Room Mozzafiato

"Gamer, Mountaineer, Carpenter, Writer, Doctor, Musician, Lawyer, Athlete, Racer, and the list goes on..."

From thin air, cards materialized, floating, rotating, and spreading out before Alab.

"Along a certain line, aren't you all of these?" Polo said. "And I believe there's still so much more to you… which is why I've chosen you."

Alab, still struggling to accept the reality of the situation, dismissed it as an elaborate prank. He rushed to the nearest door, flung it open, and found himself staring into an endless blue horizon. Floating doors dotted the landscape, an azure sky stretched above and below him. Too late, he realized his mistake. He'd taken a step outside. He plummeted, but instinct took over, his right hand grasping a tile at the last moment. He hauled himself back into the room, his heart pounding.

What is this place?

The near-fall shook him. The prank theory seemed less plausible now. He forced himself to remain calm, acutely aware of the two men watching him, waiting for him to speak. His thoughts raced to his family, his girlfriend, Earth. He desperately wanted to return.

Alab sighed, approached the two men, and spoke. "Son, brother, lover, and friend." These were the roles he played on Earth. The words hung in the air, simple yet profound. Polo and Merlin remained silent, their expressions unreadable.

"Please," Alab pleaded. "I need to go back." He voiced the question that burned in his mind.

"I'm afraid you can't," Polo replied. "But do you see that monitor there?"

A rectangular monitor displayed the numbers: 1,500,000.

"Those are Information Points," Polo explained. "You can gather them once you arrive in Gaia. You must accumulate a certain number to return. The numbers you see are mine, what remains from bringing you here. Once you enter Gaia, they reset to zero."

The weight of Polo's words settled on Alab. He hadn't been offered a choice; he'd been conscripted. "How many points do I need?"

"1,000,000,000."

The sheer magnitude of the number didn't shock Alab, not yet. He still didn't understand how these points were acquired. Polo explained that gathering them required observation and learning. "You simply observe and record. We Librarians are usually on the sidelines. Mozza," he gestured to the room, "has a mind of its own. What you see and learn, Mozza sees and records. New information is highly valued. Major historical events, the discovery of new places, new races—these things 'please' Mozza."

Alab's initial panic began to subside, replaced by a grim focus. "Tell me more about the Librarians."

"Merlin will orient you on that," Polo said.

Merlin, the bald man in the t-shirt, stepped forward. "Before we discuss Librarians, aren't you more interested in Gaia? It's home to many races: Higher Gods, Lower Gods, Dwarves, Elves, and more. According to the Librarian's records, life began there over 10,000 years ago. Two thousand years ago, humans were the weakest race, nearly extinct, until a Higher God named Linawa appeared. He struck a power stone with his hammer, and it's said that's how 'Smithing' power spread among humans. A human develops an affinity to an item, like the bond between a blacksmith and his hammer. But Smith powers are random and still being studied. The Librarian's power is also a Smith ability, a complex, evolving one that produces other Smiths."

"Now, about Librarians…" Merlin continued. "We are recorders of life, but we are more than that."

Alab, a fan of fantasy novels, was intrigued by the mention of different races. He shifted his attention to his surroundings. "What are these doors?" He'd noticed that with each explanation, something in the room changed. Besides the floating doors, there were four more set into the walls, including the one he'd nearly fallen through.

"They're the legacies of previous Librarians," Merlin explained. "They're called Thesis Doors. Before a Librarian dies or passes on their inheritance, they create a Thesis, which here in Mozzafiato becomes a door. Polo is creating his now, using his 1,500,000 Information Points. This is your room now, and you can open my Thesis Door, as I have appeared to you."

"Would you like to open mine now?" Merlin asked.

Alab nodded. Merlin opened his door. Smoke billowed out, and white tiles formed a floor and a wall, creating a new room. Bookcases filled with books lined the walls.

"This is the library," Merlin announced. "These are free books about Mozzafiato—consider them default knowledge. You have writing materials, a calculator, everything you'll need for recording."

Near the entrance, a small stall had materialized. Merlin sat behind it. "This is my Thesis: Mahika Rental Stall! You can rent magic using Information Points."

Alab browsed the list. "Speed Boost, Extra Vision, Voice Change… Extra Breast?" Extra Breast? Why would anyone need that? he wondered. And aren't there any permanent passive skills? His gamer instincts were kicking in.

"You'll be able to open other doors based on acquired knowledge or experiences in Gaia," Merlin explained. "Each door has different requirements. I, however, didn't set any. I want to meet every Librarian."

Merlin had lived in a village of mages for years. His Thesis, the Magic Rental Stall, was his way of sharing magic.

The sky outside began to dim, and the room started to shake.

"Oops," Merlin said. "A new Librarian can't stay too long in Mozzafiato. Alab, we'll see each other again soon. You need to recite these words before you leave." He handed Alab a piece of paper.

Reluctantly, Alab read aloud: "Gather the knowledge, protect what may be lost! Create what can help!"

As darkness enveloped the room, Merlin offered a final piece of advice. "There are many gates in Gaia. One in particular, recently discovered by Polo, might be of interest. It's in Kuko Village. The people there are kind-hearted, but they lack fighting skills. Learning about them and their village could earn you a lot of Information Points."