A Light That Shouldn't Exist

Chapter 2: The library

The library stood tall, cloacked in vines and greenery. Nature had completely ebraced it. From within, a faint grow of light spoiled out. The others must have arrived already.

We stepped inside, and as always, the sight took my breath away. The library was massive, build with a majestic old architecture that had survived centuries. Moss crept along the walls, adding to its haunting beauty.

Tables and chairs stood in the center, while tall bookshelves lined the edges. The library had three floors, though we could only reach the second-the ladder to the third had collapsed long ago. Half of the structure was in ruins, and from outside, it looked even larger than it felt within. It's probably because most of it was under ruins.

In the center, our friends sat in circle, candles flickering around them. When they noticed us, they stood up at once.

"Where have you guys been? We've been waiting forever!" Cried Asel, jumping into my sister's arms with a bright smile.

Asel had green eyes, like fresh grass, and short light-brown hair that flowed in the candlight, though it carried a strange, dark energy. Her face was small, her cheeckbones sharp when she smiled. She was taller than my sister and Lâl, and her presence was always strong. Asel was talkative, open-hearted, fiercly protective of those she cared about-and she was the first person we'd met here, alongside Atakan.

"I overwork today for a little while... for a secret bonus," my sister said with playful grin, desperate to show her suprise.

"A secret bonus? What did you bring? Tell me right now!" Atakan's excitement was obvious. Asel let go of my sister and hugged me instead while he leaned closer eagerly.

Atakan's brown eyes were earthy and warm, his hair sharp and wild, like a hedgehog's quilss. His body was thin, his face narrow. We were all underfed, but on him it was most obvious. Still, his energy never faltered. He loved suprises more than anything.

"I won't tell you yet. You'll have to wait and be patient," my sister teased.

"What?!" Atakan groaned, sounding genuinly hearthbroken.

Behind him, Aybars smirked at his reaction. He and Lâl always stood close together, their bond unspoken obvious.

Aybars' eyes were dark, like a black cat's-intimidating, yet strangely reassuring. His head was shaved close, his body strong and muscular. He was the tallest and the strongest among us, and I had never seen anyone like him. When I once asked how he had grown so powerful, he had told me his secret:

"I don't know. It just feels like I was born to be strong. If you have the desire to protect someone against people you feel hatred to, you automatically want to be strong. Also, many people need protection and I feel like it's my duty to protect."

And he wasn't wrong. Lâl needed protecting, like many people in this horrible war.

Lâl was the quitest. The smallest of us all. Her ocean-blue eyes always seemed distant, yet whenever she looked at Aybars, they sparkled with warmth. Her long hair framed her delicate face, almost identical to my sister's. She had always been fragile-her immune system weak, sickness always lurking. Maybe that's why she held back so much, staying quiet, careful. It was also why we all cared for her so deeply. She was the kindest person I ever knew.

"What are you laighing at, huh?" Atakan shot at Aybars, annoyed.

"Nothing." Aybars glanced at me and my sister and added, "Come on, sit down. Let's see this bonus already." Lâl nodded silently beside him, her quiet support clear as always. She was also curious.

"Don't think I'll let you get aways with nothing," Atakan muttered, still mocking.

"I said nothing, because it was nothing. If you want to see the suprise, stop mocking me and wait patiently." Aybars' lips curled into the faintest smile.

"He's right, Atakan," Asel agreed. "Wait patiently." She repeated Aybars, knowing it would drive him crazy.

Before Atakan could argue again, my sister cut in. "Enough. Sit down and let me show you. Yakut's been waiting long too."

Aybars glanced at me, winking. I grinned back, amused by how easily he teased Atakan.

We all sat dwon on the cushions we'd gathered around the library, circling the candlles. My sister spoke, hyping the moment. "Are you ready to see the bonus?"

Everyone nodded eargerly. Atakan nearly shouted, "Show us already!" Unable to contain himself.

Laughing, my sister revealed the pide and butter. Smiles lit up every face. For a brief second, though, I caught an expression on their faces-sadness, pity for her. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by excitemend and praise.

We decoured the bread within minutes. I hadn't tasted anything so good in a long time. Gratitude welled up in me-not just for the food, but for my sister, and for all of them.

Afterwards, I looked at my sister and asked, "Big sister, can I go upstairs to read my book?" I left it unfinished last time."

Before she could reply, Atakan laughed "Our little bookworm wants to return to his realm! His big sister, will you grant him passage to his imperial?"

Everyone laughed. He meant the different worlds inside the books. I ignored him, waiting for her answer.

"Yes but be careful. The path is difficult," she teased, playing along.

"Yes, she's right," Asel chimed in. "I've heard the way of the Retriver and the Follish Ladder are the most dangerous places in the whole imperial." She laughed, turning the broken ladder into some great villian.

Aybars joined in too. "But the greatest danger awaits once you reach the second imperial. There, countless other realms will tempt you. You might lose yourself among them, and never return to your own."

He was right. I often got distracted by other books before finishing the one I was reading.

Everyone was laughing, having fun-except me. I pulled a face and ignored their teasing until I reached the ladder, where their voices faded. Carefully, I climbed up to the second floor, resisting the lure of the other books.

Finally, I reached my spot. From there, I could see the whole first floor and especially the center of the library, where my sister and the others sat together in the warm glow of the candles. I took one of the candles with me.

I sat on cushion where the unfinished book I had left lay. I felt cozy, and after some time passed, I slowly began to fall asleep to the muffled world and laughter from below. The book slipped from my hand, and a deep sleep embraced me.