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"The past and present have much to tell us about the future and the future will tell us much about the past."
- Stephen M. Millett
"Transform into horrible vermin…" For a moment, the Wanderer's face looked green before fading, "Nope! Ergghh… Don't like it, at all." The Wanderer said before looking at the door that lit, "Ah, finally."
She giddily approached the glowing door and opened it.
…
…
...
"So good of you to come."
"Aw, you missed me already?"
"I'm more than interested in knowing you more, Wanderer." Es spoke then stood up behind the counter and for the first time, got out from behind it. "Would you follow me?"
"E-Eh? Where are we going?" The Wanderer asked, curious about this development.
"Showing you more around." Es said, gesturing to her to follow.
"Okay…"
And in minutes, Es shows her around, where the sections of different books are, and even gives her her own record room.
"In this record room, you could write or read your progress here." She explained gesturing inside.
"Sweet. My personal place. Huh?" She looked at the specific object on the table, "Why is this mirror incomplete?"
What she gestured to is a small, circle mirror that doesn't have… well… mirror. Only the two pieces of it are present, which is in the left part.
"This mirror is to present your process in your personality tests." Es picked it up and gave it to the Wanderer, "You'll understand if you look at it thoroughly. But right now, we have another matter to do."
"Eh? Wait!" The Wanderer puts the mirror back and follows the librarian, now stopped at the couch just miles away in front of the counter.
"Sit."
"Okay?" She obliged and sat down, then all of the sudden Es sat with her, much more to the shock of the Wanderer, Es then pulled her and let her head rest on her lap.
Eh? Eh? EH!?
"How do you like the new view?" Es asked, still stoic in front of her who pulled this stunt. "Are you nervous? Your heartbeat is racing."
"I-I'm, I'm fine!" Oh my gods what is the meaning of this!? Despite herself, she could faintly feel herself blushing from this predicament.
"Take deep breaths now... In... Out..."
Not trusting her words, she listens to the girl then begins to copy her. In a little bit her heartbeat began to slow down.
"There you go. Well done. Now for the main event. I want for you to talk about whatever is on your mind."
"On my… mind?" The Wanderer asked, raising her eyebrow.
"It doesn't matter if it's boring or meaningless… Just speak freely."
"... Alright."
"Now, close your eyes..."
The Wanderer followed, and for the next minutes, Es would mention some words and she would repeat the words she likes. To be truthful, the Wanderer seemed to relax, the evidence by her shoulders slowly releasing its tensions.
"And we're done." The girl's voice rings out, opening the Wanderer's eyes.
"We're done?"
"Yes, and I have the results. We're actually testing about your current conflict."
"My conflict?"
"Beliefs, ideals, any that can match up your state of mind." And after skimming through the note in her hand that she apparently had, she gave her answer, "It seems you have Obsessive Optimism."
"And you're implying?"
"That you have an obsession with having a positive, certain future. You seem to be in search of peace and your mental state is comparatively rather calm. At a glance, you don't appear to have many issues." She said while taking a glance at the Wanderer, then she continued, "That said, you may be reluctant to face the past."
At the mention of "past" the Wanderer visibly, slightly twitched, that did not go unnoticed by the librarian.
"If you do wind up coming face to face with your past, make sure you hold onto the calm you feel now." Es gently said to the Wanderer who just stayed silent, but acknowledged her by nodding.
The Wanderer averted her eyes and the first thing Es seemed to notice is how… distant looking her eyes are.
"It can be difficult to open yourself to associations… But you did well. It seems like you've done this before."
"... Yeah…"
"Now, let me interpret what it all means… What is awareness? It's like an illusion that appears only when you think of it. Both hope and despair are rooted outside of awareness. What is it that your unconscious mind longs for? If you wander around this place for a bit longer, you might find out."
"... Sure." The Wanderer stands up from her position.
"Do you want to do something, Wanderer?" Es asked as she stood up.
"I want to go to er, my record room. If you don't mind."
"Go ahead, there's more than one way to gather EGO than going back to the hall."
The Wanderer smiled at her but this time it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Thanks, Es."
"I'm just doing my job, Wanderer. But to satisfy yourself, you're welcome."
The Wanderer leaves the librarian and goes back to the record room. The first thing she looked into was the mirror which, to her surprise, another piece appeared. This piece is in its bottom left.
She wordlessly picked the mirror, and stared at it.
… Then suddenly she heard a whisper.
"Nothing gets done by looking back."
"Wha?" The Wanderer looked around but found no one. She brings her attention back to the mirror. "... Is this what Es meant?"
It was a thrilling discovery for her, but this time, she can't help but frown because…
That voice almost sounded like me. The Wanderer thought as she put the mirror back. "... Nothing gets done by looking back… Is it bad to not want to bring up the past..?"
That question hangs in the air, as the Wanderer distantly stares to nothingness.
…
…
…
Es was peacefully reading her book when she noticed the Wanderer approaching.
"It seems you have gotten used to how things work in this place." She said as she put her book down.
Unlike back then where the Wanderer behavior was moody, now the Wanderer felt like her usual self. "Yeah, your small tour helps me a lot." The Wanderer replied.
"I think we're ready to progress, don't you?"
"Progress? What do you mean by progress?"
"Whatever is the matter? Afraid of change? You don't have to be."
"I am so not! Actually, I welcome changes once in a while, you know." The Wanderer rebutted, cheekily smiled at her.
"Don't worry, nothing will change right away. Yet, when I look at you as you are now..." The girl said, staring at the Wanderer which made her nervous.
"What?"
"You seem content to walk your own path. I have nothing further to tell you. After all, you will decide your own fate."
"I… felt at ease somehow with that."
"Ah... Something unwanted this way comes."
The Wanderer's face twists into confusion before remembering another deity, "... Rex?"
"Yes. It's that Façade."
"So, it seems I need to talk to them now."
"Much I don't like you to talk to that Façade. Let their words in one ear and out the other. There's no need to heed them whatsoever. I, however, will be off for now."
"Off? Where?"
"Wanderer, I think we need to call it a day, don't you think?"
"Huh, now that you mentioned it, I think I've been here for quite a while huh?" The Wanderer mused, and then tightened her sling. "Then, I'll be back tomorrow… When I figured out time here, that is. And try to bring something to prepare."
"Alright Wanderer. Come back when you're ready."
Beelining to the door, the Wanderer halted for a moment, "Hey Es."
"Yes?" The girl replied, holding her book closely to her chest.
The Wanderer smiled again to her, but this time it radiated something that can't tell the librarian what it means. One thing for sure, that smile is something that she felt real from her.
"I'm really glad I met you, Es. Really, I do." Then she proceeds to leave the room, gently closes the door.
"Rex! If you hear me, we can talk tomorrow! I'll be back! That's a promise!"
How will the Wanderer be able to get out of this place, you ask? Well, during her time in this hall, she noticed that the same cyan butterfly fluttering around her before leaving in an unknown location, as if the butterfly is leading her. It may be a hunch, but she is positive about it.
And in a minute, she finds the butterfly, and follows it.
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