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Alessio nodded with a slightly crooked smile, saying like he didn’t mean it, “I’m very responsible.”

Nithel believed it. His eyes touched a small bit of seriousness before Alessio grabbed his hand, and a smile stole the man’s eyes. His friend dragged him about and Nithel was close to laughter, eyes dancing at the abandon of the boy as Nithel was tugged every which way.

The man glanced around, lips parted in joyous shock, as if to ask- Is anyone else seeing this? 

After throwing back all the curtains, except the veil, the youth darted down an ally of books. Alessio abruptly dropped Nithel’s hand, dragged a book from the shelf, and dropped into a sitting position, legs crossed.

Nithel smiled down at him as Alessio opened the tomb. His eyes remained fastened to the page, like he was in awe that he had one in his lap.

Nithel stares down with tender happiness. Happiness was a treasure, and wonder a gift. 

Alessio then bounded up, setting the book aside. He then dismantled the shelf, one book by one book. Until there were piles all around him. Nithel took several steps back, until he was leaning against the side of a window. He watched Alessio a moment, then would look out at the land.

His chest felt empty, but full of led, and he was stunned. He ached to go cry somewhere. His mind was overwhelmed… with everything. His eyes stared at the darkening sky, as his thoughts wandered.

Stars began to appear, and Nithel stared up at them. Longing, but a new ache jabbed him. They were strangers. He didn’t know any of them. None of their names. None of their stories. Perhaps this could be a story… 

Alessio then let out a soft cry. Joy. Nithel looked that way, swallowing to clear his throat. Alessio was kneeling with another book, staring at it with the same awe. Nithel’s face was blank, stoic, but he watched Alessio with calm gratefulness.

Glowing dust flew about the pages, and Nithel’s eyes widened. Noy. How-

Jericho appeared at the other end of the aisle. She moved toward Alessio, wanting to see the book.

A magic book. Magic… No one who followed the Star Breather had magic. He needed to talk with Alessio.

The whispering in the next room continued. And hesitantly, very hesitantly, Nithel approached Alessio, not entirely sure why he did without being invited.

Then the image… Nithel stared at it a fraction of a second before it vanished. Alessio had turned the page. More dust circled and fluttered around them. Nithel’s chest tightened, and he stared at it as it surrounded him. How… strange. His front teeth pressed into each other, and he held his breath a bit without realizing it.

There was a tree on the page. Silver. Two sections, where scribbles were, were on the page as well. Alessio then turned the page again, carefully, as if it was covered with sand, and he didn’t want it to fall out.

The dust continued to lift with each page turn, and Nithel’s teeth ran over each other softly. He wanted to dart away, but for some reason couldn’t. He set his jaw and stood there. Not moving. The images continued to appear, and he stared at them. Wondering, but completely silent, shoulders straightening. He wanted out…

The silver tree stretched out through a forest, with slips of wood left about. People dropping them.

Then a small girl. Nithel stared at her, and his forehead wrinkled. She had golden hair… Like Elia. Then the way she had walked through vanished. Nithel’s chest tightened more.

Then children, many children, began to walk through the silver tree, as if it was an invisible door. Then they spread throughout a land.

The glitter slowly faded, and Alessio muttered, “That’s not how a real daemon acts anyway.”

Nithel’s brows lifted, then he could breathe again. He blinked several times. A daemon? He doesn’t know what it is. He wants to ask, but is still mentally slumped from the book. How had- What… He closes his eyes, shoulders the smallest bit slumped.

Alessio glanced over both his shoulders, to Jericho, then to Nithel. “Maybe there’s a book about your world here…”

Nithel blinked twice, then looked down to Alessio. He tried to lose the serious look, Alessio was so happy. But… Nithel wanted to speak with him, badly. Nithel nodded a bit, in answer, Maybe there is another… But I don’t want another of those. I… don’t understand… any of it… He bit the inside of his lip.

The beginning of your world. Something whispered in his mind. You have always dreamed... But Nithel still wasn’t sure. He really wished to go off now. In a corner. Somewhere. Weep. But… he stayed. With them. Still feeling completely overwhelmed, and remaining silent so as not to show it. He remembered the time he had exploded with Gabrel… That- and Nithel’s chest ached.

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@joelle-stone @skylarynn @this-is-not-an-alien  @crazywriter