Your P.O.V

I ended up staying up all night, reading all that I could in the Nomicon to understand why it chose me. There was nothing. My eyes grew heavy, and my head slipped from its perch on the palm of my hand. The second my head made contact with the book, my eyes rolled back and I was whisked awake, suddenly falling.

I tried to scream but the only sound I could muster was a pathetic squeak. I landed roughly on what seemed to be grass, but it was hard to tell from the inky surroundings. Regaining my balance as I stood, I noticed that wherever I was, wasn't exactly real. It was almost as if I fell inside the book. But that couldn't be possible, right?

The ground rumbled, and I held my arms out to try and keep myself balanced, as is settled. Upwards, in the sky, words wrote themselves out;

Welcome to the Nomicon.

I looked around, really trying to take in my surroundings. The walls, the ground, the sky—it was all paper. The grainy texture made me feel out of place, as I stared down at my hands, seeing them as they normally are. "Why did you bring me here?" I inquired, looking towards the skies again. The words that were there previously erased themselves and new words appeared;

You are the ninja.

I sighed. Hadn't I just told it no? Wasn't I studying to be a guardian, or whatever?

I know you don't want to admit it, nor do you want it, but as the newly appointed Guardian, I must prepare you for everything that is to come.

"What do you mean?" I was confused, and I sat on the ground, drawn to look like grass, and stared at the sky as the words vanished again.

You are not just protecting this book. You will protect the town, and especially the Ninja.

"How am I expected to protect them? Won't Randy have the mask? We both can't wear it."

When you reemerge from this book, you will find another box on your desk. Held inside, is the long-forgotten suit of The Guardian. It has been at least a century since she has seen the light of day.

"So this guardian is a woman?"

As you have read, a family known as the Norrisu Nine hunted down the sorcerer. Not all of them were male. One, the eldest female, was their guardian figure and kept them all in line.

The words erased themselves after I finished reading them, before new ones formed in their wake.

She may have passed in the final fight to seal the sorcerer, but her only surviving sibling passed her mask down alongside his, so she may protect those she cares about once again.

Awe-struck, I stared at the sky as the words vanished, seemingly appearing as if there were no words beforehand. "I-I don't know what to say. I don't exactly want this."

You were chosen because you're brave of heart and caring. These are just some of the qualities of the Ninja. But in such a case like this, you cannot let these go to waste.

I blinked slowly. This wasn't me, but I didn't seem to have a choice in the matter. It didn't matter how many times I complained or argued back, as the Nomicon was very insistent. "Okay, let's say I do go through with this. Does that mean Randy will know I'm the Guardian? I don't think I could keep this a secret from him." Watching the words disappear from the sky, I frowned at its response.

For his safety, and your own, right now he cannot know that it's you. Once he learns more about being the ninja, you can tell him. But not before then.

This was going to be hard. I had never been able to keep a secret from Randy and Howard, especially Randy. I could trust him so easily with anything, and vice versa. "Are you sure it has to be this way?" I asked, hoping that I could just tell him the truth. There was no way that I could keep a one-sided secret of both our identities and not have him know mine too.

I'm sorry, (name), but this is how it must be.

I took a deep breath, trying not to sigh in disappointment. "Okay," my voice was shaky, but I tried to control it. "I trust you. I'll do it. Make me the Guardian. I'll protect the Ninja at all costs." The ground rumbled, but not in an unpleasant way. It almost seemed as if the book was happy. Before I could get a response, a hole formed in the ground below me and I gasped as I shot upright in my seat, almost toppling backwards onto the floor. The Nomicon wasn't lying when it said there was going to be another box on my desk when I awoke. I opened it to find another mask, but it was different. This one covered half the face, like something you'd see people wearing in a polluted city. It was black, with two red streaks running down each side, similarly to the Ninja's mask.

I turned my attention back to the box, seeing another Nomicon. This one was slightly different, with the logo being the mask and a hood above it. I picked it up, noticing a note at the bottom, reading;

"the books are linked"

in the same, messy handwriting all the notes in the other box were written in. I couldn't tell if it was the book's doing, or if there was a third-party involved. I shrugged it off and put the Ninja Nomicon back in its box, the Ninja mask on top. I gave it one last look over, before closing the box. And then I felt a hand touch my shoulder, and almost screamed, reaching for the Guardian's mask. "Whoa, calm down there, missy," I turned to see the weird guy from across the street, and Randy's next-door neighbour. "Mr Russey?" I asked, eyes wide. I glanced between him and the two boxes. "Calm down, (name). In here for the Ninja's box. You wanted Randy to have it, right?"

I stared at him blankly. Was this a joke? "Wh-what do you mean? The Ninja? Are you okay, Mr Russey?" I was terrified that he has somehow gotten into my bedroom, late at night, and was scared that he knew about the Ninja. Maybe playing dumb will help? "(Name), who else do you think brought you the boxes? The books can't exactly do that on their own. I've been consulting with and choosing Ninjas with the Nomicon for years now. I have to admit, picking between you and Randy was a tough one, but the Nomicon wanted you more. Glad you both get the chance." He smiled, grabbing the closed Ninja box and heading for my bedroom window. "Mr Russey, wait!"

He turned to face me, halfway out of my window. I didn't know how he was going to safely land from the second story window, but I felt like he'd be fine. That's not why I called out to him, though. "Yes, (name)?" I fiddled with the mask in my hands, clasped at my chest. "Are you sure I was the right decision?" He smirked and tipped his hat. "I've never made a mistake, (name)."

And with that, he was gone. I ran over to my window, to see if he had made it, but he had vanished. I knew that he would put the box in Randy's room and that most likely he'd notice it in the morning. I stared out, across the street to Randy's house. I had faith in him, but not in myself. "I hope you have faith in me." I sighed, closing the window and packing up my notes. I figured they'd be safest in the box, so I put them in and put the closed box under my bed. As for the Nomicon, I put it in my school bag. I had a feeling I would need it on me at all times. I then looked at the mask.

"I'll wear you in the morning." And with that, I put it under my pillow and climbed into bed, drifting off to sleep. Tomorrow would be a new day, and soon enough I would be needed, as the school year fast approached.

(@Ninja_Girl15 yoooooooooo i updated i feel so proud *is pretending that i haven't updated since like august last year*)