Library

Zale groaned as he rolled over in bed, his body sinking deeper into the mattress. The previous night had been long, filled with his conversation with Jared about everything that had happened. Sleep had barely claimed him, but at least he managed a few hours of rest before a loud, obnoxious knocking rattled his apartment door.

"Zale! Open up!" Jared's voice boomed from the other side.

Zale winced. "Go away, Jared. I died once already. Let me rest in peace."

The knocking only grew louder. "You're already back from the dead, so no excuses! Open the damn door!"

Mumbling curses under his breath, Zale dragged himself out of bed and shuffled toward the door, yawning as he pulled it open. Jared stood there, looking way too energetic for this time of morning, holding a bag of coffee and pastries like some overenthusiastic breakfast fairy.

"I bring gifts," Jared said, shaking the bag temptingly.

Zale snatched it without hesitation. "You may enter."

Jared smirked and strolled in, collapsing onto Zale's couch while Zale immediately dug into the pastries. "So, how's it feel to be a resurrected anomaly?"

Zale chewed thoughtfully. "Like I want to sleep for a week and then get revenge immediately after. In that order."

"Fair. But I was thinking about what we discussed last night." Jared leaned forward, his tone shifting from playful to serious. "The C.E.O. didn't pull this off alone. Someone powerful had to be backing him. No way he'd be running a company with literal death traps and illegal experiments without help."

Zale nodded, washing down his food with a sip of coffee. "Yeah, but that still doesn't tell us who. Any leads?"

Jared scratched his chin. "I dug around a little. There are rumors about private investors who fund… unconventional research. If the C.E.O. was involved with them, we're dealing with some serious players."

Zale let out a deep sigh. "Of course. Because dealing with one evil bastard wasn't enough, we have a whole league of them now."

"Hey, at least you have superpowers now. Think of it as leveling up." Jared grinned.

"Right, because getting my ass kicked before getting powers was definitely a great experience," Zale shot back. "What's the next step, detective?"

Jared smirked. "Glad you asked. Since your mysterious resurrection is tied to powers, we need to research them. And where do people go when they need information?"

Zale frowned. "The internet?"

Jared scoffed. "Pfft. Please. The internet is 90% cat videos and conspiracy theories. We need actual books."

Zale narrowed his eyes. "Jared… are you telling me we need to go to a library?"

Jared nodded sagely. "Yes, my resurrected friend. To the land of dusty tomes and awkward librarians."

Zale groaned. "Kill me again. Please."

Despite his protests, Zale found himself walking through the grand entrance of the city library, the scent of aged paper and wood polish filling his nostrils. It had been years since he'd last stepped foot in one. The quiet atmosphere, the endless shelves, the judgmental stares of librarians—it was all so… nostalgic.

"Why do I feel like I'm back in high school and about to get detention?" Zale muttered.

Jared grinned. "That's just the natural fear of librarians. They know when you haven't returned a book on time."

"Let's just get this over with. Where do we even start?" Zale asked, eyeing the rows upon rows of books.

Jared pulled out his phone. "I searched the catalog on the way here. Apparently, there's an old mythology section that has some stuff on supernatural abilities. Could be a start."

"Great. Hope it's not just books about people throwing lightning and lifting mountains."

"You literally resurrected from the dead. You're not allowed to be skeptical anymore."

The two navigated through the maze of bookshelves, passing by studious college students and elderly patrons deeply engrossed in their reading. They finally arrived at a dimly lit section in the back of the library, where thick, ancient books lined the shelves.

Zale grabbed the first book he saw and flipped it open. "Huh. 'The Seven Sins and Their Chosen.' This might actually be useful."

Jared grabbed another book. "And this one—'Myths of the Demon Kings'—sounds equally relevant."

They settled at a nearby table, skimming through pages filled with obscure symbols and dramatic retellings of old stories. Occasionally, Jared would pause to share a particularly ridiculous passage.

"Listen to this one," Jared said, suppressing a laugh. "'The King of Sloth, a being who wields the power of eternal rest, capable of bringing nations to their knees with a single yawn.' Bro, is your final attack just napping aggressively?"

Zale rolled his eyes. "Yes, Jared. I'm going to bore my enemies to death."

"It's a legitimate strategy! What if your aura makes everyone too lazy to fight?"

"Then I'd have the most overpowered yet depressing power in history."

They continued reading, the joking moments becoming fewer as the information started making too much sense. The books referenced beings who were chosen by powerful forces, granting them abilities tied to their innermost nature. These chosen individuals had to overcome personal barriers to unlock their full potential, often facing trials unique to their sin.

Zale frowned. "So if I really am the 'King of Sloth,' then there must be a condition keeping me from accessing my full power."

Jared nodded. "Right. And figuring out that condition is the key to breaking past your limit."

Zale exhaled slowly. "Great. Because unlocking mysterious, potentially deadly powers was totally on my to-do list."

Jared patted his shoulder. "Hey, at least we know where to start now. That's progress."

"Yeah, but something tells me it's only going to get more complicated from here."

Jared grinned. "That's the spirit! Now, before we leave, let's check out these books so we can keep researching."

Zale smirked. "You mean you check them out. I refuse to have my name in a library database."

Jared rolled his eyes. "Fine, coward. I'll take the fall."

As they walked toward the checkout counter, an elderly librarian gave them a suspicious glance. Jared, trying to act natural, placed the books on the counter with an innocent smile.

The librarian narrowed her eyes. "You two aren't planning to summon anything dangerous, are you?"

Zale blinked. "What? No. Who does that?"

The librarian continued staring. "Hmph. Just know, if I hear about any dark rituals happening, I know who to blame."

Jared saluted. "Understood, ma'am. No dark rituals. Scout's honor."

As soon as they stepped outside, Jared burst into laughter. "Dude, she totally thinks we're cultists now."

Zale sighed. "Let's just get out of here before she decides to exorcise us."

With books in hand and more questions than answers, the two set off, ready to dive deeper into the mysteries surrounding Zale's powers.