By the end of her endeavor, any semblance of sleepiness had gone away, and the first thing she thought of doing was,
"I need to write this down!".
Keeping track of her thoughts and new information, the one requirement for retention was writing it down. For over ten years, she compiled many journals filled to the brim with information about everything she'd learned about Toblitche and, by extension, Diedmons Roue.
A sudden realization hit her as she picked up her journal and turned to the last page.
"There's only one page left…".
This long night wasn't over.
She sighed, dropping her pen to the ground. Her body refused to move, but she knew eventually it'd have no choice but to.
"Just one more thing…Hopefully, he's still awake."
For her sanity, she needed to pay a visit to the library.
The wanderer Luka ran Diedmons Roue library. An older man who had, after years of traveling the Island, decided he'd live the rest of his life in the most unrenowned section. Until recently, he'd accomplished his goal.
Elizabeth was sure the storm had ignited something beneath his extinguished flame; he was the only person who held the same sentiment as her. The hole in the sky was a constant reminder that not everything on Toblitche had yet to be explored.
It was a long way out from any of the main buildings people would frequent. Compared to Custom Carpentry shops and open markets, the library was a niche. She'd guess it frequented only a handful a day, but that was usually just to talk to him rather than partake in any of its attractions.
She opened her door, and to no surprise, the streets were empty. Only the streetlights that hung from chained lanterns filled any sort of life to an otherwise dead town. In a way, it was the perfect time to walk around, if it wasn't for her lingering anxiety, that is.
"Visitor's guide… how come I've never heard of that?".
He presented the information in a way that suggested it was well-known. Maybe among the church, she thought, attempting to pick each piece together and make something rational from it. There wasn't much known about visitors apart from whatever scraps the church allowed to filter out from their grasp. Only the essentials really, and ultimately what their purpose in coming to Toblitche was.
Visitors were possible vessels for Ichemound, though the chances of it happening were below 1%. A fabricated percentage, but considering it was yet to happen, the possibility must've been lower than that. However, that doesn't stop the church from getting their hopes up, though at least in this case, it wasn't unfounded.
Without a doubt, the hole in the sky was unprecedented; not even Jim knew anything about it. (Not that she believed much of what he said). More likely, it was fueling an otherwise dull flame beneath church members; something was happening, but no one could figure it out, not yet, at least.
The only sign of life in Diedmons Roue came from the light of the cathedral just a few miles south of Diedmons Roue. A large tower that soared above all the buildings lit the sky, lightning, and even the clouds.
"They don't take a break, do they?"
There was a ceremony taking place inside; she could only imagine what they were praying for.
The end of the world, the destruction of all the heretics? Perhaps to convert all nonbelievers. Unfortunately, at least to Elizabeth, their prayers wouldn't be so surface-level. They prayed for the bigger picture, a grand image that was so unattainable the only way it became clear was through the power of prayer. Ichemound, with the power of a burning flame, revealed what had previously been deemed impossible to see. The only way to understand it would be from the Eye of Rendition; Ichemound's power to see the past, present, and future and plan according to each outcome. They promised that through regular prayer, you, too, could see into the future and change your fate.
"What a joke". It was all a fallacy to get people to join; she was sure of it.
She was hoping, at the very least, that Luka knew something about the Visitor's guide. If there was anyone in Diedmons Roue with answers, it was him, and Rum sheerly because of the age difference. Not that she had any intention of going to her for this.
As Elizabeth turned the corner leading toward the library, she let out a sigh of relief.
"I made it in time".
Sitting outside his store, Luka looked off into the distance toward the empty street that led into an unmarked part of Graywood.
She waved her hand in the air, standing below a light post as he looked her way.
As usual, the inside of the library was an unorganized mess of boxes and scattered books, and the already narrow passages were almost impossible to traverse without knocking something over. From the very beginning, Luka wasn't the type to work well in a calm environment; his years of travel more than likely engraved that on him.
However, in the right corner of the building, there was always one open spot for two. He'd call it the mano a mano, two chairs and one table, a pleasurable place to discuss what you hated about one another.
Luka was the first to sit down, and Elizabeth followed suit. Typically, he'd wear a long, open coat that ran down to his legs. It was his usual attire when traveling, so eventually, it became his normal attire. Today, though, he dressed a lot more professionally. Maybe in his way, he was mourning with the victims; there were a hundred victims, and chances are he knew some of them. Even combed his hair back when usually he let it hang down.
"How's the night been treating you, Liz?". Luka asked.
"Oh, just great, just great, apart from a hundred-odd people dying."
"Yeah, that whole thing's a mess, isn't it?".
"That's a word for it". She looked around and noticed that some books were leaking inside the supposed clean section. Is he looking for something?
"Oh yeah, sorry for the clutter," Luka said.
"What are you looking for?"
"Anything, really. That hole is giving me the creeps".
Elizabeth smiled and said, "I knew you would be interested in it".
"Don't think interest is the right word. I'm scared, and you should be too, and with what your father just did? Uy!".
They never really could get along.
"What in the hell is he thinking!?".
"Beats me, I was told to keep my mouth shut and keep to myself".
"Well, that's about the first thing he and I will ever agree with".
"You want me to stay out of this too?".
"Did you not see the damn hole in the sky? This is above your league, girl; stick to what's on the ground, leave the sky to those who are about ready to see it",
"Who are you kidding? You're too tenacious to die".
"Can't argue with that". He reached below his seat and slid over an empty journal.
"Figured after what happened, you'd want to write some of this down". Elizabeth looked up at him, her eyes widened.
"What? You don't need it?".
"No, no, it's not that. I'm just surprised you knew".
"Huh, yeah, well after so many years, you rub off the person".
"You wrote notes before coming here?"
"No". Elizabeth smiled again.
Luka was the only person in town who shared her interest in the outside to Gray Woods mysteries, the three-month winter phenomenon, and the true nature of the Visitor. There was never a time when their curiosity didn't show through their eyes. An instant recognition that they too had a fire that would never be extinguished, no matter the occasion. In multiple ways, Luka was the reason she was the way she was now. Hadn't been a one-sided exchange. It warmed her heart to see him care as well.
"That's only partially the reason I came, though".
"Oh?" He leaned forward; "Tell me what's on your mind".
She fiddled with her fingers, her heart racing as the words refused to leave her mouth.
What's wrong with you? Just spit it out. There's no reason to stop; you don't even know why you're scared; just spit it out!
No amount of pressure would allow it to escape; it refused any attempt. Each time she harked back to the moment Jim entered her home, that heat, that unbearable heat that it gave off- it followed her.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think it'd be this hard". Her cheeks felt hot.
"It's fine. Take your time. Sometimes, what needs to be said is the hardest to get out. Just keep trying, and you'll get it",
"Okay…". She took a deep breath and exhaled.
Here it goes.
"Something got into my house". He waited for her to continue as she gained back her strength.
"Do you know of someone named Jim Beckman?"
His body jerked slightly, shifting the table; the air in the room had changed instantly as if gravity had become heavier, forcing their heads down.
"What did he tell you?".
"He was following a scent, it… led him to me-"
"And then".
"Well, give me a second. I'm trying to get everything out." He raised his hand, and she continued.
"Ever since the hole in the sky, I've been hearing voices. It started after I looked into the eye".
"Can you tell me exactly what it said?" She nodded.
With each line she recited, Luka's interest had twisted into an emotion she'd never seen in him. Interest had become confusion, confusion turned to fright, and fright morphed into terror. His skin had turned pale white; it reminded her of the moon, a man bathed in its embrace.
"And what did he say?". Luka asked.
He said that he was calling. That I'm meant to be the Visitor's guide, hehe. Isn't that crazy?" His face remained stern.
"Have you told anyone else about this?".
"No, you're the first person I went to".
"Good… Good, you're smart. That might've been the smartest thing you've ever done."
"What do you mean?".
Luka sighed and stood up, rummaging through one box beside him, and handed Elizabeth a black book.
"What's this?"
The title read: A WORLD TO KNOW.
He sat back down.
"That's a copy of a Reverend's gospel". Elizabeth looked at him, taken aback.
"How did you-" She didn't want to know; anything could have happened on his long journey around Toblitche. It wasn't her place to question how.
"Well, what is it about?".
"Open it".
"But I could get in trouble for this. I'm not sworn",
"You hold more of right to hold that book than anyone in this town. Now open it".
"Um, Okay…" The book felt heavy, not in weight but in worth. She couldn't articulate it, but the book imbued her with a strong sense of responsibility as if she alone were tasked with its care, reading, and comprehension. It immediately captivated her. So much so she hadn't realized her eyes were closed, simply enamored by its presence. A deep desire to learn more past the boundaries of her limited understanding to see something no one has ever seen. Holding the book, she felt empowered; she believed it could solve all her problems. Warmth, a comforting warmth, hugged her tightly and kept her safe; she needed to keep it safe; without it, she wouldn't be loved. She needed to get it back, she needed it in her hands beside her. At all costs.
When she finally opened her eyes, she was horrified. Her hands were tightly gripping Luka's neck and she let go.
"What did I…" She looked at Luka, shaking. "What did I…" His neck was bright purple, veins extruding from the base of his neck to his cheek. He was only a moment away from passing out.
She fell back, pushing the table with her, clasping her mouth in disbelief.
"I'm sorry…" Tears began falling. "I'm so sorry".
Luka coughed, twisting his body back up, and holding his neck.
"No… I'm sorry". He gritted his teeth and shot back up.
"I needed to make sure of something. This was the only way".
"I don't understand".
After a moment of catching his breath, he continued.
"The book… is empty".
"What?"
"A Reverend's gospel doesn't teach them Ichemounds word, it's supposed to show their affinity for the eye. The stronger the response". He winced. "The stronger the affinity".
Elizabeth attempted to stand back up, but her legs wouldn't give her strength; no, she was afraid to move, afraid of herself.
"I did that?" She scooted further under the table and held her knees close to her chest.
"Elizabeth, it's okay". Luka kneeled and grabbed her shoulder. She couldn't help but look at his neck, she could still feel her grip on it, how she could've gone even further until…
Realizing what she was fixated on, he buttoned his collar up to the last hole to cover the advancing bruise.
"I've had worse".
"You don't understand…" She held her head down. "I had no control over myself; one moment I was conscious, then…" That feeling of detachment. "I don't know, I don't know!". Her body was icy; everything was cold; everything was dead; nothing held any life, and all she could feel was horror. A deep-seated terror that she was no longer in control of her body. It was a nightmare come true, and of all people, it had to be him who was the victim.
"I'm scared, Luka. I don't know what to do. If I lost you, I'm not sure what I'd do. If I went just a little further." She stared at her hands. "I would have killed you, and you're telling me that's okay?".
He had no answer for her.
Elizabeth had no desire to dig deeper into the rabbit hole for the first time but felt the ground beneath her getting deeper otherwise. Unknowingly, she had taken the first step into becoming what she knew now was the outcome of being the Visitor's guide—only a taste of what would surely come.
After everything was said and done, neither of them felt inclined to say much anymore, but their discussion was still far from over. Luka still had more to say.
"Well, there's no doubt about it, you've got an affinity for the eye alright".
She still wasn't one hundred percent, but she could quell at least her anxiety. Enough to at least talk and hope to forget about the whole thing,
"What does that mean then?".
"I snatched the book away from you." Luka said, "The moment you hold that book, your mind must've connected to it immediately".
"Is that normal?".
"Not to this extent. I've only ever heard the mention of the Visitors Guide once, so I can't tell you much about it. But I know that… thing. His being here means nothing but trouble. Nothing!". His fist slammed into the table.
"What do you know about him?" Elizabeth asked.
"Exactly what you know. That black demon's spawn, its disgusting existence, It's a disgrace to life itself!".
It was clear Jim and Luka had a history; she had no intention of intruding, but hidden inside his eyes was an unmistakable seething rage. What had happened to him in the past? Truthfully, she knew nothing of the man outside his arrival in Diedmons Roue. The topic had never come up, and if it had, Elizabeth dropped it immediately. The past needed to die away; in her eyes, digging up old wounds was no use; no matter what happened, you'd remain scarred. She chose to cut away the decaying flesh instead of letting it destroy what remained of her. She was confident Luka thought similarly.
"Well, it's time for me to go home". Luka stood up and reached into his pocket, holding out a ring of keys.
"Leave whenever you want. I understand if you don't want to go home".
"Yeah, thanks."
Apart from what Elizabeth said, she did not attempt to sleep. After Luka handed the keys to the library and left, she immediately began rummaging through the plethora of books. Searching for anything to do with the Forgotten Island, information about the northern extremity was scarce. The Gray Plague destroyed much of what came before. But chances are Luka has been there, maybe a book or even his own journal, which she held until the end but fell short.
"Phew, that was much more work than I thought that'd be". Although she had found no writing of the Forgotten Land, other books had caught her fancy.
"These must be a part of his collection". Separated from the mess of random boxes, a thin, long box hidden behind one bookshelf held many. At first glance, she expected the box to be light, but with her first and final attempt, it wouldn't budge, so she resorted to dragging it along the floor and leaning it against the wall near the mano-a-mano table with a loud thud.
Splitting the taped seam, she pried open the box, and a storm of books erupted and fell on the floor. She didn't recognize a single one.
Each book had a title that read like a language for the blind; they were bumpy, but there wasn't any form to them, just squiggly lines. But they meant something that much was clear. She picked one random book from the pile, a deep red cover that was sealed by a wooden latch. Flipping open the latch immediately turned the book to the first page. She took multiple glances at the picture in front of her before fully understanding it. Even then, understanding it was a reach.
Three things lay spread out on the page; she didn't recognize them immediately, but eventually, an image popped into her head.
"That's right…" She'd never seen them in the flesh, but they were drawings of three things from outside the boundary. Ichemound held the most abundant Visitors, each holding their own story and info from the other side, including the different animals, insects, etc. These, in particular, came from a collection of drawings straight from the capital. If she remembered correctly, the animals were a crow, a snake, and a butterfly. She turned the pages, and the cycle of crow, snake, and butterfly continued; strangely, opening up all the other books proved the same pattern.
"Why would Luka have so many copies of the same book?". Other than this, the first question that popped into her head was how she hadn't noticed this before. It seemed like something she'd notice immediately, or at least question what was inside. Unless he just got it, and even then, what was the occasion? Was there a connection between the storm and these animals?
Maybe there's something here that can tell me more.
Rummaging through the makeshift naming convention aisle, she scanned the section of monsters and the latter. It was a small section, but the size of the books more than accommodated it. Only so many people would conduct any research on them, more than likely for religious reasons. If she remembered correctly, The Eye of Rendition strictly forbade its followers from interacting with the beasts; given the small agnostic population, these must have been rare.
Her finger landed on the one thin book out of the mass and carefully shimmied it out. "What We Saw" was the book's title; the author's name had been removed from the spine, as had any other mention of them inside.
Did Luka do this? She had no way of knowing.
The cover was a dull gray with what looked like dried splotches of blood scattered along the cover. Regardless of whether it was intentional or accidental, she paused before opening it. A voice in her stomach urged her to stop, refusing to allow any further action. Although she knew she probably shouldn't, she quietly opened the book, and as the first images inside came into view, her hair stood on end. Despite this, she remained unsure of its nature, a mystery that quickened her pulse and filled her with a thrilling uncertainty.
A Blurr, that was the best she could describe it as, a continuous strand of blurred words that were completely indistinguishable from one another. The blurring wasn't the victim of what removed the author's name; something was present, but she couldn't perceive it. With each page turn, the cycle repeated, leaving her in the dark.
"How haven't I seen this before?". Elizabeth had scanned these shelves before, she was confident this wasn't here before, but if that was the case, then it opened a box a possibility she wasn't yet ready to question. Specifically, everything related to Luka. If these weren't there before, then he must have put them here and if that's the case then-
She closed the book and slid it back into its place.
"Well, I know my limits".
Although Elizabeth considered herself a pursuer of all knowledge, even she had a barrier she couldn't cross. Until now, though, she didn't think this was where she drew the line. Everything about it seemed out of her grasp and frankly didn't want to find anything about Luka that would taint the image she had of him. She felt that further investigation would unearth something best left undisturbed, so she halted her search and wrote everything that had happened. To the very last detail until the inevitable moment when her fatigue finally pierced through.
As her head dropped to the table, the long night had ended. And yet, unbeknownst to her, something else had taken its place as the rolling black clouds refused to budge against the weight of the one who ruled above all. Its place in the echelon had never before been questioned, but with the defeat in full display, none could doubt its prowess.
Before she slept, she'd written one last thing detached from the rest.
As in the sky, the moon stood high, an eternal night bathed in lies. Shrouded in Gray, the island must pay, for this world deserves a reckoning. Paled in seethe, clad in blasphemy, an eternal night to cleanse their sin.