him be."

"He's in the midst of reaping his efforts."

"We need to wrap this up."

"..."

A while later.

"I want to thank you all for such a wonderful day today. There were some highs and lows but all in all it ended well."

"To all who are present here I wish you a safe journey back home and may the light guide your path and shun the darkness from you."

They all repeated the chant with their left hand outstretched.

"May the light guide your path and shun the darkness from you."

A huge magic circle spanning up to the libraries appeared.

"Is he actually going to do it?"

The Magus spoke his last.

"A small gift to you all."

"Goodbye."

They vanished with the respective libraries following suit. 

White specks of light ascended to the sky.

"..."

"Looks like they won."

"Never seen that old monster smile."

"Did he say his name was Park?"

The figure stared at the white specks which were now vanishing.

"I wonder how he will do in his exams."

"..."

"Can't wait."

There was a hiss then footsteps.

Dry leaves crunched beneath.

"You seriously can't choose another form?"

The figure shuddered.

"That one creeps me out."

"..."

"Hah."

"You have visitors..."

"What do you think of Park?"

The person on the ground looked up.

"..."

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

"Please sir, you're running late."

"I know and I'm not budging till you tell me."

"Or do you want to try?"

Perched up a high tree, a green and yellow ringed eye looked back.

"Sir please stop with the jokes."

The figure sighed.

"You could at least get scared."

"Sir. Visitors. Now."

"Allen. Answer. Now."

"..."

"..."

"Park is powerful and is the hope of our dying academy."

"..."

The figure sniffed.

"That was brutal."

The eye blinked and looked back to where the floating specks were.

"Dying huh?"

"Sorry Sir."

The figure silently hopped down from the trees.

The two looked at each other for a while in the dark forest.

"..."

"..."

"Sir..."

"Fiinee. Wee goo."

"Thank you..."

"But if you continue being that brutal, you'll never get a girlfriend."

"ThAnK yOu FoR oH sO wIsE wOrDs MiGhTy sIr."

"Get on please."

"I'm not going to hop onto that..."

Something soft hit his face.

The figure opened its eyes and stared at it.

"..."

"...but this. This will definitely do."

Something flapped in the forest.

"Hmm..."

"..."

"Rats..."

"Strong rats..."

"Sir please were running late. Let them be."

"But if we do that they'll increase."

The figure was hopping onto the creature.

"Why are you climbing then?"

It didn't even put a lot of thought into it.

"You know what?"

"I think you're right."

"Parkie will deal with them."

"Parkie?"

"Something I heard somewhere ok now GIDDYUP!! GIDDYUP!!"

"..."

The creature flapped away.

"WHEEEEEE!!"

"..."

"..."

"I thought it was just a rumor."

Shapes moved in the dark forest.

"A monster with a child's face."

They could hear the figure laugh away heartily in the wind.

"An abomination."