That man… He was scum, nothing more nothing less.
If I killed him, maybe I would have lived this life for real?
My wife, Eveline, how would she feel knowing I made this happen?
How would she feel knowing me and Tiffen had orchestrated our marriage?
How would Alex feel?
Would Alex, would my child even care?
Would he care knowing that I was forced to have him, to lay low, to stay less suspicious?
Would she care?
Would he care?
Who even is he?
Who even is she?
Who even am I?
Am I a fake?
A false?
A Roland who couldn’t foster such growth alone?
A Farther who couldn’t even care for his child?
I guess the man wasn’t scum, maybe I was the scum after all…
****
It took years to settle down, Roland had been planing along side Tiffen to get in and out.
But to do so they needed the trust of the Elders in the library of the tree, and that wasn’t an easy task, Roland and Tiffen eventually settled on an idea;
“Ah, my name? I am Eveline, just Eveline is fine…”
It was none other then Eveline, her short blond hair, and sparkling blue eyes, with the help of Tiffen Roland became acquainted with Eveline.
And with that they started to hang out more, Eveline would bring books over to Roland’s house on the small hill just outside of the town, the two would walk to a small tree and read together;
“Say, Eveline…”
Roland said, the two by now had know about eachother for quite some time, Eveline turned her head out of her book;
“Yes?” She said, Roland face pulled back, his face was igniting red from blush, his hand trailed his pocket;
“Would you――” He was cut off as Eveline grabbed his hands, she pulled the ring out of his shy fingers, pushing her book out of the way, with a smile she put on the ring;
“Yes, of course I would.”
***
Did I really love her?
Yes I did, but my love was in the wrong direction, it wasn’t pure.
Nothing about my heart was pure, it had never been.
But that day, I did feel something, like an echo.
An echo of a new life.
Like the one I had built with the man and Tiffen was slipping.
It had always been slipping, but why did it feel so right to let go?
I didn’t want to, and I still haven’t,
Everyday I mindlessly search the library organizing and racking my brain.
The book the man wanted, the way to repay my debt, all he wanted was one book.
One with Alex?
One with Tiffen?
One with everyone?
Everyone I knew, Everyone I had to know.
The countless lives I had to mingle and spend time with, just to get what he wanted.
How could I be the one to worry though?
I just had to live my new life, or what was an echo of a new life.
Echo or not, was it pure?
Was it truth?
Was it truly me?
**
“Eh… You and Roland are having a child?” Tiffen said, this was in response to Eveline telling there maid, in all honestly she was just worried about the child’s upbringing.
Eveline knew about how far there house was, how much Roland was out working, but Tiffen had always stayed, she was always there for them.
This was true, Tiffen had been a gem of a maid and had always stuck with Roland for the mission, but with Alex’s upbringing coming closer she would have to step up to help the helpless Eveline.
Tiffen saw no desire to ‘settle down’ she was dedicated to the mission, and that meant dedication to helping Roland achieve that goal.
This was mainly because of Roland’s great memory, so he was the candidate to infiltrate the library of the tree as a upcoming historian.
Tiffen had helped him study, she had help him met Eveline, she had helped them rise there child, she had helped in every-way she could, always keeping track on the mission.
“Do you not believe us? You meanie…” Eveline said in a playful manner, she was exited and the news would also be exciting as well.
“I believe you, just be prepared for a child, I heard they are quite a handful, though I have never worked with children.”
“Yes, will do!” Eveline said, her smile grew, Roland was also excited.
*
That’s right…
Alex, Alexander De’corettell… That was your name old man?
I had nearly forgotten, I had named my first child after you…
What a Farther I am…
**************************************************************************************
Roland had been thinking, for some strange reason when he remember his past his head begun to spin.
He didn’t know what to feel, it was still later time.
Roland stood up, he was laying sideways on a wooden chair most likely asleep, but now wasn’t the time for slumber.
The air around him was stale, thin and not moving.
The lighting from the bright lights scarred across the roof, the many layers of shelf’s lining the underground, the underground lights had been so bright shadows didn’t dance.
It was none other then the Underground part in the Library of the tree, a man from the bright light table just across from Roland, saw Roland’s sudden standing and walked towards him saying;
“He is calling for you… Alex says he wants to speak with you, he seems normal now but we can’t drop our guard, also I had given you some sleep since you looked tired and Alex will be here for a while. Well, at least until the Elders decide what to do with him.”
The man had darker eyes, with normal dark hair and a thick silk robe covering him.
This was the only other historian, Roland spoke;
“Ah thanks, Agi, but you should have woke me up, he is my kid after all.”
Agi, who was the man in the robe slightly laughed tilting his head slightly; “I’ll remember for next time, Alex he should be in the main chamber…”
“The main chamber!?”
“Yes, the main chamber…”
**************************************************************************************
The main chamber was inside of the massive tree, it was access by a small staircase from the side of the library that would take you down into the underground of the tree.
So, Roland and Agi went there, there where already in the underground so it wasn’t far to the ‘main chamber’.
Entering the ‘main chamber’ Roland and Agi looked towards the roofs, they had been far underground yet the roof looked as if it touched the sky, they where standing on a perched on a viewing platform, overlooking the roofs and depths.
From where they where standing they could see a boy floating high up in the chamber, he was held up by many golden chains that latched around his body.
The chains led into the roots of the tree which surrounded the main chamber, the boy was in his night outfit, his eyes where dull, left floating in solace, he had yet to take notice of Agi and Roland.
Agi piped up, he pointed up at the boy from a small viewing platform where he and Roland stood; “So, I have brought him.. Now will you answer my questions?” It was clear Agi had spoken to the boy before, and that led to a negotiation for Roland to come.
The boy looked up, he face was tilted to the side, his eyes where shaking, as a lone tear ran down his cheek.
This single tear was followed by a lonely word, his hands shaky, his breath relentless and scared, the chains moved slightly at the boys shaking, yet all he said was;
“Farther…”
That was it, the only word he could muster, Roland looked away, an internal
‘tsk――’ came in his mind, was Alex really here with them or was that monster here trying to trick them?
Roland had yet to know, so he turned back around, studying Alex’s shallow word, Roland prepared himself to say something, taking in a deep breath.