Author's note: Hi, this is my first attempt at a fanfiction that I'm actually posting somewhere. Hopefully this won't just be me posting two chapters and then just leaving it dead in the water; I'm gonna try to make it last so hopefully you enjoy what you read!

Sorry that the first chapter isn't particularly long. Like I said it's my first time and I'll try to improve my word count over time. Having chapters take place over longer periods of time will probably help given the first two are pretty short scenes.

Oh, SPOILERS FOR THE END OF LIBRARY OF RUINA! Like, big ones. This story starts with one of the big end game twists so yeah if you care about that please look away

Chapter 0: Crescendo

Roland looked down at the crumpled form of Argalia as it slowly faded away, turning to crisp golden pages that fluttered into the air and began to form his book. He supposed a part of him felt remorse for the man he had just killed; after all despite their differences he WAS Roland's brother-in-law. But… At the same time, the blue-tinted bastard had it coming.

The man straightens his posture and looks up, wiping some of the blood off his face and onto his sleeve. The large chamber that made up the floor of general works glowed a little brighter. He wondered when the glowing had started for a moment; perhaps it had started back when he killed the first rat in that first battle; and it had just taken a while for it to be bright enough to notice. It didn't really matter all that much, he figured in the end, not when there was a much more clear fact from the soft yet bright glow that now surely permeated the whole library.

It was time.

And so Roland turned, watching the knife that he had struck Argalia down with fade out as it returned to the hammer space within his gloves, and walked across the bridge that his penultimate battle had been fought on. And out through the door, he walked right to where Angela was waiting for him. Good, that saved him the walk.

One pair of long cutscenes of dialogue between Roland and Angela later

Roland's footing shifts as he brings one arm back, the Wheels Industry greatsword already beginning to form in his hand, when suddenly Angela flicks an arm of her own out, and with a snap of her fingers and a flash of light; Roland is gone.

A few seconds later, a person bursts onto the scene. A blur of red and grey metal, ephemeral crimson pouring off of their form as they charge with a flesh-covered greatsword at the ready. The Red Mist charges forward, skids to a halt, and melts away to reveal the person underneath who looks vague shades of perplexed at the lack of fight going on.

"...Angela, I thought you said that after Argalia was down…" Gebura says, looking around

"Indeed." Angela nods, "However it appears your help won't be necessary."

"Oh, so you managed to talk him down?" Gebura's posture slackens, as if hearing a pleasant surprise

Yet Angela in turn shakes her head, "No, plan A failed. But plan B succeeded."

"...I thought I was plan B?"

"You were, yes, but I had another solution. Roland is now safely trapped in a book. A work of fiction that Hod has been hounding me to read as of late." The head librarian affords herself a small smirk, "A peaceful enough solution, I believe."

Gebura, who's face had turned once more to confusion as Angela explained the supposed new plan B, took a few moments to mull it over "...Right.. So, what happens now?"

This makes the smirk falter, and Angela then looks down. "Now… I thought I knew quite well, but… I'm afraid I'm not entirely sure. You will have to give me some time to decide, I suppose."

"...A better outcome than I was expecting then. Alright, you can have some time; but… I think the lot of us need to have a chat at some point. And I think you agree."

Angela says nothing, knowing that Gebura could see the words stick. For someone who complained about being put in the department of language, the redhead sure knew how to word herself sometimes… Instead, the only response the once great Colour received was a snap of fingers and a rush of air as the director-of-her-role's-namesake disappeared off to god knows where.

Gebura lets out a sigh and pulls a cigarette from the inside of her jacket, alongside a lighter from the other side, walking off to return the good news to everyone else. Someone had to keep the others in the loop after all…