"...As dawn came, the barren land was also illuminated of the destruction the death of a Princess had spawned..."

tap.

I finished reading the novel for the a hundred and twelfth time now. I was lazily laying on the cold floor with the book covering my face. Thinking I'm so pathetic, miserable and wretched, I sighed. I have no idea what to do.

I was just starring in the darkness, eyes covered. I don't know how much time had passed. Does it matter? Aya would've nagged at me if she was here. If only she was.

My thoughts were once again filled by her, it was intoxicating. I feel like I would just get lost from the memories so I straightened my back.

After deciding to sit a bit, I took the book and started reading the title of the book.

"Dawn of Asherah."

It was novel about a Princess who died by the hands of someone she trusted along the lines with political struggle and death. The book was pretty interesting considering it was dark. Just like Romeo and Juliet, it was book filled with tragedy and deaths.

And just like the genre of this book, its owner also met tragedy.

'Why does she like this stuff so much? Pfft'.

I laughed bitterly. Of all things she could've left behind, she left this treasured book to me. A few months ago, Aya died in an accident, leaving me with nothing but this book.

'Well, it wasnt like I wasn't used to being alone..."

I was an orphan. When I grew a little older and left the orphanage, I struggled day and night to survive. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I was close to being a beggar. I moved houses to houses, got fired one after the other, I worked myself to death and took too many jobs at once just to eat.

I was a sucker for a good life. Now that I think about it, what was so good about living for me to continue life even though it was pointless?

"Ah...yeah. It was her."

Aya. She was my reason then, because she nagged like a mother to me, cared for me like family and kept me from dying. How annoying, she said I should live, but she died first.

Shhh, shh.

As if the winds were calling me, I turned to the window. The rustling leaves fluttered gracefully and the first rays of the sun blinded me for a moment.

'I guess I must've stayed night reading again..'

Tap.

I closed the book, I stretched my limbs and got electrocuted.

"Aw, aw, aw..aw!!" I yelp. My numb legs seems to have slept and abruptly jolted awake. I must have looked like a fish floundering on the floor. Nevertheless, I dragged my body to move.

This apartment wont pay for itself. I have to get to work and pay my bills. After all, I'm still alive.

---------

creak, creak...grp.

"Ha."

A laughed escaped my lips. Everything was burning. The apartment I left in one piece is slowly burning into ashes.

'What the hell happened? What...'

People gathered like ants who found a sugar cube, gossiping, shouting. It was chaotic, but I was indifferent.

There was nothing important in there anyway. I had no money, I had no one, there was nothing in that apartment. What does it matter if it burns? If anything, I think that fire is beautiful.

As I was watching with empty eyes, a sudden realization hit me.

The novel.

The novel that I kept reading till dawn was inside.

I felt like I was hit in the back of my head. I was so stupid for forgetting. That book was more important than my life. It was the only thing left from Aya. I madly rushed past the people. The debris and fire didn't matter as I lunged at the burning apartment.

"Stop him!"

"Kai, No!"

"Kai!!!"

I heard people calling my name stopping me, but they were too late. I sprinted, I was praying that the book is still in one piece.

The thick smoke suffocated my breathing, but I frantically swung my head right and left.

'Where is it, where is it! I have to save the book!'

When eyes landed on a novel sitting on table, I ran to it and protectively hugged it.

'Now I just have to get out of here.'

But as if life was mocking me, the flames were spreading fast, all exits blocked and deemed impossible to escape. What luck. In my next life, can I get reincarnated as a person brimming with fortune?

"...hahah" I couldn't help but laugh. Has the smoke gun into my head?

bogsh..!

A pillar started falling down, followed by another. I had evaded the first, but the second one struck me from the back. I was stuck. Blood spilled from arms and legs, but still, I protected the book.

I squirmed like a worm, I dragged my feet, I tried to get half of my buried body out of the debris, but it was futile. Only trails of dark bloods painted the floors of the burning house. My sight was covered in dark smoke, with the bright fire dancing in front of me, I finally gave up.

Glancing at the book in my arms, I had given up.

As the fire neared me, my chest also felt burning...no it was warm.

I glanced again at the book, and it was glowing. Glowing like bright light was emitting from the book.

"Am I...hallucinating now?"

With those final last words, my view started to turn dark.