The Melancholy of the Great Library

Chapter I: Stagnation and Trepidation

The Master of the great library slowly opened his eyes, staring blankly outside the window a visage caught his attention. A young lady was running towards the library to find shelter from the raging weather.

Years had passed and Glass had now grown aloof. He had now realized the unending melancholy of immortality. For eons he had stayed inside his room and rejected the idea of going down to mingle with the villagers who once adored his existence. Generations came and went, time never stood still again as he reveled in the solace he found in the mortal world. Glass had forgotten when he had stopped smiling and why, now a days he only wears his straight emotionless face. With eyes partially opened like a tired kid he spent his days with blissful ignorance. The memory that flashed in his mind was a lively reminder of his past self—his once cheerful self.

Glass once again fixated his gaze upon the young lady who was now soaking wet but found shelter outside the door of the great library. Silently he watched her seemingly interested with the young lady who was trying to dry herself with a handkerchief. She leaned on the door to keep herself sheltered from the foul weather. In an instance the door opened and she fell inside the great library. Her bottom hit the ground as her face grimaced in pain. She immediately stood up and dusted off herself. When she finally had the time to observe her surroundings, her eyes widen and her jaw dropped.

The fine young lady was rather a bookworm. She was fascinated with reading and was highly interested with learning. She walked around the great library glancing and skimming through the wide selection of knowledge neatly arranged. The thought that she was soaking wet escaped her mind.

“I have never seen this many books in my entire life. Fascinating how there’s so much variety of topics to read. I wonder if anyone has already read all of this.” she mumbled as she held the spine of an ancient looking book.

“I have never pegged you as an intruder.” a voice echoed on the walls of the library.

Hearing those words the young lady got startled and was consumed by fear. It was only at this time that she considered the thought that she might had just entered someone’s property without their permission. She was stupefied as her chest tighten—she was unable to breathe.
“I-I w-was just trying to find shelter and suddenly the door opened I fell in.” she explained with a fast paced speech.

“I see. So why is it that you’re groping my books like some kind of a weirdo?” the voice answered in response.

The lady’s face turned crimson, rage replaced the fear that she was feeling a while ago.

“Wha-what? A weirdo? I was just admiring the books that you were obviously not reading. Some of the manuscripts here had cobwebs and were dusty. Obviously you don’t read that much.” courageously she voiced out her thoughts.

Glass—the man who was speaking to her slowly descended from the stairs. His ashen hair was sparkling like silver, his eyes glowed like emeralds and his lips as pink as the petals of roses. He was wearing a black shirt and a brown pants. Averting his droopy eyes he stared at the young lady who was still dripping wet with rain water.

“I see you had brought in mud and rain, walking carelessly as if you own the place.” Glass remarked while staring at the young lady with his dreamy eyes.

“I-I…” the young lady wanted to defend herself but she took a gander at the floor and indeed she had turned the floor into a mess.

“On the thirteenth floor there’s a room. Take a warm bath and clean yourself. Feel free to use the clothes on the closet.” Glass instructed as he threw a towel on the young lady.

Both confused and thankful, the young lady took Glass’ offer knowing that the rain might not stop for a while. She caught the towel midair and immediately patted her head dry.

“Thank you, Mister. I’m Cornelia by the way.” she stated her name with an air of arrogance.

“Glass, Master of the Great Library.” Glass answered lazily.

Cornelia walked slowly heading for the stairs as Glass promptly gathered all the remaining books on the tables and returned them to their designated places. Cornelia was staring at Glass while traversing up. Glass on the other hand was lazily cleaning the mess that Cornelia made. His eyes were drooping as if he was about to fall asleep, yawning from time to time but he was trying his best not to snooze off while cleaning.

“I guess he’s not as bad as I think he is” Cornelia whispered to herself as she walked faster.

Sensing that Cornelia was no longer spying on him, Glass took a seat and flicked his finger. In an instant the floor started to glisten like it had been polished and the books flew back to their designated places as if they knew where they should be. Lazily Glass yawned widely and closed his eyes as he rested his head on the table.

Cornelia reached the thirteenth floor and there really was a room. She entered the said room and saw a nice warm and cozy bed, an old looking closet, a dresser with a mirror on it and another door for the toilet. She headed directly to the shower and undressed herself for a warm bath. A thought crossed her mind that made her worry.

“Wh-what if he offered me to shower to peep on me? What if he’s a pervert?” Cornelia mumbled to herself as she was scrubbing her silky white skin.

Her face turned red and her eyes widen. The thought of having someone watching her while taking a shower made her panic and shy.

In response to her worrying thought, she did her best to finish her shower as fast as she actually can. She moved as fast as she can and wiped herself. Upon opening the closet to find for a change of clothes, all she saw were men clothing.

“I guess beggars can’t be choosers.” Cornelia sighed in disappointment as she was hoping that there was a dress that she could wear.

Cornelia picked the clothes she wanted to wear and hanged her soaking clothes inside the comfort room. She wore a black shirt that was obviously larger for her and lay on the warm cozy bed. Cornelia took a deep sigh and closed her eyes.

Glass woke up and noticed that Cornelia was still not back so he decided to head to the room on the thirteenth floor. When he opened the door he saw her lying in bed, peacefully sleeping. Glass took a good look at Cornelia, it was at this moment that he felt an intense surge of emotion deep within him. His face felt warmer than usual and his heart started to beat erratically. Her long, black hair was covering her face so Glass moved closer to brush it to the side. There he saw her face up close, her lips were pinkish and soft. Glass felt a sudden jolt as if he was being electrocuted, he panicked and took a step back creating an ample distance in between him and the sleeping Cornelia. Perplexed as to what he had felt he stood there with wide eyes still fixated with the beauty in front of him. Deciding to ignore what he felt, Glass left the room and stood on the stairs.

“What the hell was that?” Glass whispered to himself while biting his thumb.

“Was it fear? Have I felt fear? No it wasn’t fear. Was it disgust? No not disgust… Repulse? Not repulse either.” rationalizing what he had felt Glass started to mention different feelings but apparently none of which suited what he felt at that very moment.

The curiosity started eating him up and he started pacing back and forth from wall to wall of the library all the while still biting his thumb. Glass became restless trying to figure out what he felt, he knew he had felt it before but he can’t seem to remember when and with whom.

While all of this was transpiring, Cornelia was still peacefully sleeping inside the room that Glass offered to her. Glass decided to let the matter go for now as his memory was failing him that instance. He then decided to grab a book and sat down for a read. He tried to divert his attention and tried to drown what was bothering him by reading.

Cornelia woke up and went down to find Glass. She saw him reading a book.

“So he actually does read the books here.” Cornelia thought.

She then walked down the stairs and headed for him.

“You fancy reading about Sciences?” Cornelia asked in an attempt to initiate a conversation with Glass.

“Science is very interesting, yes… but I know everything there is to know about sciences.” Glass replied arrogantly.

“Surely, you must jest. Science had been a controversial topic and not a single soul knows everything about it.” Cornelia answered back to rebuke Glass.

“Hmmm… if you say so.” Glass responded coldly to avoid an unneeded argument.

Cornelia stared at Glass intently as the latter tried his best to ignore her.

“Can I read some of your books?” Cornelia asked passionately.

Knowing that the books in this library are all fascinating and interesting, Cornelia took a chance to read as much as she can but she also knows that she has to ask for his permission.

“The books and knowledge found in the Great Library is not owned by anyone. Knowledge is freedom in itself as it shatters the binds of ignorance. Read as much as your mind can absorb.” Glass answered in a cold tone without even glancing at Cornelia.

Cornelia hummed her way towards the varying shelves and gathered a collection of books to read. She brought her haul to the same table where Glass was sitting and started reading. Glass on the other hand noticing that Cornelia wanted to share the table with him, stood up and moved to the other table. Cornelia stared at him with her brows furrowing.

“What’s your deal? Don’t you want to share the table with me?” Cornelia stood up and asked with a sonorous voice.

“The mere action of me leaving the said table after you decided to share it with me, should answer your question” Glass replied with a frigid tone.

Cornelia took her seat pouting in annoyance. She buried her face in between the pages of the books she selected.

Time lapsed in an instant and Glass glimpsed outside and noticed that the weather had took a turn for the better. He then averted his gaze towards Cornelia who was still enjoying the books she borrowed.

“Hey… the rain had stopped. Do you intend to live here?” Glass called out Cornelia.

Hearing his voice, Cornelia stood up and checked the view outside. Indeed the rain had ceased and she can leave.

“I’ll just change back to my clothes and leave.” Cornelia responded to Glass.

She then headed back to the room on the thirteenth floor. She checked her clothes and noticed that they were still damp, nonetheless she decided to wear them again so that she can leave. She folded the clothes she had borrowed and made the bed.

“Thank you very much for your hospitality, Mr. Glass. I’ll return the clothes I borrowed after I washed them at home. Once again, thank you.” Cornelia stated in a hurry and left.

“Y-you don’t have to return them.” Glass stated but Cornelia had already left.

Glass took a deep sigh and closed his eyes. A visage of a familiar lady crossed his mind, a young cheerful and bubbly lady who first approached her—Elizabeth. It was then that Glass realized that what he had felt with Cornelia was exactly the same feeling he once felt when he was with Elizabeth. It had been a decade since he fell in love with Elizabeth, but her mortal binds prevailed… she died and left the Master of the Great Library in eternal melancholy.