In the castle of the Kingdom of Sero was a pattern of continuity from the World. The same clean, bare grass–cold to the human skin. Printed, swirly flowers on thin, maroon rectangles that covered the floor as if they were rugs. Wooden bushes and bookshelves inside. And long, clear fences, that let an evening glow shine through its grid patterns and curtains.

The bookshelves surrounded every room inside the castle, with elaborate, wooden bushes beside in intervals. And there were long, wooden tables, that of dark cedar wood with fine dust.

In the library of the castle, there was a lounge couch in the center, with its cushions dyed in dark gray–the kind that came from the elves' mucus–with a hint of burgundy. The frame and legs (or roots) were as dark and as wooden as the tables, bushes, and bookshelves around it. And it sat on a little fluffy island of flowers, just like the rug-like flowers below it.

And on top of the couch–upright and feet planted lightly on the floor–sat Cory, whose gloved fingers held the thick book delicately in his hands. The book's ribbon shimmered from the evening glow, as did the other books' ribbons, velvet spines, and leather spines.

At this point, the bookshelves were restocked, though Cory continued to read from the very same book that he found in the bookstore with Treit. After all, he hadn't finished it yet.

His cardboard-paper crown sat atop his slate-colored, bluish-gray hair, although his hair color was more so a half-and-half that splitted around the middle. One half of his hair color was the slate color, while the other half had a hint of green in its rather seafoam-blue color. But both sides were neatly combed, with loose strands fraying outward. His suit wrapped his arms in thick, dark gray sleeves, as they supported his arms and his attention on the page.

Fairies are harder to classify than most other creatures. From dragons to unicorns, most can take around three forms of other creatures–with some personalities mimicking their chosen form better than the species themselves.

Fellow reader, I want you to envision a dragon. They are beasts of flesh and mind, and hardly known to care about any creature other than their own kind. To them, kindness is learned, and not inherent. They will only be kind when you show them the essence of it so. So those are the traits of the dragons, written in their system.

Fairies are the same way–in fact, they are far worse. Using their mind-shifting abilities, they can change a person's mind as they do their own bodies. They deceive their victims, and lure their prey in. Because they are predatorios creatures. It is...

"Prince Cory!"

Cory glanced up from his book. A short woman with an apron around her waist and an ankle-low dress ran to Cory. She stopped, and bowed low to him.

"Prince Cory, Prince Cory!" she exclaimed. "I hope you haven't been feeling too hungry. Supper is almost ready..." She trailed off as her eyes shot to the book on his lap. "Oh! What book are you reading there, Prince Cory?" She reached out her hand towards the pages.

Shoop! Cory slid the book closer to him. Cory frowned, gripping on the book.

"My brother Treit aided me in selecting this book. It is my possession. Do not touch it, Maid."

"Sorry, sorry!" The maid bowed again and again. She glanced at the door, left ajar from her burst into the room. "Oh. Prince Cory, I believe supper should be ready now. I'll lead you there." She gestured her hand towards the door, as Cory placed the ribbon in the crack of the pages, and set it aside after closing it. He stood up, as the maid took his hand and they headed to the door.

"Come on now, let's go."

#

Cory watched as the maids paced to and fro from the long wooden table, blanketed with a long tablecloth embroidered with thin, black yarn that resembled that of rolled paper and braids. Chairs lined up with ghosts for people. Meanwhile, Cory's hands were propped neatly on his lap, as the maids' hands held elaborate meals on clean, white porcelain dishes.

"Prince Cory," a tall maid with straight hair spoke to him. "Here are your appetizers." She placed the platters on the table from the plate holder, as the steam and smell followed the filled bowls. A bowl of creamy potato soup. Buttered and lemoned brussel sprouts. Brown bread and a small dish with a stick of butter and a knife.

Cory reached for the bowl before his hand froze. He glanced around his place mat, then to the cabinets nearby arranged with dishes and silverware, and drew his hand back.

"Maid, if I were to inquire, where are my dishware and silverware? For I can not consume these aromatic aliments until I am given my necessary tools." He looked up to her, with his dark eyes and tinge of green and blue that matched half of his hair. His one, rectangular pupil glistened at her.

"Of course!" The maid shook her head as she held the plate holder to her knees. "Lemme fetch it for you real quick." The maid scurried off to the cabinets nearly, and selected the utensils and plate inside.

Clauk, clauk. Clauk, clauk. Clauk, clauk...

Cory turned his head.

"Oh, Cory!" Treit walked over as another maid hurried over and pulled a chair beside Cory to sit. He must've sat on a ghost, but at least a gap was filled in the array of the tall seats.

"Maid, get another set of plates and utensils for King Treit!"

"Yes, Maid!"

Treit smiled and nodded his head to Cory.

"I assumed that you were unable to arrive at supper on time. But I am pleased that you came." Cory said with a small smile.

"Yea, things got a little chaotic." Treit waved his hand. "I came across many dragons and such. They're quite dangerous, you know? Luckily, the CGR and my guards were able to take out the threat. Gosh, can't even have a proper walk anymore." He sighed dramatically, with a stressed huh. "That's why we've had the CGR Act written in our Kingdom since, well. Forever. To remove all these creatures."

Cory nodded his head.

"And for your clothes!" He tugged Cory's sleeve playfully.

The maid set a plate and three utensils in front of Treit. Fork on the left, spoon and knife on the right. Treit nodded to her, with the playfulness still flickering in his eyes.

"Thank you, Maid."

The maid bowed her head and walked out of the room. Treit turned to Cory.

"So how's it been, Cory? Like that new book you got?"

Cory nodded. "Indeed. I have been faring well, and learning vast amounts of information from those chapters."

"That's good." Treit reached for the brussel sprouts, and scooped three onto his plate with the ladle. And a maid scurried over with two glass goblets, and another followed with a porcelain pitcher filled with water.

"Sorry for the delay," The first maid starts as she places the glasses on Cory and Treit's placemat. "Here are your drinks now."

"We appreciate your service, Maids." Cory gave a small smile.

"Of course!"

The two maids briskly walked away, and Treit turned to Cory once more.

"I know things have been busy lately. And I'm glad you've been keeping yourself busy. But after things clear up regarding the CGR Act, I'll spend a bit of time with you. Rumino. Jacks. If you want, we could read some other books together. Actually..." He winked. "I think I should have time after supper!"

"Really? It would be convivial." Cory inquired, his small hands raising in excitement.

"Haha, yes, really." Treit smiled, and grabbed the plate filled with brown bread. He stroked the knife, and spreaded the silky butter as a few crumbs gathered on the silverware. "Just make sure to finish your food this time, okay?"

#

Cory sat on the couch. More days had passed between him and the last time he interacted with his brethren. A time-lapse. But Cory still felt the same peace with himself and the book, as he did the last time it was written that he read it.

However, there were some contrarieties about this occasion. This time, a maid was kneeled on the floor, polishing his shoes. And another maid was handing Cory a teacup on a plate.

"Thank you, Maids. I really do appreciate your service in pursuing your duties. I am most grateful."

"Of course, Prince Cory."

Cory scanned the book, and he lifted his eyes to examine the bookshelf in front of him.

"Maid," He turned to the maid holding the teacup. "May I trouble you and request that you hand me a book from our curated collection?"

"I don't know which one you want," The maid replied back. "I think you'll have to find it yourself, Prince Cory." The shoe-polishing maid shot her head up. She glared at the teacup maid, who had clearly not yet adjusted to her occupation.

"I wish not to." Cory simply glanced back at his book. "I requested that you give the piece of literature to me." Looking up, he adds, "Do keep an eye on The Mystical Beings. It is the book that I desire to read."

The teacup maid set the plate on a coffee table beside the couch. She bowed and turned. "Right, of course, Prince Cory." Her cheeks flared. "Apologies."

"Do not be flustered." Cory watched as the maid took a few steps towards the bookshelves, and ran her fingers along the spines as her eyes followed. There was even a ladder for the books higher on the shelf. The maid paced in front of the shelf. Back and forth, back and forth. Like a sheet of paper slowly dwindling downward.

She stopped her finger on a thin, leather spine.

"Ah, here it is, Prince Cory." She pulled the book out. "The Mystical Beings." She walked to him. She smiled and held the book out, the title facing him. "I'm sure you'll find something useful related to the creatures here, Prince Cory. In the Kingdom of Sero."

"And it'll be yours soon, Prince Cory Elcidelibro!" The shoe-polishing maid added with a cheery smile.

#

FLASH!

Treit shielded Cory with his arm as his feet slid back. He gritted his teeth and glared at the tall beast. Treit breathed. Huh. Huh.

And the beast roared back. Its shiny, cold scales glowed against the fire that came from its mouth.

The little book boy covered his eyes behind his brother. Treit glanced at Cory and patted his head.

"Just wait here, okay?"

Treit turned to the beast. In his other arm was a long, metal sword. He dragged it on the cold grass and swung it slowly. He inched it closer.

And ran to the scaly beast.

The dragon.

Treit's galoshes slammed on the ground. CLAUK CLAUK. CLAUK CLAUK.

He ran faster. CLAUK CLAUK CLAUK. CLAUKCLAUKCLAUKCLAUKCLAUKCLAUK.

And swung.

"BE GONE, DRAGON!"

FWISH.

Treit glared down. His sword pointed to the grass. Crumpled scraps of wet, black paper dripped. Blood scattered on the fences.

And from the source, the dragon laid still.

His body was open. Torn paper, cut deep. Every crinkled vein could be distinguished.

He stared down as the dragon's body broke into smaller pieces. Little bits of paper ripped from the horn crawling down to the foot, and each part chipped away into smaller bits of paper as thin and as translucent as fire.

And it followed a breeze, scattering away into the wind. Fading, as each bit of paper touched a glass fence nearby and seeped onto its surface, deleted forever.

Treit turned to Cory with a smile. There were some black zigzags on his arm and face that patterned him like a zebra. His face fell when his eyes met the book boy's.

"Are you alright?" Treit paced to him and kneeled down.

Cory stood there, frozen. He glanced up at Treit and shook his eyes with puffed cheeks.

"It was...an experience to witness. Veritably." Cory's lip quivered ever so slightly. He scrunched his eyes.

"I'm sorry about that." Treit slides his sword back in his scabbard, which was wrapped around his waist and now with a pocket stained from the dragon's blood. He glanced around the tainted room. Blood-dipped, ripped sheets scattered all on the cold grass from where the dragon's body used to be. And then back to Cory.

Cory looked down and spoke quietly.

"Must we still resume our stroll to the CGR?"

He glanced away and fiddled with his fingers.

Treit's mouth shifted to a lowercase U.

"Another time. It's getting late, anyways."

"And may I ask when you plan on a second attempt to converse with the CGR?"

Treit shrugged.

"I don't know. Maybe after some time. But I'll do it soon."

He smiled and stood up.

"Later on. Maybe another point in time."