"The more I know you, the more I want to know you more."

- Roy Lessin

""Society… Don't you mean yourself?" Wow, he will definitely be called weird if he spoke this out loud." The Wanderer murmured as she continued to read the book in her hand.

It's been more than half hour since she met Es, and her impression of her is… somewhat ok, better than Rex anyway with their ominous way of greeting. And right now, she is reading a book Es suggested before going out to the hall. Something like, "Fast way to gather EGO."

And surprisingly, even with its black surroundings, the Wanderer can perfectly read the book with no hindrance. It is one of the mysteries for her, the source of light in this place.

That's when the door leading to the library glowed.

The Wanderer for a moment pulled out her journal and wrote, "I have been here for a while after I met the people of this place. It appears for me that Ego Rex and Es are the only people around. But they seem to have their own room: Ego Rex has this hall while Es has her own library. And whatever this EGO they meant, the butterfly in the door would glow, as if symbolizing I have enough of it." And she puts it back in her bag. "Time to meet Es again." She said, opening the door.

…

...

...

"I see you've been collecting EGO."

"That's your first greeting for me? Oh well, you said it yourself right? Gather more EGO. So, I will talk to you of course." The Wanderer said, cheekily smiled at the girl.

"How earnest of you." The girl replied, though the Wanderer felt some sarcasm in her voice. "I suppose you've earned a reward for that… You're curious as to where we are, aren't you?"

"You have no idea how much I want to hear about this place." The Wanderer eagerly replied.

"We're… How do I put this?" Es spoke while thinking her next words, "This place is closed off from the outside world, it doesn't need a name."

"Closed off? What do you mean by that?"

"Obviously, you can't see the day and night cycle here. And no matter how I try it, I can't seem to get out of here." Answered the girl, "Well, to me that is. I'm curious…" She spoke, staring at the Wanderer, "How do you perceive this place?"

"Me? I guess… this place is a place to discover who I am." The Wanderer answered, "I mean, is there something I should know more about this place?"

"Well, you aren't wrong." Finalized Es, "Whether you will it or not, something lies up ahead. Perhaps that is exactly why you seek reasons." She paused for a moment before continuing, "You… and I, both."

The Wanderer silently nods, not sure how to reply to her last comment.

"Come back again if you gather-

"What!? But we just started to warm up to each other!" The Wanderer cuts off, earning a glare from Es.

"Can you not?" This was followed by a quick sorry before she continued, "You act like a child more than you are supposed to be, you know?"

"Thank you, thank you, I've pretty much received that many times." Said the grinning Wanderer. "But, we can talk much longer, you know?"

"Then collect more EGO Wanderer. Now, shoo."

"Okay, okay. But I'll be back quickly. That's a promise. And I am good at keeping my promises on track." The Wanderer declared before leaving the room.

"I'm baaaaccckkk!"

"That really didn't take while." Es commented.

"Well, if you don't know, I'm actually fond of reading back in my days before wandering. This pace actually wants me to reread some of my old books back home." The Wanderer reminisces about her past before letting out a sigh, "But I'm good with this. So, what are we gonna do now, Ms. Es?"

"Mmm…" The girl hummed, shifting herself in her chair-

Wait, she's sitting there all along? Thought the Wanderer but never let it shown.

"There are all sorts of books here." Es said not knowing the little crisis the Wanderer found in, "There's even ones that ends differently every time you read it."

"A books that ends differently?" The Wanderer spoke out, one eyebrow raised.

"Here-" She stands up looking through many, many books of hers and pulls one out, "-I'll show you. Your interpretation of the story is very much interest to me."

When Es opens the book, the Wanderer sees three characters: a king, a prince, and if you squint your eyes hard enough, you see what appears to be a maid hiding in the shadows.

"I'll ask you a few questions, alright?" Receiving a hum of agreement, she continued, "Now let me hear your story. What is the prince doing?"

"Hmm… Seems to me he's crying because the king got mad at him. Many of the princes these days need to come to the king's term."

"How does the king feel about this?"

"Definitely contemplating how best to discipline the prince."

"Why is the maid hiding?"

"So she is hiding. I guess, to watch over the prince from the shadows. Many maids out there are genuinely caring to their watching over with."

Eyeing the Wanderer now, Es asked, "How does the story ends?"

"What?" Meeting her own eyes to Es, she repeated, "What? What's the complete story?"

"That's the complete story. Imagine what would happen at the end."

"Uhhh… I guess… The prince recovers of his own accord."

The picture book shows the prince walking on his own path through the unknown.

"And so the despondent prince lifts his chin and sets off down his own path." The librarian spoke, nodding her head as if satisfied by it. "So… that's how your story goes. There are some truths of reality one can find only in fiction."

Cryptic as always. Is she trying to sound wise?

"See? If something changes in your world view, the ending will change. That goes for this place too, not just the story.

The future will be decided by your interpretation… by your will."

I… don't know if I like that bit or not.

"You're interesting, Wanderer. And I much appreciated if you come again after-

"Collecting more EGO. Yeah, yeah- oops…" The Wanderer realized her mistake again, eyeing the glaring librarian. "Sorry, forced habit."

"It seems you're the type to never think something through for me though."

"I… act like this if I am confident enough with my companies…" The Wanderer chuckled before smiling to the girl, "When I'm actually with people, I'm more of the silent type. You wouldn't believe back in my study days, I was always awarded with "Most Behave" stuff related because of how I am sooo quiet. Too quiet, some people didn't notice me I'm in the room until I spoke. I guess… I am comfortable with you, Es. "

"I'm flattered by that. So hurry back now. Oh, and also." She gets a different book and gives it to the Wanderer, "Here, for if you are bored with your current book."

Receiving the book, she smiled at the girl and left the room.

What the librarian didn't know, the Wanderer hid for a while. She felt there's something Es didn't say, so she waited for a while until she heard her speak.

"... She didn't wait a bit to hear her result. Oh well… Her hidden motif is Selfish Autonomy, or Stable Nature to quote by many. She's the type to take the reins of her own life without searching for impetus in others. By taking an active approach, she's opened up the path for herself. But the downfall of that is, her idea of relying on others is nigh on unthinkable, as it is her firm discipline to decide things for herself. Heh, and she already shows her extreme determination to fulfill her goals." Flipping of papers can be heard before sighing, "However, it seems she should probably try seeking help from others, before she gets stuck."

The Wanderer leans on one of many stands of this enormous library, before pulling down her hat, silently chuckling to herself.

As she silently leaves, there's a last thought she left behind.

That… That is spot on.