Modern Time Merlin

Chapter one

Olliver's POV

Cough, cough.

Man, this place is a mess. I thought to myself as I walked down the basement. The basement is damp and smells gross like some kind of rotten wood or something. The red carpet, or should I say, FORMER red carpet had turned completely grey(?) from the horrendous combination of mould and dust. Ugh..

"Haa..." I sighed. I just arrived here and this is the first thing that I see. What a huge turn of scenery from the huge metropolis of Manhattan to this crappy old place. Oops, shouldn't say crappy, I'll be managing this place anyway.

The old lady coughed behind me. "Are you okay?" I patted her back. No wonder she could get easily sick that she needs to find replacement to take care of this place. "It's okay. Thank you, young man." She cracked a smile from her dry lips.

We walked around the basement for a bit before ascending to the ground floor. The ground floor is similar to the condition of the basement. Dusty, with mouldy and mysteriously damp gloomy looking carpet. The light shine slightly from the mouldy color stained window glass. Mrs McKenzie walked towards what it seems like a reception table at the corner of the place and slightly brushed the top of it while smiling at it. "Nh..." I slightly blushed.

"Ma'am, Mrs McKenzie, may I know why you still insisted for this place to exist?" I walked towards her while carefully stepping on the slightly damp carpet. "Hm? Oh..." She looked around, carefully checking each old and dusty book that was placed strangely neatly on the shelf.

"This is my husband's place, this old library. He took care of this place back then when he was still alive. He really love this place, and I'm sure he still does." She chuckled and took out one of the books from the shelf behind the reception desk. The title was written with golden thread, or to be more precise, it looks like it's been sewn to the cover of the book that was made by skin, most probably a horse's skin.

How old is this book? I slightly covered my nose as I came near Mrs McKenzie, afraid that I might make her feel taken aback if I show to much disgust. Upon seeing the title, my eyes widen.

KING ARTHUR

"Ah..." My mouth opened slightly. I quickly closed it and looked at somewhere else. Man, I gotta get a grip. There's no time to read about my own story, is there?

***

I handed Mrs McKenzie the check containing the amount that I have to her in order to buy her husband's old library. "I wonder if my husband would get mad if he knew that I sold this place to someone else?" She accepted the check, a mixture of sad and worried expression clouded her face.

I looked at the library. It was a small, old library located at the end of the alleyway and is almost at the end of the city. Though it is small, the signboard is made by using wood and the exterior looks elegant, showing that it was taken good care of. I smiled.

"Don't worry, I'm sure he will be happy if this place is opened again. Besides, you need to take care of yourself more. Dust is not good for your health, you know?" True enough, Mrs McKenzie is already an 80 year old woman who should just relax at her home and enjoy being around her family, not here in the hustle and bustle of the city, managing a library.

I accompanied her to the taxi and said my farewell to her. " If you would like to, you can come here anytime." I said to her and waved my hand. She smiled. "Young man, what is your name again?" "Olliver M. Antartuk." I replied. "Mr Olliver, I'm glad that you're the one that I sold this library to. Take good care of it, okay?" She said before the taxi left.

"Don't worry, I will."

***

It was already night when I realized the time. "Wha-?!" I looked at my watch after finished transferring the last batch of books to the storeroom at the back. "But I didn't even clean the shaft yet~" I grumbled and sighed in despair. Not to mention, I'm feeling hungry now.

GRUMBLE

Ugh, now where can I find a restaurant this late at night. I looked again at the watch. "And it's almost midnight." I slumped my head and sat at the small shelf that I put outside the library to clean the library's interior. Now what? McDonald's, and then continue to work? Wow, I sure do have guts to work late at night without worrying about robbers and drug dealers who roamed around this area at this time. I let out a heavy sight and started to question my reasons of me being here.

I wonder what will Mrs McKenzie felt if I told her the real reason of why I insisted to buy this library from her. I told her that it was because the library is beautiful and people need to know about that, but there's actually more than that. I stood up and stretched myself. Then, I head to my mini Cooper to find any snacks before finishing my cleaning.

Upon opening the car's door, I saw that book. The book that Mrs McKenzie held before. "Now why this thing is here I wonder?" I took the book. Must be me putting it there unconsciously when cleaning the library.

I stared at the title and felt the sewn letters. It felt rough on my skin. Suddenly, I was hit with a deep sense of melancholy, it is as if I was about to cry. "Arthur..." I mumbled the name of the person that I wanted to meet for a long time.

"Yes?"

My eyes widen and I abruptly turned around to see the person behind those deep voice. My back hit the end of the side of the car, causing me to writhe in pain. "Ouch!" I rubbed my back. "Ah, you're okay?" The voice sounded concerned. Then I looked up and saw a tall, big building guy. His eyes' colour align with his hair colour, a tinge of golden. They slightly glowed in this dimly lit street.

At that moment, my heart skipped a beat as I stared at his face. "Arthur?" I said again. Suddenly, reality strucked me and I violently shook my head. There's no way I could have found him THAT fast, you gotta be kidding me.

"W-Who are you? Why are you here?" I hugged myself in defense. Who knows, he might be a random person that replies to my nonsense with an inferior reason behind that.

"Uhm." He scratched his head, his face looks hesitant. As I thought, he is a bad person. I bent my body for a bit, ready to jump off and ran towards the main road, which was my specialty cause I'm an ace in track and field club back in high school before. Seeing my stance, he quickly cornered me.

"Wait! I'm not a bad person. I'm just..." He looked away, his face slightly blushed. Why are you blushing, man? Is telling your name to a stranger that hard? Well, I can't say much because I too am a stranger to him.

He looked at me in determination. "My name is, Liam. L-Liam A. Goldenhart. A stands for Arthur in my name. T-thats why I replied when you called me." "Oh... I see." I said, simply.

I wonder why this guy looked so flustered when he is speaking to me, I mean, it's not normal, right? Then I looked down and flinched.

And why it's bulking down there?