The skies were blood-red just as the land beneath my feet, 12 bodies

laid across twistedly among the bodies of the monsters were my family when I

wiped my tears, my hands were filled with the blood, mine and the ones who were

killed in this bloody battle. Was the battle worth something, no but did we win

yes, did we lose yes? We won because the entity that threatened our survival

was no more, but there were no survivors either. A lone mourner of the victory,

my legs gave up I kneeled with down, tears couldn’t stop at the scene unfolding

in front of my eyes, my Unnie, big brother were all dead, they all died

protecting each other. It wasn’t just a team that fought the trial together, it

was a family that raised each other, covering each other.

I looked at the man who was pierced with his sword, Talos our protector.

The man who saved me and the mage in his arms from slave traders, and the man

who taught me the way of the sword. Both of them died protecting each other,

their closed eyes with tears rolling down the smile that said at least they

died protecting their love. But what about me why did they have to leave me; I

don’t want to mourn anymore. I heard footsteps and quickly reached for my

sword, and I heard a laugh, so familiar that a shiver ran down my spine. I

turned around to see the enemy that we so painstakingly fought was approaching

me. Her blue eyes, blonde hair with love were now baring hostility

“Tch, I am disappointed and impressed, But I like that look on your face. Did you think I died?”.

I fixed my expression and took on a stance to fight, which only received a mock

from her, “You are going to fight me, hahaha… blind in an eye and with one hand

hahaha” with a blink of an eye she covered the distance and her hand was gaping

a hole in my chest “But I guess, I will humor you”. I coughed up some blood,

gritted my teeth and took the hairpin from her head, and stabbed her neck. The

blood sprayed, the woman in front of me, let out a blood-curdling scream and a

black fog flew out of her mouth. “I am sorry, unnie.”

I carried her limp body in my arms and fell on the ground she turned at me a tear rolled out, and the

woman mouthed, “Thank you. For saving me.” Meanwhile, the fog was enraged and

searching for another host, another victim it could rot and use to create

havoc. It took a sharp turn and came towards me, my vision turned black as the

fog eloped me, it came pouring in my wounds. I could hear a sinister voice

inside my head, “I will kill you; I will kill everyone hahaha or better I will

make you my host and you will kill everyone” I chuckled and gave her a reply,

“I am no host, I am your prison.” With that said, I reached out to the locket

and activated it with my mana, the shard of calamity as it liked to call

itself, screamed, “you fool I can give you everything you want.” I looked at

the red skies and said, “You’ve taken everything away from me, now repent.”

I turned the page, but there was nothing except a single sentence, “That

was our biggest mistake.”. I wiped my tears and blinked a few times, “what the

hell\, *hiccup*” I turned around to see a lad who worked at the library\, shy

looking ginger with freckles he had intelligent look in his eyes, stayed quiet,

and was a lot less noisy unlike his older brother, but why was looking at me so

intently. I realized my mistake; I smiled my best smile at him and pressed a

finger against my lips. He nodded in acknowledgment and said “Next month we are

planning to open a branch in the capital and we are looking for people to

maintain the shop. I recommended your name to the head librarian and he said he

will be happy to accept you for the job. Be sure to talk to him before leaving,

and that book take it with you. It’s doesn’t belong to the library.” I frowned

at his statement and wrote on the piece of paper “I want to know what happens

next.” He sighed, and put the books in his hands on the table, and sat in front

of me, “This book was given to us free when we received our shipping from the

library. You can take it.”

I smiled at him when he patted my head and went back to his work. I

stood up to meet the head librarian. I knocked at her door, an exhausted voice

gave the permission to enter, “aah, it’s you little one, come on have a tea

with me. I was waiting for you but you were so engrossed in the book that I

didn’t have the heart to disturb you.” The old woman stood up from her table,

which was filled with so many books and papers signaled me to sit. She dragged

a seat beside me and sighed in comfort, “Tell me, was it a fun read.” I nodded.

“I spoke, to the one in the city you will have a roof over your head, and will

only need to help when the store manager is out. The rest of the time you can

focus on your experiment, and you will be paid enough to meet your monthly

expenses.” She took off the locket from her neck and gave it to me. “In case of

emergency use this, it should help you in the capital. And meet Rollen we will

give you some tasty sweets and will tell you the details of the travel plans” I

stood up and with tears brimming in my eyes I bowed down to her to express my

thanks.

She stood up and patted my shoulder and went back to her work. I bowed

to the woman engrossed in her work and bowed to her once again before taking my

leave.