Author's Preface
Chapter 7 — The Registrar
Kael should have if not for any other thing be exhausted beyond reason.
Every beginner paid a visible price after their first Contract.
Some fell unconscious
Some aged.
Some couldn't even stand.
Yet...
Apart from a bleeding shoulder...
Kael looked... surprisingly normal.
Aster adjusted his coat.
"...Perhaps I simply misjudged him."
He quickly dismissed the thought with a wave.
"Alright debtor Come."
"The Trial is over."
He raised his Ledger and subtly moved his lips.
The surrounding darkness rippled and gave way in response...As another Black Door slowly emerged from the void.
Unlike the previous one...this one had no chains.
Rather Its surface was engraved with countless tiny names.
Thousands...
Perhaps millions...
Every counting of seconds...a new name would quietly carved itself into the obsidian.
Kael face distorted ... visibly panicking.
"...What is this one?"
"Another trial..?"
"The Registry."
" It's duty is simple, It records every awakened Debtor."
"...Every single one?"
" Yes Every single one."
The door creaked open.
As Warm golden light spilled out slightly colouring through the darkness.
Kael hesitated only briefly before following Aster inside.
---
The world changed once again.
His eyes widened .
"Whoa.."
Here resembled an enormous ancient library.
Bookshelves stretched neatly endlessly in every direction.
Scrolls piled up as a mountain on each opening
Also there were ledgers
Some floated amid the air by themselves.
Others rested peacefully..upon towering shelves.
Ink pens wrote across blank pages with no visible hands.
Some Ledgers whispered quietly.
Others rattled their chains as though alive.
Hold on ... Alive?"
He stares at aster.. his eyes demanding an answer.
Aster sighed.
"Yes they are conscious."
Crazy world!!
People wandered calmly between the shelves.
Young and old.
Men or women
Boys or girls.
They were moving across the libraries
Each possessed a Ledger in a different form.
One woman casually flipped through pages that floated around her without ever touching them
Kael gasped in awe.
"..This place....is awesome."
Aster smiled faintly.
He stretched his two hands and grinned
"Welcome."
"...to the Hall of Ledgers."
They walked deeper inside.
Several people looked towards Kael before returning to their work and duties.
No one seemed particularly surprised.
"Do newcomers arrive often?" Kael asked while looking around in curiosity.
"Often enough."
"And everyone comes here?"
"Depends Eventually."
Aster stopped beside an enormous circular desk carved from floating solidified ink..
An elderly woman sat behind it.
She wore tiny spectacles balanced upon her nose.
Without looking up, she spoke.
"Another rookie?"
"Yes."
"Guardian?"
"Aster Venn."
Only then did she glance upward
Her sharp eyes landed on Kael.
It lacked pupils..
"Hmm."
"You look a bit fat than most."
Kael scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"...Thanks?"
"that wasn't a compliment ."
Two more hands came out of her back .
One of them slid an ancient Ledger onto the desk.
"Name."
"Kael Adorin."
Age.
20.
"..."
"Fine 18 years."
Occupation.
Student
Residence.
........
One by one, she recorded everything.
Finally...She pressed a finger against the page.
Slowly Black ink spread rapidly Across the paper forming a stamp.
The old woman nodded.
"Registration is complete."
She closed the Ledger.
"Done."
Aster gave a satisfied nod.
"Good."
As they turned to leave...
A cheerful soft voice echoed across the hall.
"So...that's old man's new disciple?"
Kael turned to take a look at who it was .
A young woman leaned casually against one of the towering shelves.
She couldn't have been older than twenty-two.
Her purple scarf hung loosely around her neck, while a black Ledger spun lazily around one finger.
A mischievous grin spread across her face.
She looked at Kael up and down.
"..well sir Aster....i became interested in who you of all people were assigned to...but I guess I over thought things,he's nothing special."
"He looks like he'd lose a fight against a pigeon."
Kael blinked.
"..is that a compliment or sarcasm."
The young woman then burst into laughter her voice seductive and tingly resounded throughout the hall.
"Hah! I like this one."
Aster sighed deeply.
"Liora....Try not to corrupt him."
She placed a hand over her chest dramatically and heaved it slightly.
"Oh my...I'm deeply offended."
"I only corrupt people with potential."
Kael looked between them both for a moment,then asked a question he never believed he could.
"...Should I be worried?"
"Yes," Aster answered honestly.
"Liora..this is kael ..my responsibility."
"Kael this is Liora , a guardian as well."
Kael quickly prostrated low in greetings.
"I can't believe I just cracked a joke with a guardian."
Liora giggled slightly.
"No need for the formalities.
She suddenly turned and shouted across the hall.
"Hey! Could you stop hiding behind the shelf."
A girl around Kael's age slowly stepped out.
She looked nervous, clutching a small black Ledger tightly against her chest.
"This little one is my responsibility."" Liora said proudly. "Meet qin'er."
The girl scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"...Hello."
Kael blinked.
"...You're also new here?"
Qin'er nodded frantically.
"Yes actually Three weeks ago."
"Hmm...So you got Mr Aster as your guardian.."
Kael rolls his eyes.
He points towards Aster.
"You mean this old man?"
"S-shhh!"
Qin'er's face instantly turned pale.
"Y-you called him Old Man..."
"Yeah."
"...To his face?"
"Yeah ,any problem with that?."
"Either you're incredibly brave..."
"or incredibly stupid."