“…A library?” Thena breathed.

  Her footsteps echoed softly as she moved deeper into the library. The shelves stretched far beyond what the outside of the building should have allowed, their spines worn and faded, titles barely legible beneath layers of dust.

  As she wandered, something caught her attention.

  A narrow staircase stood tucked between two shelves, partially hidden, as if it were never meant to be easily found.

  Thena hesitated only for a moment before placing a foot on the first step.

  The wood creaked beneath her weight, the sound unnaturally loud in the stillness. She climbed slowly, one hand brushing against the railing, unsure of what she was even walking toward. The further she went, the more the air seemed to change—warmer, quieter, as if the world below was being left behind.

  When she reached the top, she stopped.

  She hadn’t expected to find anything at all—certainly not this. A living space unfolded before her, and her breath caught at the sight. A narrow hallway opened into a cozy living area, its worn sofa facing a low table scattered with half-forgotten books. Unlike the library below, this room felt… lived in. Beyond it, a small kitchen stood neatly arranged, seemly not abandoned, but paused, as though whoever belonged here had only stepped away for a moment. A bedroom lay further inside, the bed neatly made, curtains drawn to soften the light, while shelves along the walls were lined with everyday objects—cups, folded blankets, old notes, things meant to be used, not displayed.

  Unlike the vast, echoing library below, this place felt warm. Personal.

  Lived in.

  For the first time since arriving, Thena felt something loosen in her chest—an unfamiliar sense that this space had been waiting for someone.

  Her chest tightened for reasons she couldn’t name. "Someone must live here…" she thought.

  Hesitantly, she whispered, “Helloo… anyone there?”

  Her voice echoed softly, but there was no answer.

  “Okay… let’s just go look around some more.”

  Thena finished exploring the second floor and made her way back down to the library. She wandered between the towering shelves, running her fingers lightly over the spines of the books, admiring them with careful reverence. A sudden realization hit her: this library wasn’t the comforting, quiet kind she was used to. It felt… aware.

  Rows of bookshelves stretched endlessly in every direction, their spines worn and unfamiliar, marked with languages she couldn’t read. She took a cautious step forward.

  Her footsteps made no sound.

  “That’s… not normal,” she muttered.

  The air smelled of old paper and something faintly sweet, like wildflowers after rain. Soft motes of light drifted from nowhere, floating lazily between the shelves. Thena picked up a few books, trying to decipher the strange letters, but every page was alien. Everything here felt new and strange.

  Then, one book drew her attention. It seemed to hum slightly beneath her gaze. She reached for it.

  The moment her fingers brushed the cover, a sharp pulse shot through her head. Images flashed behind her eyes—memories that weren’t hers. Wars long forgotten. Names whispered in the dark. A world breaking and rebuilding itself over and over.

  If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  She gasped and let go of the book.

  “What is that?”

  A soft voice answered. Gentle. Almost amused.

  “You shouldn’t touch those so carelessly.”

  Thena froze.

  Slowly, she turned.

  At first, she thought it was just a trick of the light—something shimmering in the corner of the library. But then… a faint shape shifted among the shadows. It was small, timid, barely there, like a whisper of movement. Its eyes—bright and curious—peeked from behind a stack of books. The spirit seemed hesitant, unsure if it should reveal itself, yet drawn to her all the same.

  Thena’s heart skipped a beat.

  “Who… who’s there?” she whispered.

  The shape didn’t step forward. Instead, it tilted its head, watching her silently, half-hidden, almost afraid to be seen.

  “Is that a fairy?” Thena thought as she approached the small figure slowly.

  “Umm… hi there. I can see you, you know?”

  “What! How?!” The spirit jumped back in shock.

  “Hahaha, it’s your shadow,” Thena said, pointing at the tiny silhouette on the floor.

  The spirit blinked, flustered.

  “What are you…? What’s your name?” Thena asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. She studied it carefully, admiring its elegance and strange beauty.

  After a long stare and a flurry of questions, the spirit seemed shy and slowly retreated into the shadows again. But Thena’s eyes followed it. She crouched slightly and spoke gently, “Well… I know it’s not easy meeting new people. I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable… I’ll just do my thing. Talk to me when you feel more relaxed.”

  Thena stood and walked away, resuming her exploration. Quietly, the spirit followed her from behind. Thena noticed but chose to ignore it, letting it decide what to do.

  “Do you live here?” she asked while scanning the shelves. “Are you alone? Have you eaten? What about the owner—where are they?”

  The spirit flinched when Thena glanced back. Startled, it hid again. Thena sighed, disappointed, shrugging. “I guess I’ll never know,” she whispered.

  Eventually, Thena found a cozy reading space filled with chairs and tables. She sat down and thought, What should I do now?

  The spirit crept closer, cautiously this time, and finally spoke.

  “Umm… I’m Frow. I’m the spirit that guards this library. We live here, waiting for someone to arrive.”

  “We?” Thena asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “I’m not the only guardian spirit. There’s another one who guards the second floor. Their name is Nara,” Frow explained, sitting across from Thena in a neat seiza pose.

  “So… you two guard this place? Like caretakers? Not the owner?”

  “No, no, we’re not the owner,” Frow said.

  “Then… where’s the owner? This place looks abandoned for years.”

  “The owner is dead. He’s not here anymore,” Frow said softly.

  “I’m sorry… but why are you still here? Are you trapped?” Thena asked, her questions spilling out one after another.

  “Ss-slow, please… I can’t answer everything at once!” Frow stammered, flustered. “B-before that, I have a question for you.”

  Thena’s eyes lit up, adoring its cuteness. “Sure!”

  “N-not so loud, please… I… umm… w-what’s… your name?” Frow asked, timidly.

  “I’m Thena.”

  “Thena… lovely name, Miss Thena,” Frow said, bowing slightly.

  “Just Thena is fine—no need for ‘Missy Miss,’” she giggled at Frow’s awkward charm.

  “Umm… Thena, how did you find this library?” Frow asked, tilting its head curiously.

  “Just… following a glowing forest. I found this place,” Thena answered casually, not thinking much of it.

  “You saw a glowing forest? And it led you here?” Frow asked, growing serious. It stood up and walked closer, eyes fixed on Thena.

  “I… don’t know about the ‘led’ part. I just found it fascinating, so I followed it,” Thena said, starting to feel uneasy under Frow’s intense gaze.

  “Thena! Follow me!” Frow called suddenly, darting toward the staircase leading to the second floor.

  Curious, Thena followed. The second floor was brighter, with sunlight streaming from tall windows and dust motes dancing in the air. That’s when they saw Nara—bouncing lightly from one shelf to another, a wide grin on their ethereal face.

  “Hi-hi! You must be Thena! Frow told me you were coming!” Nara chirped, radiating energy. “I’m Nara! I help watch over the library too!”

  Thena blinked at the lively spirit. “You’re… a spirit too?”

  “Of course! And don’t worry, this place can look a little scary at first, but it’s safe,” Nara said, twirling in the air. “Oh! And the glowing forest? It doesn’t just glow for fun. It only lights up when it’s guiding someone—or something. That means… it led you here, Thena!”

  Thena tilted her head, impressed. “It… led me here?”

  “Yep! That’s why you ended up in front of this library. You’re special, you know,” Nara said cheerfully, floating closer to her.

  Frow sat back at the table, a small smile on its face, watching Nara’s excitement. Thena felt a mix of wonder and relief. These two spirits weren’t just mysterious—they were friendly, and maybe… she wasn’t as alone here as she thought.