18 Chapter 18 - The Red Book

When Mi Young opened her eyes, she wasn't inside the library anymore.

Instead, she was standing in a deserted classroom. Everything was so white that it somehow made Mi Young's head go crazy.

"Ah. My apologies for causing you pain. Did it hurt?"

A voice suddenly says behind her. She turned around to see who the newcomer was but she wasn't able to see his face clearly because he was standing a few meters away from her and everything looked blurry.

"Who are you?" Mi Young calls out.

The other person seemed to smile but Mi Young wasn't really sure since she can't see him clearly, "I am neither the past nor the present. I have many names and faces."

Mi Young was confused. "What do you mean?"

"You will never understand me unless you read me."

"Read you?" The girl is even more confused as she continues to speak to the other person.

"I don't have much time to explain it to you but I hope you find the red book inside the library."

Mi Young shakes her head as she holds a hand at the man, "Wait! Wait! I don't get it. What do you mean? What is inside that book?"

"You wish to know the language of the Sage, right?"

Mi Young didn't know how the other was able to read her thoughts but since he was already suggesting it, she just nodded as an answer to his question.

"Then find the book."

"How do I find it?" Mi Young asks once more.

The man seemed to roll his eyes at her. "For a smart kid like you, you sure have a lot of questions."

"I wouldn't have that many questions if you tell me straight to the point."

The other figure contemplates what Mi Young said before he ultimately shrugs and tells her one last time, "Tell the lady about the red book. She will know where it is."

Suddenly, everything starts to fade in front of Mi Young, including the man. But she wasn't done yet.

When Mi Young tried to ask him another question, her voice failed her. There was no sound coming out from her mouth.

She can see the blurry figure of the man waving at her, but before everything totally vanishes she hears the man whisper in her ear, "Do not tell anyone I spoke with you. Until we meet again, child."

"—Young? Earth to Mi Young?" Mi Young snaps out from her deep thoughts. She can see Jong In waving a hand in front of her, trying to get her attention.

"What?"

"What what? You look dazed for a second there. You weren't even saying anything at all even though I called your name many times already." Jong In says, concern lacing with his voice. "Are you feeling alright?"

Mi Young clears her throat, remembering the encounter with the strange blurry man earlier and his last request. "Uhm yeah..where were we again?"

"We were in the middle of asking Lady Ning Gwang about uhmm..."

"Right! The red book!" Mi Young says, continuing Jong In's sentence. "Where can I find the red book?"

Jong In lightly pulls Mi Young's arms as he whispers to her ear, "I thought we're going to ask her for a book about second cores? What's up with you and a red book?"

"Just shut up and let me talk to her." Mi Young answers as she turns towards the librarian with an awkward smile. "Can we please take a look at the red book?"

"What do you need it for?" Lady Ning Gwang answers, her tone serious yet careful.

"Uhm..I just want to take a look at it?"

Jong In wants to facepalm hearing Mi Young's reasoning. 'Seriously? That's not a very convincing reason. You're making yourself more suspicious.'

Mi Young must have read his thoughts when she turned to look at him because she rolled her eyes at Jong In and stuck out her tongue like a child.

"Fine. Follow me." The librarian says. She stands from her sitting position and starts walking towards the east part of the library.

Jong In's eyes widened and his mouth hangs open upon hearing the beautiful librarian's answer. He couldn't believe such childish answer can get the approval of the strict woman.

When both of them started following the lady, Ning Gwang stopped and turned to give Jong In a stern look, "Only her can follow me."

Jong In turns to Mi Young, she shrugs at him before she follows the librarian, leaving Jong In alone and not even sparing him any glance. What a traitor, Jong In childishly says. He decides to just wait for the both of them to return and settles on an empty table near the east part of the library where they have gone to.

Mi Young follows Lady Ning Gwang behind. They were both silent as well as the whole place, only the clicking of the lady's heels can be heard.

As they go further towards the inner part of the building, Mi Young sees that the bookshelves are looking older than the previous ones.

The librarian must have read her thoughts because she explained it to her without even pausing, "The bookshelves in the library are arranged by the years the books were published. This is to help students find a book they are looking for. Although I doubt there are curious students these days that would take time in finding an old book. However…"

Lady Ning Gwang suddenly stops in her tracks as she turns her full body and attention towards the young girl, "However, someone finally came to ask me about one of our oldest book. And the red book on top of that."

"How old is it anyway?"

The librarian eyes the bookshelf at the very end of the eastern part of the library. Mi Young followed her gaze and saw a number written on top of it, however it was written using the Ancient language of the Mages, and it indicates the first year the kingdom was established.

Mi Young momentarily forgets her promise to herself not to make it obvious that she can read the Old language, "No way! It's that old?"

Lady Ning Gwang has a look on her face that Mi Young translates as fear mixed with relief at the same time. As to why she is looking at Mi Young like that, the young girl doesn't know. "Yes. Is that old and it is one of the most highly treasured books in the library and the whole Mage kingdom. That is why I asked you earlier why you needed it. I'm asking you again, why do you want it?"

"I don't want it, I'm just going to take a look, okay?" However, Mi Young knows that the librarian wouldn't buy her reason for the second time.

Thinking that she was going to get punished for lying as well as wasting the lady's time, Lady Ning Gwang sighs as she says, "Did he tell you to get it?"

Mi Young went stiff for a second before she clears her throat, "Who?"

The librarian rolled her eyes playfully at the young girl yet there was a small smile playing in her lips. Lady Ning Gwang snaps her hands and out of nowhere, a red worn-out book appears in between them.

"Woah!" Mi Young exclaims. "That magic is really cool. How does materialization work anyway?"

"Why don't you learn it?"

"I heard it's not easy." Mi Young answers softly.

"It's easy if you have someone to teach you properly." Lady Ning Gwang says. "Someone who's a master in materialization and is very good at it."

Mi Young looks like she's thinking about it before she asks, "Do you know someone who knows materialization then?"

Lady Ning Gwang rolled her eyes again at Mi Young, "She's standing in front of you already."

"Oh. Right."

"That's it?" The other lady asks. She eyes Mi Young again, trying to coax another reaction from her. "No 'Wow really? I am honored Lady Ning Gwang.' or 'Really Lady Ning Gwang? I am deeply honored.'?"

Mi Young looks at her confusingly, "I can learn it myself but since you are insisting on it, then we can give it a try."

Lady Ning Gwang's mouth was hanging open right now. No one dared to act so casually in her presence, let alone say "give it a try" at the lessons she is willing to teach. For other students, having to receive a lesson from her is a true blessing. Yet this girl just shrugged at her invitation.

"You're really interesting. Is this why that old man chose you?" The librarian asks as she leans closer so she can assess Mi Young more closely.

"What old man?"

"Nevermind." Ning Gwang says as she straightens her posture. She crosses her arms as she gives Mi Young another stern look, her angelic features a huge contrast to her strict expression yet it clearly made a pleasing look on her face. "Our class starts tomorrow. After your class, you can go and visit me here in the library."

"What about this book? Do I need a library card to borrow it?"

"That's yours now. You can do whatever you want with it. Sell it, set it on fire, whatever." Lady Ning Gwang said nonchalantly.

Mi Young's shoulders dropped, "I thought it is one of the most treasured books in the entire kingdom? How come you give it to me so easily?"

"The old man chose you. I may not like his antics but he's always right when it comes to serious things." Ning Gwang answers, as she starts walking back to the center of the library where they came from earlier.

Mi Young remained there, standing while looking at the lady's retreating figure. She looks at the book in her hands once more and decides to open it to check what's inside.

The cover of the book is already worn-out, an indication of how old it is. There were a couple of letters written using the Ancient language at the front part of the book but it was already faint. When Mi Young opened the book, she noticed that the edges of each page were torn.

The young girl flips through some of the pages to see what was written on it and why it was so important. But her mind went blank upon seeing the words written on each page.

Written all-over the book was the language of the Sage. A language that she just knew of today.

Mi Young cursed at the old man she talked to earlier, "How the hell am I going to read this?"