REVOLUTION: A Rebel Among Monsters ✔

Five••The National Public Library

Melaynia ambled around the second floor of the National Public Library and spotted the volumes she'd need for geography research. But her interest resided elsewhere, so she continued up the central staircase to explore further.

The third level contained Physics, Science and Technology. The fourth was Biology, Nutrition and General health, and the fifth was Gardening and Farming.

Mom and dad would have loved that.

The sixth held information on Cerule Laws and History—a potential spot to dive into, if she didn't come up with a plan to access the Restricted Floors.

But it was the seventh floor that captured her attention most. She located a small restaurant emitting delectable scents of meat and potatoes and fried goods... and the bridge linking the two Library buildings.

A hunch told her the Restricted Floors hid on the other side.

She snuck to the cafeteria and approached an employee wearing the same uniform as the door attendant she'd spoken to. "What's over there?" she said, pointing at the glass bridge.

Startled, the woman took in Melaynia's appearance with a squint. "Southerner, yeah?" Melaynia nodded. "The Restricted Floors building. And... you're not authorized there."

Shrugging, Melaynia adjusted the strap of her bag as it slid down her shoulder. "Oh, and, uh... what's in there?"

The woman's gaze lingered a moment, curious, questioning. "Secret tomes. Scary tales that make no sense, undecipherable texts... and weird people. Even if you were allowed, trust me, you don't want to go there."

Satisfied, Melaynia prodded the employee for a few more minutes—asking about geography books—before scampering to the eighth floor; Transportation Technology.

Nine was Cerulean Crystal Information and Research, and ten revealed the Career Center.

This is pointless—all I need is the Restricted area.

Refusing to admit defeat, she heaved herself to floor two, the History section. Most texts there were original copies of documents dating back several centuries. The cracked but sturdy bookshelves split the section in two—Pre-Rotation Halt and Post-Rotation Halt. Plush couches and studying tables sprouted all around, but none were occupied. Melaynia dropped her bag at one table and scurried over to the Pre-Rotation Halt books.

To stop a Ceremony, I'd need to learn its origins.

Grazing the dusty shelves, she snatched a few volumes and settled in a cozy chair with her sister's diary, a large notepad, and a quill.

The first book in her pile was Planet Cerule—The Beginning.

"The Eldian and Impian Monsters ARE Cerule. They were born attached to it, and will die with it. But our sun's heat and most of the atmosphere is toxic to them, so they seclude themselves underground. At birth, they took turns exploring above ground to familiarize with their realm. They discovered they weren't alone; blue crystals popped up above and below ground, desperate for analysis. They declared them Cerulean Crystals, and named the planet Cerule, in honor of these gems. Years of studying the crystals and their purposes led them to realizing the objects kept them—and the world—alive."

Melaynia had learned most of this in school and recalled the name Impians—but no one had ever explained it to her. "The Monsters arrived before the crystals? Interesting."

"As they examined the Cerulean Crystals, other life forms developed. Bacteria, insects, herbivores, carnivores, and other unknown creatures appeared as the earth shifted and separated to make way for oceans. Continents developed and grew. The Monsters discovered their powers of creation and produced new animals and other species. One experiment stood out most; the Ceruleans."