Work Text:
-Doors Left Closed, a one-shot story-
A hushed breath from the wind echoes amongst the trees as I stand there, cloak whipping in the wind. I slid down the lush hill as I took in the sight of the star-spattered sky.
I came across a young maiden, fog all around her as she wore a white and purple dress, along with a veiled hat, and moon locket reflecting a crescent moon, and tales never told to the human mind.
She told me her name was Lyra, and that she had a special job, though she did not reveal what occupation she took up in her life, not yet. I felt the wind pick up, the force like a whisper down my neck as she took me further into town, the townsfolk nowhere to be seen, snuggled into their beds. A shooting star passed over Lyra, and for a brief moment, I caught a glance of a smile on the maiden's veiled face as she led me to what looked to be a very clean and unique library or archive of some sort.
"Are you ready?" she asked me, and I gave a quaint nod as I took a breath and stepped inside.
The library was dim, but not too dim, and it had a vast expanse of books, trinkets, and even a grand staircase to match its extravagant marble and golden walls. Lyra revealed that her job was to protect the library by enchanting the books. She then sighed and said that she had had this job before, but that the library had been burned down. I asked what library it was, and she looked down and said that it was the Library of Alexandria. We both stood there in a solemn and rather awkward silence as she poured some star tea and sat on a comfortable couch near the staircase. I then inquired why she had brought me, of all people, into the library, after all, I was just an ordinary person.
She then set her tea down on a nearby table, flicked to one of the massive shelves of books, and stood there. "I brought you here so that you could see this place. Maybe you could find some reprieve in these shelves. I know you are good-hearted," she continued, "you take good care of the crows in town, and you have never made someone frown, not once, not ever." She then opened the locket she had around her neck. I couldn't quite glance at what was inside, but I feel like some doors are best left closed, and so, I stayed in the library with her, reading all there ever was to know about the town, past knowledge, and the universe's grand scheme.
-fin-