The morning comes and goes in a blur. While others slowly wake up with the light, Aislene is too excited to calm down. Hastily finishing her routine, she exits her home quickly, and speed walks to the library. Arriving early, the doors are still locked, and she didn't have a key to open it quite yet. Thinking for a moment before walking away, she decides to visit the market where people are just beginning to set up shop. Looking around, Aislene ponders over what to do. Spotting a pretty-looking ring from across the road, she goes to get a closer look. The ring had a beautiful silver edge half a centimeter thick, with blue stones embedded in it and a flower centerpiece. Admiring it, she purchases the ring and sticks it on her finger to examine. Giddy, she walks around to look for other interesting trinkets. By the time the library opened, she'd bought a new sky hat and a gold earring. Once the librarian arrived, she began working diligently, setting out the new stories for display and organizing older ones by order. An eternity runs by and the library was finally spotless. Smiling with herself, she watched the horologium's long hand tic from thirty to thirty-one. Just twenty-nine more later and she would be eating lunch with her new friend. Recounting their meeting place, she made a mental map of the route and the roads she would take. Set and ready, the librarian allowed her a break to relax before she would leave. Plopping down in a fluffy chair, she blew out a tired breath. She looks around for something to read. Picking up the nearest one, she realized it was the same book from the pawnshop the day prior. The title read "Lupus Magna" faintly on its degraded cover, revealing its age. Opening the book, she flipped through its first few pages, skipping the glossary and index. The story was based on a historical figure that died a long time ago. She eventually finds the first chapter and begins reading silently. "1000 geneses ago, a great wolf appeared from the depths of the earth. It was a divine creature capable of destroying and creating worlds. When humans were born, it was the great wolf that told them the secrets of the universe. It taught them the uses of magic, mathematics, and science. It founded the pillars of the human kingdom and chose which family would sit on the royal throne. The great beast was revered across all nations as the most powerful being in existence, blessing humanity with gifts. It was named Fenrir by a holy sage who described the wolf's presence as that of a God. But in half the time it spent with the humans, it so too left. Still unknown as to where it has gone, it is believed that one day the great wolf will return to reclaim its world." Setting down the book Aislene determined she would save the full story for when she had more time. Looking back at the clock, which had only moved two more spaces, she frowned. Why did time slow down when she was waiting? It always seemed to change its acceleration based on her perception. How rude of time. She began to hum as always. The nursery rhyme was so old in her memory it was a wonder she remembered the words that went along with it. Regardless she sang them in her head in rhythm with her hums.

"Oh, where oh where did the light go?

The lights are gone, and the wind blows.

A child and her mother.

Travel alone together.

Fair oh fair is thy lady.

Her blinds, so kind.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Hold her like a baby.

Their journey abrupt.

And the end corrupt.

The bodies hang and the sky of rain.

The girl is gone.

And nowhere by dawn."

Repeating the song several times, the clock finally dongs, signaling the end of her break. Picking herself up, she leaves, giving the librarian a smile on the way out. At the coffee house where she meets Eembee, she waits at an outdoor table alone beside the birds and umbrellas. After a moment passing, and she begins to wonder if Eembee would show. Doubting for only a moment, a familiar figure eventually appears out of the corner of her eye. A beautiful young girl with her golden orange hair tied in a bun and a simple yet delightful white dress hanging above her heels. At her arm was a boy even younger than her. He had messy blonde curls that contrasted against his subtly formal attire. He looked embarrassed and a little scared, eyes darting around in anxiousness. Calling out to Eembee, Aislene waves her over to her table, where they all sit. "Hello again, Aislene, this Owyn, my betrothed." Eyes widening, Aislene looks at the boy. He looked to be ten Imus, yet Eembee looked at least 5 geneses older. How were they to be married? The boy looked equally shocked but didn't say anything to deny it. "Wow. Well, it's nice to meet you, Owyn." He looked at her and replied confidently but carefully. "Nice to meet you as well, miss Aislene." Greetings out of the way the conversation took off, led mostly by Eembee. They all spoke of different things regarding various topics, particularly crime. Eembee hid all her true questions under a farce of small talk and smiles. Aislene answered as best she could but quickly became flustered. Noticing kindly, Eembee dropped the topic and moved on to something else. In the background, Aislene unknowingly had a pair of eyes watching her, making sure to stay out of sight and remain unnoticed. It gazed in interest as the three friends enjoyed their meals. When lunch was over, Aislene took Eembee and Owyn to see the library, where they spent the whole afternoon looking at books. When the day came to an end, Eembee suggested they continue the night at the palace. After several moments of intense back and forth, Aislene eventually found herself within a mansion. The entrance room was enormous. The ceiling reached so high that birds could be seen flying through the open windows at the top, and a giant staircase led to three separate floors above. The mansion felt too big for anyone to live in. Dinner was long and lively, just like lunch. Eembee was the soul of every word. She kept it all alive while making it enjoyable to everyone, even Owyn, who had relaxed just enough to the point where he laughed at every joke and inputted just as much as Aislene. By the time they finished eating, the talk had died down and they all felt tired, allowing Aislene to spend the night in a guest bedroom Eembee grabbed Owyn and led him toward her room across the several hallways where they slept for the night. Still confused by the significant age gap Aislene went to her room where a simple bed and nightstand stood, a big window leading out to a balcony revealed the rest of the city. She was still in disbelief. Never did she ever think she would be in the palace. Well, technically not the palace. It was still a part of it. The people below were completely unaware of the unseen world in the palace, no poverty, no death, no dirty grim, no rats or deadly diseases. The power of royalty was immense. Not everyone could be special. Surprised by her own thoughts, she quickly regained her wits before walking away from the window. Still being watched by the unknown, she changed into her nightgown and went to sleep in a bed that wasn't hers in a mansion she didn't belong in, within a palace meant for nobles. With final thoughts of anger and sadness, she fell asleep listening to the replay of the day's conversation in her head. While danger lurked, hidden away by the shadows.