Chapter 17

"Why do you keep looking around like that?" Jade asked, his hand firmly around Ariel's as they made their way to the library.

"Uh... No reason." Ariel couldn't help herself, since the hairs on the back of her neck had been standing since they were at the phone store. Someone's watching me, but I don't know from where. Maybe I'm being paranoid.

"If something's bothering you, I'd rather you tell me." He turned to her as they waited at a stoplight.

"I just saw someone I'd rather not run into, and now I'm being paranoid. See? It's not a big deal." What do I do if it's her, following me?

"What makes you so certain you're being paranoid? In my experience, your instinct and intuition can tell you what your eyes can't. Maybe this person you don't want to run into is stalking you. Don't worry; I'll protect you."

Ariel's heart skipped a beat. "Oh..."

He tugged on her hand to get her to follow him after the light changed. "You're safe, so long as I'm around. Try to be at ease while we're out on this date."

I'm certain he can protect me when he's here, but it's not like he can be around me all the time. Wait a second. She replayed his words in her mind. "Date?"

"Isn't that what this is? Orsted always said that if a man and a woman went out alone together, and both were single, it's a date. I always questioned him, since people who are friends should be able to do that, but he insisted. There's no arguing with him, and he has more experience there. The only date I've been on prior to this was a forced one."

"Orsted is Your Highness, right?"

"Yes. He always insisted I call him Orsted when we were away from others, and I think it might draw attention to refer to him as His Highness here. Do you have a king, monarch, or any of the such?"

"We have a Prime Minister, and I guess, technically, there is a King, but he's not over here, nor is he really involved in much with our country. He's the Head of State, but it's mostly symbolic, I think."

"Sounds... complicated."

"Most things end up that way."

They walked up the ramp to and headed into the library.

"Oh, Jade; you're back again?" The librarian waved to him. "And I see you're with Ariel! It's been a little while, Ariel; I hope you've been well."

"Yeah, I'm okay. How have things been going for you? Did your cat have their kittens?" Ariel asked.

"Yes." The librarian pulled out her phone to show her pictures of baby tabbies. "They're so cute, aren't they?"

"They are super cute."

"My husband adores them to no end. He's going to spoil them."

"Admit it, so will you."

The librarian laughed. "You're right. So, Jade, did you fill out the form?"

"No," he replied.

"He doesn't have the... necessary documents to fill it out," Ariel explained, hoping she'd understand a bit.

"Oh, I see. That's a shame. You seemed so interested in books; I love to see young people with a thirst for knowledge and adventure. Sadly, there's been a sharp decline in the recent decade. Probably because of everything available online."

"Probably. Well, we're going to check out a few books he was looking at yesterday."

"Okay, Ariel. Let me know if you need any help."

"We will. Thank you."

"Oh, how sweet." The librarian couldn't help but notice their locked hands.

"Did you want to browse, or just take out the books you were looking at the other day?" Ariel asked as he led her to the secluded area in the back where he found a bunch yesterday.

"Honestly, I'd like to do a bit of both. I'm also curious what kind of books you read, since you're obviously a regular visitor here." Jade pulled a couple of books out. "There's a lot of information here, and online, but it's hard to discern what's real and what isn't."

"This is an era of disinformation." Ariel shrugged. "Not sure how you're supposed to know. I suppose there are clues sometimes, but other times, who knows? I know I'm not helping."

Jade chuckled as he pulled out a couple of books, piling them on the side table. "Just reinforcing what I said."

"As for what I read, that's almost anything. I've even read a textbook on psychology."

"But surely you have a favourite genre."

"Hmm..." I suppose I read a lot of fantasy and romance novels, but I can't tell him that.

"I can see you thought of something; what is it?"

"No." Ariel shook her head. "Maybe just books about outsiders and the such, since I find them to be relatable." I'm not sure admitting that was any better.

"Any favourites specifically?" Jade trailed his finger along the spines as he searched for another one from the day before.

Ariel looked down the aisle as she thought about the plethora of books she'd read over the years. "Maybe, Another World."

"Oh?" Jade raised an eyebrow. "So you like the idea of alternate worlds?"

"Yes."

"You didn't summon me here, did you? I promise I won't get mad at you if you did."

Ariel laughed and immediately covered her mouth, afraid of being too loud. "No, of course not; how would I do that?"

"It was merely a thought. So, what kind of book is it?"

"A..." Damn, I ran myself into a corner with that one. "Romantic fantasy about an office worker who gets trapped in a novel she was reading after getting hit by a truck while saving a boy."

"Is she an outsider?"

How in the world can he be so engaged in a conversation with me while still looking around? Next level multi-tasking. "She is a loner without family, who spends her time either at work or at home reading books. Even the character she took over is an outsider, shunned by her father and everyone other than her brother and maid. I kinda would've preferred she ended up with a different person, though."

"Not satisfied with the ending?"

"Well, I can see why it went that way, but the chemistry with the brother was better. He was a high-ranking knight." Kinda like you...

"The brother?" Jade cringed.

"Don't be mistaken!"

"Shh!" Someone down the aisle hushed her.

"Sorry," Ariel whispered. "See what you've done? You got me riled up."

Jade chuckled and leaned in close, staring into her eyes. "But it was nice to hear you rave about something you love. Feel free to talk about your favourite books. Maybe I'll end up finding some of my own while here."

"And for reference, they're not related. She was trapped in his sister's body, and nothing wonky went on, but they were totally close."

"So, would you have ended it differently?"

"I don't know if I could come up with one where they end up together. It's just... a bit bittersweet, even though she found someone."

"Guess you like happy endings?"

"Who doesn't?"

Jade pulled out a book and frowned. "This book looks familiar, but I didn't see it yesterday. Where would I have seen it?"

"Maybe it just looks similar."

"No; it's the same name."

Ariel looked at the worn out leather-bound book with a foreign lettering and yellowed pages. "Can you read that? What language is it? It kinda looks like your runes."

"It says Asath."

Her eyes widened. "As in your home planet?"

"Yes. Well, assuming it's read the same way, it is."

"I wonder if that means you're not the first person here from there."

"Maybe. Let's hope there's a clue in here."

Her shoulders slouched. "Y-yeah."

"But what are the chances this would be here in this library? Even if someone else came from there, I imagine there're thousands of libraries it could've ended up in."

"It could mean there's a link to this area specifically."

"I suppose." Jade stared at the book for a while. "I'll get these books. Is there anything you want to look at?"

"No, I'm good."

Jade picked up his stack of books, and they headed back to the entrance where the self-checkouts were.

"Okay. Set your books here." Ariel patted the empty metal shelf next to the monitor and pulled out her library card. "Scan this first by waving it in front of the scanner here." She held her card out to him.

"You want me to do it?"

"I think it'd be good for you to learn how to do this when I'm not here. It's not hard, I promise."

Jade nodded and took the card. He followed her instructs, scanning each book. "That's it?"

"See? Easy."

"Agreed. I expected worse." Books in one arm, he held out his hand to Ariel, who took his hand without a second thought.

"Have a good day, you two," the librarian called out.

"You, too."