Akagi pulled the luggage bag by its wheels and walked towards the third-floor library. The librarian greeted him and he sat aside in a corner. 'New books...That too from China. It feels like it's somehow related to Lict.'

He looked through the books. They were all written in old Chinese. He couldn't understand anything. But then, how was Akagi planning to read them? He must know Chinese. He decided to call him from the classroom.

"Lord Aka-Vierne!" He shouted and Vierne turned back after Galkin told her she was being called, "Come with me for a second." Vierne followed him to the library.
"You gotta pee again?" Vierne asked.
"What—No! I got some books. You asked your editor for some books."
"They are here?!" She seemed excited.

"Yes, I've kept them inside the library. But they were in Chinese so I couldn't understand them."
"That alright. I can read them."
"You know Chinese?"
"Vierne, I'm half Chinese." She gave an obvious "duh" look on her face.

"Oh yes! I forgot." Akagi sat beside her as she picked up a book, "Immortality in the context of the human world, that's what the book says." He translated it to Russian.
"I see," Vierne looked through the pages of the book while Akagi stared blankly at the hanzi letters because he obviously wasn't half Chinese.

"Above the skylights—The Terrace of the Eight Winds," Akagi translated the poem,
"Clouds pass, strings and songs resound,
Stars shift, places and halls turn.
The Azure-robed ascends the Lesser Chamber,
The Lad goes to Penglai
Roaming free and easy, he listens in the four directions,
In a flash and a flicker, we cross over the three disasters"

"It sounds symbolic. Could you write it down on a paper in Russian?" Akagi asked.
"Sure," Vierne took a pen and scribbled what he just spoke on a blank sheet of paper, "The eight winds..."
"It's the winds of the four cardinal and four intercardinal directions."
"The azure-robed ascends the lesser chamber. I've heard ''Lesser chamber somewhere—Is it the lesser chamber mountain—The western peak of Mount Song?!"
"Oh, yes!" Vierne said.

"Mount Song must be where Wujin's shrine was! Because it says the Azure-robed which is usually what the supernatural wear in Chinese culture."
"Yes—"
"Plus, it mentions 'Listens in four directions'. Isn't that the literal translation of a fang xiang shi? And the three disasters. I've read of them too. Those three are three kinds of disasters. The minor ones are caused by swords, the other is famines and the third one that ends the world at the end of a cosmic Kalpa. This is that, right?"

"Yes."
"It is a poem about Wujin!"
"It's called Dongjing Fu by Zhang Heng written during the Han period."
"There must be Lict somewhere here too!"

"I'll read further." Vierne read a few couplets for a while and then turned towards Akagi.
"Did you find anything?"
"There's this poem by Yu Xin describing paradise,"

Akagi looked into the book,

"What does it say?" Akagi asked.
"The five fragrances waft in the Purple Prefecture,
A thousand lamps lit up the Crimson City.
The Northern Tower looks down on the Dark River,\
The Southern Palace rests on scarlet clouds.
The turning clouds follow the dance tunes,
The flowing water trails after songs and strings."

"That is Lict! This is talking about divine music, right?"
"Yes, divine music that sets everything in motion. I like that you're studying, Vierne,"
"Of course! I've been studying Chinese culture ever since I've known about Lict—"
"You like him, don't you?"

"I don't know. I am confused. Is it love or is it pity? Because I believe that he has lost a lot. All I'm doing is just protecting him so that he doesn't lose anymore. In a world that needs music, I'll be the one music needs."Akagi looked at her, "You guys make me jealous," He whispered.
"What?"
"Why didn't you tell me about Dasha?"

"Oh no, did she say something to you?"
"She tried but my comebacks came faster than her grade one insults."
Akagi laughed, "Of course."
"She has been bothering you, hasn't she?"
"It's okay now. I think I can handle her."
"Well, if you say so. If you feel like you can't handle her, call me. I always have my guns ready."

"Erm sure!" Akagi laughed nervously.
"I should go now. I have a class" Vierne got up.
"I have one last question, Lord Akagi."
"What is it?'
"I know you got these books to study about Lict's past, didn't you?"
"So?"
"So, I wanted to ask you...Why are you helping us? Don't you want to be a gatekeeper? You are participating in parades."

"What is it, Grigory?" Dasha asked as she crossed her arms.
He looked at the ground, "Let's break up."
"Ha! You just called me to waste my time?"
"I'm serious."
"First there's Lict who suddenly seems to move away from me, now your drama."

"I don't want drama."
"Then stop complaining. Don't be a bitch."
"But it hurts to stay with someone who doesn't love you!" He wasn't looking at her, he was still looking at the ground.
"Who said I don't love you?"

"Dasha, I'm not blind. Honestly, I wanted to say this for a long time now but I couldn't because I was afraid if I did, I'd hurt you. And just because I didn't want to hurt you, I took it on me. Because I'd rather die than hurt the person I love. Your love has only ever given me pain, Dasha. Maybe it's because it's easy to hurt me. You don't have to do much, literally all you have to do is leave and I'd be hurt. I've been thinking a lot lately and I've finally made a decision. I don't want to end up broken-hearted and so," He looked into her eyes, "I'm leaving you."

"So, you're gonna walk away? You promised you'd stay—"
"You didn't fulfil any of your promises. I don't see the point anymore. You always leave me alone and come back to me in phases when some other guy you like ditches you."
"That's because you said you're strong enough to handle me!"
"I guess I just misjudged myself. And I'm sorry for raising your hopes in me."
"Why did you lie?! Why did you say you loved me when you didn't?!"

"I love you, Dasha. I still love you a lot. But now, I've turned a bit selfish. Because I don't see the point of a love that isn't well received. I admit it, I have wasted a lot of time but with you, it was worth it." He smiled and turned back.
"No, Grigory, listen to me—Don't go, please. You are everything I have—"
"I'm sorry, Dasha. But you messed up. Goodbye."
"I hate you, Grigory!" She shouted.

"Well, who doesn't?" He laughed and walked away, 'Can't wait to tell this to Vierne.' He thought with a smile, 'I'm sure she'd be happy for me.'

"So, tell me why are you helping us?" Akagi asked.
Vierne looked away, "Melissa asked me to—"
"That isn't the only reason, is it?"
"You're getting smarter, Vierne." He looked into her eyes, "How should I put it? It's the first time...I've made friends."

Akagi looked at her, "And honestly, it's a nice feeling. It's nice to have friends. And I want to reciprocate too. I won't ask anything in return though, but yes, when it's time to fight, I won't see you as a friend and neither should you."
"I disagree."
"What?"

"Even when it's time to fight, I will still be a friend and I promise that you will never lose anyone because of me, even if I have to make the sacrifice."
"Vierne,"
Lict opened the door of the library and ran inside, "Milady!" The librarian shushed him but he ignored her, "There's a blank space, Milady!"

"Let's go!" Akagi and Vierne got up. Lict looked at Akagi and he slowly sat back again, "S-Sorry." 'Dammit, I forgot that I'm lord Akagi!'
"Let's go, Lict," Vierne said.
"Wait, but you are—"

"Don't worry, Akagi. I'm Vierne."

-To be continued 

Dear Ms Lady Demigod