Alexandria's Keeper - Lord of the Mysteries

Irina knitted her brows in annoyance, groaning softly as she sat up on the plush couch. Her head throbbed faintly, and the lingering disorientation from what she thought had been her death made her movements sluggish. "What a headache," she muttered, rubbing her temples.

"That's on you," a deep, unimpressed voice replied.

Her head snapped to the side, locking eyes—or where eyes should have been—with a figure she now recognized. Just as before, 'His' entire form was unclear, yet, certain parts of 'Him' especially stood out: 'His' chest, face, and wrists seemed to swirl together, constantly fusing with each other, reminding her of the dark mass below and far above her head. It was an unsettling, almost hypnotic sight, that made her head throb if she stared for too long.

"Nefiref?" she asked warily, her gaze flickering around the area. The grand Library of Alexandria stretched out around her like usual, with books and scrolls scattered all around, that's my fault but... Irina couldn't help but stare as 'His' long, pitch-black hair slid down the sofa, bypassing the glass-like floor, and fusing with the swirling mass underneath her feet.

"Who else idiot." 'He' replied with a casual air of entitlement.

Wait, she realized quickly, last time I could see far less— 'His' body looked almost translucent... but now!

'His' head tilted to the side, clearly noticing her surprise, but not opening 'His' mouth to comment.

Uhm... this is awkward... She thought of what to say when 'His' words came back to mind. Did 'He' insult me?!

Irina's eyes narrowed at 'Him,' her annoyance flaring up. "I'm not stupi—"

"Yes, you are." 'He' cut her off rudely. "Next question."

Irina's mouth fell open in disbelief. The sheer audacity—no, arrogance—of 'Him' left her momentarily speechless. "Excuse me?" she managed, barely restraining herself.

'He' ignored her protest, gesturing with a hand towards the chaos around them. "This mess is your doing."

Her cheeks reddened in embarrassment. I was creating some magic circles to fight! She tried to explain, "Yes, bu—"

"Do you still need it?" 'He' interrupted, 'His' tone dismissive.

"Uhm... no?" she mumbled, caught off guard.

With a sharp snap of 'His' fingers, the books, tomes, and parchments vanished, likely returning to their rightful places in the endless labyrinth of shelves. Irina blinked, both impressed and irritated by the display.

Huh. That's... certainly convenient.

She opened her mouth to ask something, but 'He' spoke first. "Your mind is now clear of any risks of losing control. All tampering from 0-08 has been removed. Don't ever do something so catastrophically stupid again."

Her heart skipped a beat, a mix of relief and humiliation washing over her. She'd suspected her mind wasn't entirely her own since that incident, but to have it confirmed—and corrected—was both a weight lifted and a sharp reminder of her mistakes.

"Well, it was a fair fight, if you ask me," she tried to joke, forcing a smile. "I knew about—"

"It looks like you do not understand." 'His' posture shifted. 'His' back straightened as 'His' heavy presence suddenly filled the room. The temperature dropped sharply, and the swirling mass beneath her feet began to churn violently. Irina froze, her breath catching in her throat.

"Let me tell you this once, and once alone." Nefiref's voice was icy, carrying a weight that pressed down on her chest like a physical force. "From the moment I began my preparations, your fate was sealed. I chose this world for your ascension because it offers the fastest path. But if you risk your life so recklessly again, I will move your soul and body to another world. Do I make myself clear?"

Irina's heart pounded as the oppressive aura around 'Him' intensified. She tried to meet 'His' gaze but found herself staring at the swirling darkness beneath her feet instead. "But... what about the apocalypse? The barri—"

"This world is none of my concern," 'He' interrupted, 'His' tone absolute.

Desperation crept into her voice, trying to make 'Him' see reason. "What if Mother Go—"

"None of my business."

She clenched her fists, frustration bubbling over. "What if Tianzun wak—"

The pressure around her spiked, making her limbs heavier. She gasped for air as 'His' voice cut through her panic. "For all I care, the Original Creator could wake again, and I would still. Not. Care."

Irina was left speechless. The increasing pressure made it hard to breathe and her thoughts were running a hundred miles per hour, not understanding 'His' reasoning.

Her thoughts raced, a mix of fear, confusion, and anger. The weight of 'His' presence was suffocating, a stark reminder of just how insignificant a human was when compared to an Above the Sequences.

Then, as suddenly as it came, the pressure vanished. She found herself staring at 'Him' lounging casually on the couch, as if nothing had happened.

"My time as the Warden is ending," 'He' said, 'His' tone calm once more. "You will be the next one. Ascend quickly while I complete the preparations."

"... what?" she asked, trying to catch her breath.

"The Warden of Alexandria is a cyclical role," 'He' explained nonchalantly. "Once 'Their' time ends, a successor must be chosen. You are that successor."

Irina's mind spun. None of this aligned with her understanding of the LotM verse. "But—"

"Your Sequence is too low," 'He' cut her off again.

What? "But I have knowledge about the outer—"

"This doesn't concern 'Them' but the previous Wardens and what 'They' knew. That knowledge is far greater and much more dangerous than the one you currently have."

Irina was left speechless. She stared at the ground contemplating everything she knew up until now. To think... she couldn't help but shudder at the mere thought, that I still didn't know everything there is...

"Do not bother. You'll learn once it's time."

Easy for you! I... She blinked before shaking her head. Forget it. If I want to help Klein I need to remain in this world.

She took a deep breath through gritted teeth before asking, "You said I'm clear of 0-08's tampering, did you—"

"Alexandria did it. Why should I bother?"

Her mouth snapped shut. The sheer nonchalance of 'His' response made her blood boil. "The Library can do—"

"Alexandria is alive." 'He' casually added, as if it wasn't another piece of ground-breaking information for her. "It follows a predetermined set of rules. One of them being: healing the Warden's state—be it mental or physical, of corruption, pollution, or tampering."

"Alexandria needs Its guardian to be clear-headed since they typically do not interact with the outside world."

... what? Irina blinked, struggling to process the revelation. "That's similar t—"

"Don't you have more important questions?" 'He' interrupted yet again.

I can't even ask the question if YOU keep interrupting me! She bit back the retort, forcing herself to think. "Uhm..."

"Be fast. I have other things to do."

Irina's eyebrow twitched, do you now! "And what might those be, oh so busy, important being?" she asked mockingly.

"Sleep," 'He' replied without a hint of irony, ignoring her disrespect. "Since I was rudely woken up by your imbecility."

She stared at 'Him'—'His' audacity—her jaw tightening. Without another word, she stood up abruptly. "In that case, I'll gladly take my leave!"

'He' dismissed 'Her' with a small hand movement. "Tell me where you want to be dropped."

"Huh? What—"

"Your physical body is here genius. You're still unable to travel between Alexandria and the physical world on your own, so I'll drop you. Where?"

Huh... that makes sense I gue—

"Fast." Someone—this man! Irina scrambled to think of a suitable place. Tingen—no no, I can't run in my old coworkers... Backlund to Klein—no no, I need to make some preparations first. That city is too big, there are way too many eyes looking—

"Is this your interpretation of fas—"

"Pritz Harbor!" Ha! She smiled proudly at herself, content with her achievement. Take this, I interrupted you—wait. The port might not be—

Nefiref's form shifted, turning to look at her as 'He' spoke again, 'His' tone devoid of emotions. "Warden of Alexandria, Sovereign of Dimensions, Architect of Protection, Overseer of Destiny."

Irina's eyes widened as the realization hit. That's 'His' honorific name. The sheer weight of it sent a chill down her spine, another stark reminder of the sheer difference in power between them.

"Another foolish act," 'He' said, 'His' voice colder than ever, "and we're moving to another world."

Before she could respond, darkness enveloped her. She felt herself fall for a fraction of a second before landing abruptly on the biting cold ground of a hidden alley in Pritz Harbor. Shivering, she wrapped her arms around herself, teeth chattering. "I-it's still autumn! Why is it so c-cold?"

Her breath fogged the air as she glanced around, the sun was high but none of its warmth could be felt. Even through all this, she had to admit she much preferred that to being before a deity, one that just threatened her nonetheless.

She tugged at her tattered clothes, grimacing. Torn, singed, and bloodstained, all thanks to Megose and Ince. The gash on her side, the hole through her stomach—healed, yes, but the holes in her dress remained.

"Achoo!" She wiped her nose with the torn sleeve. I need a coat—wait. I'm a mage, I can just create a ring that will keep me warm! She looked around the alley warily, sneezing even louder when another icy gust of wind hit her. Forget spells. I need a coat!

Irina left the alley in a rush, running through the harbor's steers, searching for the closest shop, before suddenly realizing, money! Do I... she patted her pockets, only to find them empty.

Fuck.

She halted abruptly in the middle of the street, contemplating her life, before ducking into a dark and ominous-looking alley.

She rubbed her shoulders, trying to warm herself in vain. Magic it is, magic it is~ She hummed playfully in her head, trying to distract herself. What has my life become...

Truly, I could have asked 'Him' about the following potion's formula! Where to find the materials, or if 'He' had a stack of money or gold in the library. That way I could have paid for them myself! She sighed turning the corner and entering another, much dirtier and darker, alley. What a missed chance... why did 'He' so rudely throw me out—actually, I wouldn't have wanted to be there any longer... 'He' was scary.

The sound of walking and poorly hidden laughter reached her ears but she ignored it, sitting beside some wooden planks instead, hidden from view. Also, what a weird dream I had. Why am I having problems remembering what happened? Her fingers trembled as she drew a precise circle in the dirt, not wanting to attract any attention with her ring's faint glow.

A warmth spell... maybe that Sun one I used against Megose but without the light beam? She hesitated, blowing warm air into her hands to steady them. Her mind wandered, reformulating and rewriting the circle in her head with painstaking precision.

A rough voice broke through the silence. "Well, well, what do we have here?"

You've got to be kidding me. She looked up to see two men stepping into view. Their outfits were cliché—baggy trousers, old shirts, and tattered coats that looked like they came from a bad movie.

"All alone, doll?" one asked, his partner chuckling darkly.

Irina stared at them, her expression unimpressed. Pirates? Seriously? She stood, dusting herself off as if they were nothing more than an inconvenience. "Let me guess: pirates."

"You got it, baby," said the taller man, his voice dripping with false charm. "What a beginning man, truly the perfect way to start this..."

The two kept talking but Irina tuned them out. Her scrunched-up face and uncaring gaze said just how much she cared about the whole event. Why am I so unlucky... wait a second.

She felt herself being tugged forward by the hem of her torn jacket. "Are you fucking listening to me?!" Screeched the taller one, way too close for her comfort.

The shorter one grinned, patting his partner on the shoulder. "Lucky for you, we're feeling generous tonight."

Irina tilted her head, her patience wearing thin. They're pirates, which means they have—it suddenly hit her—she didn't feel any warning from her spirituality. These two weren't a threat.

Her lips curled into a cold smile. "Do you have money?"

The question stopped them in their tracks. The taller man barked out a laugh. "You want payment? Oh no, sweetheart, we'll be taking what we want for free."

Irina's gaze remained unchanged as she patted down the taller man's coat with casualness. "So you do have money," she said, her voice eerily calm.

"Yes darling, but not for you," he sneered, tightening his grip on her jacket.

Her gaze locked into his, her smile widening. "Thank you!"

Irina sat atop one of the unconscious men. His coat, now draped around her shoulders, smelled faintly of salt and sweat, but it was warm, and that was all that mattered. She leaned back, counting the pounds with a satisfied hum.

"Who would've thought getting money was this easy," she mused aloud. Is this how Klein felt as Gehrman?

Let's see, she began listing in her head, I need new clothes and a place to stay for the next couple of nights. That way I can plan my entry into Backlund without arousing suspicions from anyone, especially those two 'brothers.' With the new warmth spell complete and active, as well as some money in her pockets, she now felt more confident in herself.

The man beneath her groaned, shifting slightly. Time to go I guess.

She rose, dusting herself off with a small, bright, circle appearing right under her shoe, before promptly slamming her heel into his crotch, earning another pained grunt. "Thanks for the coat, boys. Try soap next time though."

Wiping the dirtied heel on the ground, she left the alley, red footprints fading away behind her. Seriously, do pirates not know of the existence of soap?!

Pritz Harbor's streets were loud. Merchants shouted while sailors argued over goods, the air strongly smelling of saltwater and fish. Irina kept her hood up as she blended through the crowd, her eyes searching for a shop. Her next goal clear in her mind: clothes.

If only I could still go to the boutique Madam Daly introduced me to. The tailor was such a sweet lady!

Tingen. Her mood turned sour quickly. Dunn, Leonard, Royale, Seeka, Frye, Kenley, Rozanne, Old Neil, Orianna... I'll never see them again. This... exit of mine was so abrupt, that's not how I planned it. She laughed, attracting some stares. As if any of my plans ever worked.

She shook her head. No negative feelings, I have to focus on the future for now. They're alive and that's all that matters!

Just as her thoughts began to wander again, a boutique named 'La Rosa' caught her attention. The outfits were elegant, though most were clearly meant for warmer seasons.

Uncaring if the clothes fit the era's fashion, she chose what she believed would fit her aesthetic. Backlund is a big city, which meant there would be multiple styles, I won't stand out too much, no matter what I wear.

Thanks to her new, constantly activated spell, she now didn't even need to worry about the cold. My sequence—or rather magic, is quite convenient!

After selecting no more than one outfit and a spare, she approached the counter. Let's not waste too much money now of all times. I'm sure I'll find other stores along the road! Klein can also wait a day or two for my arrival. She smiled proudly at herself, I believe me resting for a little bit won't hurt anybody~

"You've chosen... interesting pieces," said the saleswoman politely.

Irina smirked. "Don't you think they go together?"

The woman hesitated before nodding. "They certainly make a statement. Are these for spring or summer?"

Irina waved her worry off as if it was nothing, "Oh do not worry about that. When the cold arrives I'll buy new clothes."

The woman chuckled, "My my, to think you'd say that January is not cold. You must be used to the cold."

"Well yes—" The mage froze.

"'January'?" she repeated, her voice faltering.

January? No... it can't be. It's September! I fought against Megose in September!

But it's so unusually cold for September... and I had that weird dream—I can't even remember much! Her mind worked in overdrive, connecting all the small dots.

"Yes, miss. January fourth, to be exact." Irina's stomach dropped at her words.

It's January. Her breathing quickened. And if it's January, then Klein—no—Gehrman is—

"Miss?"

She slapped the pounds onto the counter, grabbing her clothes in a rush. "Thank you!" she called over her shoulder, bolting out the door.

Her heart pounded as she sped through the crowded streets. Gehrman Sparrow will leave tomorrow on the White Agate!