UNFAZED

Chapter 13

The floor squeaked as Noah stepped his foot on the dark brown, wooden floor outside the library.

Noah had been given a tour of the Academy by Cyndi, the very same day. The moment Cyndi pointed towards the gigantic, old, ostensibly simple door of the library, Noah knew this is the place to rummage, for clues and information to delve into. An old library, that's what exactly they wanted in a time like this.

"Watch your step!", Catherine whispered in a hushed tone.

"Sorry", Noah replied, while he tried to walk with softer steps towards to the library, Catherine was behind him.

Finally they reach the door of the library, which was open slightly ajar, as if someone had been in there.

"They don't close their library?", Catherine said pushing the door to open, while Noah stood back to back with her looking for any signs of danger in the dark hallway.

"What are we looking for?", Catherine whispered again, now standing inside the library, she could barely see anything, the darkness engulfed her sight and her pupils adjusted themselves to be able to see clearly in the dark. Noah saw a lit candle placed on the far end of the library. Noah and Catherine followed the path leading to the table on which the candle sat.

Noah gazed at the medley of sections within the library, each pertaining to a different arena. On either side of their path were horizontal branches of path leading further into sub-sections. Bookshelves overwhelmed with superfluous amount of books, Noah saw all sorts of scriptures, written in ancient languages, and different manuscripts tightly bind together with a thick thread.

Noah gazed at the curve paths of the sub-sections in the library, on both the sides it looked like these sub-sections ran in concentric circles. Each engulfing another within, Noah thought if the library's architecture was circular.

Catherine picked up the candle once they reached the long table that was placed in the middle of the library. It isn't the far end, Noah realized, in fact it is the center of the library.

With the minimal luster single candle could provide, Noah took a turn around the table, while Catherine started flipping through the pages of the book which was left open on the table. A pile of books sitting right next to the bunch on open books on the table.

Catherine picked up one book and started reading the pages. Noah noticed the other half of the library, each path leading towards the center, it was a circle. A figure appeared at the other end of the library, it was a girl, she was holding a candle in her hand and walking curiously towards them. Noah figured she was not alone, as he could hear footsteps of more than just one person.

Noah saw the figure coming closer, the darkness of the night had filled the library, the girl's head appeared to be floating, only her face was illuminated by the candle light. The figure reached the center of the library.

"Cyndi?", Noah replied, he glanced behind Cyndi, he could see the two similar figures standing right next to each other. James and Theo, Noah thought.

Catherine, looked up from the book and placed the book slowly on the table.

"What are you two doing here?", Cyndi asked, her tone demeaning and authoritative. Theo took a turn around the table and reached where Catherine was standing with a candle in her hand.

Catherine bit her lip, she did not know if she should tell them the truth. If she should tell them that she doesn't belong from this world but her mother does.

"We-uhh. We were just-", Noah fought to find the right words.

"Save it", Theo yelped, his gaze shifting from Noah to Catherine. Catherine's hair were loose, her skin glowing under the candle light, she nervously pushed a strand of her chestnut brown hairs behind her ear.

Their gaze locked and Theo looked away, his fingers curled up in a fist. Catherine noticed a small scar on Theo's jawline, a small line running along his jaw, could easily be missed by anyone, if they are not standing within a feet from him.

Theo sighed and walked out of the library.

"Seriously guys, what are you doing here?", James said, his tranquil voice surprised Cyndi.

"These people are definitely up to something!", Cyndi averred, while she shot a venomous look at Catherine.

"Let us not accuse them of anything yet.", James replied calmly, looking at Cyndi.

"How can you be okay with this, James?", Cyndi said. "They have been constantly lying ever since they stepped foot in the Academy. For all we know they work for Eugenius!"

"Who is Eugenius?", Catherine asked mystified.

"Oh my god! Why do you keep lying?", Cyndi threw up her arms in amazement.

"I am not lying. I don't know what are you talking about ", Catherine replied, her voice voice more powerful than before.

Cyndi took a deep breath to calm herself, "Where did you come from?", she said, her jaw clenched, she took another deep breath to calm herself.

Catherine was still in a quandary if she should tell the truth or not, when she felt someone holding her free hand. She looked down, it was Noah's.

"Tell them the truth, Cathy .", Noah said, while Catherine glanced at him wide-eyed. She felt him pressing her hand a little, and he gave her a reassuring nod.

Catherine took a deep breath and told them about what happened. How she saw a veneer in the doorway and how they crossed it to find themselves in this world.

Catherine finished talking and she saw James nodding to her words pensively, while Cyndi was still listening intently.

"So, just like that you guys came from cyffredin's world to here?", Cyndi asked, distrustfully.

"Which world?", Catherine questioned.

"Cyffredin. People with no magical powers.", Cyndi and Noah spoke in unison. Cyndi gaped at Noah.

"How do you know about this?", she asked.

"You know about this world, don't you?", James looked at Noah, his face tilted to one side, gazing at Noah up and down, as if trying to find out something. "How?", James pushed further.

"The house that Cathy went into, it was in my neighborhood. It was Ms. Aritzvah's house. Nobody has lived there in a long time. I spent most of my childhood playing at her house. She used to take care of me while my parents were busy working. She-she told me tales, about a kingdom named Gryneff-" , James and Cyndi gaped at these words. They looked at each other and then back at Noah, "She told me about this world, about the valor of Cautelas, the modesty of Ageros, the prudence of Divinus, and the altruism of Aduivas. ", an ingenious smile playing on his lips, as if he was reminiscing the best of the times. "She told me that once, there was an anomaly in Gryneff and people who did not know magic entered the world, they were called the cyffredin."

"Wait-", James said, "If nobody lived there. Then what were doing there?", James shot a quizzical look at Catherine.

"I was just intrigued by the weird looking house.", she replied. Cyndi mouthed a "Okay", thinking something in her head.

"I think this neighbor of yours. She belonged from this world.", Cyndi said.

"I agree", James nodded. "What was her name again?", he asked.

"Ms. Aritzvah, but that's probably a made up name.", Noah told him.

"How do you know that?", James asked inquisitively.

"Because her name is Lorelai Ortiz, and she is my biological mother.", Catherine jumped in the conversations.

"What?", James and Cyndi said simultaneously.

"Yes. She left me at an orphanage when I was hardly a month old.", Catherine replied, her facial expressions stoic, aloof, as if indifferent to the statement.

"Lorelai Ortiz.", James repeated the name, " I don't think I have heard this name before."

"Me neither", Cyndi agreed.

"But this means you are not a cyffredin.", Cyndi said, "You must have some power.", she pointed out.

"I don't have any powers", Catherine scoffed.

"That's not possible, you must have one. We just need to find out from which coterie did your mother and father belong to.", James said.

"So I am the only cyffredin?", Noah asked, not to anyone in particular.

"Seems like it.", Cyndi replied. "But, a cyffredin entering this world is considered an ill omen."