Forbidden Knowledge Vol.1 (Marisa Kirisame X Male Reader)

Chapter 1 - The Echoes of Knowledge and Shadows of Forbidden Words

Books. The most dangerous weapon in all of existence to ever have and ever will be wielded. That's what I've told myself every day since arriving here. Alexandria.

No, not the ancient city; those ruins were long lost to time. I don't even think it existed. This was the library, the true heart of the world's knowledge, a place where every book that ever existed, and ever would exist, was kept safe. A labyrinth of endless corridors, spiralling staircases, and towering bookshelves that stretched far beyond the limits of the imagination. If there was an end to this place, I had never found it. The air, like always, was thick with the scent of old paper and ink, a heady aroma that was both comforting and oppressive.

I had no memories of a time before this place. It's always just been the library as far as my memories would go back. I just ended up here surrounded by the vastness of knowledge, with no recollection of who I was or how I had come to be here. The only thing I knew was my purpose: to guard the library, to protect its secrets, and to ensure that the forbidden knowledge contained within never fell into the wrong hands.

The library was a place of impossible architecture. Books floated around without shelves, lights illuminated every corner despite having no visible source, and the air, like always, was thick, almost claustrophobic. The walls, if they could be called that, were close, with narrow pathways barely wide enough for a single person to pass through. However, with that constant feeling, the presence of so much knowledge, there was an eerie stillness, a quiet that pressed down on me like a burden.

I moved through the corridors with practised ease, my fingers brushing against the spines of books as I passed by. Each one was unique, containing stories that spanned worlds and eras, filled with knowledge that had shaped civilisations, inspired revolutions, and sparked countless imaginations. But not all of this was meant to be shared.

Some books were not on the shelves; the others figured that out long ago. They were hidden, locked away in sections of the library that no one, not even I, was supposed to enter. These were the forbidden tomes, volumes of such dangerous and arcane knowledge that their mere existence posed a threat to reality itself. I had always felt their presence, a dark and foreboding weight pressing against the edges of my mind. They were a reminder that not all knowledge was benign and that some secrets were better left undiscovered.

I continued my rounds, ensuring that every book was in its proper place and that every tome was accounted for. It was a ritual l I had performed countless times, a task that had become second nature to me. In front of me, I noticed a book had fallen; walking over it, I squatted down, picked it up, and inspected the contents. The front of the book was titled Dating for Dummies.

Okay, not every book had rich knowledge worth keeping. But every book was important. I flicked through it, leaning against the shelf, just captivated by the pictures and words. I got to one page showing the couple cuddling. I stared at the image for a while before slamming the book shut and putting it back where it belonged. Patting myself down, I held my train of thought for a while, curious as to what it was like. I wrapped my arms around myself blankly, looking onward.

It felt a little empty.

I stopped sighing, making sure the other books were in place properly. Just another day, every day was like this; I couldn't even say I wouldn't change it for the world as that would imply I knew a difference to compare it to. Even then, there was something different today. Something unsettling that I couldn't quite place.

I paused, my senses off as I caught sight of a figure in the distance. It was just a fleeting glimpse, a shadow moving through the stacks, a real blink-and-you-miss-it moment. It wasn't the first time they had happened; my eyes just loved playing tricks on me, after all. But there shouldn't be anyone here. I was alone in this place; I always have been.