dream

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The guards rushed at tremendous speed towards the junk shop and searched it with all caution and speed.

 After several minutes, they found the thread, cut from the middle, in an isolated room belonging to the killer. 

The girl and Yol both stayed watching what was happening from a distant spot. When Yol saw that everything she had said was true, he felt a little pleasure deep in his heart.

"You're truly amazing, madam... After thinking it over, I realise I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Yol, one of the former commanders of the King's army. And you? May I know your name?"

The girl smiled slightly and answered him.

"I'm Wendy. Pleased to meet you. And now that we've finished with this case, I want you to help me a little, Yol. Follow me for a while."

At midday, near the water canal in the middle of the city, Wendy was walking calmly, offering gentle smiles to everything around her, while she clasped her hands together and held them behind her back. Yol followed her, filled with curiosity to know what kind of person this Wendy was. After a short silent stroll, Yol began to speak.

"Tell me where you came from, Wendy. And what brought you to this place?"

Wendy stopped so that her steps would fall in with his, and began talking to him as she walked beside him.

"I came from Gowa village, in the north. As for the reason I came, it isn't important to that degree."

"I just remembered something. When that man was killed back there, I was surprised by what happened. Not only did you show no reaction at all, you took out a book and started writing in it. What was that? Could it be you enjoy seeing corpses?"

Wendy stopped for a moment, looking towards a small boat floating on the waters of the canal.

"Well, I suppose telling you is no problem. In truth, I came to this city to achieve my dream. Did you already know that every ten years Auralia composes a book containing the most important events that have taken place in this world? 

And they place this book in the World Tree so that it will be preserved forever. And the same is true of this year. At the moment the invited ones enter the World Tree, that book will be complete and will be saved for the future. I came to this city to take part in the writing of this book. The research I was working on and the information I gathered were all connected to the deaths and the missing whom history has forgotten. That's why, at the moment I saw that person dead, I couldn't stop myself from documenting that incident in my pages."

Those words rang in Yol's ears like the notes of a quiet song. It did not take him a minute to grasp the amount of hard work behind those words. How many nights had she stayed up recording these things? How many distances had she crossed to gather that information? How much free time could have remained for her to enjoy a little rest? It must have been very little.

 Those dark circles under her eyes, how much of her sleep had they taken to form? Even traces of ink still remained on her fingertips. Her ragged clothes were more than enough to tell him how poor her state was. But despite all of that, the feeling that came over Yol was not at all pity or sorrow. The word dream was, for him, something harder than he could ever hope to understand.

 And yet it was the thing he wanted more than anything. For someone who owned nothing, he could feel nothing but admiration for this person who strove to accomplish something, even if he could not understand it.

Their little stroll came to an end when they reached a very large building. Its front gate was like the entrance to a palace, and its immense area suggested an ancient historic monument. At the sight of it, Yol could not stop himself from wondering what sort of place this was. A guard stopped each of them before they entered and searched them.

When they entered the building, the place was packed with people carrying papers everywhere. It was chaos everywhere.

 Yol was stunned by all he saw, while Wendy advanced calmly, heading for a large hall with a small desk in it. Then Yol asked:

"So what exactly is this place? For a moment I felt like I was on a football pitch."

"This place provides all the information on the history of this world. Usually the place is quieter, but today they will be saving the most important books in the World Library."

When they reached the desk, there was an old man sitting behind the table, reviewing files of some kind with confusion on his face. When Wendy tried to introduce herself, he cut her off and answered her with irritation.

"No need to waste time. Say what you want, quickly."

"Yes, I'm sorry about that. In truth, I have valuable information in this book, gathered over these last ten years. I know it's a little late, but I hope you will add it to the history book being issued today."

Wendy was trembling with anxiety. She was clenching her fists fearfully and bowing her head a little.
At Wendy's words, the old man paused for a moment and answered her.

"I know this is a little tedious. But I have no time for children's games. We are not here to play. Do you understand?"

"Please, at least read a little of it. It's a very important record, and it must be saved."

The old man cut her off, shouting.

"Are you deaf? We have no time to write trifles in our records. On top of that, how do you expect us to add new information at this hour? Are you insane? If you understand what I'm saying, leave this place. Don't waste my time any more than that."

Yol felt some irritation at the way that man spoke. He understood his position, but he could not stand by in silence like that, and he said:

"My name is Yol, and I am the commander of the Third Division of the King's army. I have examined this girl's information, and I see it as something worth preserving. Because of the war in these last years, people have been losing their trust in the King, little by little. If the people lose their trust in the King, chaos will spread everywhere. Then there will no longer be any value to human life. Reminding people of the dead and the missing may strengthen their resolve in the war and make them remember why this war is being fought. I'm not telling you to accept her book. But at least read it. Perhaps you'll find something of interest."

"You people don't understand, do you? Fine, it doesn't matter. Give me that book."

Wendy felt some hesitation, but she handed it to him. The old man took the book and opened some of its pages at random. Then, quickly, he shut the book and threw it in the wastepaper basket.

When Wendy saw that, it was as though her ribcage were about to clamp down on her heart. She was biting her lips in regret while trying to keep her tears from falling. Yol, meanwhile, was looking at the old man with the same cold look he had worn since entering.

"You asked me to examine it, and I did. If you're satisfied now, then leave the place, if you please."

"You barely read anything. No, I should have expected this to happen. After all, you are nothing but scum."

Yol muttered these words as he drew near him.

 The old man screamed at him to leave and threw some papers at him. So Yol punched him hard in the face, and broke some of the teeth of his jaw. Wendy tried to stop him, but he wasn't listening, and before he could strike the old man again, the guards gathered around him and the brawling began, while Wendy tried to stop them from fighting. 

Some of them began deliberately striking her, until one of them hit her in the face and blood ran from her nose. At that point, there was no turning back. Then Wendy joined the fighting and stood at Yol's side. She knew it was a losing battle, but even so she could not stop her desire to pour out those painful feelings onto those people.

 And even so, the gap was very great: each of them was striking one person while suffering dozens of blows in the meantime. And amid those blurred scenes, Wendy saw Yol's face as he knocked down some of the guards, and she could not keep her laughter from escaping even in the middle of that wave of pain.

After fifteen minutes, the guards threw both Wendy and Yol out of the building, their faces covered in bruises and blood. Wendy couldn't hold herself in, and burst out laughing at what had happened.

"I can't believe you hit an old man that hard. I saw some of his teeth falling out."

"He irritated me, so I couldn't help myself."

"I understand that, but hitting him in that place, among hundreds of guards? Have you lost your mind? It's lucky they didn't arrest us. But still, in the middle of that battle, I laughed a lot. So much that I didn't know who I was hitting. It was rather fun. Perhaps because I know there's no need to make an effort for anything any more."

Yol was irritated to hear those words. But how could he criticise someone he had met only hours before?

"The matter you wanted me to help you with. It was because I was a commander in the King's army, wasn't it? You thought that if you asked them, they might agree. Isn't that right?"

"You're right, but that didn't work either. But it doesn't matter to me any more. Nothing matters to me any more. I'm free now to do what I want."

"I'm sorry I couldn't help. And on top of that, I brought you these bruises and these wounds. I'm truly sorry."

Wendy laughed softly.

"Yes, they hurt all over my face. But I really did enjoy it. But still, it's just..."

While laughter filled her face, tears of sorrow poured from her eyes like rivers.

"It's just painful, to that degree."

Yol could do nothing for her. He only watched her as he stood before her, and the tears streamed from her eyes.
After several minutes, Wendy gathered herself and wiped her tears. And while forcing a smile, she said to him:

"I'm sorry. I couldn't hold myself together. But don't worry, I'm all right now."

Yol only looked at her without saying a single word. After all, these were feelings it was impossible for him to understand. The desire to do something, and the hard work of striving for it. The regret at the failure, and weeping in sorrow at not achieving it. However much he searched for words to say, they would be no more than a desperate attempt to console her.

That strange meeting was about to come to an end when Wendy asked his leave to depart. At that moment, a glint of reflected light flashed in Yol's eyes. He looked at his hand and saw the invitation that had been the reason for his coming.

"Do you like books?" 

Yol asked her before she could turn.

"Yes, I love them very much."

"I see. Then you must know a great deal about books. Isn't that right?"

"Hmm. I suppose so. Is there something you want to know about books?"

"In fact, I want you to help me choose the book I will take from this library. I know nothing about books, so I have no idea what I'll choose."

Wendy's face soured at once, and she spoke in a tone empty of interest.

"Huh? Why me? That sounds terribly annoying. What do I get out of going with you?"

Her mood changes so fast that I no longer know what to do with her.
So Yol thought, confusion plain on his face.

"Then how about we talk while we eat? You must be hungry, aren't you? It'll be my treat. What do you say?"

When she heard the subject of food, her attitude changed in an instant.

"Really? Then let's go at once. I know a restaurant with the most delicious food in this city. We can talk over the details later."

"Wait a moment. Have you recovered that quickly? You're walking fast for someone injured."

Yol no longer knew how to act in front of this girl. He could not keep pace with how quickly she accepted things and how fast her moods turned. But at the same time, he felt some pleasure in talking with someone like her. So much so that a smile formed on his face as he ran after her without realising it.