Her deep, green and cold eyes made him feel uneasy. She watched him intently then spoke. Her voice was light and soothing; it reverberated deep within him sending a regret to his heart to feel it. It felt as if he was in the wrong to keep his guard up. Something in him told him there was no need to keep thinking and grasp the opportunity; it may never come over again and he would be back to that world. Compared to both places, the tower felt eerie and fantastic.
He could be free of her and her defective system. He would be away from the castle of Dimitruicasten. He could have anything he wanted. A year wasn't much in exchange for his freedom. Furthermore, he was good with books. He didn't mind reading. It was at least a better to waste his time. The books always provided a world where to retreat and enjoy life.
"Alright then," she went silent for a moment, observing him. He wasn't completely bedazzled by the space. "I would like to invite you for a tour. I'd like to believe that you said you would give it a thought. It's rude and somewhat arrogant to deny the offer of a Lady directly. At least, give her face by saying you will think about it."
"Then I will think about it," he replied awkwardly. He was forced into being a gentleman without realizing it.
Stephan wasn't the kind and caring type; he cared only for what brought him profit or benefit. It was a rule he put down and carved in his mind for years. Being kind never brought him anything. Always saying yes and accepting others' requests made one look like a pushover. There was nothing wrong in refusing; it was his time and his life that he was trading.
Why would he be a gentleman to girls while they could do a lot of things alone? Furthermore, if someone intended to seek someone's help, it would be right to give something in return. A free meal always made someone lazy and another one a pushover. For example, beggars always beg for anything. There are always people who would come to their help because the helpers always thought of their guilt, as a way to seek pardon. However, what if someone came and accepted the role of a forever helper. Wouldn't it be bad for society?
The helper might think that he was doing a good deed while it was the opposite. The first meal was always passable, the second the same, the third, the extreme acceptable, but more than that was always harmful to anyone. People who couldn't rely on themselves would grow lazy and would think of doing bad deeds. A free mind and unoccupied hands always attracted a sense of pleasure; they would turn into villains and excuse themselves with their pitifulness. It wasn't an option for him.
He believed if someone needed something from him then he had to be prepared to give something in exchange. It could be at the moment or at a later date, whatever. The importance was to get back what was owed. Every human had a tank of anything; one who would always give without taking anything in return would one day be empty. The tank would be empty and the doubts would be crawling then in his mind. That was why the rules were made; Stephan made a lot in his life and forced himself to abide by them.
To never accept any request or offer if not deemed under the principle of equivalent exchange.
Time was money and he didn't have enough money to spend.
"Follow me. I will show you what this place truly looks like," she snapped her fingers and the spiral stairs that didn't have bookshelves on one side, grew ones.
The bookshelves grew from the ground like plants that were aged quickly using a time-fastening spell. There were now spiral bookshelves and stairs. The bookshelves on the side backed with the emptiness weren't taller. They had half-height to allow passengers to walk and rest a hand on them.
As to add more oddity to the events, the books came flying around him, circling around, using the papers and the thick cover like wings. They had small legs that sprout out when they landed on a surface. The covers were all different and with all kinds of colours. It felt like a rainbow decided to descend and play with him at its heart content.
"Are those also books?"
"Indeed. However, they are different. They are books that were forgotten by people and lost through time. They are dead books belonging to the cemetery below."
He leaned over the shelves and discovered the hypnotizing cemetery of books underneath him. It was thought that the place where he was at first, was the ground but it wasn't. There was a pit underneath him that held all the lost books. He couldn't see clearly most details but apparently, the tombs were in form of boxes where important books were kept away from humidity and light.
"This place is completely out of the ordinary."
"This is the tower of knowledge. A librarian takes care of the books, helps them stay clean, fixes their injuries, patches up the lambs, raise the younger ones and guides them so that they stay true to their writings… A lot other more. The work of a librarian is important but not everyone can become one. I haven't seen an outsider for years, for hundreds of years. I am happy because I got to see you, an outsider to this space."
If she was happy, she didn't show that. Her face was expressionless without a smile. She walked with elegance and refinement, taking upstairs. The stairs were cut into parts. Right when they reached a smooth part where a door stood tall, she stopped.
"I think you might be in need of a bath."
"You are the one responsible for my current state."
"Your master was clear as crystal when she said you didn't like the normal portals. She said you would like to be taken like in a kidnapping. You know how it is. When you take someone away, borrowing the person against his wishes."