Sitting in a room by himself, the one known as Y/N was leaning against his seat and looking above his head, observing the golden cosmos and shimmering stars. The brilliant light above him was forming a nice spectacle with golden pages flying around like feathers. Not saying a single word, he remained still until the echoes of distant footsteps made its way to him.

Finally, he turned his gaze away from the ceiling and greeted the visitor with a silent face, which in turn quickly changed to a smile once he recognized the black suit of the man who stepped inside the Library unannounced.

Y/N: Hey Roland, you need something?

He kindly asked him that question and received an awkward smile from the guest, who took a seat next to him.

Roland: Am I interrupting something?

Y/N: Oh no, not in the slightest, I'm just wasting my time here.

The problem with being trapped in a location, despite looking gorgeous, is that once you have explored every nook & cranny of it, there was nothing else to do. That was when the true horror would begin, fighting boredom with nothing available except reading books or stare at walls.

In a way, he was glad that Roland broke that depressing cycle of his, even if just temporarily, though he did not have the same feelings when he learned what Angela did to him. Looking back at the dispute they both had following that, he sighed to himself and returned his attention to the man in the room with him.

Y/N: She's not going too rough on you?

Roland: Hm? You mean miss head librarian?

Y/N: ...That's what she's forcing you to call her or you chose that on your own?

Roland: ...

A quiet movement of his eyes was the only thing that followed the question. Pinching the bridge of his nose, the assistant librarian mumbled to himself in a low voice, low enough that the Fixer facing him couldn't hear what he was saying. Curious about it, he opened his mouth to ask the ex-employee but was quickly interrupted by a finger snap echoing around them.

Standing in the entrance of the room was the short haired AI, a book in hand and her golden eyes staring at the both of them. Upon recognizing her figure, Roland immediately closed his mouth, knowing that the one next to him would be in a bad mood for a good while.

Y/N: What do you want?

Just as predicted, his previously good mood rapidly turned sour. It wasn't hard to predict that reaction considering that each interactions between the both of them ended the same. Thankfully, it didn't escalate further than that.

Angela: Everything should be prepared soon enough. I am simply warning the both of you.

Y/N: ...I see.

A form of regret clouded his vision. The one forced in the role of her assistant lowered his eyes to the floor. Roland, on the other hand, looked back at the woman who tore his body apart, only to give him a new one afterwards.

Roland: Are you sure that you aren't putting too much faith in me? I'm just a Fixer at the bottom of the barrel.

Angela: I am certain with my choice.

She sighed in annoyance, forced to repeat her answer yet again to him. She didn't like repeating herself, it reminded her too much of that place, that prison that she was locked in.

Slowly, the ex-agent raised his hand in the air.

Angela: No, I am not changing my mind, I won't allow you to confront the guests.

Y/N: ...

He slowly lowered his hand and let out a "Hmph" out of indignation. She ignored that comment of his and faced the one with doubts.

Angela: After all, your new body should be perfectly able to do what I require out of you. I have nothing to fear.

Roland: If you say so ma'am.

Content with that answer, the machine keeping the both of them under her grasp nodded back and turned around, ready to take her leave. However, she was stopped, halted by the words of the one she brought back from the dead.

Y/N: What about the experience?

Angela: What are you talking about?

She rolled her eyes and did a full 180 to face the man talking back to her. His gaze was locked on her as he continued.

Y/N: You know what they say: nothing beats first hand experience. Yes, you may have given him a body capable of "receiving" your guests but what's the point if he doesn't have the experience to do so?

He explained his point perfectly to his interlocutor and stood up from his spot, hands placed behind his back.

Angela: Just tell me what you're trying to get at.

She frowned, expecting this conversation to devolve into insults at each other like the many times before but to her surprise, he simply pointed at the one in a black suit, who raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Y/N: What I'm trying to say is that I'm not gonna stand there and watch you possibly send someone with no experience to support him in a battle, my conscience won't allow it.

Roland: It's fine, I can get the hang of things pretty quickly, I just need a bit of practice.

At the mention of that last word in his sentence, the librarian's face lit up. Then, he gave the man an earnest stare in return to his comment.

Y/N: If that's the case then prove it to me.

Roland: ...Huh?

Y/N: You heard me right, if practice is what you need then I'll happily give it to you, better train with someone that doesn't want your demise than one that does right?

Angela: Y/N, do you really think I will allow you to-

Y/N: Do you want that stupid book of yours or not?

A single glance over his shoulder was enough to stop her complaint. She could tell that he was not going to drop the subject. Seeing how his question effectively stopped the woman in her track, the ex-agent stepped closer to Roland and gave him a pat on the back.

Y/N: You heard it from the man himself, he needs some time to adjust. It's all gonna go to waste if that "recruit" of yours can't defend himself properly.

Angela: ...

Roland: You don't have to go-

The one trapped in this back & forth attempted to defuse the conflict and peeked at the one standing beside him. As if expecting that, a strong gaze was reflected back at him, a focus that was silent yet also one of the loudest he could remember seeing in his whole life. Its words were simple, a direct and short message leaving no doubts:

"Go along with it."

Y/N: ...

Roland: ...I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have a quick warm-up.

Sensing what he was trying to do, the one coming from the outside of the Library smiled slightly and followed his demand.

Angela: ...

Her processors were not completely gullible, she could perfectly understand what was going on. If she so desired, she could easily put an end to this pointless charade but it also meant that it would make the one she brought back ignore her for an extended period of time.

She didn't care about the intruder that stepped into her Library, that's why she was willing to send him as a literal meat shield for her own goal but the assistant librarian was a different matter. He already had a bad opinion of her and further denying him could result with some terrible backlash from him, something she would like to avoid.

In the end, she complied with closed eyes, pretending to be a fool.

Angela: Fine, I suppose we can prepare him for our future guests.

Y/N: You got that right.

With those final words said, the trio walked out of the room, preparing themselves for something that normally would have happened later if the awakened employee had not persisted.

...

(God I fucking love Keter's theme.)

https://youtu.be/TMUOUo5n2oE

...

Standing amidst large piles of books, creating massive and unstable towers, the trio were on a platform suspended above what one could only assume to be a long fall to their death. This place was the final working space of Lobotomy Corporation, the final department fully expanded before everything collapsed and the Seed of Light was stopped, unable to complete its goal.

This was Keter's floor, previously known as the Architecture department. On the side, Angela was sitting on a pile of books and observing the duo standing up. On the right was Roland, fighting on the side of the Library...

...while I took the left, assuming the role of a possible guest.

The both of us were wielding black sword and nothing else, standing on equal footing.

Roland: Man, this place is massive~!

Letting out a remark that flew across the large landscape filled with nothing but books, he assumed a somewhat battle stance but with a hint of carefree attitude mixed with it. On the other hand, as the one trying to "defeat" him, I was holding my weapon with both hands and arboring a light smile, already sensing the rush of adrenaline.

Y/N: This place was a lot more cramped when it was still called Lobotomy Corp.

I replied to his comment and calmly composed myself, preparing my spirit for the incoming battle. However, before any of us could move, Angela cut through the tension with her sharp voice.

Angela: I am warning you Y/N, I'm only allowing you to fight under the pretense of training. If I see a single injury on you, I am ending everything.

Y/N: Yea yea, whatever you say.

I didn't pay attention to her voice, my eyes focused on the man in front of me who looked back with a smile. We were both ready to begin this battle, or "reception".

Y/N: Have you ever fought before Roland?

I asked him that question out of curiosity.

Roland: Who hasn't? From small fight between children or struggles against someone out for you, it would be harder to find someone who has never fought in their entire life in the City.

We fell silent after his answer, both staring at each other in silence while the AI standing on the sideline raised one of her hands. The air grew heavier around the battlefield until a single snap shattered the buildup, a finger snap coming from the Director of this place.

Serving as a sign, both Roland and I charged at each other. As we got closer, time seemed to distort and slow down. The first one to go on the offensive was the one on the side of the Library, the man in a black suit, who opened the act with a slash aiming at my arm.

Seeing the action coming, his moving blade was met with a motionless one, blocking the strike and causing sparks to fly around. However, not done, the man followed with a quick attack, a thrust. My eyes widened slightly in response but it wasn't fast enough to catch me by surprise. I dodged out of the way just in time, causing a drop of sweat to form on my face after noticing how close the blade was.

Afterwards, we took a step back, regained our footing and finally glanced at each other, trying to discern the opponent's next move. Angela, on the other hand, was completely fixated on me, I could tell without looking that she was scanning me for any signs of a possible injury. She meant every words that she said, she was not the type to joke around.

Y/N: ...

Sparks lingered around us both, the tension beginning to rise after exchanging our attempts to defeat the other. Our first wave of clashes came to an end and the second wave arrived. My hands tightened around the hilt while my instincts reminded me of a sight that I was too familiar with...

Slowly but surely, uncomfortable emotions were making their presence known in the back of my head, forcing me to bite my lower lip to counteract their presence.

It's just a friendly battle... nothing to worry about, don't panic Y/N.

Angela: ...

The AI standing on the side must have sensed my slight distress and gave me a frown, her hand raised up and ready to stop this battle anytime. I shook my head and focused back on the battle, no need to be scared.

A second snap of Angela's fingers echoed, prompting the both of us to charge into battle. This time, however, I decided to go on the offensive. I hurriedly placed the entirety of my energy in the next swings I was preparing. Seems like Roland was also preparing the same, both of our blades clashing with the same strength and sending us backward for a second. The Fixer facing me shrugged it off with a light smile and I wish I could have done the same.

Instead, I was stuck making an agonizing grimace. My body felt like it was being stabbed in multiple places, my skin tearing off and opening wounds that I couldn't see. I was barely able to hold back a scream of pain before performing a second swing with my sword, breaking through the second assault of the one representing the Library and pushing him away. Not letting that opportunity slide, I pushed onwards and struck for the second time.

Y/N: ...

An expression of pain made its presence known on my opponent's face. During that small window of time, my body froze. It was so sudden that I wasn't even able to predict it, not like I could have in hindsight. It was so brief, yet it was able to shake my entire being.

The gaze I was given by the recently wounded foe was horrible, monstrous. He locked onto me like a mad beast ready to rip off the head of its prey, sending shivers throughout my body and making my legs quiver. It was the cold look of a murderer, cold enough to make me forget about the pain I was experiencing. Finally, like a shimmering mirage, it disappeared, leaving behind a simple man holding the place I managed to hit.

Roland: I'm definitely gonna feel that one for a while.

He painfully mumbled and assumed a combat stance, which was followed by my best attempt to do the same. I was still taken aback by what I just saw. It seemed like Angela didn't notice, not surprising considering that her eyes were staying on my body like a pair of cameras.

I blinked once to push aside that surge of fear my body just went through, only to be met by the blade of my opponent, who took advantage of my moment of weakness to land an attack on me. My mind, faster than my body, understood that I couldn't dodge, forcing me to try to parry. 

Sadly, reality does not go your way when you want it to be. A perfect trio of slashes connected with my body and sent me backward, leaving me staggered. I looked down at my hands, only to find a sword lacking in them, I was easily and swiftly neutralized.

Y/N: ...

With enough sharpness to cut through air, a snap of Angela's fingers stopped this duel. Her figure stood up from her seat and stepped closer to inspect my current state. After all, I was struck, meaning that she had a reason to stop this battle.

Roland heaved a sigh of relief and did the same, placing a hand behind his head out of worry.

Roland: Sorry about that, I don't have much experience so I don't know how to swing properly.

Y/N: Gh... Not enough? You disarmed me like it was nothing.

Roland: Beginner's luck as they say~

He calmly shrugged off his victory and picked up the sword on the floor before giving it to me. His smile was enough to melt the shivers I experienced when meeting that cold glare of his, which in turn brought back the stabbing pain I was enduring before it occured.

Angela: Y/N?

Y/N: I suppose so, I wish I had that same luck~

I replied with the same tone of voice my interlocutor gave me and grabbed the weapon given to me. My hands soon found their place around the hilt and turned it around to point the sharp end towards the ground, using it as a cane to support myself.

I don't know what exactly happened but the moment I tried to attack, my body started to feel like it was tearing itself apart. I could perfectly feel the same strength that I had when working in L Corp but when I tried to use it, I was met with a terrible pain.

Angela: This is why I told you that you cannot do this.

She looked rather annoyed by my current state, which further confirmed her point that I should not receive the upcoming guests.

Y/N: I can still fight, it just hurts like hell.

I placed my left hand against the right side of my stomach and tightened the grasp on the black sword with my right. When looking back at what occured, my mind simply answered with more questions than actual answers.

My body was like a stretched piece of paper, every sudden movements felt off and dangerous. I know for certain that it wasn't the case when we were trapped in that facility or else I would have never lived past Gebura or Binah in this condition.

My guess was that Angela must have messed something up, whether on purpose or not, during my awakening, leaving my body and existence unstable and volatile.

Roland: You sure that you're alright?

Y/N: ...I might need a moment to recover.

I let out a small sigh of defeat and dropped my shoulders, ignoring the persistent torture I was going through. Going from fighting an Arbiter, even the Red Mist herself to me barely able to hold myself was embarassing. Still, I didn't let that get to me and made my way out of this area, returning inside with the duo following my steps.

It seems like this little demonstration of the Fixer's abilities was enough to convince Angela that she made the right call, something that I relunctantly agreed with. He may say that he wasn't that talented but he was still able to wield his weapon quite easily despite that.

After a walk that felt like an eternity, I was now laying down on one of the many spaces that one could use to sit on. I stared at the golden ceiling above our heads, the Light itself, offering a mesmerizing sight that was able to make me forget temporarily about the stabbing sensations I was experiencing.

Y/N: ...

We would soon receive our first guests, the thought was enough to leave a bad taste in my mouth. We were forced to kill other people just to accomplish the goal of the selfish AI trapped in this place. I was far from happy about that but there was nothing I could do.

...The only thing I can truly do is close my eyes and put my faith in Roland, hoping that he does well for his first reception.