LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 3: chapter 3: tour
Theo staggered forward, his head spinning like he'd just stepped off a roller coaster. His legs wobbled beneath him, and he threw out his arms for balance, his fingers brushing the cool, damp ground. A faint buzzing filled his ears, slowly fading as his senses began to return.
His hair shimmered in his peripheral vision, catching the light in a deeper, fuller shade of purple. His hazel eyes—no, they weren't hazel anymore—seemed to burn faintly amber, like embers glowing in the dark.
Before Theo could process the changes, a loud sound startled him. Applause.
He blinked, his vision sharpening to reveal a crowd of people surrounding him. They clapped rapidly, their faces alight with curiosity and excitement.
"Well!" came a voice from the middle of the crowd, one that sounded eerily familiar. "Look at what we've been served up today—a new guest!"
A figure pushed through the crowd. Theo's jaw almost dropped.
The boy was the same height as him, about 5'7", but that wasn't what caught Theo off guard. It was his hair—brown and purple, but inverted, like a photo negative of Theo's own. Where Theo's hair was brown, his was purple, and vice versa. His eyes gleamed like gold coins, the perfect opposite of Theo's amber glow. Even his clothes were a mirrored palette of Theo's outfit.
The boy swept into a dramatic bow. "I am Emperor Tiberius," he declared, his voice filled with confidence and theatrical flair.
"What the…?" Theo stammered, still reeling from the flashback he'd just experienced moments before. "There's an emperor here?"
Tiberius straightened with a smirk. "Why, doesn't every great place have one?" He stepped closer, his gaze sharp and assessing. "You must be confused. Let me show you around."
Before Theo could respond, Tiberius signaled for the crowd to disperse. They melted away like shadows at dawn, leaving Theo alone with the self-proclaimed emperor.
"This way," Tiberius said, gesturing grandly as he led Theo through the strange world.
Their first stop was a section to the northwest. As they approached, the air seemed to shimmer, and suddenly, everything around them took on the pixelated charm of an 8-bit video game. The buildings, the trees, even the people shifted into vibrant, blocky sprites.
"This is the arcade," Tiberius explained, his own sprite a sharp, high-contrast version of Theo's. "You'll find plenty of games here. The rules of reality bend a little, but you'll figure it out."
Before Theo could ask what that meant, Tiberius was already pointing to the northeast. They stepped into a new zone, and the world morphed again. This time, it became sleek and stylized, like an anime come to life. The towering library gleamed in the sunlight, and the high school loomed proudly nearby, surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges and cherry blossoms.
"This is the campus," Tiberius said, sounding almost bored. "Academics, books, all that fun stuff. You're welcome to stay here, if you're into that sort of thing."
Theo barely had time to admire the artistry of the place before Tiberius was dragging him southwest. They entered a bustling mall, and the world softened into a cozy, laid-back atmosphere. Jazz music drifted lazily through the air, and the rich aroma of coffee and baked goods filled Theo's nose.
"This is the mall," Tiberius said, waving at the rows of shops. "You'll find everything you need here. Probably a few things you don't, too."
Theo felt himself relaxing—until Tiberius led him to the forest.
The moment they stepped in, Theo's skin prickled. The light dimmed, and a heavy mist curled around the gnarled trees. Faces seemed to twist and snarl in the bark, their hollow eyes watching him. Shadows flickered in the corners of his vision, moving too quickly to be anything natural.
"Don't," Tiberius said sharply, grabbing Theo's arm before he could take another step. "Don't go any farther. The creature can't hurt you, but I'd rather not have you screaming your lungs out on your first day."
Theo swallowed hard, his heart pounding, as Tiberius yanked him back toward the center of the world.
The last zone was like stepping into a circus on steroids. Massive tents stretched impossibly high, floor after floor of dazzling performances stacked one atop the other. Metallic strings crisscrossed the entire space, catching the light like webs spun from silver.
At the very top of the tent, hanging from the ceiling, was the source of the faint ticking Theo had heard earlier—a massive, intricate clock.
Tiberius spun to face Theo, his expression serious for the first time. "I'd love to show you more, but it's getting late. You need to find somewhere to stay. Most people stick to the dorms or the mall, but if you're feeling reckless, you could camp out in the woods. Not that I'd recommend it."
Theo frowned. "Why not? What happens at night?"
Tiberius's golden eyes gleamed. "You don't want to find out. Trust me."
Theo nodded slowly, deciding not to push his luck. As he wandered off to find a place to stay, he couldn't shake the feeling that this was more than just an elaborate game set up by the camp.
Whatever this place was, it wasn't normal.
He headed for the dorms at the campus. After all, he thought as he stepped into the anime-style building, how often do you get to see the world in this way?