The entrance going to the library, through the bridge that connects the castle to the library, looks like it is designed someone who is a kid at heart. The roof is made of an open book, and the edges is the spine of the book. There is also a waiting area outside which are just stone benches which is made to look like stacks of books.
It is so amazing that I almost forgot the reason why I go here at two in the morning. I am thirty minutes late though because Theo is being such a workaholic that after the party, he still worked on some documents, before hitting the bed.
I push open at the door and enter an, undoubtedly, the most massive library I have ever set foot into. Unlike Pitchford and Durian's library, the wall, ceiling and bookshelves are all painted white. Counting the floors from outside, I am certain that I should only be at the fourth floor, but looking down, I am actually on the tenth floor, with the basement still way, way down. There are stairs all around, spirals or not, tables and chairs, private areas, and dizzying amount of books. Even if I spend a werewolf lifetime, I won't be able to finish all of these book collection.
My heart is pounding so much that I feel like if I will have the chance, I will stay for a year in this place, doing nothing but read.
"It's amazing, isn't it?"
I whirl towards the voice and see, not Darius, but the young King of Orttenburg.
"King Seth," I greet. "What are you doing here?"
"Nothing, really. I just got interested because my serious, aloof personal guard has finally taken a liking to a woman…" he pauses. "Taken a liking to a human in general, which makes me think that you might not actually a human, aren't you?"
"She's a werewolf, same as me," come the deep voice which is the reason why I am here in this hour. Darius bows a little at me and says, "I apologize, Miss Kaiya. I thought I escaped his eyes, but I was wrong."
More importantly, he is also a werewolf? Is that why he realizes that I am also one? "You said you know me."
"Should we sit somewhere private first?" King Seth interjects. "Follow me."
He walks towards the inner part of the library and then, inside another room, he pushes a bookshelf, revealing a couch which surrounds a small table.
"There, this has always been a nice reading nook."
King Seth sits at the center and waits for me and Darius to take our place.
"Close the door, Darius." Darius follows and then takes his place beside him.
I stood my ground. "Not to be rude, King-"
"Seth."
"Not to be rude, Seth, but this is supposed to be a conversation between me and your guard, Darius."
A look of amusement comes into his eyes, and then he laughs. I raise my brow and look at Darius, asking why the hell is the young king laughing at me. I have never said anything funny.
"No hesitation on using my first name at all. Is that how Theo trained you?"
"T-trained?" I stutter. Besides, he's the one who suggested to his name!
"Well, even if you didn't invite me in your conversation, I will find some other way to get the information I desire. And I don't think you will like my other methods."
My shift transfers to Darius, who is now comfortable on the couch. He eclipses the young King's frame, but the confidence coming off from them is completely different.
"Contrary to how I present myself to others, I am addicted to amassing knowledge. You can call me a nerd even if I look like a warrior."
I understand. That's the reason why Orttenburg quickly become known as the Kingdom with the biggest library. It is because of him and his addiction.
"Now, Darius, will you tell Kaiya here, why you know her? I am also very curious."
My brows raise again. He did not even ask me if it's fine to call me by my first name. Instead of answering, Darius whispers to him. The young King's eyes widen and he turns towards me again.
"Can I call you by your first name, Miss Kaiya? I find it hard to call people with their titles."
"I think it's too late for that though," I say. I take a deep breath and sit before them.
Darius clears his throat and says, "I am a parent of one of your students, Miss Kaiya."
"You have a wife and child?!" the young King exclaims. "That's unfair! You kept that from me!" The young king realizes his outburst, so he clears his throat again. "I am sorry, continue please."
"I was also your student," Darius adds.
I blink, confused at what he just said. The young King, on the other hand, keeps on switching his eyes between me and Darius.
"That's not possible, right? Werewolves has a longer lifespan. So it's not possible that she is your teacher and she is also the teacher of your son."
"Even when I met, Miss Kaiya. She's always been a little different from the other werewolves."
"Are you talking about me, really? Maybe it's a different Kaiya," I say.
"I am completely sure that it is you. You never changed since I was a kid."
"How is that possible?"
"You are immortal, Miss Kaiya. You've been in this world, even before my great-grandparents walks this world."
"That's not possible. I don't even have a memory before I was sent to the Weiller's hunting park."
"That's because one of your abilities is to take a hold of the mind of the werewolves."
"I can take control of your mind?"
"Yes, but I will advise you against it."
"Why?"
"The Moon Goddess' magic has been going haywire for the past couple of centuries, like what you have told us before. And since your magic is connected to the Moon Goddess, you are also affected by it."
"How am I affected by it?"
"If you take a hold of a werewolves' mind, you will sacrifice some of your memories."
"Oh!" I exclaim. "Then the event fifteen years ago?"
"You take a hold of the mind of your thirty werewolves student and so you lost some of your memory."
"Some? But I don't any memories."
"Even fifteen years ago, when you are teaching us, you also, already lost some of your memories."
"What do you mean?" I ask.
"The elders mentioned that the werewolves did not lose the war against the humans. But rather, it's you who lost against your pity for the humans."
My frown deepens.
"They said that you take control of all the minds of the werewolves back then. In that case, they will think that they lost the war and so they will return to the peaceful living you hoped for everyone. When the werewolves left, the humans thought they won, and so they flourished."
I swallow. "How many did I take control of?"
"Millions of minds. Enough to sacrifice your lifetime of wisdom and memories."