The Dragon Kingdom ♚︎

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 36 | ♚

"You were The Ghost?" My voice was lowered a few octaves as I witnessed a new profound personality of Alfred. It was almost as if his nerdy exterior was shattered before my eyes and I've uncovered something all the most menacing.

He nodded, "Something the previous King saved my ass on." He tilted his head almost in remembrance. He mentioned something like that once, when I had asked him why he, a vampire, works for dragons.

"I have two questions." I raised two of my fingers politely and Alfred had zoned back in. "One, why did you break in the first time and two, isn't there an easier way of attaining the books? Perhaps like asking the Council?"

"Ah, the council." He shook his head with a smile. "They're lazy as hell, Kyra. Not to mention extremely nosey." He crossed his arms with a sassy eyeroll. "You ask them for a book and they'd write you one filled with questions you have to answer and they still wouldn't give it. Are you patient enough to wait?"

He asked with a curious glint in his eyes. It was a challenge he posed, curious to see how I would respond. I met his gaze with a confident smile, my determination evident. "I've learned that patience can be a valuable virtue," I replied, my voice steady. "However, in this case it's a vice."

I made a vow to Syfas that I would discreetly continue my pursuit of knowledge on the Reizukis. Countless questions swirled in our minds, and if even a fraction of the answers lay behind that ominous door, I was willing to wholeheartedly embrace Alfred's break-in plan. Besides, there was my mother, to whom I had pledged to come back. I swallowed my doubts and fears, summoning the courage to jeopardize my standing for the sake of her salvation.

Syfas and I had explored numerous plans for her rescue mission, but he excluded me from each one, deeming them too perilous for my involvement. Hopefully, if this plan turns out for the best, it would demonstrate my capability to contribute to crucial missions.

"You didn't answer my first question." I rested my elbows on the wooden table, clasping my hands into a small net for my chin to rest on.

As I observed him, his gaze drifted into the distance, lost in a world only he could perceive. His brow furrowed slightly, a subtle reflection of the intensity of his contemplation. His eyes, usually lively and animated, now held a distant and introspective glimmer.

His lips formed a faint, pensive smile, hinting at the thoughts and emotions churning within.

"No one knows the answer to that question, Queen Kyra. Not even the king." He ran a hand through his well-kept hair, creating a new path in which it maneuvered.

"You didn't tell him?"

He shook his head and my mind hoped for a reason. Surely if someone protected you from a scandal and possible arrest, you would feel inclined to blurt out the truth.

"He didn't ask. But you did." As he looked at me, it was evident that I was eagerly anticipating the revelation of the secret. My eyes sparkled with curiosity and a touch of excitement, giving away the anticipation I felt within. I couldn't help but fidget slightly, my fingers drumming lightly on the edge of the table like a silent drum roll for the prompt of the reveal.

"So..?" I edge on. He glances at the entrance of the forbidden furrow, then at some of the light glancers that were securely situated around the ominous door. His head tilted in the other direction where the bookshelves lined up perfectly to oversee the Librisuss who was stamping books with red ink.

The Librissus is a mystical and enigmatic supernatural creature that takes on the role of a librarian in a realm beyond human perception.

Their physical form is often shrouded in a luminescent aura, giving them an otherworldly glow. They possess elongated, delicate fingers that effortlessly glide across the pages of ancient scrolls and books. Her eyes held an entrancing depth, reflecting the accumulated knowledge and experiences of countless ages.