Give Me The Answers, Please
1079 Words
Nyra kept looking from book to book for anything that might give a hint about Western Border. Lior was looking at the other end, and Nyra glanced at him occasionally, nervous that she had revealed too much of her past self.
He didn’t look at her and only kept staring at the books and scrolls, searching for something as well. Nyra sighed and turned her whole focus to the bookshelves. She had to find out more about the Western Border now that the timeline had progressed faster than originally.
She pulled a book out, shuffled through it, placed it back, and grabbed a new one. There was all kinds of information that would be to her advantage later, but this was not the time for it.
She sighed and walked deeper to the shelves farthest back. Northern Border, Eastern Border, Southern Border, and Central Territory. Western Border should be near those as well.
Nyra saw something shimmering farther down to her left, just out of the corner of her eye, and turned her head to look at it. It came from the bookshelf, a shimmering light with small orbs flying around it.
“What did you find?” Lior asked, startling Nyra.
He was carrying multiple books, each one about one of the different Borders, even Western Border. Nyra frowned and glared at him for a while before turning back to the shimmering light and walking over to it.
Did he take a book about every Border to hide that he found one about Western Border?
She stopped right in front of the shimmering light and stared at it in surprise. It came from a book with no title and no text on the cover. She pulled it out slowly and opened it, not realizing that Lior stood right beside her and watched her every move.
She read the first line and widened her eyes. This handwriting was her mother’s.
[Western Border seems to work differently from the other Borders.]
Has she written about all the Borders?
She flipped through the pages, and just as she thought, Alphaena had written about every Border, their traits, how they worked, and how they operated. She flipped back to Western Border. The others could wait.
[Western Border, Alpha: Sylus Libel.]
[Traits: Patient, secretive, observant, indirect, and quiet.]
[How they work: Through gifts, servants, supply routes, blackmail, falsified evidence, and spies.]
Nyra stared at the word spies for a while before continuing to read. This proved that the possibility of a spy from Western Border was significant and undeniable.
[How they operate: By using people without their knowledge, befriending and then betraying them, and using the other Borders’ traits to their own advantage.]
“Did you find what you were looking for?” Lior asked and looked over her shoulder.
She closed the book before he could read anything, or so she thought, then turned around and stared at his stupid face with the stupid smile.
“Did your wolf help you find it?”
My wolf?
Nyra stared at him in confusion, which he saw right away before continuing.
“Isn’t your wolf still… No, I mean, haven’t you awakened your wolf since you awakened your powers?”
Nyra frowned, suspicious of what he had just failed to say.
“You don’t get your wolf until you’re eighteen, Lior.”
Lior smiled wider and nodded.
“Yes, but you have already awakened your powers, right? Maybe your wolf has awakened as well.”
Nyra looked down at the books in his hands and shrugged.
“I guess I have, but I haven’t sensed my wolf,” she said, holding the book close to her chest as she walked to the exit.
“But have you tried talking to it?” he asked while following close behind her, still carrying the books he had found.
Nyra thought for a while. She hadn’t tried to get a hold of her wolf. Why would she? Her wolf had first awakened when she was eighteen, and right now, she was only four.
There’s no way my wolf is already awake.
“I’m going to my room, Lior. I want to be alone,” she said and ran as fast as she could out of the “servant room,” down the corridor, and up the stairs at the main entrance.
She looked back, annoyed, expecting him to be right behind her, but to her surprise, he was nowhere to be seen.
For once, you finally listen, Lior. Great job!
She slammed the door behind her as she entered her room, crawled into bed, and opened the book.
Let’s read the rest in peace.
[Western Border seems to work differently from the other Borders. They rarely do anything that would get their own hands dirty.]
[They use promises they cannot keep luring in servants, commoners, and slaves. Sometimes nobles as well, if they know their weaknesses.]
[They are patient and will wait for the right opportunity while watching servants, supply routes, family bonds, old grudges, and habits.]
[They might already have a spy in each Border, even Central Territory.]
Nyra paused before turning to the next page.
[Possible spies in Central Territory: Alan – servant, Silas – horseboy, Sonia – maid, Keld – servant, and Kenia – maid.]
Nyra froze and stared at the last name in disbelief. There was no way Kenia was a spy, not with the way she had treated her in her first life. She shook her head and closed the book.
Alan, Silas, Sonia, and Keld. All four of them were people she would have to look into and find out which of them were the spies. She already knew Kenia wasn’t one and wouldn’t even give the idea a thought.
She looked at the door and remembered what Lior had said.
Maybe my wolf has awakened as well…
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She missed her wolf so much; her best friend and companion. The only one who never left or betrayed her.
Solace, are you there?
Yes, my dear.
Nyra opened her eyes and watched her wolf appear in front of her, the same age and size as when Nyra was killed.
How?
I don’t know, my dear. But you need to be careful.
What do you mean?
The body of a child is weak, and my presence puts a strain on it.
Solace looked at Nyra with its glowing golden eyes.
It can kill you.
- Writer
