Never in her life had Solanne imagined or even considered a catacomb with a secret room full of books in it. Her eyes flickered in wonder. She took a step forward, Yael behind her; their hands were still clasped. Careful, cautious, and afraid that they might get separated again. Yet, it was just Yael who thought of that.
Feeling the restriction, Solanne swiftly removed her hand from Yael and walked forward.
A paused. Yael stared at Solanne's back, unable to look away. He doesn't get it. She just took a step forward. She just breaks free from his hold, yet why does he feel he has taken something from him. Something precious that he couldn't help but wonder; as his pupils trembled, her back was reflected in his eyes. Solanne gradually made a distance between them.
He looked at his hand. He was still puzzled, wondering, and confused. However, just like the perfect actor he was, he could blink away his sorrowful expression and follow her closely from behind. Honestly, he felt pathetic thinking that he was like a child who needed his nanny on field trips like this.
Solanne's attention was on the different books right in front of her. As she stepped, she felt a sense of awe and reverence. She was staring at the place intensely, afraid to even blink, fearful that they would be transported back to the cabin in just a blink of an eye.
All of what was happening and all of the places they went to had left a deep impression on her, yet this place, she had never thought that she'd be able to feel something even deep compared to the previous worlds.
Solanne didn't know why, but this whole room felt like it was speaking to her. She memorized the place, the walls lined with shelves reaching towards the heavens, unable to see the ending, laden with volumes of forgotten lore and knowledge. Each book contained mysteries that Solanne had never even imagined reading before.
She stepped forward again, seeing the dust dance in the air like ethereal spirits caught in the beams of torchlight that cast long shadows upon the stone floor.
Looking through the place, Solanne saw a few opened books on the table in the middle. A dried ink and a quill just lay there. Suddenly, Solanne had imagined different kinds of scenarios in her head.
The first scenario was when countless scholars visited this place and used it as one of their hideouts, as knowledge was forbidden outside. The second was an old man, a sage trapped in this place, and he's an immortal, documenting his life, trying to find an anchor and solace. The third was this place, the home of those whose loved ones slumbered deep inside these catacombs. It is a place for them to store their memories and where they can look back.
Despite the numerous theories, Solanne felt like a child discovering a mystery for the first time. It fascinated her. It made her want to stay and be present in this place. Read what was documented on those papers and ask those who had left the dried ink and quill and their reasons for continuing writing.
Just as her mind was full of thoughts, Yael interrupted; his eyes were on the books, and he asked, "What are your thoughts about these?" He shifted his gaze, eyes focused on Solanne, and his eyes flickered with the reflection of the torchlight. It seemed like she had seen an emotion, but it had disappeared before she could understand it.
Thinking she was just seeing things, she pushed the matters aside, excited to explore the place.
Solanne smiled, afraid to touch the books, yet she also wanted to read them. "I thought you were still mad at me?" She joked. Yael rolled his eyes and scoffed. Solanne let out a small chuckle before she answered, "There are many thoughts in my head right now. I feel like you'll be overwhelmed if you know them."
"I want to know," all his attention was only focused on her. He didn't blink nor look away, afraid of another magic that might whisk him away from her like those dreams they had before. His eyes were like books full of words, yet it was hard to decipher their meaning. Solanne was lost for a moment.
From the way Solanne had observed him, she had a few guesses about his life from time to time. What was on his mind, yet when it came to his emotions, Solanne wasn't sure of it as he was perfectly masking them with his actions, on his gaze, and despite how honest he looked, She wasn't just perfectly sure of his intentions as he was able to mask it.
Pulling herself back, She gave a small smile. "Why are you so curious?"
"Is there a reason?" Yael sigh. He can feel something stuck in his throat. "I just want to know."
"Well," Solanne eyed every corner of the place, trying to memorize it and document it. "I'm fascinated by this place."
"Fascinated?" Yael repeated.
Solanne nodded, "Yes, In a place where there is death, a place full of vast knowledge was hidden. Death is a very ominous word for us, yet, for this place, death sounded like peace and hope. It made me feel envious."
"Envious of what?"
"To know the feeling of death. To know the feeling of being in peace."
"Are you thinking—"
"No," Solanne dismissed. She knew what Yael was about to ask and didn't want to open those questions. Not right now. Not when she's even afraid of her current thoughts. "I am just… curious."
Curious. Yael muttered back in his head. Never in his life has he liked the word. Although being curious was something to be proud of as it is often associated with different renowned scientists, politicians, and scholars, comparing it to Solanne, the word curious was like an aftermath of her addiction. Her trigger words for him show how desperate she can sometimes get to satisfy her hunger for knowledge.
Pressing this matter, Yael asked, "Tell me," his tone grew serious. "Please, explain to me your curiosity."
Solanne tilted her head to the right, her brows rose, and her eyes asked him to explain more.
Yael heaved his breath as if preparing a recitation from his instructor. "Wherever you tell me that you're curious, to what extent?" He asked. "How do things work in your mind?"
Hearing the last word, Solanne can't help but be amused. "You make it sound like there's wrong in my brain." Solanne took a step forward to the books, looking at the titles as she said, "It's not that complicated, Yael; you do not need to overthink it. Think of it as if you were encountering something that fascinates you, and you wanted to know about it, as it was the first time you have encountered such a thing. Think of my curiosity as a child. It's the innocent side of me, the me who wants to learn, and the me who thinks this world has endless possibilities."
As Solanne muttered those words, her eyes were glued to the books, yet Yael looked at her without missing any beat before peeling his gaze away. Silence enveloped them, yet it wasn't awkward. As Solanne was about to grab a book, the pamphlet they held glowed again.
This time, some words were scribbled. " Remember that life can never be lived again, and no matter how heartbreaking it was, never offer your help, for your souls will be the payment."
As soon as they read what was on the pamphlet, Solanne's fingers touched one book; it had a white leather-bound cover and nothing more. There was no title and no synopsis written. In a blink of an eye, Solanne and Yael heard a name. They weren't able to distinguish and understand it, as if the name it muttered was concealed, yet, in their mind, there was a vivid image.
They could see a coffin deep in the catacombs, in a much lower form than they were, in an isolated place; one set of human bones was lying there in peace. Yet through the writings on the coffin it was written, as if it was the last words, of the person that had buried the body, their final farewell.
"The world was far too cruel for a boy who only wanted to live with his family. And never in his life did he learn how to forgive. Yet, he was loved. Deeply so. And that love has haunted him to his very last breath and is the reason for his suffering in the next life. May he find peace and forever be loved."
As Solanne read those words, her eyes suddenly tore up, and her heart broke. The sight of the bones carved in her mind.
She swallowed, afraid of what they were about to see.
--