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ASREL

The Memory of Falling Leaves

Feb 19th, 2020
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  1. It was with a foreboding sense of imminent doom that upon exiting the office that I foud myself standing in a library of immense size, surrounded by endless shelves of books that reached high into the sky and far into the distance as far as the eye could see. An endless labyrinth filled with books and tomes both familiar and foreign, like few things I had ever seen before.
  2.  
  3. But more astonishing than anything else was the sheer density of magic that hung in in the air like a cloud, that seemed to my senses as though I were a lighter in an ocean of gasoline to draw upon. As I pondered on the matter, I became intimately aware of the thunderous echo of my own heartbeat, rippling with power through the current of magic pulsing through my artery and veins.
  4.  
  5. Taking a deep breath to calm my shaking heart, I reached into my coat for the ritual knife holstered under my shoulder. Yet my hand had scarcely wrapped around it's well-worn grip that there came the found of footsteps against the floorboards. With alarm in my breath, I snapped around to the direction of the sound.
  6.  
  7. Standing before my eyes was a woman with silver hair and purple eyes, dressed in the robes of a witch with a vibrant color that matched her eyes. In her hands was a large open book, written in a runic language that I could not decipher that her eyes lingered upon for a brief instant, before turning to face him.
  8.  
  9. "First you break into my house and now you attempt to threaten me with a knife," the silver-haired woman said bluntly. "Were it not for the magic I sense from your soul, I would have thought you an ordinary brigand."
  10.  
  11. "Ah, my sincere apologies, my dear lady," I said with a practiced smile that belied my inner terror, sheathing my knife back into my coat. With the power I sense cascading from her form, there was little my weapon could do against her. "I believed I was under threat and sought merely to defend myself in a place I know nothing of."
  12.  
  13. "So your arrival was accidental?" the woman narrowed her eyes. "Do forgive my frankness, but I don't believe you. There is no concievable manner in which one could blunder their way into the heart of my domain simply by accident."
  14.  
  15. "Neither can I," I admitted truthfully. "But I do speak the truth, my lady. Though I know not what forces have brought me here, the simple fact of the manner is that I was indeed brought here. For what purpose I know not and by whom I know nothing of."
  16.  
  17. The woman looked at him for a long moment, her eyes almost seeming to peer into his soul. Given the magical pressure I felt radiating from her every breath, she most likely was doing just that.
  18.  
  19. "I would verify your words from your thoughts," the woman stated simply. "But it appears that avenue of exploration is not avaliable to me. May I inquire as to your identity, stranger?"
  20.  
  21. "A simple magician," I said, dipping my head in deference.
  22.  
  23. "A simple magician with mental defenses that would taken even gods time to breach," she replied. "Isn't that right, Mister Ward?"
  24.  
  25. Upon hearing those words, I couldn't help but visibly flinch. My fingers twitched as I turned to look at the terrifying woman with new eyes, the implications of her simple statement striking me with the force of hammerblow.
  26.  
  27. "Worry not," the goddess continued. "Your innermost thoughts are safe. It would take some time for me to breach your mental fortress and I have neither the time nor the patience to accomplish such a feat."
  28.  
  29. "I'm not sure if I should be pleased or insulted, milady." I said honestly, attempting to make light of the situation.
  30.  
  31. "Whatever you prefer," the woman shrugged. "But if you wish to cover yourself with bluster and pride, I ask that I be allowed to leave this converstation."
  32.  
  33. "But of course," I shrugged, adjusting easily to her manner of speech. "I'm hardly one to do such a thing. I would say I at least make an attempt at pretending to be a humble man. Unfortunately, the simple fact of the matter is that I can't control myself."
  34.  
  35. "What a demented mind you have," the goddess shot back. "Though at the very least, you should be commended for your honesty. I have seemed far too many who say one thing while thinking another. Humans are such complicated creatures."
  36.  
  37. "And so you prefer the company of books," I caught on quite easily.
  38.  
  39. "Yes," she said simply. "Books are much less complex than people. Unlike the unfortunate evens that occur within the universe, they have an internal consistency that compels them to make some sort of sense."
  40.  
  41. "I know the feeling," I said, nodding my head. "It takes effort to understand people, to comprehend their disparate points of view. With an open book, all the information is avaliable right before your eyes from beginning to end. Life is far more chaotic."
  42.  
  43. "So you say," she closed her book with a thump. "Though there appears to be a modicum of wisidom in your words. For someone who threatened me with a knife like a common brigand, you seem quite cultured."
  44.  
  45. "I would hardly call myself a man of culture," I chuckled, crossing my arms. "It is simply that I am very good at reading books and understanding the viewpoints of others. Applying theoretical knowledge to practical situations."
  46.  
  47. "What a remarkable talent you have," the woman said, her voice deceptively calm. "How frightening it must be for the women in your lives."
  48.  
  49. I looked at the goddess for a moment, before casting my gaze away. Her reaction was expected, as much as it was instinctive. For a being of such power, her expression was remarkably human.
  50.  
  51. "I suppose that's one way to put it," I said simply, to which the goddess averted her eyes. "Were my talents enough to match my fortune, I would be a very wealthy man."
  52.  
  53. The goddess said nothing for a moment, her eyes downcast. Her emotions were written clearly all over her features, sympathy mixed with self-hatred. Despite myself, I couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
  54.  
  55. "That was a long time ago," I said softly. "And I do not like to dwell on the past. If I allowed myself to drown in my regrets, I would no longer be able to move forward."
  56.  
  57. I extended a hand to the woman. After a moment of hesitation, she took my hand, wrapping slowly around my own. Before she could react, I bowed down to kiss the back of her hand.
  58.  
  59. "If I allowed myself to linger on my regrets, I would not have been able to meet a woman like yourself." I smiled brightly. "Our conversation was one the most stimulating I had in a long time."
  60.  
  61. The crimson flush that entered her cheeks was an absolute delight to see.
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