---[UNKNOWN LIBRARY]---
In front of it were towering bookshelves. The room was covered in darkness as the scent of old parchment and candle wax filled the air.
'Where am I...?', it thought as it woke up. It had a blue flame for a body as it sat on an empty chair. It had no memories, no knowledge, nothing.
A dim, golden glow from the candle illuminated the table it was sitting in front of. The glow was also strong enough to illuminate the person on the opposite side of the table.
It was a cute girl.
With curiosity, it tried to move forward but found itself stuck in a place, only able to look in front of itself, towards the delicate blonde girl sitting in front of it.
The girl had a cozy and warm aura around her, like a cute, harmless creature. She had a pair of deep blue eyes and golden blonde hair that was tied with a blue ribbon. Her body was adorned with a white and blue, fluffy apron dress.
'She looks like she is in her late teens...'
"Hello." The little girl, as if feeling the gaze of the thing in front of it, her face bloomed with a faint smile as she finally spoke. "Yes, I am talking to you. Congratulations. You have been chosen to be the protagonist of this story. My name is Alice. First, please allow me to hear your name."
Her soft gaze landed back on the blue flame-like creature sitting in front of her.
"My name...?" The blue flame magically spoke, even without having a mouth. Its mouth opened in confusion as it asked back, "Alice...?"
It wasn't its intention to repeat out the name of the girl, but its mind just wasn't able to move forward from Alice's name.
"Fufu~ I'm sorry, but there can only be one Alice, right? I'm sorry, but can you please try to remember your name?", A soft chuckle escaped Alice's lips.
'What is it...?', the flame thought. 'What is my name...?', everything that ever lived had a name, living or non-living. If it existed, it had a name. Yet, the flame's body flickered as it tried to remember its name.
'What is my name...?'
"My name is...", A surge of memory suddenly flowed in its mind. "My name is Grimm."
"Grimm...", Alice's body trembled again, yet the smile on her face remained the same. "Grimm. A fine name. A magnificent name... I think. Although it sounds so grim~". A laugh escaped her mouth as she teased back with a pun.
Flipping a page of the book in her hand, Alice continued, "Next, please choose your background."
A black screen suddenly popped in front of Grimm.
There were three options on it, which included a [Knight], [Thief], and [Sorcerer]. Looking at the screen in front of it, the flame started thinking in silence.
The [Knight] seems explanatory, and so does the job [Thief], but it doesn't know what kind of magic or spell it might have as a [Sorcerer].
Knight's job should have high attack and defense, and maybe come with a shield. Thieves' job should come with a knife or a dagger; they also normally have high speed and stealth.
But thinking about the sorcerer, Grimm's mind instantly discarded it. Their physical build would be bad if there were no tanks to protect them or if they didn't have very versatile spells to protect themselves.
Who knows what it will be facing out there as soon as it starts his adventure?
'I don't know what will be out there for me to face. Demons? Monsters? Wars? I don't know; my best bet is on being fast enough to dodge and save myself. That should be my priority.' Knowing that, the flame had already made one choice in its mind.
As if feeling its confusion, Alice asked back, "Would you like for me to explain it to you, Grimm?", to which Grimm's body swayed as it nodded back.
"[The Knight]. They have high attack and defense. With this job, you will learn techniques for lowering the enemy's attacks and defense."
"[The Thief]. They have high speed. With this job, you will learn techniques for slaying foes in a single attack. You will also begin with 1000 bonus Souls! And before you ask what souls are, do know that telling you that will ruin the excitement of learning new things!"
"Now, [The Sorcerer]. Sorcerers have high magic and magic resistance. They also know a spell called [Soul Arrow] from the very start."
After explaining all the choices, Alice closed the book in her hand, as she shifted all her focus on Grimm, and asked back with interest, "So which background would you like to have?"
Feeling the unexpected weight of expectation from her, Grimm slowly opened his mouth. "I choose [Thief]."
Nodding, Alice asked back, "Is this your final choice?"
"Yes. I have already decided.", Grimm replied. The only choices it actually had were either being the knight or being the thief. Choosing a sorcerer might have bought unexpected benefits, but the thief was the only practical choice.
As soon as Grimm confirmed his choice, his body started to morph. It was a surreal experience. Like worms wiggling on 'her' skin. The flesh tendrils slowly rose from within its flame-like body as it formed 'her' body.
Before Grimm could even process what was going on, her body had already been formed, and along with it, a brown leather armor had already taken its form around her body.
A black hood covered her head, which also worked as a scarf around her neck. A metal helmet was also covering her head for some reason, despite her not being a knight.
Inside the leather, Grimm could feel the cold texture of thin metal chainmail covering her body. She felt relieved for having a metal helmet and chainmail. Through the gaps of the helmet, her gaze moved as she looked at her outfit.
'It's stiffy.', Grimm thought as she moved her shoulder in a circulatory method. 'It feels surreal. Why...?'
Her body felt stiff when making any sudden action. It was as if she was getting used to a completely new body. A wry smile formed over Grimm's face. With thankful thoughts, she looked back at Alice.
Looking at Grimm with a surprised face, Alice asked, "Hmm~ This one? Though only a temporary shape, it will make do. Well, as long as you're satisfied with it."
Grimm nods her head. "I am." The voice that came out of her throat surprised her. It was hoarse. Like a man having a severe sore throat.
"Glad to hear that! Well then, please allow me to give you a present on this occasion. Please choose whichever you want.", Alice said as her hands moved into the front pocket of her dress.
From her pocket, she took out four gifts and placed them on the table in front of Grimm. One was a key, the second one was a ring, the third one looked like a golden emerald, and the fourth one looked like some sort of potion.
Alice slowly placed them in front of Grimm and explained, "The first one is called Master key, second is Life ring, third is a Candy, and finally a potion called Divine Blessing. And before you ask, it's a surprise, so please think of it as a mystery gift. Hihihi~"
Looking at Alice laughing softly, Grimm chuckled back. "Well then, I will choose the Life ring." Although the Candy and Divine Blessing sounded extremely mysterious and might have been a very good choice, Grimm felt more secure on having some life-saving item on her.
As soon as Grimm selected the Life ring, Alice smiled back, but her gaze slowly flickered for a second. "It appears... it's time to raise the curtains. In other words, to begin the story."
"Grimm. You're the main character of the story. Please don't lose your heart to the last."
Alice instantly held the Life Ring in her hand as she bought it to the other side of the table, for Grimm. The speed at which it happened seemed like an instant for Grimm. It was as if Alice had teleported in front of her.
Her soft hands pried open Grimm's hands as she placed the rings inside it. "Ah. Lord Grimm-"
But before a few more words could escape Alice's mouth, Grimm felt something wet splash on her face.
The smell of iron filled Grimm's nose.
Slowly, Grimm lowered her head as her eyes fell onto her hand.
There was a hand that she was holding.
It was just that...
It had no body left.
Limbs scattered everywhere. The table was painted red from the blood. Chunks of flesh clung to her clothes.
There it was. Alice's head by her feet.
Alice.
Her body had exploded from within.
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BLACK SOULS
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