The next morning the sun was hidden behind the deep grey clouds, promising some snow later. At the local library Akiko is waiting in line to get in because some historical fiction war writer was signing copies of his new book. Larry Darkshield was his misnomer. Akiko was hopping from foot to foot both in eager anticipation and to keep warm, her black fox eared hoodie wasn’t nearly warm enough for the winter wind blowing. Counting the line she was twelve away from being inside the warmth of the library.
“Are you okay?” a tall lanky man in front of her asked, his own hoodie drawstrings pulled tight.
“Yeah, just a little cold and excited.” She replied, trying to see around him.
“Right, Darkshield is amazing! Making history exciting! Did you know that all his battles are accurate almost down to the exact day. Even when world renowned historians check his stories they are amazed at his accuracy. To be that knowledgeable when only in his thirties. I’m surprised they haven’t published his works as text books.” The guy rambled on as Akiko paid very little attention nodding when it seemed appropriate.
“Okay move forward the line is moving.”
“Oh, right.” he turned back, suddenly quiet, catching her dismissal.
Ten blessedly silent minutes later Akiko was in the library. To her right was the line and the “famous, brilliant author” and a team of security. “That is a bit weird” she thought. And the line that was growing longer by the second. To her left was the familiar, old Librarian with her silver wihte hair done in a tight perm, reading her copy of “Silverstar”.
“Good morning Marian. Memorized the book yet?” Akiko asks cheerily now that she is warm again
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“Good morning Akiko, no not yet. This may be the time though. I don’t believe your new manga has arrived yet, I’ll go look, give me a moment..”
While she waited Akiko looked around the library. There wasn’t much to see, she was very early. The line for Darkshield had finally stopped. The usual guy for the dungeons and dragons meeting was upstairs preparing the table, today he had on a red retro shirt with the cartoon from the eighties on it. The game seemed fun but she never could get into it, she liked her animations too much. She had tried with the group, but the system was just too slow.
Marian returned from the back “I’m sorry my dear, it didn't arrive with today's shipments. Maybe the weather has it delayed?”
“Are you sure Marian? It’s the series finale, I have been looking forward to it, and dreading it for so long.”
“I’m sorry dear, it hasn't arrived yet.”
“Care to suggest anything else? I don’t want to go back out into that weather.”
“Always glad to help a fellow bibliophile. I happen to have my old copy of Silverstar with me, it's a bit worn, but the story is the best.”
“Thank you Miriam, I think I will take you up on the offer.”
“Here you go dear, be careful not to lose track of time, this book will absorb you.”
Akiko took the book and headed to her favorite corner of the library with three worn chairs next to an oil heater. She settled in, put on her cat headphones, and got started on the book.
An unknown time later a guy in a very dirty and smelly suit passed by her holding his head. She had dove into the book, not expecting it to be so good. The princess and her step brother had just joined up with a caravan heading into the largest human settlement of that region. Which was scary for them, they were both of elven descent and the humans were persecuting elves. After the guy’s smell had diffused from her area she dove back into the story. Shortly after someone screamed loud enough to be heard over her music. Looking up and pushing back her headphones she saw several people running towards the door of the library and all exits. Someone yelled again, this time she heard them say “Bomb!!!!” She jumped up to run to the nearest exit. The homeless man bumped into her, hard and she fell back into her favorite chair bumping her head painfully on the arm. As she was getting up, she saw “Silverstar” open about half way through, and it was all blank. The smelly man was running towards the corner nearest to where the author was signing. The author was circled by his security team as they tried to push their way through the crowd by the entry doors. As the homeless man passed the large open area not far from where Marian was trying to help a child that was cowering under a table get up and leave. Akiko swore she saw Darkshield grow elf ears and create a dark gray swirl of light around his hand. Then the homeless man jumped towards where a box of books lay open. Then BOOOM!!! All went into an ashy haze.