[18.5] Don't be a Naughty Child

…A few days later…

I yawned as I walked through the library while reading the book about teleportation. I had been going to the art club recently, but I had been feeling a bit stir-crazy lately. I tapped the hardcover in the library, "It really doesn't seem that hard…"

Should I just try it now?

I smirked and pulled out my wand while hiding behind the bookshelves. I raised my wand-

*Crash*

I flinched and looked over to see a strange book on the ground. I must have knocked it over when I raised my wand.

I shoved my wand back into my sock and leaned over to grab the book. It was an old leather book with no title or identifying feature. I raised an eyebrow and opened it to a random page.

Words started to form: "Two children will be born… One of light… And one of chaos."

The words started floating off the page and circling around me. I panicked as I watched them surround me, completely blinding me of my surroundings.

What the f*ck is this?!

I was suddenly plunged into darkness.

When I opened my eyes, I could see a strange woman in front of me holding a children's book. I wanted to look around, but my eyes were fixed on her. In my peripheral vision, I could see children sitting on the floor all staring at her.

She opened the book with an ominous smile.

She started to speak, "Once upon a time, there was a god of Chaos and a god of Light. They were stuck in an endless war with each other in order to maintain the balance of the world. Chaos will reign and Light will appear to force it away. This is how it's always been."

She flipped a page and showed off a small child who resembled a shadow.

"In the world of magic, a single child woke up. The child harbored much darkness in their heart but tried to push it away. Although the child tried to ignore it, it only festered inside more and more. The child desperately tried to do good deeds to chase away the evil inside, but it was never enough. The darkness the child tried to suppress finally consumed them and turned them into a Monster."

She flipped the page revealing a huge pure-black monster towering over trees.

"The child was no longer themself and started demolishing all life around them. Darkness came over the land. Trees died. Animals grew sick. No one was safe as the Monster's devastation spread."

She flipped the page again to show a person in white.

"The child of Light appeared to defeat this evil and cover the world in the light once more. With their holy power, a white beam shot forth and shattered the evil darkness in half. With that single burst of light, the darkness receded. The Monster was defeated and peace was returned to the land."

I interrupted with a frown, "T-That's not fair!"

The storyteller paused as if confused.

I stood up and shouted, "The child didn't want to turn into a monster!! Why was that child killed?! That isn't fair!"

A child beside me shouted, "They were evil! They deserved to die!"

I glared at the child, "That child wasn't evil! The story said they tried to ignore the darkness! So why didn't anyone help them?! They even did good deeds, but were still killed in the end! It isn't fair!"

I felt someone grab my arm and pull me up. I looked up in surprise to see the stern look of my mother. She growled, "Reika. I brought you to storytime because I thought you would behave! Why are you screaming!?"

Why is my mother here? Is this a memory?

But why don't I remember anything like this ever happening?

Tears formed in my eyes as I answered as if possessed, "But… It isn't fair. She didn't want to hurt people so why was she punished?"

My mother leaned close to me and spat out, "Because naughty children get punished and only naughty children run from their fates. Your existence exists for a reason, just like that child. So be a good girl and face your fate without running away."

"But-" As I was dragged away, I looked at the storyteller desperately.

An eerie grin covered her face, sending shivers down my spine.

A terrifying voice croaked from her throat, "I can't wait to play with you, Reika."

I winced as my mother's grip turned tighter and pulled on me. With a forceful tug, I was thrown backward and darkness surrounded me again.

I opened my eyes painfully to see my tutor Marx holding my wrist with a frown. I was back in the library in this other child's body.

What the hell was that?

A memory?

Or something else?

He glanced at the book, "Where did you find this?"

I winced from the pain, "I just found it on the ground… What was that?"

"...That was a prophecy. You shouldn't have been able to find it here. Usually, prophecies are hidden in the forbidden library."

I tried to ignore the cold sweat breaking out across my forehead, "So there really is a forbidden library?"

He froze, "...Forget I said that."

I rubbed my forehead, "I saw… Something strange. It was like a memory."

He helped me up with a sigh, "These books will play tricks on you. They show you a prophecy, but it isn't clear. They speak with vague words so even though you hear it, the future might not play out how it shows you."

"So… We aren't all stuck in a children's story?"

He blinked at me in confusion, "Um… I don't think so?"

"..."

I do not like the sound of that.