MARINA of the tale -
There wouldn't be a day in my life that I wouldn't despise frilly dresses, petticoated skirts and tight bodices. These daily practice would be the death of me. One of these days, the last page of the novel would just feature a sentence in big bold letters saying: "MARINA DIED OF SUFFOCATION AND INSANITY." How epic would the readers face be by then?
Keeping all the exaggeration aside, in an attempt to finally escape Lily's clutches with her obsession in dressing me up like a doll, I excused myself saying I needed to go the bathroom. Of course, I wasn't in need to be there, but I felt like she wouldn't listen even if I told her stop. She kept on making me try the other set of clothes eventhough we have already decided what I was going to where for tomorrow.
I felt guilty leaving her alone. But I couldn't really help it. I was getting exhausted. I convinced myself that I just needed a breather and I'll come back once again to have her indulge with her play.
I'd just think of it as a way to see her smile freely and have myself be infected by that warmth and brightness. Like a sick person, I guess it wouldn't be bad if that means I could smile as well.
I wandered along the halls searching for the way towards the balcony. I needed some fresh air away from the suffocating sense of being Marina just for a second. No dresses. No maids and butlers. I think a singing bird would be nice for a change.
But then, I suddenly found myself walking towards a place I have only been once. Or at least, the character had been once.
No one is ever allowed in this part of the mansion, not even my mother. Only the head of the family and one of his trusted servants are permitted to go in and out of the place.
It's not like anyone could ever go in it in the first place. The doors are sealed and shut with an enchantment. Or so I heard and remembered.
My feet guided me towards the double doors of the massive library that I had once visited in a far off memory of a book. It's made of a sturdy looking wood, carved with vines and swirls. The handle of the knob felt cold against my skin as I unconsciously grabbed for it to open.
Something inside is beckoning me to enter. I have to know who that is, I thought.
But how exactly?
Just then, a felt a sting at the tip of my index finger that was touching the handle of the door. I jerked it away, the pain searing through. Blood dripped on the carpeted floor.
I winced. "What was that all about?"
Before anyone could ever tell me, the doors lit up as if to answer my question. I gasped at how it magically opened and greeted me towards dozens of shelves filled entirely of valuable and rare books. These could even be counted as artifacts!
I stepped into the library with the feeling of excitement and nervousness prancing inside me. I held my breath through the anxiety that the doors might shut right at my face. I felt the presence of a barrier in between the hallway and the interior of the room where the air felt light from the outside as I passed through. Gone was the suffocating tug at my throat along with the heaviness of my head.
But, gone was the voice as well.
"Who could that be?" I said out loud.
Lost in thought, I jumped at my feet when the door suddenly slammed itself shut leaving the silence and my throbbing chest. Creepy.
I looked back and checked the door once more. Studying it more carefully, I recognized some signs that were perhaps scriptures on a different language. I couldn't read it but I felt it was important.
I stepped back, wondering what I should do next. The silence brought both relief and fear through me as if a ghost might creep in and scare me. The feeling of being afraid gradually washed away leaving me the sense of home and familiarity. It's like I've been here countless of times before.
It was cold, but not the kind that gives me chills. It's rather comforting actually. The place must have been thriving with lots of mana and spiritual essence. Magical beings lurking and hiding behind shelves and shadows wouldn't be that much of a surprise given the history intact in here. I doubt they would show themselves to me though. As to be expected for a mere substitute.
Trailing my hands over the shelves, I scanned through various titles some of which I couldn't read. There were books about alchemy, shape shifting, demi-humans and demons near the kingdom's border. I stopped my hands short on one of the books containing the history of Aquaris.
Opening and flipping through the pages, I carefully read the first bits of information through it's thick binds.
It said that Aquaris was once a submerged country with its inhabitants living their days under the pure waters of a massive lake. All of them were magically gifted but not all could shape water with their own will. Most were just peculiar human-looking people who could breathe underwater. But when a great change of land formations accompanied by blizzards and droughts caused by the great war of the gods, Aquaris gradually showed itself to the surface.
During this current century, the kingdom is my mostly a pot of various personalities, humans and mages alike.
"I wonder why the royal bloodline was never magically gifted along with the other nobles. Why are the mages just common folk when non-humans owned the land in the first place?"
The book didn't tell me the answer eventhough it was quite an important fact that should've been included. Given that this is a history book, shouldn't it at least be accurate and precise?
I checked the cover and noticed that it was just an ordinary book. Unlike the rest of those on the other shelves, this didn't have any aura. In that case, this is like those textbooks in school.
I looked again for any related scripture regarding the history of the setting. I'm sure there's more than what the public had been let on. Something's definitely hurried around here.
Eager to find an answer to my questions, I searched the other shelves at the far back corner. It was unfortunate that I couldn't reach the top of the towering racks, but I could tell that I wouldn't have to bother. Something's telling me that what I'm looking for is in fact so near from my reach.
"It's strange that I haven't noticed this when I first came in," I said, lifting a locked up and heavy book placed separately from the rest. It was on top of a case nearby a desk that I guess is Father's study table whenever he comes in here.
The book was different with how it was enclosed in a cover that had tons of engravings and markings. Even the title was unreadable for me. Made of some kind of glinting metal, it was cold to the touch and it was definitely not meant to be carried around.
It was also locked. Like it needed a key.
Before I could think, my hand pressed itself unto the latch in the shape of a dolphin, earning me a wound reopened by a stinging needle. I winced once more.
Just like how the door opened upon contact with my blood, the cover unlocked and glowed a blinding light. I covered my eyes with both my hands, my right index finger still painful with the fresh wound.
"Greetings. I am glad to finally meet you, descendant of the Great Father Asturias," a voice said.
I almost screamed.
Surprised and scared out of my wits, I backed away a couple of steps from where I was.
"You—you can talk!" I shouted.
"That I can, young mage," the book said. I can almost imagine it's smiling face with the hint of amusement in it's voice.
"How is this possible?" I murmured.
"I believe that is not what you want to know," it remarked. "You have other things in mind, don't you?"
"How do you know that? Are you a mind reader?"
I clutched my head in a panic as if my hands could stop whatever voodoo thing this creature is doing with my brain. There's no one in their right self would ever want anyone to peer into their heads.
The book laughed. "I am but a fragment of a soul dear child. I could never do anything aside from talk even if I want to do more than just that. All I'm proud of as once a part of my old self is that I know the past, the present and the upcoming future." It stopped talking as if it knows what I am thinking of. "Keep in mind child, visions of tomorrow is not something for you to know. It is not for anyone else to know."
"I didn't say anything!" I said defensively.
"Of course you didn't," it said. "You merely thought of it, as most mortals would."
I raised my eyebrows. "You speak as if you're not a mortal."
"I no longer am." The words were said in a matter of fact tone. It was like it didn't even matter which was scary in a way.
I hitched my breath, unable to think things through. It's all happening too fast. It is to be expected that this things is possible. I have already known that magic exists in this realm and of course a lot of things unimaginable would be to. But still, a talking inanimate object seems to soon for just a few days of waking up as a different person.
As if to sense my train thoughts going downhill and back to the reason why I'm even here, the mysterious voice called out my name.
"Marina Asturias," it said. The voice was stern, a man, close to how Father may have sound if he wasn't that gentle. "You are here because you are full of questions. I cannot answer them all for now. You need more time, more things to learn about."
Questions. That's right. I had lots of them. Like the most important one. 'Why am I still alive?'
"It is not yet for time for you to know. But I can tell you about one thing. It is about your heritage. Listen well and keep it close. Do not let anyone know who we are and what we were forced to be and do."
I did listen. I didn't have much choice. I listened well and by each word, I instantly knew how important such tale was for me and for the safety of the stories plot.
And I also knew that it is not my place to tell the things I have learned just yet.
I wanted to know more things after the history lecture. I wanted to at least know who the voice once belonged to and how was it trapped here with all the knowledge one could never even reach by themselves. Why is it talking to me? But I had no right to ask. Not yet.
Soon. I will know. I hope soon enough that I would be able to understand why I'm even clutching the secrets of the Asturias family as if my life mattered. As if I didn't throw my life once and ruined something that I couldn't even remember now.
I hope I could get to talk to Father. He tell me something. Maybe it'll help me find what I'm looking for. Figure out what it is and why I need it.
I left the library with a heavy rock resting in my chest. Hiding it deep, I went back to my room with a practiced smile. I greeted Lily as if I didn't just learn that my family was never supposed to be what it is now.
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[ FINISHING THE STORY - blue ]