Chapter 1

“Irina, why are you following me again?” Roman looked at his daughter, amused by the way she stood close to him. “If you are so afraid, why don’t you just stay at home. It’s not even dark yet.” He earned a glare from her that made him chuckle.

“I am not afraid, Papa. I’m just worry about you. By the time you light all the lampposts on the street, it would already dark and you don’t have someone to talk to on your way home.” Irina watched the twilight across the river, admiring its beauty.

A light chuckle escaped from her father. “Of course, you are.” Then he stretched his hand to her.

She took his hand, smoothly slid her hand up to cling on his arm as they walked to the next lamppost. “I’m going to the library tomorrow.”

Roman lifted one brow hearing her exciting tone. “Aren’t you going there like everyday?” Emphasizing on the words like everyday, then he continued. “What’s so special about going there tomorrow?”

“Because,” She smiled widely. “I might able to make my dream come true tomorrow.”

Roman ignited small flame to a fat candle, place it on the lamppost then as he put the lid back on so that the flame wouldn’t die by blows of wind, he said. “Hmm, books do make us dream with open eyes.” Turning to face his daughter. “I guess that’s not the dream we’re talking about, right?”

“No, Papa.” Irina followed her father to the next lamppost. “I’m talking about one vacant librarian’s position.”

“Ah, right. Mr. Herald had passed away, and now his position is empty.”

“Yessss…” Said Irina excitedly. “Imagine, if I were a librarian, I would be surrounded by books, also I could read books while working and had access to the new books freely.”

“You remind me of your mother.” Said Roman pensively.

“I know, Papa. You told me Mama loved books too.” Irina stroke her father’s arm. “You also told me that I look very much alike her, except for my eyes…”

“Your eyes take after me.” Roman let out a light chuckle.

He repeatedly telling his daughter about her eyes. A spark of memory came, he recalled when his daughter came home crying and told him that she couldn’t read anymore because her vision was blur. He instantly knew what happened to her eyes. Looking at her grimly, though he knew she was frustrated, he still scolded her. He gave her the, “I told you not to read at night and look what happen now.”

“Yes, Papa. Yes. You taught me everything, including how to read and write, but I know you’re just jealous of Mama because I do things the way she did, while you just like to cook and read sometimes at home.”

Roman laughed. Not entirely true though, his wife used to like doing things that he loved. So, he basically taught his daughter things he loved to do with his wife and told her it was her mother’s favorite things. But he wouldn’t tell her the whole truth and ruining the perfect image she had of her mother.

“What about the other thing that you like? I saw your drawing,” Roman glanced sideways. “Nieal’s manor looks better in that drawing of yours.”

Irina rolled her eyes. “Don’t divert the subject, Papa. I like books more, that’s why I set my dream to be a librarian.”

 “If you say so.” Roman shrugged. “I’m just recognizing a talent.”

They reached another unlit lamppost. Roman repeated the process again, Irina watched him doing it. Lit the fat candle, put it on the lamppost then covering it with its lid.

“Speaking of librarian,” Roman continued as they waked towards the next lamppost. “have you pay your last respect to Mr. Herald?”

“I have, Papa. Although…” Irina didn’t finish her word, she remembered unpleasant event.

Two days ago, Irina stood in front of library’s doble doors, reading a sad announcement that hung on the door. It said that library would be close for few days due to the passing of senior librarian, Mr. Herald, all the library’s staff were mourning and would attending his funeral.

Irina knew Mr. herald since she was child, when her father brought her to the library for the first time, it’s Mr. Herald who greeted her and recommended some good books to her. Encouraging her to be smarter than boys with the help of books.

His passing was a great loss to those who knew Mr. Herald, and Irina knew him for a long time. So, she should pay her last respect to him. Consoling his wife too.

Thus, Irina headed to Mr. Herald’s house. His house was on the northern town, where many guards and those who worked for the local government resided. She took a detour through gravel path to avoid the busy town’s street.

She turned to look at her left, it was a kitchen of the famous inn in town. Many people worked there. As it was busy hours, people came by to the inn making the kitchen busy too.

When she shifted her attention back to the path ahead, out of nowhere cold water had thrown at her. Her hair and dress got drench instantly.

Reflex, she looked at the direction where the water came from. A young woman her age stood with an empty bucket in her hand, smirking.

Irina knew her, she was the daughter of the inn’s owner. “There…” The inn’s daughter said. “I managed to wash the smug on your face. You should thank me, Irina.”

Irina couldn’t believe her ears. Thank her for what? Her shocked turned to anger. Perhaps, it showed on her face as the inn’s daughter continued in half whisper. “Think before you accuse me doing the wrong thing. I’ll just tell them it was an accident and I didn’t do it on purpose. Let’s see who will they believe? Me, their Master’s daughter. Or you?” She put down the bucket then put her hands on each side of her hips, slyly said. “Who are you again?”

“You are doing it on purpose.” Irina glared sharply.

“No, I don’t.”

Taking a deep breath then releasing it, Irina turned around and started to walk away.

The inn’s daughter shouted. “That’s right Irina, runaway like you always do, weak!”

Patient. Irina repeatedly told herself to be patient. Not to make unnecessary problem. “You want to pay your last respect to Mr. Herald.” She chanted.

Halting at quiet place, Irina felt irritated that she had to avoid fighting before it began. Sometimes, she wanted to teach those bullies a good lesson. But she couldn’t do it, shouldn’t do it.

Because if she did, her father would notice. She didn’t want her father to know. Especially not Nieal, he could go berserk towards them. She was afraid Nieal would want them to be expelled from the town, or sentenced them with severe punishment.

Above her head, the sun shone brightly. Irritate her even more. She glared at the sun for few seconds, then hissed. “How come you dried many wells, but cannot dry my hair and dress like it used to be?”

When she wanted to resume walking, a warm almost hot air blew over her. Leaving a light warm all over her body, making her realized that her hair and dress felt light and dry.

Blinking like an idiot, she looked down. Still fresh on the ground traces of water drop from her once wet dress. What had happened? Did the sun bow to her command?

Having no logical explanation, Irina decided to set the thought aside as she continued heading to Mr. Herald’s house.

“Although?” Her father’s voice called her back.

Irina wanted to tell her father about the odd thing with her drenched dress which suddenly turned dry, but if she did her father would want to know why she got drench in the first place, so she decided against it. “Although I feel guilty a little.”

“You’re sad that he’s gone, but also happy because of the empty seat?” Roman finished her hanging remark.

“Yea…”

“Don’t be, Little Peach.” Roman finished lighten the last lamppost. “Life and death are a circle in human’s life. One death opens to another life and the other way around. So, I think we should celebrate.”

“Celebrate?” Irina furrowed. “Of Mr. Herald’s death? That’s cruel, Papa.”

Sighing, Roman took his daughter’s hand then tuck it around his arm. “We are celebrating your soon to be dream come true.”

Cheering, Irina let her to be dragged gently by her father. “Dinner date, then?”

“Dinner date.” Roman confirmed.