The Library Beyond the Border

The doors creak and move with the weight of the world, my palms hard pressed against the wood to spread them apart, slowly slamming each segment against the wall so as to announce my presence. Dust kicks up, mildly irritating my eyes, though hardly enough to take me away from the moment. Finally, I get to witness the locale that two months of travel led me to.

A purple hue like an aurora covers the interior, courtesy of its stained glass windows that stretch up high towards the tall ceiling. A yawn escapes my mouth, for the dark, serene atmosphere make me lightheaded, craving for a nap. Yet as I step forward, I am faced with the oppressive frame of countless towering monoliths. Black and opaque, they form a roll reminding me of dominos, that goes from one side of the sprawling abode to the other. Bookshelves, all of them. Dusty, old, but not any less impressive.

Pacing between the closest ones to me, with only the noise of my boots’ heels echoing through the halls, I glance at the tomes from times immemorial. The colors of their spines, undoubtedly once forming a glorious rainbow, have long since faded, and so have many of the words that they house. That much I can guess without the need to open a single one, for as I reach into my bag, I pull out the straggler.

Moldy dark green cover with text that had been golden at some point, but is now a bland beige. What it says I cannot tell. The parchment that was sandwiched between its pages, though, reads: “Please return before the end of your life, to the library beyond the border.” Well, it took a great expedition, but I am finally here. Now, who do I return this to…

“Who is there?” A voice calls from further in. Soon, the warm light of a lamp reveals itself and comes towards me.

“I am but a mere explorer, immortal one. Call me Jacques, if you wish.” I remove my helmet, letting my auburn locks burst out with their natural wilderness and a brisk spray of sweat. “My reason for coming, however, is to deliver something in the name of a patron of yours.”

“I see.” Forming from behind the light is the shape of a woman, whose long blue hair spirals down like the night sky. Her squinting eyes struggle to capture my own silhouette, even with the aid of the circular glasses that adorn her face. “I am Iris, not an immortal, but a mere caretaker. Please take a seat, dear guest.”

A short smirk pokes out from the corner of her lips. Soft spoken, she leads me to a reading area which, in contrast to the cold and somewhat menacing corridors of shelves, feels rather homely, even a little bit nostalgic. In particular, I notice a baby blue blanket that rests on a regal, red couch.

“It has been countless hours since we’ve last had a guest in the library. Say, do you enjoy green tea?” She asks, holding up a quaint, white teapot with a floral pattern.

“Most certainly. Thank you very much for your kindness.”

The opportunity to rest my feet is something I cannot deny. I sit on the first chair I find, and place the book on the table. As I sip through the freshly-brewed beverage, the librarian takes the item of interest in her hands. Her eyes widen ever so slightly as she lays her them on the cover.

“This book… I have not seen it in…”

“Approximately two thousand and fifty years ago, I take it.” I complete the sentence, prompting Iris to raise an eyebrow. “You see, I am an archeologist. My team finished an expedition in some recently discovered ruins in the northern continent, and this fella right there is one of the objects retrieved. It is in a surprisingly good state despite its age, I have to say.”

Iris rubs her fingertips against the rough surface of the book, narrowing her eyes and resting it on the lap of her puffy dress.

“Every book written here is collected and carefully preserved by the master of this library. They can last thousands of years, even in the most strenuous conditions.”

Removing the parchment from the inside and signing it with a feather pen, she continues after quickly adjusting her glasses.

“There was a time when many would come here seeking both knowledge and emotion. Magicians, sages, and even romantics like you. We allowed them to borrow the books, so long as they agreed to return them within their lifetimes.”

“Pffahahaha! To spot a romantic so easily, you’re truly an insightful one!”

“Shh! Keep it down, please. This is still a library, even if there are few guests.”

“Oh, I apologize.” Lying back and taking a deep breath, I swing the cup with my fingers, looking at the small waves of the liquid within as my cheeks reveal a smile. “It looks like the one who had gotten their hands on this book wasn’t quite able to accomplish your request, though. They were all bones by the time we found them.”

“I can imagine. It has happened a couple of times, and it is always a shame.” She opens the book and scans the letters inside, most which have not endured the deadly combination of the strains of time and whatever cataclysm that took place in that ruined civilization. “I must say, though, this is the first time that someone has delivered a book for one who cannot. I am quite delighted.”

“Heh, it wasn’t easy, let me tell you that.” Putting the cup back on the table and stretching my arms, I set my gaze into the distance. “Nobody knew where the ‘library beyond the border’ was to being with. Had to talk with several people to get even the tiniest clue. Thankfully, an oracle was able to point me to the great desert of the east, but…”

“But?”

“Haha…”

…

But then, I had to cross the seas to even get there! I got lucky to find a boat with a crew crazy enough to brave the wildest waters in the world; however that was about the only luck I’ve had! From beginning to end, we had to fight through cruel, raging storms; a series of whirlpools AND whirlwinds; rocky formations like the teeth and claws of the devil itself; and, as you may expect, the occasional sea monster or two. Over the course of that month and a half, we lost most of our men to the great mother below.

“How tragic.”

Oh, worry not for them, they were pirates, every single one! That was the best death they could desire. And through it all… They never lost the glint in their eyes! Their drive to push forward no matter what, almost indistinguishable from madness… It only served to ignite the fuel of my own passion as well. And I would need it, for when I disembarked on the shore of a small desert village, I was alone with nothing but my wits to brave the rest of the trip…

“The desert is a treacherous one, I’ve heard.”

More than I could have anticipated. It does not help that I’ve had to chase after a couple of bandits who stole my bag when I was bartering with the locals. I followed them for hours on end, leaping over and sliding under countless obstacles, swinging from rooftop to rooftop, and getting into a great horse race through the sands! But it was all worth it, because once I reached their hideout and defeated every last one of them… I just so happened to find a map! A map that led to this very place!

“I thought you said you didn’t have any more luck.”

Haha, you see, this wasn’t luck! It was fate! I knew it in my heart that, from the moment I found this book, I had to come here no matter what! And thus, I followed the trail, only barely getting about with the supplies I had in hand, battling through sandstorms and sandworms, mirages and myrmecoleons, until my eyes no longer deceived me! There it was… The great library lost to time, beyond the boundary of dream and reality!

…

“And that, in summary, is what it took to get to this cozy place of yours, o not-immortal one.” I take a breath after my retelling of the tall tale, then proceed to finish my tea.

“It is one for the books, for certain. Maybe your adventures will provide long due inspiration for the master.” Returning to reality, her gaze meets mine once again, though only for a second before it rests on the book. “But to go through so much just to return one book that is not even under your responsibility… Why would you do that?”

This time, I am the one who raises an eyebrow. Letting out a giggle, I shuffle on my seat and turn to her.

“Well, I am an archeologist, like I said. I find ancient artifacts that no longer belong to anyone, analyze them, and send them to the museum. This, though, does belong to somebody, so I didn’t feel comfortable giving it away. It’s only fair to bring it back where it belongs, is it not?”

Iris looks fixated on the badly damaged pages that have truly tested the endurance of her master’s precautions, without responding. My gaze falls on them as well. Even if I knew the language that it was written in, most words had long since become unreadable. A sigh escapes my lips and I raise my chin.

“Page 214.” I pull out a piece of paper from my pocket, its coloration almost perfectly resembling the ones in the book, and extend my arm to her. She looks stunned, her jaw hanging a little. “This one was torn from the book, and the skeleton was clutching it in its hand, close to where its heart should be.”

“This one…” She reaches out and takes it from me. “The words are still mostly intact…”

“Can you read it?”

“Yes…”

“Then, if you don’t mind, please do it for me.” As my gaze fixates on hers, I lean forward ever so slightly. “That is my only request.”

Taking a moment to look through the text, likely juggling the many languages she knows in her brain to try and find the right one, Iris stands up and begins walking away. I follow her with my eyes, wondering what she is thinking. I can no longer see her face, only the long, cobalt hair that reaches towards the floor, like an endless ocean full of mystery.

Then, she stops…

…

Lord, oh Lord, where do your laurels rest?

On the wet pastures of the land?

At the mountains that stand by the sea?

All too far away from me?

Lord, oh Lord, where do your laurels rest?

Tell me, so I may lie next to you,

And watch the stars and the sky,

As they weave dreams too far,

That my little hand shall never reach.

Lord, oh Lord, please answer my plea,

So that I too may rest my head,

Close my strained eyes,

And try to find peace by your side.

…

Silence settles, and neither of us speaks up a thought. The story sinks in, painting the landscape of a world that is never to be travelled, of someone who clings to a hope that they may never see come true. In that single moment, just like she had seen my story, I saw hers. It holds onto my hardened heart, trying to squeeze a single tear from me if at all possible.

But all it does is paint a calm smile on my face.

“Was it worth your time, Mr. Jacques?” She asks, holding the book against her chest.

“Absolutely. Thank you very much, Miss Iris.”

Time then passes with little conversation between us after that. How much time? Enough for me to feel my legs again, as well as to read a few tomes that catch my interest. And to empty a good amount of teacups. Once the moment to leave comes, I approach Iris with one last request.

“Are you going already? I am sorry for providing such little company…”

“Your company was excellent. Now… I know I don’t have my library card with me, but if I may… I want to borrow just one book. Would that be okay?”

Sharp as she is, Iris immediately spots my gaze falling on the green book, which she would not let go of ever since it came back to her possession. The woman clings to it instinctively, looking nervous. Approaching gently, I get on my knees.

“With the knowledge of its words and the technology we have back home, I might be able to restore it to its former glory. Would it not be only appropriate, for such a wonderful little piece of art?”

I look straight at her face, watching as she considers her options. I know it’s selfish of me to be asking such a thing, but it is what my heart truly desires. It, too, is fate.

“Do you promise to return it before the end of your lifetime?”

Without a shadow of a doubt, I answer.

“I promise. And I look forward to the day where I get to see you again, o holy one.”

“In that case… I will be waiting.”