Aiden's heartbeat raced like an engine as he stood rigid.
It was not the same oppressive feeling Red gave off.
Just being near Red had made Aiden feel like so much as a twitch would get him killed before he could even understand his mistake.
Even still, this woman held a similar presence.
Her mask did nothing to ease that assumption.
She looked at him with an expression that seemed to say she would not even need to lift a finger.
If she wished it, Aiden would rip himself apart for her.
She started walking toward him.
Her footsteps seemed almost deafening.
Each step squeezed his heart as he desperately tried to move his body.
To do anything.
Fragmented Will (E) has attempted to activate to move your legs.
Overwhelming fear has caused the skill to fail.
Fragmented Will (E) has attempted to activate to move your legs.
Overwhelming fear has caused the skill to fail.
Fragmented Will (E) has attempted to activate to move your legs.
Overwhelming fear has caused the skill to fail.
Aiden looked down at his legs, confused as to why his system kept popping up with notifications.
"To think you have the instinct to lower your head so quickly," the woman said. "You are quite clever, then."
This was not a voice.
It was a law of the universe.
A commandment no different from gravity or time.
Aiden could only hope this voice did not wish for him to die.
"We need something to say," Will hissed. "We can't afford to be rude by saying nothing in reply."
"T-Thank y-y-you f-for the c-comple—"
"Speak clearly."
She said it casually, as if it were nothing more than a passing remark.
And yet Aiden's body moved without his control.
"Thank you for the compliment, and I sincerely apologize if I appeared to have been staring. I was, in fact, terrified and unsure what to do to survive."
His body spoke quickly, clearly, and loudly.
Aiden blinked.
Then he glanced down at his system screen.
Fragmented Will (E) has taken control of your mouth to speak.
The Influence of Indigo has released control of your skill.
Will seemed to snap out of some kind of trance.
"W-What the hells just—?"
The woman silently looked Aiden over for a moment.
Then she asked, "Tell me, why is such a low-leveled boy like yourself seeking out Mister Lee's bookstore?"
Aiden felt Will get grabbed.
His very being was puppeted as if he were nothing more than a piece of paper trying to fight against the winds of a hurricane.
"I fought a fateless named Ymer," Aiden said, his voice no longer fully his own. "He dropped this letter from Purple after we almost killed him and forced him to retreat. I have this letter because I am trying to figure out what several of the terms in it mean, including what a fateless is."
There was a moment of silence.
Once again, his system screen flashed.
Fragmented Will (E) has taken control of your mouth to speak.
The Influence of Indigo has released control of your skill.
She was not saying anything.
Maybe s—
Pain.
Unbearable pain.
Pain like his bones were shattering and reforming.
Like his lungs collapsed.
Like his blood evaporated.
Like his nerves burned.
And yet the pain did not stop.
Then he died.
Aiden fell to his knees as the pain faded just as fast as it had arrived.
His mind was blank, and it felt as if his soul had been shredded and put back together.
Beside him, the woman chuckled.
Even without daring to look at her, Aiden could tell she had an almost manic grin on her face.
"So you ended up damaging one of that little bitch's toys?" she said. "I must say, there are very few ways to get on my good side, but that certainly is one way."
Aiden wanted to respond.
Before he could, he heard the small jingle of a door opening.
"Miss Indigo, you left behind your gloves. Thank goodness I caught you before you teleported away."
The voice was simple and polite.
It lacked the authority Miss Indigo carried, and yet it was oddly soothing.
Miss Indigo turned around and walked back toward the bookstore.
The door stood open, and a man stood in the doorway, holding out a set of gloves.
He was simple in appearance, wearing a black suit and pants with an undershirt.
It was fancy, but not so fancy that it looked uncomfortable.
A head of trimmed, well-kept black hair framed a set of easy brown eyes and a small, polite smile.
Miss Indigo reached out and took her gloves.
Then she turned and walked past Aiden.
"Do take care of this one, Mr. Lee. They have done me a small favor, whether they know it or not."
The man bowed.
As Miss Indigo's presence left, Aiden sucked in a shaky, raspy breath.
Mr. Lee walked over and held out a hand to him.
"I do apologize if she startled you," he said. "She seems to have lost control of her aura for a moment, and it was pressing around her for a bit."
"H-How much energy does one have to have to do that?"
Aiden staggered to his feet as Mr. Lee gestured with one arm.
They both began moving toward the bookstore.
"Millions upon millions," Mr. Lee said. "But one would expect such power from one of the Masks."
Aiden's brain tried to wrap itself around the events and information of the past five minutes.
He had gone from walking to a bookstore to meeting someone apparently similar, if not related, to Red himself.
And now he had been told there were more of them.
Not to mention, he had apparently done something that made Miss Indigo so happy she lost control of her energy for a moment.
An amount of energy that had made Aiden feel like he was dying.
His train of thought was cut off by a clap.
Aiden looked up to see Mr. Lee standing in front of him, hands together.
"Careful there, sir," Mr. Lee said cheerfully. "You were beginning to spiral."
He sat down behind a large desk and pulled out a small teapot.
Two cups floated over.
Mr. Lee poured the tea and slid one cup over to Aiden.
Aiden took the cup and sipped from it.
Mr. Lee let out a contented sigh as he held his own.
"Sorry," Aiden said. "I just have a lot to think about."
Mr. Lee chuckled and looked at him with a coy smile.
"I have no doubt. After all, you are carrying Purple's letter, you have fought a fateless, and you have even encountered two of the seven Masks. To be fine after that would not be sane."
Aiden nodded.
A part of him wanted to ask questions rapid fire, but the impulse felt muffled.
Muted.
He pulled the letter out and looked it over before glancing up at Mr. Lee.
"I have many questions, but I know asking a dozen at once wouldn't be polite, bu—"
Aiden paused mid-word.
Mr. Lee held up a finger across the table, as if shushing him.
"I am aware of your questions," Mr. Lee said. "But in return, a warning must be provided."
Aiden went quiet.
"You are asking questions about powerful things and events beyond the scope of one who is only just starting to explore what this world has to offer."
Mr. Lee set his cup down.
"I give you this warning because there are those who seek knowledge, unaware that some knowledge has guardians who would rather it remain lost or hidden."
His polite smile remained.
"You and your allies are in no way ready to handle such problems. So, out of courtesy, I will not answer all of your questions. Instead, I will offer you a choice."
Aiden looked up.
His thoughts were much more organized than normal as he asked, "What do you mean by choice?"
Mr. Lee smiled.
"You may request one of the following. Normally, I would restrict you to knowledge only. However, it seems Indigo has a piqued interest in you, so I will offer you more."
Almost on cue, the system screen appeared.
Mr. Lee, owner of the very ordinary bookstore, has offered you one of the following:
Knowledge:
You may request knowledge about something in the world.
Power:
His shelves are lined with books.
Why not read one?
Potential:
The best way for a plant to grow is for it to be given proper sunlight.