The inmates formed a line that went from where the sergeant stood to the third floor. When he gave the order all of the inmates started moving, following one guard to the chow hall. They all entered one by one and were served food.
The chow hall has long wooden tables with small wooden chairs. Reiji didn't have to wait too long before his food was served to him. He then sat down and looked at it. It was as plain and disgusting as it could get.
He looked around, taking in everyone around him before he leaned over to the guy next to him.
"You know what Frost people are?"
The man took a moment to answer, looking a bit confused before he shook his head. Reiji asked another inmate and he too shook his head no.
No one seems to know.
He thought to himself. After they ate their food with wooden spoons they all went to their cells because it was night and as soon as everyone was in they called lights out. The wood he had to sleep on wasn't all that comfortable but he got through it.
The next day everyone was woken up and accounted for. As the sergeant got to Reiji he told him he would be working in the library, giving the books proper maintenance. He was handed a handwritten letter.
They were all lined up once more and went into the chow hall. Reiji spotted a man who for some reason seemed familiar but he let it go. Everyone then went to their assigned job spots.
Reiji didn't know where the library was but he managed to find a map on a wall that had a rough layout of the prison but not giving away enough information to plan an escape. After a bit of memorization of where to go he took off and arrived after a short walk. The entrance was a door with a glass center and a wooden frame.
He walked into a small room that had one desk with a man sitting behind it. After handing the man the letter Reiji was allowed in to maintain the books. The desk was to the right of the door he walked in through and opposite to the door on the other side of the room was another door. To the left of that door there was another door but it led through the left wall.
"Door on the left." The man said and Reiji entered. It was an old place that smelled like old books. It had a lot of tall bookshelves and a row of desks going all the way to the end of the library.
Trying to find something important he started looking through the books. After going through what felt like 100 books he found a book about animals where the Frostgnasher was also documented. Reiji quickly read through it.
The first sighting was…48 years ago.Right! I'm such an idiot! The laws that restrict information only apply in Solindrath. Having closed borders with some kingdoms along with people not caring that much has led to this lie being widespread only in Solindrath. But this means that it was revealed practically as soon as it showed up. So now I at least know that the first time it showed up was either a failure or a surprise. How can I be certain which one it is?
Reiji then heard a noise that was like something falling onto the floor. By the time he found this book there were a good amount of people in the library but this sound was different. It echoed in his mind. After a moment of thought he slid the book back into place and walked over to a desk. He pulled back the chair and sat down.
That was weird.
The door swung open and a doctor walked in. For a moment all eyes were in him before they turned away.
"I'm looking for Reiji Kurozuma." The man's voice rang out.
"That'd be me." Said Reiji, raising his hand without standing up
"I've come to do a regular check up on you. Please, follow me."
Reiji stood up and followed the man until they reached a more secluded hallway that had an old table just standing there, pressed up against the wall. Reiji sat down on the table and the doctor checked his stomach, unwrapping the bandages. After looking at his stomach for a moment he spoke.
"Actually, I believe that you can come with me."
Reiji just looked at him for a moment before he stood up and stared him down. The man didn't budge. Reiji was taller and imposing but that aura faded away when he felt like something was wrong. After a moment he realized that it was the same bad feeling that he got after eating the Tenebrovermis and Kraken but it was weaker.
"Fine, I'm coming. Lead the way."
The man started walking as soon as Reiji gestured for him to lead the way. As they walked Reiji thought about the situation.
That thing that knocked me out last time is probably here or at the very least some kind of magician is. If I would've acted up then I'd be knocked out and thrown into a deeper hole. The three cuts on my stomach were to test my regeneration, probably.
They walked through a hallway that had a lot of inmates waiting in it. They entered a room at the end of the hallway. It was clean, organized and there were inmates getting checked on by the doctors. The man walked over to one of them and whispered something. Reiji just waited as the inmate was hastily taken care of and left the room.
The examination was fine. They drew blood, checked his breathing, heart beat, took a urine sample and he went on his mary may. When he walked out he got a bunch of dirty looks because he skipped the line but he didn't care much.
The problem came when he tried getting back to the library because he got lost and found himself where he definitely wasn't supposed to be. A staircase that descended into total darkness was in front of him.
He decided to go down and quickly found himself in that total darkness. Using his touch, he thought he walked into a hallway. He kept walking forward until he heard "Hello". He turned sharply, taking a moment before realizing the stairs were gone.
"Can I get the tales of the far lands?" A voice rang out again.
"What's happening?" He said to himself.
Am I going insane?
He felt a very sharp pain in his head that spread like a fire through his body and once it went down to the tip of his toes and fingers a hand was placed on his shoulder.
"Not quite."
A voice spoke out from behind. It sounded like its mouth was full of water, since it was more of a gurgle. Reiji froze in place, cold sweat running down his face before the darkness faded as if he had his eyes closed this whole time and just now opened them.
Looking around he saw that he was at the library. Everything was normal and he even stepped out of the alley that was created by the tall bookshelves and looked around, turning his head in a confused manner.
He returned back in between the bookshelves and realized he was where he found the book about animals. He also realized that this was the same place the tales of the far lands book was, because he remembered coming across it on his search. He leaned against the bookshelf in front of him and took slow, deep breaths.
"At this rate I'm going to need therapy."