[23.1] The Forbidden Library

Days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months. Before I knew it, I completely settled into my new way of life.

It is still weird being looked after by a fellow adult, but I didn't mind it as much as I thought I would. It is a bit relaxing not having to worry about bills or figuring out what I should prepare for dinner.

Plus, it gave me a lot of free time to focus on more important things.

Thanks to that, I was able to search the library for the meaning of that red string between Goldilocks and myself.

There was just something weird about it that I couldn't get out of my mind.

Even more suspiciously, the shadow puppet attacks completely stopped after my near-death experience. Goldilocks is no longer being targeted and neither am I.

Perhaps it was because of the woman in red being locked up.

But I doubt it.

She mentioned a master, but she wouldn't reveal who it was or even their name. She somehow managed to remain tight-lipped and wouldn't even reveal her name even when the "key of truth" was used on her.

Chief Gonza said that she kept repeating: "I don't know my master's identity. I don't have a name. I don't know anything."

I'm starting to think that "key of truth" is a fraud.

It's such a shame I can't interrogate her myself. I think I would have had much better luck than Chief Gonza.

That man really is too soft.

But there is nothing I can do. Chief Gonza hid her from both the Headmaster and myself. We couldn't convince him to let us have a piece no matter what.

But that was fine.

It gave me more time to figure out that string and why my life was endangered that day. However, after months of searching, I'm not any closer to the answer.

I snoozed on the floor of the library and was awakened by the feeling of someone staring at me. I casually moved the book off of my face to see Hazel staring at me like a person admiring a zoo animal.

My eyebrow twitched, "Need something?"

She tilted her head, "Nope. I'm just admiring."

"...Okay."

She continued, "You've been looking through books for a while. You haven't found anything?"

I shook my head and put the book down. I rubbed my temples, "Not a thing. It can't be that rare of a phenomenon…"

Or maybe it is.

After all, I might be the only one who can see magic when I smell things.

I let out a sigh, "This library is so huge, I thought it would have the answer somewhere…"

Hazel rubbed her chin, "It's possible it could be considered demonic magic. Anything demonic is usually hidden away because everyone is afraid it might inspire someone to become a demon sympathizer."

I rolled my eyes, "Ugh. That's so irritating… But if what you are saying is true, then what should I do?"

She thought hard for a moment, then her eyes lit up, "Find the forbidden library."

I groaned, "Not this again…"

Hazel pouted, "I'm telling you it exists! We just have to find it!!"

I closed my eyes in an attempt to ignore her, "Mhm. Sure, sure. It exists."

Why am I surrounded by conspiracy theorists?

She frowned for a moment then grinned, "What if I find it?"

I shrugged, "Then I'd believe you."

"Great! Let's go find it!!!"

"Huh?"

She jumped up and grabbed my hand. With not-so-childlike strength, she pulled me towards the door.

My eyes widened, "Wait! My tutor-"

We walked straight past him and out the door without hearing a single word.

My face stiffened, "What the f*ck."

She giggled, "Oh yeah. He doesn't actually care. As long as you don't get into any major trouble, he won't say anything."

I forced a smile, "How nice of him."

Hazel continued to pull me in the direction of the Headmaster's office. When we got close, she raised a finger to her lip and then quickly checked to make sure no one was paying attention. Then she pulled me past the office.

Zephyr noticed us scurry past the Headmaster's office as we attempted to be sneaky. He glanced at the Headmaster and noticed he was deep in thought. With a mischievous grin, he turned into a fox and ran out of the office unseen.

He quickly caught up to us, "Watcha doing?"

I frowned, "Being dragged."

Hazel grinned at him, "I'm taking her to the forbidden wing of the Academy."

Zephyr's ear picked up, "Ooo! You're playing hooky to go trespass!! I love it!"

Hazel giggled, "We aren't playing hooky or trespassing. We are just using our study time to study where to find the forbidden library at."

Zephyr gave her a wink, "Riiight. I get it. Say no more."

I groaned and rolled my eyes.

We walked past all the classrooms all the way to a hall I had never been to. Unlike the rest of the Academy, the abandoned hall wasn't as illuminated and frankly looked a bit too creepy.

I shivered, "I've never been to this part before."

Hazel nodded, "That's because there's no reason for us to be here. The Academy uses this wing as a place to store equipment. Only the janitors come here."

I muttered under my breath, "The Academy has janitors?"

Hazel finally released me from her iron grip and walked down the creepy hallway. She strolled confidently as she looked around, "It has to be here somewhere."

I rolled my eyes as I watched her look around.

Do children normally look for hidden rooms in creepy hallways?

I felt something tap my foot and looked down.

My expression stiffened when I noticed the book creature at my foot.

It stared back at me with the skeleton face still clear on the cover.

I raised an eyebrow, "You're still around?"

It abruptly turned around and ran straight to the wall beside us. I expected him to crash into it, but he passed through it instead.

My eyes widened as I rushed to the wall. I took in a deep breath and saw a bright blue light in the shape of a door appear.

Ohhh it must be a secret portal!!

I quickly ran after the book.

Zephyr watched me disappear into the wall and glanced back at Hazel. He watched as she stared in the opposite direction without realizing I had disappeared. She spoke to herself in a whisper, "It has to be here… Right?"

He grinned mischievously and rushed in after me, disappearing as well.

Hazel turned around to find herself in an empty hallway.

She blinked with a forced smile, "Um… Reika? Zephy?... Where'd you both go?"

....

I walked into the room and immediately felt as if I was being suffocated.

I squinted through the darkness, but couldn't make out anything. I reluctantly took a step forward, and as soon as I did, flames burst on the wall to illuminate the room.

I stared at it in disbelief.

In front of me was…

Nothing.

There was absolutely nothing.

I clicked my tongue, "What a waste of time."

A body suddenly rammed into me from behind, pushing me forward. I fell to the ground and spun around with a snarl, "Zephyr!!!"

He blinked at me innocently, "I swear I didn't see you."

"Ugh. Whatever, come help me up."

As soon as Zephyr stepped over to me, a bright red line circled us. Strange symbols lit up, glowing with an eerie and unsettling feeling.

I gulped, "Is that normal?"

He tilted his head, "I don't think so-"

The floor gave in, collapsing under our weights.

We both screamed as we plummeted below in the darkness.

I screamed, "SNOW SNOW SNOW!"

I frantically waved my wand, barely managing to save Zephyr and me from dying. I stared blankly at the faraway ceiling and watched as it sealed itself back up.

Zephyr stared up at it with me, "...I think we're trapped."

I sat up with a groan, "I guess we have no choice but to look around."

We both climbed out of the snowbank and looked around. However, there were no lights so I used my wand to produce a large ball of light to illuminate our surroundings.

This time, the room wasn't empty.

Rats scurried through the ancient bookshelves covered in dust and cobwebs.

I walked to the shelves in awe, "Look at all these books! They look like they're centuries old!!! I can't even read this one!!!"

Zephyr sneezed then rubbed his nose, "Why is everything so dusty!? Doesn't anyone ever clean?!"

"Well judging from the trap we just fell into, I don't think that anyone is allowed in here. There are markings on the floor and walls so I don't even think you could teleport in or out. I guess Hazel was right about there being a forbidden library."

Zephyr nodded his head in understanding then smiled maliciously, "So this is where they hide everything forbidden?"

I met his eyes and smiled with him, "Do you know what that means?"

We shouted simultaneously, "Let's find blackmail!!!"

We ran throughout the aisles, reading everything with bright grins.

Zephyr wagged his tail in excitement, "Whoa! This one is talking about hidden tunnels under the city!!! How great is that!? Look!!! This one talks about... A sasuquat? What's that?"

I spoke absentmindedly, "There's so much to learn… Such a shame we will probably die here."

He paused, "Oh right… We're stuck here aren't we?"

I shrugged, "Eh. I'm sure we can find a way out."

I placed a book back and walked down the aisles with sparkling eyes, "There has to be a book here about reviving the dead that's more accurate."

My steps suddenly halted.

I frowned, "Why did I say that?"

As I pondered it, a book suddenly fell from the shelf, landing on the ground in front of me.

I looked at it with caution and turned back to Zephyr. He was far from me, happily divulging in the books containing secrets about the Kingdom.

I placed the book I was holding on the shelf and reached for the book in front of me.

I looked at the cover but didn't see any title. I raised an eyebrow but shrugged it off.

It must be juicy if it doesn't have a title.

I opened the antique book but was confused to see nothing written.

Smoke crawled out from the pages, diving forward into the center of my forehead.

I dropped the book, screaming as I held my head.

Pain as fierce as flames scorched my head, erupting across my body.

I'm…

I'm on fire!

I'm burning!!!

As I endured the pain, I could barely make out Zephyr's panicked calls before my vision turned black.