THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA

A CONVERSATION IN THE LIBRARY

The library of Adekunle House boasted an expansive collection, featuring towering bookshelves arranged in a circular fashion.

At the centre of the room, a large brown circular wooden table was surrounded by chairs, creating a focal point. Situated on the house's third floor alongside the parents' room, it neighbored the rooms of Mandla and his sibling on the second floor.

Illuminating the library were several LED lights suspended from the ceiling, casting a bright ambience. Mandla found himself engrossed in a book, his complete focus devoted to its contents. His stillness was only interrupted by the occasional movement of his hands as he turned the pages.

Silence enveloped the library, as it was a rarely frequented space, aside from Mandla and the cleaning staff who attended to its maintenance. The young man had developed a penchant for the library from a tender age, seeking refuge from boredom. Unable to participate in the training Center like his peers, Mandla discovered solace within the pages of the books, diligently devouring their contents.

While he could easily access any literature through a device, the tangible experience of reading a physical book held a distinct allure. The weight of the book in his hands, the sensation of each page as it turned, provided a uniquely satisfying engagement that surpassed reading from holographic displays.

As a result of his extensive reading, Mandla had amassed a vast knowledge base, arguably surpassing what he might have acquired from attending a training Center. Recognizing his son's love for reading, his father took it upon himself to continuously expand the library's collection, ensuring a constant supply of books for Mandla's consumption.

In recent days, since Seid's departure for the academy, Mandla had spent the majority of his time in the library. During this period, he delved deeper into various subjects, conducting research while also using the time for introspection and mental rejuvenation. This period of reflection was a personal endeavour that only he could undertake, preparing himself for the challenges that lay ahead.

Suddenly, the tranquillity of the room was disrupted by a resounding thud as the library door swung open. Mandla raised his head from the book, directing his gaze towards the entrance, which was partially concealed by a row of bookshelves.

The sound of approaching footsteps soon followed, and a familiar figure emerged from between the book-lined aisles, holding a tablet in her hands.

"Gwen, you've returned," he softly muttered, a smile gracing his lips. "It appears to be quite late," he added, checking the wrist-mounted ATD device, revealing that it was already 5 pm.

"Hmm," Gwen nodded, her expression serious. "Brother, how is your health?"

"Oh, I've been doing well," Mandla replied in a cheerful tone, casually propping his legs up on the table.

"Enough with the pretence," Gwen responded, her tone slightly raised.

"Oh," Mandla nonchalantly replied, turning his attention back to his book. "You can stop pretending now, Gwen."

"What do you mean?" Gwen defensively retorted.

"I overheard what happened at the Center. You don't need to pretend, at least not with me."

"I'm not pretending," Gwen responded in a shaky voice.

Mandla closed his book and stood up, embracing her tightly. "It's alright if you want to cry. If you need to talk about it, I'm here."

Moved by his support, Gwen dissolved into tears within Mandla's embrace, softly sobbing while he comforted her with gentle pats on the back. "Let it all out," he murmured.

After a moment, she regained composure and pushed Mandla away, hastily wiping her tears. Mandla jestingly remarked, "You only needed to ask me to let go, you know?" which elicited a genuine laughter from Gwen.

"Now my robes are damp," Mandla remarked, dusting off his attire before settling back into his chair. He reopened his book while Gwen took a seat in another chair beside him.

"That was the first time you've genuinely laughed in the past two weeks," Mandla remarked. "Would you like to talk? You know I'm here to listen."

"That's not entirely true," Gwen replied with a smile.

"Perhaps not, but I can be that person for you," Mandla replied, shrugging his shoulders as he closed his book and turned his attention toward her.

"Well, a lot has happened in the past two weeks," Gwen began, her eyes welling up with tears.

"No kidding," Mandla interjected, prompting Gwen to give him a stern look.

"Alright, I'll be quiet," Mandla conceded, raising his hands in surrender.

"How much do you know, exactly?" Gwen inquired.

"I know only that your Center was attacked by an Empreyean, and it was devastating. Many lives were lost," Mandla responded.

"Yes, it was," Gwen managed to say, nodding while tears cascaded down her cheeks. "I can't seem to get the destruction out of my mind—the chaos and that colossal monster rampaging. It keeps replaying over and over again."

Mandla gently held Gwen's hands, offering her comfort through his touch.

"I even lost Freya, my best friend, in that attack. I watched as she was crushed to death by that monstrous creature," Gwen continued, pausing momentarily to take deep breaths and steady herself.

"It's alright," Mandla reassured her, uncertain of the appropriate words since he had only seen Empreyeans in pictures and had never experienced the bond of a best friend. Chum, his loyal companion, might be considered his closest friend, but he couldn't fathom the pain of losing him.

"I couldn't move when it happened. I suppose I was in shock," Gwen shared, managing a slight chuckle. "Maybe I could have helped her, told her to run faster or something."

"Stop blaming yourself," Mandla responded firmly. "You can't shoulder that burden. It wasn't your fault."

"But—" Gwen stammered.

"No, don't do this to yourself," Mandla insisted, gently squeezing her hands. "It was the Empreyean's fault, not yours, Gwen."

"If only I had the strength to fight it," Gwen replied, tears streaming down her face.

"Perhaps, but it has already transpired, Gwen. Accept it, learn from it, and continue living," Mandla advised.

Silence settled between them as Gwen sobbed softly, while Mandla provided solace through his comforting touch. After a while, Gwen wiped away her tears and expressed, "Thank you, Mandla. I'm grateful to have you as my brother."

"The feeling is mutual, Gwen."

"Now, I have some assignments from the Center. I could use your help," she said, switching on her tablet.

"Of course, let me take a look," Mandla offered, initiating an entirely new conversation.