Library of Magic

Odette and Lancelot were slowly making their way towards the library. Rafaela joined the two as they needed her for opening the castle library. It was holding thousands and thousands of different magic writings, from potion recepies all the way to old inscriptions found in the oldest parts of the Land.

Once they reached the large doors that were decorated with drawings showing gods creating the world and telling the ancient story of first mages in the world. There were two gods that took forms of mortal creatures. One was god of the day, sun and every sort of light in the world. The other one was goddess of night and stars, everything representing darkness.

Each of them chose a person to gift them their powers, the god of the light chose a powerful lady, valkyrie Freya that has proven into multiple fights against creatures that tried throwing the land off balance while the goddess chose an angel of night to gift him her powers. His name was Argus.

Unfortunately, Argus got blinded by his power and he forgot about sacred angelic rules. He wanted more and wanted to take the goddess' place himself. Freya needed to stop him as they banished him underground in the dungeon that happened to be in the mountains close to the Swan Castle.

Once he was stopped, the two gods could live without fear any more but they needed to find another way of giving people freedom to choose.

They were the immortal creatures that divided the land into two parts - dark and light yet they fused both of the sides into a powerful relic: Semei umbrella. Inside of it are locked powers of both sides and it is the object with power to both separate and unite...

It was gifted to a family of first humans that were also given the mansion in the enchanted garden in the middle of the land where the two gods are still dancing and playing in their mortal forms, in a lake in the zen garden that, as two innocent koi fishes.

Rafaela asked: "Are you sure, my mistress? Is this really the best option? Don't you think the codex is safer here, locked up inside?"

Odette gazed at Lancelot watching him nod reassuringly before she turned back to Rafaela and said: "Yes. With what we've seen and hears, it isn't safe here any more."

The angel just bowed and said: "As you wish, my Princess." She then turned to the doors and placed her hand on them. All the golden rays that were showing light and warmts lit up, glowing pure white.

Then, Swan Princess touched the doors as well as the rest of the lines, the bronze ones that were showing the shape of the land lit up as well. In the middle of the image was a keyhole that all the glowing lines were leading to.

Odette pulled out a weird-looking key that had a lion head on the key head. She inserted the key and unlocked the doors. A bright glow was emanating from the inside as the three slowly stepped inside.

It was three times more beautifully decorated than the palace itself with a stunning aumont of books that were placed in uncountable shelves that looked as magical as the books they were supposed to hold.

Yet with the breathtaking magical scene, there was a figure that was stealing their attention. "Well, hello, my friends. I can't believe you've finally came here to visit me. Days in here are very lonely when you've got nobody to talk to." The small man, barely four feet high said.

After saying that, a book on the table started rapidly closing and openeing as the pages formed mouth that quickly said: "And what am I?! What, talking English grammar is not an interesting enough roommate?! By the way it is 'come', not 'came'!"

Rafaela laughed a little as Odette just awkwardly smiled.

The one-eyed man whose skin appeared very dark blue said: "Oh, excuse Gramm. She is just very jelaous one. She almost left me alone for reading a book about astronomy." He whispered before taking off his wizard hat and bowing. "Anyways, my name is... um..." He thought. Something seemed to bother him. "You know what, forget the name, I forgot it too. Just call me Cyclops." He said with a smile.

More awkward silence was about to come but the angel interrupted it by introducing herself: "I'm Rafaela, the Princess' personal maid. This is Odette, the Swan Princess and her friend Lancelot." She said.

"Oh, welcome, welcome. I haven't seen anybody since I got locked in here to take care of the library in the time of your... Um... Probably grandmother... or her grandmother. Not sure... That woman locked me here, away from my only passion... astronomy. Now I can only read about the stars I used to watch each night..."

The talking book from the table started talking again. "Yes. I know he's boring. I'm still wondering how I managed to survive in here with him for this long... BRING ME THERE IDIOT SO I CAN BE A PART OF CONVERSATION TOO." The book ordered.

Lancelot looked pretty confused as he stood asside, leaving the talking part to the two girls.

"Oh... I'm sorry Gramm." Cyclops said as he ran over to the table and took the book from it. He held it tightly enough so it couldn't open up and speak. That is one problem solved. "So..." The small astronom started again. "What is bringing you here, my ladies?... and man that had hair like a lady." He asked.

Lancelot was offended by that. "My hair is perfectly normal! It is fashionate for boys nowdays to have long wavy hair as I do!" He said.

Odette just sighed as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "Chill out... I think he's just having a terrible sense of humor..." She said sighing. "Let's just get what we're here for."

After saying that, she turned to Cyclops. "We came here bacuase we wanted to move the Codex of Apocalypse with us. We don't think it's safe here." She said.

The Cyclops nodded. "Oh, sure. Spending two eternities in here really gives you time to remember the exact position of these seven billion nine hundred five thousand million four hundred seventy one thousand one hundread and sixty eight books."

The three were stunned. None of them had nothing to say, they just all stared at the mysterious creature with appearently amazing memory.

"So... Why are you standing here like stone statues? Hurry up and follow me!" He said with a chuckle as he led the small group over the long paths and even some bridges that led up and down, left and right, here and there. It was a labyrinth without walls.

***

The ninja and his mage have now returned to their original camp. The fire has burned out but the rest of their stuff were there exactly as they left them. It was late at night as only the full moon and stars on the dark sky were lighting up their way.

The girl has fallen asleep since she has gotten barely any sleep last night. The boy was just carrying her in his arms bridal style, keeping her warm during the cold night.

Once they reached the place, the man gently placed her on the soft stroll she would always sleep on. He let her rest as he walked over to the firepit. He moved away the burnt remains of the last fire and added new wood as he did his best to light it up.

Soon, the warm fire lit up the camp as he watched it burn. It gave him time to think about past and present. Everything he wanted to achieve before and what he had now. After all those years, what he dreamed of has become reality but there was still something troubling him inside.

He had a bad hunch something would go wrong, something would happen suddenly and change everything they knew as normal. He remembered his family he had left a long time ago. Were they even alive now? It made him question his life decisions. Was he just a selfish this whole time, coming all the way with Kagura, not even asking for his family?

No, a selfish man couldn't love somebody enough to risk own life for another man's wellbeing.
He did. Many times until now and will be many times after. He'd rather die than let somebody he cares for die, that is just who he is. He stared at the fire for few more moments before gazing at the sleeping girl. He made his way to her and covered her with the blanket.

He remained awake for a long time that night, just thinking about his life. He watched the girl, her innoccent face that looked untroubled at all, as if her life was easy like lifting a feather. What was making the two so much different?

She was just bird that finally started flying, metting the world for the first time and he was a man who has come from a family with many troubles and was sent to Kagura's family when he was just a child so he could help the family survive.

After few hours of lying under the stars, observed by the one grand eye of the moon, he finally fell asleep, on the green grass soaked in tears of the weeping night. He felt it cooling his body. He would always sleep on the ground although on the stroll there was enough place for both but it simply wouldn't be appropriate to sleep that close to her. Still, that night he was sleeping closer than ever, on the grass right next to her stroll.

In the morning, Kagura was surprised to see him sleeping there but she wasn't unhappy at all. She didn't even think much, she just  cuddled up against him and covered them both with blanket as she waited for him to wake up. It was a satisfying feeling for her, she could spend hours in his hug without anybody saying anything. She just needed to feel his presence.

He in the other hand, even if he was asleep felt the warm body that was touching him. His expression changed revealing a small smile that just made Kagura feel more comfortable.