The crunch of the snow can be heard as I walk towards the large cathedral-like library. I’ve passed by it a couple of times, but I’ve never actually gone into it or any other library. Wait, that’s a lie. Smelly Doug and I broke into a library one night because we needed kindling. Those encyclopedias kept us alive that winter.

  Pushing past the large double doors, I’m greeted by the immediate warmth. Thank the Gods. I thought I was going to freeze out there. Shaking off the snow, I look around and see a dizzying amount of books. Why did the history professor have to assign a book to read? It’s not like you’ll learn anything from it.

  I walk over to the librarian's desk and find nobody. Not a single person. In fact. I take a second look around the library entrance. There’s not a single soul in sight. I don’t blame them. Who would want to be in a damn library anyway?

  After waiting for an excruciating two minutes, I still don’t see anybody. Fine, I’ll go find it myself. How hard can it be? Picking a random direction, I start walking.

  Aisle after aisle after aisle, and I still don’t think I’m anywhere close to finding this history book. I pick a random book up and see that it has a number on the side, 580.35. Who organizes a library using numbers? I thought it was organized using the letters or something. Flipping the book over, I see a sketch of a pea plant and the words ‘Botanical Studies’. Hmm. Without much thought, I plop down on the ground and start reading.

  Hours pass in seconds as I finish reading the book. Oh, that’s why that plant keeps dying. I need to add nitrogen. I could use manure or plant some legumes. Yeah, that will go well. This book is amazing… Why am I here again? It wasn’t for this book… Oh, the history book!

  Standing up, I place the botany book back on the shelf. Why couldn’t they just provide us with the book instead of making us go to the library? As I yawn, I hear a thunk somewhere nearby. Looking around, I see nothing out of the ordinary. Weird, anyway, it has to be somewhere.

  Walking down the aisles of the library, I eventually find a section that has history books. This one is ‘Tyranus the Slumbering Disaster,’ and this one is ‘History of the Gods’. It has to be somewhere around here. As I think my foot bumps into something. Looking down, I see a book named ‘History of the Nova Empire’. There it is. Leaning down, I hear another thunk. Looking around, I still don’t see anything. Is there somebody on the roof or something? Well, it’s not my problem.

  Walking back to the librarian's desk, I still don’t see a single soul. How am I supposed to check out this book if there’s no librarian? I could steal it, but that seems like it’ll bite me in the ass. Ah, all right. Jumping over the desk, I rummage through the paperwork, trying to find the check-out book or whatever they use.

  Ah, here it is. It was next to the unconscious librarian. Ok, I just got to write that I checked this book out and forge this… Looking back at the unconscious lady, I give a long blink. How long has she been there?

  “Are you okay?” I ask as I lean down.

  Another thunk is heard nearby that I don’t really focus on. She’s breathing, but she’s not waking up. Oh, this looks really bad. They’re going to think I did it! This is why going to the library is a bad idea. You get accused of knocking out the librarians and forging signatures. Then the next thing you know, you’re facing life in prison with no parole. I’ll have to join a gang to survive and get really ripped. I’ll have to get tattoos. Then I’ll be prison king. It’s the natural progression. Going to prison might not be that bad. I think I’d do good in prison.

  I’m getting off topic. Unconscious women who needs help. Carefully, I lift her up and over my shoulder. To the infirmary we go. As I turn to leave, the visage of Penelope freezes me in place.

  “This isn’t what it looks like,” I say as I place the librarian in a chair.

  Another thunk can be heard nearby.

  Penelope stands with an utterly dumbfounded face. “It… looks like you were helping that woman. Is that not the case?” she asks.

  “No, I mean yes. Wait, no? I was looking for this book and I found her like this. I was going to take her to the infirmary,” I say that as I lift the book up to her.

  The book suddenly goes flying out of my hand as a thunk can be heard. We look at each other with a confused look. We then turn our attention to a cloaked individual.

  “Are you a part of the Assassin Club?” I ask, hoping.

  The cloaked individual just stands there breathing, not saying a single word.

  Penelope reaches into her pocket. “I don’t think that’s a student,” she says with a bit of worry.

  The cloaked individual sprouts a pair of black wings that drip with ichor. It then lets out a blood-curdling scream.

  “Yeah, I think you’re right,” I say as I grab a nearby book.

  The creature charges forward. I [Throw] a book at it. Penelope puts up a shield. The book hits it square on the head as it slams into Penelope's shield. Not missing a beat, Penelope disappears and reappears behind the creature with a dagger in hand. As she does, the shield disappears. Penelope attacks, but is deflected by its needle-tipped tail.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  As it regains its composure, the cloaks fall apart to reveal a hideous creature with black skin, a wiry body, and a large, toothy maw.

  “What in the hells is that thing?” I say as I dive behind the librarian's desk.

  “It’s an imp! Watch out for its tail! It has a paralytic venom in the stinger!” she yells as she blocks an attack from the imp.

  What is an imp doing here? I don’t have time to think. I need to act before Penelope ends up as imp food.

  As I get ready to attack, I look over at the librarian whose eyes are open. “Don’t worry. I’ll get you out of here. After all, I am The Chosen One,” I say as I grab an encyclopedia and stuff it in my shirt. “I’m borrowing this.”

  The imp swings its claw at Penelope, sending her through a bookshelf or two. It then turns its attention back to me.

  “Oh, you’re one ugly-looking thing!” I yell as I run away from the desk.

  As expected, it follows at a frightening speed. Need to move faster. The imp gains on me and slashes towards me right as I turn into one of the aisles. Its claws tear through the wooden bookshelf, barely missing me. Keep running! Where is it? My eyes dart from bookshelf to bookshelf as I run through the aisles. I saw it earlier. There!

  Screeching to a halt, I turn around and watch as the imp's stinger hits me straight in the stomach, or rather, the encyclopedia in front of it.

  “You know what my new favorite section of the library is?” I ask as I grab its tail. “The metal book cover section!”

  As it tries to pull back its stinger, I hold it firmly in place. Ill, it’s slippery. With my other hand, I grab a heavy metal-covered book and [Throw] it at the imp. The book hits it square in the chest. Probably pissed it tries to get closer. As it does I [Throw] book after book at it. Each one hits it with a heavy blow. Some even draw blood, and another hits the imp straight in its void eyes.

  Angered, the imp flaps its wings and takes flight. The stinger goes taut as it tries to take me with it. Damn it! Either I fly with it or I let go of the stinger. With no other option, I let go. As the stinger retracts, it manages to slice my hand. It’s a small nick, but the immediate pain from the venom is no joke. Thankfully, or rather not, my hand starts to go numb as the imp hovers above me.

  “You’re in for a surprise if you think I can’t hit you up there!” I yell.

  I reach for a book, but my hand doesn’t respond. Damn it. The venom is moving fast. With my other hand, I grab and [Throw] another book. The book falls just short of hitting the imp. It’s too far. The imp watches the book fall and gives a large, toothy smile. Sadistic fuck!

  The paralyzing venom reaches my shoulder as it taunts me. What do I do next? Think! Penelope!! With no time to lose, I rush to where I last saw her. The imp keeps its distance, wary of my attacks. If only Hopper was here.

  Finally, I reach the pile of books where she should’ve landed, but the only thing there is a lot of blood. Where in the hells did she go? Stumbling, I realize that the venom has reached my leg. Penelope is far too prideful to have run. She’s somewhere nearby. As I think the sight of the blood gives me an idea.

  Stumbling forward, I fall onto the bloody pile of books, not moving an inch. The flapping of wings grows closer until it’s right on top of me. If these last couple of days have taught me anything. The chittering of the imps' teeth grows close. It’s that Penelope likes to wait for an opening. The imp's hot breath trickles against my skin. So, I need to make one. The imp opens its maw ready to eat.

  I swing around with a blood-covered book that I [Throw] straight into the imp's open maw. “Penelope [Imbue] the book!” I yell as I brace for the imps' attack.

  Right as it goes to bite, the book glows yellow. Lightning then arcs from the book, searing the inside of the imp's mouth. It recoils in pain as it spits out the book. In that moment of distraction, Penelope appears behind it with a glowing white energy in her palm. The imp tries to dodge, but it’s too late. A beam of light burst forth from her hand, leaving a large hole in the imp's chest. The imp steps forward to make one last attack, but instead falls to its side dead.

  The feeling of victory is quickly replaced with a fit of nausea that always comes with a [Level Up].

  “You okay?” Penelope asks as she fights back the nausea.

  “Yeah, but I don’t think I can move,” I say as I try to lift myself.

  The [Poison Res.] seems to have lessened the effect, since I can talk, but I still can’t move. Oh, Gods, this is oddly terrifying. I think I had this happen once. I woke up in the middle of the night, paralyzed with smelly Doug watching me. He wasn’t doing anything, just watching. I never asked him why he did that. Why didn’t I?

  “I’ll get you to the infirmary,” she says as she effortlessly picks me up. “Why was there an imp on school grounds? That should be impossible.”

  “Maybe it also wanted to check out a book,” I say, laughing through the pain.

  Penelope rolls her eyes. “This is serious,” she says.

  “I know. I’m also paralyzed from the neck down. So, I think I’m afforded some jokes.”

  “Fair.”

  I know that the imp was after me. After it avoided Penelope and beelined it for me. It must be what the Pope was talking about. Forces of evil or whatever. Wait! I look around for the history book that the imp shot. There it is. Oh, no.

  “Penelope, some more bad news. The history book we need for class tomorrow has a giant stinger through it,” I say, gesturing at the book.

  “Great.”