We all know someone who reads just to say they've read, but ask them about it later, and it's like the story never touched them. It's not the best feeling, but interestingly, most people forget what they read after reading thousands of books, or just after a long time.
Though that isn't the case for our little princess right here. If she were to be asked something about one of the many books she has read, she would know how to answer in an instant.
You see, our young princess Iris finishes a book five times slower than a normal person. That is her secret to remembering each one of them. She relishes the book word by word until it ingrains itself in her head. Another technique of hers, more widely known, is transforming words into reality. And no, not literally. Not yet, at least. Your little princess is still waiting to awaken.
Reminds me of someone...
So sadly, she has to imagine them in her world instead of living them in the core of the story.
Right now, our princess is feeling a little disappointed. The reason? It's a very tragic one, so I expect you to brace yourself. She has just finished her book. A tragic event indeed, one worthy of mourning, but all good things come to an end. Even here, in the infinite library.
The thing is, and this may very well change your opinion about the young princess right here, the book had an amazing ending, if not the best she had ever read. And you may think I'm making things up. No one is disappointed after a great ending, right? They are, more often than not, satisfied.
The true reason for her disappointment? As I said earlier, she likes to relish the book, so she gets really attached to the characters and the story. So whenever it finishes, she can't help but be sad. For her, it's a goodbye to her dear friends.
Personally, I've never had to deal with this problem. But maybe that's just me. Maybe more would relate to our little Iris.
So disappointed as she was, the princess grabbed the book she had been reading for some days now. She slowly walked through the endless rows of books, some old, with the leather of their covers deteriorated, and for some, non-existent. Others were new, with the smell of fresh paper still evident in the air.
Speaking of it, one of the biggest mysteries of the infinite library is how new books are still appearing. There are many theories, but the one most people believe is that the reality of others writes these books. Stories from other worlds. And that even this world has one.
The second most widely believed theory is that the infinite library just adds books after their authors finish them. I am one of the believers in this story, but maybe I'm wrong. Who knows?
So where were we? The princess wandered through what seemed to be an endless number of shelves until she found the one where she had borrowed her book.
After putting the book back, she stretched her back, shaking off the stiffness from a day spent sitting. It had become a daily routine to do this after a long day of reading. But between us, she also did this in hopes it would help her grow taller. So who's going to tell her?
Not long after, she finished stretching her whole body, feeling brand new. She looked to the sky to see what time it was. The sun, showering its might upon her golden eyes, slowly dipped beneath the horizon, and beneath the gaze of the princess.
Only then did the wind start blowing. It blew, but whenever it touched Iris, it seemed gentle, as even it knew her status as the heir of the Serathia kingdom. It caressed her snow-like hair, gracing it with its glory.
Soon enough, she found herself back in her room. Looking at the bed near her, with its soft mattress and pillows that felt like clouds, she couldn't help but plunge straight onto it.
But we can forgive her this time. Even someone like her, who sits at the top without a care in the world, can feel tired once in a while, right?
And would you dare even wake up such an angel? Who knows, maybe you would be cursed if you did. Or maybe you would be poisoned, as such an exotic flower as her tends to protect itself through poison.
... I doubt it.
[...]
The beautiful sound of the birds echoed through the kingdom, waking it up. Well, except someone. Who knew such a young and gentle princess would sleep like an old tree you used to rest under whenever it was scorching outside?
But sadly for her, humans don't hibernate. So she had to wake up, just instead of waking up to the magical song of the birds, she woke up to an angry servant, and also, on the floor.
It seems our princess has a bad habit of moving quite a lot while asleep, causing her to fall out of bed most of the time. The thing is, her parents knew this, and that was why they put wooden bars on each side. But as we saw, she still managed to fall. And her bed wasn't even small. Quite the contrary, it was a king-size bed.
It worries you when you realize that someday she will rule over a whole kingdom.
But enough of that.
After getting scolded by her maid for the hundredth time, the princess was left alone to get herself ready. You see, a long time ago, her parents hired a private magic tutor, the best in the kingdom, in hopes of helping their child awaken.
But as you probably realized, it hasn't worked. Not even a little.
Well, at least when she does awaken, she will know how to use her powers as if she had them since birth.
After getting herself ready, she awaited her teacher. An old man with a beard so long and so white you couldn't believe it was real. With a big and pointy hat, he called himself a wizard, though they don't exist in this world. But how would a little child like Iris know that?
Speaking of the devil, he soon arrived. With his mighty staff in hand, he would do little magic tricks to grab the princess's attention before putting her straight to work, and it had proved to be quite effective.
... Noted.
But while the princess was listening to her teacher, a question suddenly popped into her mind. One that couldn't get out. It was so frustrating, as if it had ingrained itself in her thoughts.
"Do monsters exist?" Staring right into her teacher's eyes, she asked without hesitation, surprising the so-called wizard.
He cleared his thoughts and prepared to answer with a simple no and get back to where they were. But then something stopped him. Maybe a guilty conscience from the past, perhaps a memory. Whatever it was, it sure wasn't something good.
He looked back at the young princess, and with a face more serious than ever, so much so it even intimidated Iris for a second—he gave her an answer to remember.
"They do, and they're frightening." His voice seemed shaky, as whatever or whoever he was talking about still haunted him. "And they hide at every corner, taking advantage of our own shadows," he said, turning a lantern on, as if trying to ward off a creature that hid in his shadow at that exact moment.
"And worst of all, they don't look like you would imagine them. No, they look human. More human than actual people." His head rested on his gentle and old hands, as if he were a small child hiding from a monster.
"And some aren't even born that way." He paused for a second, then looked the princess straight in the eyes. "Remember this, Iris. Monsters are created, and their home is the Aby—"
Noticing the princess's terrified look and her soft, tearful face, he realized he had crossed the line.
He turned away from her tears, his own heart trembling. Some truths, he realized too late, were better left in the dark.
He looked down, ashamed. "I said too much… far too much."