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Jasper's heart pounded with anticipation as he stepped into the hallowed halls of the university library. The looming shelves, stacked high with books of every size and age, seemed to whisper tales of knowledge waiting to be discovered. Today, he was on a quest of his own, armed with a purpose which was to conquer his upcoming Mythology exam. The professor had been very discreet about the upcoming exam which made Jasper's heart run marathons already. The syllabus consisted of Greek, Roman and Mayan mythology with subtle references to the Bible and its events coinciding with the myths. The mythological world had always fascinated Jasper. The gods and goddesses, heroes and monsters, the intricacy of ancient stories woven through time. It was a subject that resonated with him deeply, and he was determined to excel in it. With a heavy backpack slung over his shoulder and a focused expression, he made his way towards the vast mythology section. Jasper's father was a huge philosophy and mythology buff. He remembered all the times when he would tell him stories about men and gods at bedtime, and then he would dream of being a Greek hero himself, taking on monsters and demons. There was a sense of comfort when Jasper was around history and mythology. His favorites being Achilles and Patroclus out of many.
The library was a sanctuary for him, a place of quiet. Rows of oak tables lined with antique lamps offered a serene ambiance and the quietness made Jasper's mind work overtime. As he settled into a corner, he couldn't help but marvel at the ornate carvings of dragons and griffins that adorned the wooden bookcases. Each one held a treasure trove of knowledge, making Jasper anxious as he was about to dive into its depths. Hours slipped as Jasper immersed himself in the world of mythology. He took notes, underlining important passages, and jotting down key figures and their tales. It was an exhausting adventure, but he was determined to leave no stone unturned. The mythology exam was just around the corner, and he refused to let it defeat him. He had lost his father at an early age, but he remembered everything his father taught him. He was always cooped up in his father's study studying his notes. Looking for essence and anecdotes of him in the annotations and scribbles he left behind. He missed him dearly and hence he had decided to study Mythology and Philosophy.
Looking for some Roman heroes, Jasper's fingers danced along the spines of ancient volumes, searching for additional references. Instinctively, his mind went to Homer's works as he was browsing. His gaze fell upon a peculiar book. Unlike the others, it had no title on its spine, and its leather cover seemed faded and weathered. It was perched on a dusty, forgotten shelf, pushed aside as if it had been deliberately concealed. Curiosity piqued, Jasper retrieved the book from its hiding place. Its pages felt ancient beneath his touch, fragile and delicate like dried leaves. The cover bore an intricate emblem of a winged serpent battling what looked to be the Archangel Michael, its eyes gleaming with an otherworldly allure. Jasper's heart raced when he felt the embossed wings of the Archangel on the cover.
Jasper quietly returned to his seat. The Romans left on the shelves. As he cracked open the book, a faint scent of burnt wood wafted from its pages. The text was written in a language he couldn't immediately identify, ancient symbols that seemed to dance across the yellowed textured parchment. Despite the initial confusion, Jasper's determination had taken up the challenge of reading what was there. He flipped through the pages, discovering intricate illustrations of gods, monsters, and realms. The drawings were beautiful, life-like. With each page flipped past Jasper's eyes, he became more captivated by the enigmatic faces he was coming across. He felt as if he had unearthed a hidden treasure trove of forgotten myths and legends. Flipping the pages as he admired the intricate details of the images, he felt a lump. As he examined closer, he realized that a few pages were stuck together on the edges, but there was something buried beneath those pages. He held the book in light and a small sheen caught his eye. When he ran his fingertip on the small sheen it felt like a dried glue streak, but this glue streak glittered under the light.
"Curiouser and curiouser" Jasper mumbled. His phone vibrated in his poecket, jarring him out of his thoughts. He looked at the time, not realizing that hours had passed away, and he had not yet studied for his test. Gathering his stuff and putting the book back on the shelf, Jasper returned to his dorm.
A raven croaked in the background. The flapping of wings echoing unnaturally as the raven disappears in the darkening sky.
- Writer
