You flip to the first page of the tome.
Although the library may seem relatively safe at first glance, there is no natural protection, no magic hand to keep destruction at bay. Portions of the library are constantly being destroyed through different means. The reason that there are undamaged places at all is because of its infinite expanse. The library is infinitely big, therefore there is an infinite amount of undamaged space.
Fires are unsurprisingly common. All it takes is a single careless match and flames will spread for miles on end. The places that are left after the fire goes cold are known as the Wastes. They are desolate, dark and full of gloom, populated by gruesome entities with little care for anything but their own survival.
Those who travel through the Wastes make their journeys quick, lest they get caught by a beast in the dark. There is no light in the Wastes, so having good direction is crucial. Those without some form of compass (magical or otherwise) will likely find themselves to never return home. Travelers must also tread in complete darkness. Using light to see where you are going will only turn you into a beacon for those looking for something to eat.
You will know you are safe once you see the warming light of the undamaged portions of the library, marking the end of the Wastes. Unless of course, said lights are merely a ruse created by the most wicked of beasts. Known as the Waste lurkers, they are the most dangerous. They are intelligent, while most beasts are savages.
The Wastes are cold, often enough for water to freeze. Without a stable source of warmth, hypothermia is inevitable. The grounds are soft, composed of particles of frozen ash and soot. The careless will disturb the ground, releasing thick fumes of icy smoke that suffocate in minutes and freeze the inside of one’s lungs in seconds.
It is not uncommon for those blinded by greed to enter the Wastes, hoping to profit from the corpses of those less fortunate. What is uncommon is for these same people to end up any different than the corpses they seek to loot.
Much like the library itself, the Wastes are not consistent in structure. There are vast, open areas where intense winds mask the sounds of approaching beasts. There are tight corridors and snaking tunnels that swerve in chaotic symphony. The beasts in these places tend to be the most agile.
Traveling through the open areas would be safer if it wasn’t for the gaping ravines that strike through the landscape. The scavengers of the Wastes will search these deep pits, hoping an unfortunate soul had met an unfortunate fate.
Despite the horrid nature of the Wastes, (or perhaps in spite of it) there exist outcrops of people who managed to create a home. These often employ powerful magic in order to keep the beasts at bay. Some of these outcrops formed by settlers of the Wastes; however, this is very rare. The majority are simply those who once lived in a normal place only for the area to be destroyed. Those strong enough to protect their homes when everything around them is destroyed will likely find themselves isolated, unable to leave but through the Wastes, little chance of survival.
You turn the page back to the table of contents.