Chapter 411 - [Bonus ] 411

The Kardia library was as magnificent on the inside as it was on the outside. Allias considered it one of the best pieces of architecture he had seen up to this day. The tall ceilings, the glass stained windows with the colorful designs of the sea and the mountains. The swiveling staircases that reached the top and the endless books. All of the walls had libraries on them, heavy dark colored wood with thick books. May different covers and small reading areas with desks and chairs. There were quite a few people inside, reading or organizing the enormous amount of books and Allias had been stared by all of them. He didn't mind that much though, he was too preoccupied by his surroundings to pay attention. 

Their guide for today had been Milia and Kor.. They had led them from the mansion to the library and allowed access to all floors for them to study. Mark had explained the kind of books he needed for Alexander and one of the man librarians had given them directions as to which floor would have the most suitable information. They had reached the thirteenth floor and were a few more to go. 

"Someone should introduce the elevator to them." Mark mumbled. His face had turned slightly red from struggling to keep up their pace and he heard Alexander chuckle. 

"I don't think they need it." He told the red head and he scoffed. 

"I do, I do need it." he said with a frown. Once they reached the fifteenth floor finally their guides stopped and the human exhaled satisfied. He took in a deep breath, slowly because he didn't want anyone to know how out of breath he was and followed them as they strolled around the bookcases. Indeed just from a quick look at the book titles he could understand, those that were not written in some kind of ancient language he had never seen before, he knew that there  was some very interesting research material here. He stopped at the first bookcase wanting to look at them by order and with his fingertips he started tracing the books, choosing a few from each self. 

"I believe this floor will be suitable for you." Milia told them and Mark nodded absentminded, already occupied with the books. He was talking to Alexander at the same time, giving him instructions about the kind of books they needed and the young wolf had moved to the bookcase right next to him doing his own little research so he could help. 

"Pick this one too." They would hear Mark mumble from time to time and point at something that Alexander had missed. Once their arms filled with books they would drop them all to one of the little reading tables and move on to the next case, searching all over again. 

"Thank you." Allias said "This will be very helpful." 

"It was the least we could do. So tell me your highness, will we go up higher?" Milia asked him. Allias was still wary, not knowing if he should trust her. He looked around, thinking for a bit. Her offer, he couldn't take it off his mind last night no matter how hard he tried. Not just because of his missing arm that seemed to pull him down most of the time but also because of the information on his parents. He had missed them, his heart still aches but at the same time this seems too good to be true. He had trusted people before and things did not end well. "I promise you, nothing bad will happen." the lady told him, wanting to reassure him. "Kor, stay here with the gentlemen. If they need anything help them. You work for them now." Milia said and the guard nodded, even though it was obvious he didn't like the idea. 

"I don't know if I can trust you." He told her as they returned to the staircase. He had told her that but he was still following her willingly, listening to the sound of her heels as she went up, a familiar ticking on the marble stairs. 

"I have no gain from making you sad nor your demise. Your father was really my friend." she told them as they reached the top floor. This was one of the most beautiful by far. It was open, with only a few columns that stood as support for the ceiling, the room was round and you could see the whole Kardia land from here, the beach, the central village and the mountains. All of them were perfectly visible. 

In the middle of the room stood two lonesome armchairs. They were made from beige silk while their armrests were from a light colored wood, carved to remind the curve of a wave. As they sat down Allias traced the polished material with interest and Milia smiled. 

"They are pretty right? This room is my favourite, I come here when I need to relax." 

"Yes, It is very peaceful but why have we come here?" Allias asked her. 

"Here is the place with the strongest magic pulse in the whole land. The middle. I will need a lot of magical energy to fix your arm so the location is important." 

"So you meant it when you said you were planning on fixing my arm?"

"Why would I lie?"

"People lie." Allias said with a serious expression and the white haired woman sighed. She seemed to be disappointed to hear his answer but she didn't comment on it. 

"Your father, he believed in people." 

"Yes, he is also dead." Allias said. 

"That seems to be a very sad truth." Milia agreed, her face turning sad at the mention of Tallin's death. "So do you want to know? About your parents?" she asked him. 

"I do. But if you try anything funny I swear to the gods I will kill you." he threatened her. She didn't mind though, she nodded and clapped her hands. Once she opened them a book appeared in her palms. Small, with a golden cover and many pages. They could be a thousand or even maybe more, Allias speculated. As she opened it the pages shone, the writing in it with golden ink and the king frowned. "I heard from your wolf friend that there is a book out there, one that tells the story of you and  your beloved. It's a best seller they said." She told him and Allias scoffed, slightly embarrassed. 

"Yes. There is one."

"Well, this book is kind of similar. But it's about Atalanti and Tallin. I guess dramatic love stories run in your family." she joked and Allias smiled. "Here." she said and extended the book towards him. "Simply look at the lines. You won't have to read it. It's magical." she told him and when Allias took it in his hand she winked. The king did as he was told, his green eyes landed on the elegant writing and suddenly images began to pop off right in front of his eyes, like a cinema. He instantly turned quiet, observing the scene. Milia did the same. 

.....

"We shouldn't be here! Tallin we were sent to the capital to study but all you do is go to the village!" He heard the voice of a girl in the first scene. He instantly recognized her as she was the one who was sitting in front of him. A lot younger and way more expressive right next to his father stood Milia while both of them were hiding behind a food stand at the market in the village square. 

Allias saw  his father. Young, barely twenty years old. His short brown hair, his green eyes, the same as his and that laid back beautiful smile. He was dressed in his Tribe's clothes. Similar to the ones in Avgee but a bit more scholar-like in a sense. Just seeing him, moving and breathing  made the king want to cry. He raised his index finger to his lips, signaling his friend to stop. 

"Shh, she will be here at any second." he stated and Milia looked at him with a questioning expression. 

"Who? What have you been doing all this time? If the elders find out that you have been doing this, instead of studying we will be sent back home.!" She warned him but he didn't pay any mind to her. His eyes were stuck at the fountain, staring at the people that passed by until he found what he was looking for, or more appropriately, who he was looking for. 

It was a young girl, around seventeen years old. Tall and incredibly beautiful. She had long and curly blonde hair, her eyes smartly looking around as she seemed she wanted to disguise herself. She wore a long red dress, one of her shoulders exposed and golden cuffs decorated her ankles. Tallin looked as if he had gotten bewitched, his eyes stuck on her. He had been looking for her, day after day from the first moment he had seen her he couldn't get her out of his head. He took a walk once, wanting to release himself from stress and there she was, picking flowers and looking around as if she was hunted. He couldn't ignore such beauty. 

"That's her." Tallin whispered and jumped from his hiding spot, rushing towards her like an idiot. Once he reached her he grabbed her arm wanting to stop her. Her hoodie came and she looked at him with wide eyes. "You." he mumbled realising he had just made a huge mistake. The girl pulled her arm back and in the blink of an eye, she slapped him. 

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