Third Wish: volume Two

Episode 41: Julia the elf

Romeo wandered through the towering shelves of Alabasta, his fingers gently trailing along the spines of books as he lost himself in the serenity of the library. Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope of colors onto the polished wooden floors. The scent of aged paper and ink filled the air, enticing him further into the labyrinth of knowledge.

Alabasta library was known throughout cinebar city as one of the largest libraries in the world and since Romeo and his guild decided to spend a few days in the Brix district, Romeo decided this would be the perfect opportunity to visit the great Wonder.

Lost in his thoughts, he rounded a corner and almost collided with a figure. Romeo stumbled back, his heart racing, as he recognized the familiar face before him. It was Julia, the girl from his past. Her long braided black hair cascaded over her shoulder, and her green eyes sparkled mischievously. She had always been unpredictable, and Romeo couldn't help but feel a mixture of curiosity and caution.

"Julia?" he said, his voice filled with surprise. "What are you doing here?"

She flashed him a sly grin, her eyes darting around as if searching for an escape route. "Oh, Romeo, fancy meeting you here. Just looking for something."

He crossed his arms, an eyebrow raised. "Something? Care to be more specific?"

Julia's lips curled into a mischievous smirk. "Ah, you know me, always up to something. But this time, I'm on a secret mission."

Romeo sighed, a mixture of annoyance and curiosity building within him. "A secret mission? In a library?"

Julia nodded, a glint of excitement in her eyes. "Exactly! I'm searching for a particular book. But I can't tell you what it is. It's classified information, you see."

Romeo's frustration grew, his patience wearing thin. "Come on, Julia. You know I don't like secrets. What's so important about this book?"

Julia's gaze met his, her expression filled with a hint of mystery. "Let's just say it holds the key to something extraordinary, something that could change everything. But that's all I can say."

He shook his head, torn between curiosity and distrust. "You're always hiding something, Julia. I never know what's going on in that head of yours."

A mischievous twinkle danced in her eyes as she leaned in closer. "That's what keeps life interesting, don't you think? The element of surprise?"

Romeo sighed, realizing he wouldn't get any further with his inquiries. "Fine, keep your secrets. But if you ever need help, don't ask me."

Julia's grin widened, her eyes full of mischief. "Oh, I'll keep that in mind, Romeo. You never know when I might need a partner in crime."

With a playful wink, she turned and disappeared into the labyrinth of bookshelves, leaving Romeo standing there, both frustrated and intrigued.

Romeo couldn't shake off the weight of curiosity that had settled upon his shoulders like a heavy mantle. Julia's presence in the library had ignited memories of their first meeting, back when they were both younger and the world seemed vast with possibilities. It was during a class trip to the Apollo Kingdom, and they had crossed paths amidst the grandeur of the ancient ruins.

Lost in his thoughts, Romeo absentmindedly wandered through the aisles of books, his mind retracing the steps of their initial encounter. He remembered how Julia, even back then, had an air of mischief about her, as if she were always on the lookout for her next adventure.

As the memories flooded his mind, Romeo's footsteps led him to a quiet corner of the library where a collection of books on ancient kingdoms was displayed. He ran his fingers along the spines, the faded titles evoking a sense of nostalgia.