Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Dragana POV

The great grandfather stood in human clothes, dressed in a crisp navy suit, white shirt and had a colorful scarf around his neck. I was equally provided with modern clothes for the human world to blend in. “Your library is in the human world?”, I asked, confused. “Not exactly. It's the entrance is in the human world. However, a library designed for human needs exists on the surface still”, he explained. “What do you mean still for human needs???” I was confused and surprised that he would share our world with humans. I personally did not trust them. Too much greed, too little honor, I thought to myself. “Gia is very fond of humans, as am I, child”, he said, looking at me softly. “I do not trust them”, was all I said. “I do not blame you, they are extremely untrustworthy, petty creatures”, he chuckled. “Yet you gave them knowledge and a library???? I do not understand”, I confessed, confused. “You do not love people or creatures because they are perfect child. You love them in spite of the fact that they are not”, he said, his ever-knowing eyes on me.



I guess he was right. I knew Roman was far from perfect, yet I knew my feelings for him. I knew Lady Jasmine was a ruthless killer, yet I saved her life and was fond of her, I thought to myself. “Ready?”, he asked. “As I will ever be!”, I retorted. He took my hand in his left, while with his right he was making circles while chanting something. Next thing I knew, a large white-blue electrifying light materialized, and grew bigger, until it was big enough for us to step through. We walked of one side, from the northern beach, only to find ourselves in front of a large stone-carved door. Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the sign said. Architecturally, this was already a very interesting design. The glass portion of the place looked modern, yet the arching column design, wrapped around the glass portion of the building, looked otherworldly. The markings on it, even in the human world, were ancient and carried magic. “Humans use magic?” I asked Solomon, who gave me a small smile.



“Yes, some do. There are some who are educated on it and some who are born with it”. I was confused. I knew that magical spells could be taught to people whom we called human healers, not quite the witches, but not completely without magic. “They are descendants of Catherine, and the First Human Tribe, they have special blood. There are some books here if you want to read on that too”, he explained, guiding me to the large door. We walked in with no issues. A small plump woman with darker skin, hazel eyes and beautiful smile nodded, welcoming us. Without a word, my great grandfather handed her a card of some kind, which, for a second, I could have sworn sparkled in her hands. She nodded knowingly, and simply said “My Lord. Follow me”. Expansive space was upon us, tall columns upholding huge glass windows of modern design. This gave the space levels of openness and so much light, yet it somehow felt ancient to me. Large columns essentially separated the area into two large pavilions full of bookshelves, tables, and chairs. Not many people were here now, and those who had paid us no attention, engrossed in reading, or looking at the bookshelves.



The lady took us towards the left pavilion, and we walked for a little. Suddenly she turned again to the left side to what looked like a dead-end corridor of even larger bookshelves. Before I knew what was happening, she inserted the card he gave her in a space between a couple of books, and a door opened almost without a sound. “Thank you Immelda”, I heard Solomon say as we stepped into a garden. A scent of opulent flowers enveloped me and, for the second, the picture before me took my breath away. It felt as if we had stepped into a different world. Gone were the bookshelves, or even the appearance of the library. As far as the eye could see, I saw arches of flowers, benches under the shade of blooming trees. A large cobbled stone pathway leading into what looked like a labyrinth of a flowery maze. Magic was palpable in this place, it was almost as if you could smell it all around us, almost touch it.. The sun was shining bright above our heads and I was taking it all in. I did not see anyone coming towards us, yet in front of me stood a young man, his chiseled torso exposed, wearing white silk pants with a purple and gold belt. Bowing ever so slightly to me, he simply said “Welcome Princess, I am Lord Cazima”, and proceeded to bow and kiss the ring on Solomon’s hand. “Father, it has been a long time” he said, raising his crystal blue eyes and smiling at Solomon.