Beyond

Chapter 38

Jesse

We were in the library once again. Pierre didn't come with us, and even if he did, I doubt he has the capacity to fully help since he drank a lot yesterday. When we visited him, Payne and I left him a glass of healing water to help him recover from his hangover.

"You must be getting tired of this library. You could go watch some stonecores if you like," Payne suggested.

I shook my head. "How about I help you this time? What book are you looking for?"

Payne was hesitant to tell me at first, but after a few seconds of weighing his choices, he replied, "A book about removing the Light's Mark..."

I smiled. "I'll try looking for it."

I don't think he's lying based on the way he's acting. Other than finding out more about his illness, is he also trying to save the newborns lives? He did tell me that he's certain nothing is going to happen to them, so maybe he's attempting to prevent that.

My heart's definitely stirred. Payne is so kind.

"Let's part ways here. I'll see you later," Payne said before giving me a kiss on the forehead.

I scanned through the bookshelves, trying to find things related to the book that Payne was looking for and also to his illness.

I'm sure his clone has already looked through the shelves, and it made me wonder how many books he has already seen with his clones.

Pierre brought some information about the Light's Mark before, and from what I remembered, it's a prophecy that's going to end all of the Dusks, and it can't be removed. So why is Payne being so persistent? Could it be that instead of illness, he has the Light's Mark? But the file I read before says that they're only looking for newborns, and Payne's also a Dusk—there's no way that he has the Light's Mark. It's impossible.

After looking through thousands of books, reading many words, and thinking too much. The world started to spin, and I had to get out of the library for some fresh air.

The moment I got out of the room, I breathed a sigh of relief. The overwhelming amount of information strained my brain. If only I were Julian, I would've read all of the books more enthusiastically. I couldn't help but worry about Payne, because out of the three of us, he had definitely flipped through a lot of pages.

"Jesse? Are you all right?" Isa asked.

"Yes, just a headache," I said, leaning on the wall for some support. "How have you been, kid?"

Isa frowned. "I haven't been doing well ever since you rejected me. Though, I wish you happiness."

"T-Thank you." I forced a chuckle. I didn't know he could be that straightforward.

Isa went next to me and leaned on the wall too. "Lia actually visited me yesterday and asked if I wanted to play with her."

"So, what did you do?"

"I couldn't because I have a library to tend to, but I promised to play with her once Master got back."

"She still hasn't come back?" I asked. Payne told me that Hilda went to visit her friend. Three days had already passed since we took the key back, so maybe her friend was from somewhere far away.

"Yes."

"I've been wondering... is there some kind of secret passage here? Maybe the books that we're looking for have always been there the whole time..."

"There's no such thing," Isa said, making my lips curl down in disappointment. "However, Master said that the books in the library would find their way to you. You don't choose the book, they choose you. They only show themselves if they know that you're worthy or if they sense that you have the eagerness and determination to seek their contents," Isa said.