: Glowing Light

"Csille, why are you avoiding Prince Fraser?" Rufus asked me. I just went out of my room when Rufus pops up from nowhere and ask me questions.

We just settled in Illorian City, and everyone is already resting. It's been a week since we have a good rest in a proper room. The whole week that we are traveling, we didn't rest for days. We only take a break if we're eating.

Aside from us, we also have teachers who accompany us and several guards and some royal knights to protect us. In total, there are five carriages.

Sleeping is rotational. Except for us, the guards and teachers are sleeping in a rotational schedule. Some sleep at day, and some sleep at night to make the journey shorter.

  I thought everyone is asleep. That's why I decided to roam around the City. But I was shocked when I saw Rufus outside my room.

  "What are you doing in front of my room Rufus? Shouldn't you take some rest by now?" I raised my eyebrow at him.

   Rufus smirks at me. "Says the one who is supposed to be sick but trying to sneak out now. You tell me, Lady Lauretré, where are you going?"

   I sigh. Great! I just want to gather some information about this City. I didn't specifically describe this City in my novel, and I want to see how this City works in real life.

   "I got bored in my room, so I decided to take a stroll in this City. It's rare for me to do some traveling, and I just want to take this chance to know more about Illorian. I have heard some news about this City, and I'm inquisitive about it. Is it wrong to do that, your highness, Prince Rufus?"

   Rufus groans and waves his hand at me. "Oh, come on, stop with that, your highness thing. It's cringy." Rufus then puts his arms to my shoulder. "If that's the case them let me accompany you, Lady Lauretré. I've been here before, and I could be your tour guide. Come on, let me bring you to a pastry shop in here. I'm pretty sure you'll like the pastry in there."

   I was about to answer Rufus and decline his offer when someone interrupted me.

   "In terms of familiarity, I'm more familiar with Illorian City than Rufus. So, if you need a tour guide, I am a better option than Rufus."

   I look back and saw Prince Fraser walking towards us. He looks at me and looks at the arm of Rufus that is still on my shoulder. He frowns.

   "Prince Rufus, you should know by now what should be appropriate interaction between a lady and man." He glares at Rufus's arm that is still on my shoulder.

I look at Rufus and Prince Fraser. This guy, Rufus, is he courting death, isn't he?

I elbow Rufus and stare at him. Take your arms, you fool, or this Crown Prince will surely shred you to pieces. Look how he is glaring at you now. Do you want to die?

"Oh, why are you all here?" Leander asks from behind us.

I look back at see Leander walking towards us. He is smiling as if he didn't see any tension between us.

This guy. Is he blind?

Rufus looks back at Leander and frowns. "And what are you doing here, Leander? As far as I remember, the men's room is on a different floor."

Leander laughs and looks at Prince Fraser and Rufus. "Says the ones who are also in the women's floor." He looks meaningfully to Prince Fraser and Rufus.

Men's room and women's room are separated by floor. I am on the lower floor with a few woman teachers, and the guys, teachers, and guards are on the upper floor.

I raised my eyebrows at them. Come to think of it, what are these guys doing on our floor?

"Shouldn't I be the one asking that? What are you all doing in here?"

Rufus removes his arms from my shoulder and looks away from me. Even Leander and Prince Fraser are avoiding my gaze.

"Eh? What are you doing here? Did I forget that we have a meeting right now?" Princess Paislee asks while looking at us confusedly. She come from the same direction Prince Fraser comes.

Don't ask me. I don't even know why they are here. I just want to take a stroll, and these guys came knocking on my door.

And great! You also added. Why does when I want to avoid all of you, all of you pop up out of nowhere and talk to me.

Rufus clears his throat and looks at Princess Paislee. "I was just volunteering to be Csille's tour guide. I don't know why these two are here."

Rufus looks at Prince Fraser and Leander.

"It's the same reason as you. I have been here a couple of times. I could be a better tour guide than Prince Rufus." Leander said at me.

   Oh, come on. Who needs a tour guide? I'm not here to appreciate the scenery.

   "I think I'll just rest in my room. I suddenly don't feel okay."

   After I said that, I immediately went inside my room and shut the door. I could still hear them said something outside, but I ignored them.

   That's close. Oh, dear. Can these people leave me behind for a moment? Jeez, I cannot go out because of them.

  I slump on my bed and stare at the ceiling.

Sorry guys, as much as I want to spend my time with you but I cannot. I cannot risk your lives. I cannot risk this world. I'm sorry

_____________________

I didn't realize I fell asleep. When I woke up, it's already dim outside.

I get up and look at the moon in the sky through my window. It seems so peaceful. But only I know that this is the calm before the storm.

We will just rest here for tonight and will continue our journey at noon tomorrow. So we could still have the whole morning to stroll around the city and buy things we need.

I look at the clock at the bedside. It's already seven in the evening. They probably just let me rest knowing that I don't feel good today.

I walk out of my room and saw a note in front of my door. I pick it up and read it. It's from them.

'Csille, we know you didn't feel okay, so we didn't bother you anymore. We already ask the guards and the innkeeper to give you food when you wake up. Don't wait for us. We'll probably go back late at night. Also, don't go out. You're body is still exhausted. Eat your dinner and take an early sleep so you could recover your strength. - Rufus'

Great! It's my chance to gather some information about this City. At least I could have knowledge about them when that thing happens.

I wore a dark cloak and went outside. I look around, and I was stunned to see how big the City is. It's not big like the Vrawyth Kingdom, but for a small city, you couldn't consider it as small. In the real world, you could probably consider this as a state.

I walk towards a busy street. There's a stall everywhere. Different things are being sold. From street foods, clothes, books, and weapons. It's like a small market in the real world.

This place is pack. You could see a group of people standing in front of every stall. And based on what they are wearing, they don't look like Illorians.

I heard that aside from being mysteriously strong. They let anyone enter their city. It's the reason why those kingdoms could send their spies here.

I understand where this small city's confidence comes from. It's their strength. They know that no matter how many spied they install in here, those spies wouldn't get anything from them and wouldn't even have the chance to hurt them. With their strength?

I look around each stall. Trying to see if I could find something useful, but I have been going stall to stall, but I couldn't find something that could give me something I need. I need information.

I was about to continue walking when I see a dark alley going to the inner part of the market. There's no stall throughout the alley, and only at the end of it, you could see a light.

I look around, trying to see if some people are going there, but after a minute, no one enters the dark alley. It's as if they didn't notice that there is something in there.

I take a deep breath and walk inside the dark alley. The only light that helps me see the path is the light at the end of the alley.

After a minute or two of walking, I am now in front of a shop. I look at the signboard of the store. Plotbound? It looks like a book store.

But why would there be a bookstore in this desolate alley? I saw several book stores in the main street, and all of them are crowded. So why would this bookshop want to place its store in a dark alley? No one is even visiting here.

I was still contemplating if I should enter the store or not when the door of the shop opened, and a middle age man walks out the door.

"Lady, what are you doing there? Come inside. We have books in here that would definitely pique your attention," the middle age man smiles at me. He then opens the door and gestures me to come inside.

I smiled at him. "Thank you. I was just wondering why there is a bookstore in here. The spot of this bookstore is quite not good. Most people wouldn't notice it, especially the way in here is a dark alley."

The man smiled at me and gestured me to enter the shop. "It's better to talk inside, don't you think so?"

I look at him before I enter the shop. He seems like a harmless guy. Also, I don't think something would happen to me if I enter the shop. Csille is my character, and I didn't write that she will be endangered in Illorian. So, it's safe.

I was shocked to see how massive the book shop inside. Outside it looks like a small book shop but when you come inside. It looks like a big library.

How could it be possible?

"It looks bigger on the inside, right? My son is a carpenter, and he knows how to work his way to make this small space looks big. You could feel free to check those books if you want. You look like a person who likes to read books. I'm pretty sure you could find something that would suit your taste."

The man then walks to the side near the entrance. There's a small table there and a chair. He sits there and leisurely sips his tea. It's as if a customer isn't inside the shop and he is just enjoying his favorite tea.

Isn't he bizarre? Shouldn't he be entertaining me and giving me some information about the books I'm looking for?

"Oh," the middle age man puts down his teacup and looks at me. "About your question about why this bookshop is placed in a dark alley. It's because this bookshop isn't for everyone. This shop will only show itself to the rightful person, and that's you." The middle age man smiles at me and takes a book, and reads it.

This shop will only show itself to the rightful person, and that's me? What does he mean by that?

   I was about to ask him when I saw something shining on the innermost bookshelf. It looks like a small light.

   I frown. Aside from the wall lamps, the whole place is quite dim. So, where does that light came from?

   I walk towards the light. It's a book! But why is it lighting? Is there some sort of glow in the dark book that I don't know? As much as I remember, even in the real world, there is no such thing. Only the glow in the dark pens. So, why is this book shining? What kind of sorcery is this?

  First, the mysterious strength of the Illorian and then this mysterious glowing book? What the heck is happening here?