I was about to take the book out when suddenly someone talks behind my back which startled me so much that I jump a little.

I look back and take a deep breath when I saw that it's only the middle age man. Jeez, it almost gives me a heart attack.

Why does he suddenly pop up from behind me? If I'm holding the book, I probably hit it on his face. Good thing I'm not holding it.

"Sorry, did I startled you?" He looks at my side, where the glowing book is. "So, it's you."

I frown. What does he mean it's me? Why does this middle age man talks vaguely?

"What do you mean it's me?"

The man only shakes his head as a response to me. "You should take it." The man looks at the glowing book at my side. "It traveled here just to find you. Take it. You will need it in the future."

"What do you mean it traveled to find me? The book? Traveled? Are we even talking about a book here?"

I am lost with his words. I don't understand what he means. Who traveled? Can someone tell me who it is?

The man shakes his head. "Just take it, young lady. It's yours, to begin with."

I was about to say something when I feel my hands move on its own and take the glowing book out of the shelf.

What is happening? Why couldn't I control my body? I haven't written about this. I also didn't do anything against what I have written. So, why can't I control my body?

"It finally found you, Ysavel Vlahos."

After the middle age man said that, my eyes immediately widen. He knows my real name. He knows that I am not part of this world. But who is he?

"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is it finally found you. It's time to go now, Lady Lauretré."

After the man said those words, the dimmed bookshop suddenly lights up. The light is too blinding that it made me put my arms to my eyes to cover it. And when I open my eyes again, I was in the middle of the main street.

What happened? A minute ago, I was still inside the bookshop, but when I open my eyes, I was back on the main street. How is that even possible?

I was about to walk in the direction of the bookshop when suddenly someone shouted my name.

I look around and saw Rufus waving his hands at me happily. He then runs towards me.

"What are you doing here, Csille? Do you feel better now? Did you bring someone with you?" He looks around to see if I am with a teacher or guard. He frowned when he didn't see anyone. "You went outside without bringing someone with you?"

I didn't hear much about what he said because I'm still preoccupied with what happened.

One moment I was inside the bookshop but when I open my eyes I am already standing in the main street of Illorian?

"Csille? Csille?"

I look at Rufus, who is now holding my arms. He looks worried, probably because I didn't react to what he is saying. "Are you okay?"

I shake my head at him as a response. I then break off from his grip and walks towards the dark alley.

I need an answer. I'm pretty sure it's not my imagination. I know I walk through that alley. I know I entered that store and talk to the middle age man.

Rufus follows me behind. "Csille, where are you going? Are you looking for something? Tell me what it is. I'm quite familiar with the stalls in here. I'm pretty sure I could find it in a minute." Rufus continues to blabber around, but I have no time to listen to him.

I was about to turn to the dark alley when Rufus grabs my arm. "Hey, why are you going in there?"

I look back at Rufus. I'm pretty sure I could sense anxiety in his voice. But why is he anxious?

"I just want to go back to the bookshop there. Why do you sound like you're anxious?"

Rufus looks at the dark alley and looks back at me. "That's not a safe place to go. Also, I'm pretty sure there's no bookshop in there. This dark alley is already closed to the public for years now."

I was shocked by Rufus's words. What? This dark alley is closed to the public for years now? It's not a safe place to go? But how come I am safe even after entering the alley?

"You're kidding me, right? I won't buy that, Rufus. Come on, let go of me. I need to go back to that bookshop."

However, no matter what I said to him, he wouldn't let go of my arms. "I cannot let you enter that alley, Csille. Do you know how dangerous that alley is?"

I scoff at him. "What do you mean dangerous? I already went inside and look at me. I am still alive and kicking. So, I don't know where did you get that nonsense humor."

Rufus looks at me with wide eyes. He then pulled me to a much crowded alley, and we stand in front of a closed stall.

He looks around first to see if there are people who could eavesdrop on our conversation. After ensuring that there is none, he looks at me seriously.

"Did I heard it right, Csille? You really went inside that dark alley and went out unscathed?" He sounds like he didn't believe what he is saying.

"I don't understand why are you making a biggie about this. Yes, I entered that dark alley, and so what? Do you need to overreact that way?"

Rufus is really weird today. He isn't usually the type who gets anxious easily. So, I don't understand why is he acting this way. What's in that dark alley?

Rufus sighs. "Csille, there is a reason why they closed that alley. Do you know that most people who entered that alley were never seen again? They said that alley is cursed, and anyone who walks inside it never gets out."

I just laughed at Rufus. I get it. It's one of his jokes again. When we were kids, Rufus and I love to scare each other. He always fails because I wasn't the type of person who gets afraid easily. That's why he loves to scare me as much as he can. Too bad he still hasn't succeeded.

It's probably one of his jokes again, and I almost fell for it. I knew it! This guy would never get serious. "Cut the crap, Rufus. I know what you are doing. I already crack it. You cannot scare me with this. Come on, don't you have anything better?"

Rufus shakes his head repeatedly. "I am not joking, Csille. How I wish I am only joking, but it's one of the known facts in here. It's the same reason why no one gets near that alley."

What's with him? I already told him to stop acting, but he is still pushing it? Did he really think I would buy it? Come on. I heard a lot of folklores like that in the real world.

"Maybe you are just mistaken. I'm sure there's no bookshop in there." Rufus added.

I frown. I'm pretty sure I'm not mistaken. That's definitely the alley I went through.

"Okay, okay, I get it. That alley is dangerous, and I shouldn't walk inside it again. Okay, I won't now. But I only need to know where to find that bookshop." I gave up. Rufus isn't giving up with the made up folklore he is saying.

I need to talk to the middle age man. I have many questions needed to be answered. Who is the 'she' he is talking about? And what about the thing he said that the bookshop chooses me. The book he said that travel for me? I don't understand a lot of things.

Rufus sighs out of relief. Although I know, he knew that I still don't buy what he is saying about that dark alley. Dangerous alley my face.

"What's the name of the bookshop?"

"Plotbound. The name is Plotbound."

Rufus thinks for a moment before he shakes his head. "There's no such bookshop in here, Csille. Think again. Maybe you remember a wrong name."

I shake my head at him. "I'm sure that is the name. I'm definitely sure. Maybe you just don't know that there is a bookshop like that."

"No, it's impossible, Csille. My mother always visits this place once a month because she has an Illorian friend living here. That friend of hers often gives her an updated list of stores because my mother loves to do some shopping here.

"Well, maybe that friend of hers didn't give her the newest updated list. When was the last time your mother visited the Illorian City?"

"Last month."

"See? Maybe that bookstore is new. That's why you didn't know it."

Rufus still shakes his head. "I'm sure there's no such bookshop in here, Csille. You know what, why don't we rest for tonight and I'll accompany you tomorrow morning to look for that bookshop. How about it?"

I am about to refuse him when I saw Prince Fraser and Princess Paislee walking towards us. I immediately turn my back and walk towards the inn we are staying in. Rufus follows me behind.

"Hm. Let's just continue this tomorrow," I stop and look back at him. "And you will accompany me to look for that bookshop, okay?"

After I said those words, I immediately walked inside the inn. As much as I want to look for the bookshop but I couldn't risk having an interaction with Prince Fraser. For the safety of everyone.

_____________

Early in the morning, I am already walking through the streets of Illorian City. Unlike at night, the streets are much peaceful, and there are only few people who are looking at each stall.

I tried to bring Rufus with me, but he is still sound asleep in his room, and I don't want to bother his sleep. That's why I decided to go there on my own.

I already went there. What's there to be scared about?

I was about to enter that alley when an old guy stops me. "Miss, where are you going?"

"I just want to visit the Plotbound bookshop in here. Uhm, is there something wrong?"

The guy keeps looking at the alley and looks back at me. He looks anxious. He keeps tugging the hem of his shirt, and with a trembling voice, he said, "If you still want to live, I advise you not to go in there. There is no store in there. The Plotbound you are saying? I haven't heard about it."

I frown. "That's impossible. I went in here last night, and I know there is a bookshop in there. I was there."

The old guy's eyes widened, and he took a step back. "Y-you-u, went in there?" He looks at the alley, which is now visible to the eyes of anyone. But even if it's visible, you couldn't still see what's inside. There a fog throughout the alley. It's probably because it's still early in the morning.

He then looks at me from head to toe. "Are you sure you went there? It's impossible. No other person gets back alive after entering that alley. How come, how come you are alive?"

What does he mean? No one came back after entering that alley? Isn't that the same words Rufus said to me last night?

"Is what you are saying true? No one ever went back after entering that alley?"

The guy nods his head as a response. He still looks shocked about what happened to me.

"But if it's true, how come I came back alive?"

"This! I need to talk to the council about this!" The old man then runs away from me without even asking for my opinion.

Oh, great! I think I made a mess again. Oh, Ysavel, you really didn't learn something, don't you?

I messed my hair out of frustration. This isn't good. The carriage should only stop here for a day, and after that, we will continue our journey. Even in the novel, I just mentioned that we would only stop here for the night, and nothing is supposed to happen here.

And here you are, Ysavel, going against what you have written again. Do you really want to risk everyone's life in here?"

I am still scolding myself when someone called my name.

"Csille."