Chapter 18

Asken’s grand library was a blue-grey brick tower with a large golden bell perched at the top. The windows are stained colored glass, of darker blues and brighter greens. It was similar to colorful waves of an ocean slamming onto grass. One of the lower windows was open, and the smell of books, old and new, fresh and aged, tickled my nose.

I am reminded of freshly warm laundry, but such an experience is lost to this world.

On the side of the library tower, sticking out like a sore thumb, was a dome-like structure with glass. The reflective surface glowed with constant lighting, as if the inside were the active electricity in a bulb. The outer material likely existed to contain it. Together with the library, the dome looked to be an unwanted pimple on an otherwise masterful design. It may seem wondrous to the Dullings but my eyes burned from the bad architectural choice.

And so, for now, I’ll ignore the obvious in favor of the gold at the very top.

“I want to see the bell,” I admitted to Ebony and Ivory while we studied the strange building in front of us. One step to the side, another back in place, I glanced at Opal, finding this bearable compared to both twins’ shared confusion. “My college had one. High in the sky just like this, it,” I bit down on my teeth, tasting sourness. “It used to play tunes for the holidays.” Did this society, the technology with all the lights and stolen magic, replicate music too?

Opal lightly nipped at my claws. I gently flicked at their gem.

Opal dug at my foot in retaliation. I barely managed not to shriek from the invasive feeling of claws on thinner fur, and glared at them.

Opal met my gaze with insistent challenge.

…Pfft. What a funny wolf.

“Whatever our Shepard requests,” Ebony began, with a stable smile, stealing my attention. “She will receive. You have no need to be nervous, Big Sister, there is nothing wrong with reliving memories of your past.” He snapped a finger at the bell far above us.

“Or finding comfort in the changes of now,” Ivory affirmed. “That’s partly why we exist, right?” He nudged my arm, warm and present in the moment.

I nodded, feeling meek but comforted. “Just for a little bit.” I promised them. “We’ll find the book right after. Since, the power source is apparently in the same vicinity. Two birds, one stone.” How lucky, huh?

I needed a lighter pause after heavy conversation. I am grateful the twins understand, and that Opal was a patient wolf.

And so, we climbed the tower, but with permission from the librarian. She had been welcoming to us despite the cloaks hiding most of our appearance. Asken had many tourists and other visitors desiring information, it seems. The library itself had been clean, quiet, and less packed than expected. It must be a slow day, good for us.

The old Dulling librarian soon lent the key to Ebony, charmed by his politeness.

I had rolled my eyes so hard, I nearly tripped.

Ivory had shut his own in disdain.

As for Opal, they were allowed in the library. Magical creatures are revered in the country but only as assets rather than actual living beings to be respected. It’s a saddening realization to me. Opal on the other claw didn’t care for Dulling societal norms.

I suppose it would be a waste of time to worry about the injustices of this world when we were only visiting briefly. If ignorance played a key hand in keeping us hidden from troublemakers, so be it.

“Sister, we’ve arrived. The bell isn’t playing yet,” Ivory frowned, stepping up to the large sculpted gold instrument. “Are you disappointed?” He genuinely sounded frustrated. He eyed the cold bell as if it were an annoyance. A stain to the world despite being a beautiful, shiny, piece of metal.

I couldn’t help but snicker at the youngest's investment in this detour, and Ivory frowned even harder. The fluffy ears under his cloak must be twitching from irritation.

“The music is periodic.” Ebony easily revealed with a soft chuckle of his own. He gestured to Opal, who sniffed the air before pardoning themselves by escaping back into the tower. It was for the best, Opal may have difficulty coping with the loudness of the bell. “The librarian told me, the tunes play during different times of the day. I timed it well enough, so perhaps in the next few seconds…”

Ivory stiffened. “Does that mean we’re too late or too early?”

Because why else would he pass up the chance to undermine Ebony’s skills? I would’ve done the same to knock him down a peg in Ivory’s position.

I grinned joyfully at Ivory, who held a tiny smile of victory. Ebony glared at him with a pout.

Then, the bell rang.

And rang.

Then chimed, and began a flurry of musical composed notes.

“Mm,” I relaxed to the blissful music despite how each chime ran over my skin and fur like a hammer. “Sounds like celebration.” My mind felt lighter, almost clear if it weren’t for how loud the bell was. My heart continued to steadily beat, briefly stirred by the faint wriggle of a far-off memory. As the bell continued, the internal scene became clearer.

For a moment, allowing my eyes to shut, and tuft ears to stay open, I can imagine it.

Soft snowfall, a cloudy sky, and the playing of the university bell on campus. How I used to watch the sky while wandering the sidewalks and snow-covered grass. My brown hands, not claws, would grip onto a bag of four bubble teas, all for myself in a semester of independence. Once upon a time, I had a life I was unsure of, but it was still treasured.

I had been treasured.

“...My ears,” Ivory grumbled, his voice breaking apart my thoughts piece by piece.

“It’s not that horrible.” Ebony chided him, pulling me back to the present. “Although, I suppose it can be a bit of a hassle, I can’t hear much else from being so close.”

The bell switched songs, and by that time, I detached myself from the new melody.

“Alright, I’m ready,” I told them, flexing my claws as both twins straightened up in acknowledgement. “Let’s go get that book.” Then, the heist to take the power source of this nation. I always wanted to enact being a phantom thief just once.

On the staircase back, Ivory cleared his throat. “Are you alright, Sister?”

Ebony kept walking, but he wasn’t slick, I can see his minute-pause before he strolled down the stairs faster.

I tilted my head as I carefully descended, the sound of the bell still flooding the area.

“You seem somber.” Ivory pressed on, quickening his own pace to join my side. “Are you thinking of the world you came from?” There’s a beat of silence before Ivory opened his mouth again. “Do you miss them? Your family and life from before?”

There is no need for this conversation. And yet.

“Every day,” I breathed. “But what am I to do? I cannot go back. There is no body for it, no me,” I am here after all. A new being, a new person, but holding tightly onto what I had been. “I want to focus on now. To protect my wards, you two, and myself. When we are given our own special place, wouldn’t you want to make everlasting memories there too?” It had been a rhetorical question.

“Yes,” Ivory replied suddenly, curt and firm. “Sister, do you not grow tired from doubting me?”

“And me!” Ebony called from further down. “I do believe both Ivory and I promised to stay as long as we wished.”

I laughed, unable to help myself from their shared annoyance. “My mistake, you two. It hasn’t been that long and I’m already,” The scent of books fell unimportant as the stench of copper reached into my senses. My steps stopped on the stairs, as did Ebony, who I’m beginning to notice had also frozen up.

Ivory was equally stone-stilled. “That blood,” He breathed out, stumbling on the staircase. “It…”

Smelled faintly of roses and burst peaches.

Ebony sped down the stairs with a sharp-intake of breath. I jumped after him, heart bashing itself in my ears. I almost wished for it to stop but each beat pushed me faster, propelled me further.

I didn’t hear anything, The bell is still ringing but the song is somber, grieving. A song for funerals. Why didn’t I hear anything?

I passed Ebony, spotting the familiar blur before I crashed at the bottom of the staircase. Bricks fell out of place and the tile cracked, but my body did not hurt as I jumped back on two feet. I rushed to face the source of the strong smell at the bottom of the steps.

As expected, sat a rosy pink wolf.

Prim and proper, with a quiver to each breath. In Opal’s mouth, was a bloodied book. A number of their teeth were missing, and their eyes gleamed with resolve. Their tail gave a twitch at my appearance, Opal lifted their head and took a shaky step forward, limping.

Opal’s rosy coat was stained in red. There was an arrow in their back, stretching a running mess to the front.