Chapter 54

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

After a series of twist and turns I finally make it to the library. It is so beautiful. Everything about the place just seems so magical and enchanting.

I knock on the door, just like Maximus told me too, 3 times to be exact. Nothing happens.

I thought the old thing would just open, like a normal door. But that's so naive. When has anything in this world ever been classified as 'normal?' So as unexpected, something did happen. Which is the welcome rug that I currently stand on disappearing, leaving me to drop down a rabbit hole, if you could call it that.

It was a long and dark fall. I screamed the whole way down, I feel so ashamed. Where did my dignity go.

I stop falling when the ground pops up out of nowhere, just like most things in my life. It takes a while for me to stabilize myself, having to push down the sudden uprising of bile in my throat. Right now is not the time to suddenly get sick, we can do that later, at home.

When I look up, what catches my attention is the multiple gazes of other people on me, in what appears to be the library. I have no idea where the sudden archway came from, and I wish it would dissapear. So that I can escape from all of this embarrassment.

"What are you looking at!?" I say in a tough guy act, and walk into the place like I'm royalty. Which I actually am, so yeah. These people can't tell me nothing.

I head over to the reading section of the library, still searching for Benjamin. I never took him for a book kind of guy, I guess he's changed during these few years he was gone from home. Thinking about us not being as close as we were in the past makes me feel a bit sad, but I push that feeling down; I have plenty of time to get to know about his life, now that I'm here.

I find him by one of the windows. He is asleep with a blue book on his ċhėst. Eh, I guess I was over thinking. He's still the same.

Walking over to him, I do the only possible thing that I can to wake him up. And that is, slapping him on the forehead. Hard.

*Pah*

It quickly startles him awake from the pain.

"Ah! what the fuċk du-"

"Finish that sentence, and you lose a toe." That straightens him up. The shock from earlier gone, now all that's left is confusion for my actions.

"Ahem, Melia, my lovable sister. What did you do that for, I was sleeping, geez."

"I just couldn't bȧrė to see you so.... peaceful. It was disturbing."

He chuckles at my bluntness, pulling me in for a hug.

"Benjie, I'm all for familial connection just as much as the next guy-"

"What next guy!?"

"Not THE POINT. Take it as a metaphor."

"Oh, okay."

"But the thing is, you just saw me yesterday, why are still so attached to me? Literally!" I say, my face squashed onto his rock hard ċhėst. My nose feels like it's going to break.

"I know but I just love you so much. And you look like a teddy bear."

"Are you trying to call me fat!" I'm still struggling you escape from his death grip.

"What no! I was just saying you look so fluffy?"

"So there's something wrong with me if I was fat huh, trying to call me ugly!"

"Of course not, you'd still be beautiful. I was never trying to say anything like that." In his panic, his hold on me loosens and I squeeze my head out, holding my hand on my ċhėst as I pant from the lack of oxygen.

"Stay *pants* 5 feet away from me, *continues to pant."

"Haha, I swear, you are such a drama queen. It wasn't that bad. And I know you missed me, just as much as I missed you." Of course I'm a queen, this girl stay slaying. Ah, it seems straying from topic.

"Yeah yeah keep filling your head with delusions." Though the smile on my lips give me away.

"I'm still mad at you though!" I say grumpily.

"For what!? What did I do?"

" Its not what you did do fool! It's what you didn't do, Ugh you... you...Bugger!" I'm trying not to curse in front of him, dont want to ruin his angelic impression of me.

"Oh right! The tour! I'm sorry sis, but I had to study for this big test I got tomorrow, and completely forgot. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"

"Mmmm, I don't know.." He then brings out the puppy eyes and I turn my body away. He knows I can't say no when he does that face.

"Pleaseeeeee, I'll give you anything you want, I'll buy you anything you dėsɨrė." Hehe, big mistake buddy.

"How much are we talking in terms if buying."

"Anything."

"Okay, you are taking me to lunch. And it has to be an all you can eat buffet."

"A what?" Oh right, I forgot that this world doesn't know about buffets.

"Just make sure that you have everything that I like to eat on the table."

"Okay, I can do that. So when do we meet. Do you want it now?"

"No, we will have it 2 hours from now. And don't forget!" Since I'm in the library, I want to make use of it right now. I need to carry out some research on that sword the old man got me, and also study that alchemy book.

Benjamin packs up his stuff preparing to leave, when I stop him with a question. "Hey, Benjie, um do you know a secluded spot in here where I can do some reading?"

"Of course I do. Is that even a question-"

"Hurry up and answer it then!"

"Hehe sorry, just go to the back of the library. People rarely go down there because of the strange aura and all, but I know that it will suit you just fine."

"Kay, thanks big bro." I give him a kiss on the cheek, and head for one of the book sections as I'm still in need of a book to do my research.

As I browse through the various books, I quickly ask the old man for the name of the sword. He tells me that it's called the Sakura sword. Which translates to actual cherry blossoms in Japanese. That explains the painted image of the flowers on the hilt.

But that still doesn't help me understand why the sword is considered so powerful. In fact, I feel even more confused than before.

Good thing I'm in a library huh?