CG Chapter 45: Red Rose Blue Rose
According to the book's content, each of the seven kingdoms had its own specialty and distinctive traits shared by the people in that region.
For instance, the people from the kingdom of Daybreak, where he resided, were renowned for their love for the sun, as they believed that it was a form that Solarus took to bring light. The only thing they loved more than the sun was power, and as such, they focused all of their resources on maintaining the strongest army among the seven nations.
The book had a drawing of a circle with the symbol of each kingdom: a sun, a tree, a scroll, a wave, a gold coin, a storm, and finally, two masks—one smiling and the other crying.
Under the drawing, a romanticized poem directed towards the gods lay. According to what Tom could decipher, the poem was written by none other than Bon Vincent himself.
"From the sky's hug to earth's snug, Solarus' flame stays warm like a hug."
"In every grassy field that's green, the Soul of Frey, a timeless scene."
"Lumina, the wise guide, shows the way in every stride."
"Zephriah's tempests, with wind that bends, a stormy dance that never ends."
"In oceans deep and waves that sweep, their watch forever in a keep."
"Hetra and her golden story shine with everlasting glory."
"From threads so fine to plays that shine, Allopus weaves in a clever line."
"But two remain unseen, with watchful eyes, and a weary traveler in a red book lies the story."
Tom found the concluding passage particularly intriguing. To the casual observer, it might seem like Bon Vincent, the author, was simply praising himself and his book and that the complete story of the seven kingdoms was written there.
However, upon a closer inspection, taking into account the intricacies of the book cover, it became evident that his reference wasn't to the volume he currently held, 'Journey through the World.' Instead, he wanted to show the way forward for the readers to find the truth.
These thoughts made Tom want to explore deeper into the author and the seven kingdoms. Unfortunately, he was interrupted by the sound of the library's door opening.
A young lady wearing a red-colored gown entered the room joyfully.
At first, she seemed relaxed. However, once she realized that another person was inside the library, she composed herself quickly.
Her eyebrows lifted before speaking, "I was surprised that you got back alive from the voyage, but I didn't give it much thought as I believed that you would return to your old habits quickly. But for you to pretend to be educated and try to invade this haven of mine is far too much. Edward, you shouldn't try to wear a cloth that doesn't fit you. Go fight with Timmothy or something."
Tom closed the book before returning it to the shelf and replied, "Oh, you speak as if you own the library or something. Do you think you have the right to stop me from coming here? You know, it's a good thing that you didn't make me search for you. Do you really think that I wouldn't find out that you helped Timmothy keep it a secret that he was trying to assassinate me?"
"Helped Timmothy? Who, me?" Elizabeth acted all innocent for a second before saying, "Well, it's true that I didn't interfere in your conflict, but make no mistake, I didn't help him, and neither do I plan to help either of you. You both are but fools wasting your time on useless things. So, from now on, even if you want to act as the smart kid, never touch any book by Bon Vincent with your dirty hands."
Upon hearing Elizabeth's words, Tom maintained his smile as he inquired, 'What makes him so special that you wouldn't want me to touch his books?
Elizabeth waved her hair, "Like I am going to waste my time explaining his works to you. You wouldn't understand any of it even if I spent years trying to explain it."
"So, he is nothing much; from what I read, he seems like a crazy man if you ask me." Tom taunted her, using a technique known as an intentional fallacy.
"Are you trying to taunt me? It seems that you actually have gotten smarter on the journey. Fine, I will explain the information that I found about him to you." Elizabeth replied, shocked by her brother's change.
On the other hand, Tom's plan didn't go as he expected; however, he got to where he wanted.
"First, I must warn you that what I am going to say might get your head chopped off if you aren't careful and say it to another person," Elizabeth said as she checked outside the library to see if anyone was nearby.
"Bon has written three books; one that you were holding, 'Journey through the World,' which is the most common one. The other is called 'Hidden History,' which I couldn't get my hands on as it's banned. And for the last one, I am not sure what its name is, but I know that it exists because a long time ago, a house of a marquee has been slaughtered for possessing it." Elizabeth took short breaths, waiting for Tom's reaction.
Noticing that, Tom asked, "So, what is so special about his books?" He had already guessed it but wanted to make sure.
"It's quite simple; the royal families are hiding a big secret, but I don't know what that is." Elizabeth noted, "Now that you know what I know, I hope that you stay true to your new self. I am interested in seeing how long you can keep this up."
"Don't worry; I will give you a show that you won't forget," Tom declared confidently. He followed that statement with a silent thought, 'Be careful that you don't become one of the victims of the show.' As he smiled devilishly.
After that, the two went on their own way. Elizabeth started picking up a couple of books before sitting down. Tom was going to do the same, but he got a notification:
[Ding! Ruby Heart Completed]
Okay, I have a couple of favors to ask:
- Give me titles that you think would fit Tom's personality and experiences, like ("The Forsaken...)
- Tell me where you want and expect the story to go, from worlds you want Tom to visit to plot points you want to see. I already have a general plot in mind, but hearing your thoughts would help.