1 An eternity

The floorboards creek as the silence of the library is filled with chuckling and laughter of the children ranging from 8 to 10 years old sitting in front of the book keeper Eloise a woman in her mid 30's that hasn't seemed to age with her bright orange brown hair and a modest long dress fitted for a book keeper "Children settle down now~ or shall I postpone the book reading until the next blue moon?" she said with a chuckle as she saw the panicked expressions of the kids, everybody immediately behaved from her threats.

"The story we'll be reading for today is about the forgotten hero Lambert the wise" she said with a smile as she wiped the dust off of the cover and began to skim through the pages, she stopped at one particular page where he won against the demons that has attacked his land and how he fended off every evil that has touched his territory with both power and intellect.

a young boy no older than 9 winters has stood up, with his hair a mess on his face and is obviously from the less privileged family, the other children looked at him before he spoke which made him even more nervous "D-do you think s-some of us will be able to become a great hero like s-sir Lambert ma'am?" he asked in a modest and polite tone, the children then looked back at the book keeper, with the anticipation building up from them she smiled and nodded.

"Who knows what the future hold maybe not just one but all of you are destined to become great heroes like Lambert the wise..."

but the story hasn't ended after the wise hero has defeated the great demon legion, he was heavily prosecuted when the people has find out how he was able to defeat the great legion of demons, he bared a fang stronger than any and moved swifter than most, he had the lust for endless violence and wished to make the skies rain pools of red where his kind can feast... that was where the wise has been put down by the holy empire, burnt in a stake and stabbed in the heart, the wise was given that title for one reason, he was able to fool the world that he wasn't one with the legion of darkness.

the book keeper skimmed through the pages more reciting the story that she has memorized to the kids while reading further into the story.

the auburn color of the sky is starting to be painted by a blanket of black as the reading ended, the book keeper waves the children goodbye except for one "Miss... I would like to practice my reading at my home and I know I can't offer much but can you lend me the old book from earlier?"

the book keeper thought to herself this will be a good opportunity for him so she has lent it no questions asked "Just return it when you come back here tomorrow.

8 Years has passed ever since

the green haired boy is now 16 years old and is now reading the tale of Lambert the wise to the younger kids in his village like Eloise, the now older book keeper is still untouched by time as she walked past by the children "Moss please tend to the flowers in the garden after the read." She asked with a smile.

Moss nodded as he continued reading for the children, a few hours has passed the sun has reached its zenith, he stood up and waved the kids goodbye after he finished reading his favorite book to them.

"Hey miss Eloise I don't think the tale of the forgotten hero isn't as forgotten now haha!" he said with a chuckle as he placed the book into it's shelf, the book keeper smiled as he nodded "I'm not sure if that is a good thing to keep reading the story to the newer generation my child..." she said as she continues reading the book in her hand whilst she stand on the stepping stool in a dark corner of the library.

Moss tilted his head towards where the book keeper was "Why is that?" he asked in a confused tone before grabbing the pail from the storage, the book keeper gave an eye to the boy before placing the book she was holding into her pockets "Because as you know how the story ended... it was a tragedy none can redeem... I don't wanna give children hopes like that... turning into a beast... just so that one can be acknowledged as a hero... a symbol of light while conspiring with the darkness..." The green haired boy had a somewhat conflicted look over his face before he nodded and headed to the garden.

he walked around the spacious garden of the library where he now lives in at the water trickled onto the flowers the book keeper has planted the day she adopted the boy into her household, he wiped the sweat off of his forehead then he heard 2 pairs of footsteps walking down the gravel path towards the library a boy with bright auburn hair and green eyes not older than him, and a girl with bright yellow hair and bright blue eyes approached the green haired boy with yellow eyes. 

"MOSS!!!" The other boy said with an excited tone, the girl rolled her eyes as she flipped her hair before kicking moss on the bottom while he was watering plants with the thoughts on his place is out of order, the green haired boy toppled into the ground as he looked up at the two, "I told you that we want to be a part of the reading Moss..."

"Oh... I'm sorry bout that Max... and Alice" he said with disappointment in the tone of his voice, the other boy helped the other up as he stared at the two of them "SO! Err like... its getting boring here..." Alice smirked as he nudged the brown hair boy "are you saying Moss' family here is boring? well what can I expect from a random mutt like you! you are but after all trash who can't read!" she said with an even bigger smirk.

Max just stared at Alice with his head a bit tilted at her direction "well at least I'm not a bitch" the brown haired boy smirk as the other boy stood in between them pushing the two away "How did you two even get to my residences without squabbling like little brats." Moss said with an annoyed expression before going back to his previous topic, "what do you guys wanna do now since the reading is over... and I just finished my chore... I think..."

the brown haired boy grabbed him and Alice by the wrist "I KNOW A PLACE WHERE WE CAN HANG TIL SUN DOWN! THERE'S A PATCH OF GLOWING MUSHROOMS NOT SO DEEP INTO THE FOREST!" Alice looked at Max with an annoyed expression but gave in eventually "Fine if that's a special mushroom that glows then maybe I can partake in this stupid escapade" the green haired boy just shrugged and followed the other's lead, they began walking a patchy path of rocks and gravel until it just become a field of tall grass with giant trees around, Max was still able to keep up with his pace whilst Alice and Moss are now feeling exhausted from the already 2 hours walk.

the boy with the auburn hair smirked "come on guys its just up ahead I'm serious this time come on!" The two panted as they heaved for their breaths, they shooed away the over enthusiastic Max away from the group "Go away! *pants *from us you Mutt! we can't take it anymore!" Alice complained, Moss then was just silently catching his breath from the side while observing the surroundings "I can't see a reason why glowing mushrooms would grow in these parts? I have read in an old botanical book that a mana vein should be underneath the area for vegetation to start glowing..."

Max just nodded with an almost indifferent expression, maybe a bored expression but still tries hard to understand what the other was telling him. "uhh yeah whatever you say Moss!" he said before walking away from the group "I'm just gonna check around the area to see if I'll be able to show you guys the thingies now hehe!" he said excitedly before running off to the distance, the other two was left alone now in complete silence, as a brisk blow of cold air breezes through their direction, a crack of twigs, a hum of the birds, and the dashing noises of the wild life can be heard as the two sat there alone.

"What do you want to be when you finally have come of age and is now allowed to leave the village." Alice asked as she faced Moss, the confused green haired boy's eyes widened as he looked away from the other with a face that can only be described as deep in thought, he remained silent for a while before turning back to Alice. "I think I'll just be the new book keeper if miss Eloise ever decides to retire..." Alice then groaned as she rolled her eyes "You sure took your time for a lame answer like that... for me I think I'll marry someone of power and gain influence on the sidelines... maybe a merchant... or be one myself! I'm strong enough to be able to be one anyways." 

Not so long after their conversation the ever enthusiastic Max has came back from his little search "Yo! I found the thingies!" he said as he showed bland and pale looking mushrooms in his hand "Yeah I know they look like they ain't glowing right now BUT! They will glow once you put them near a mana vein! I haven't seen the mana vein yet but... I want you guys to search with me hehe!"

"Max its almost night... I am not sure if we should even venture this deep this late right now... maybe we should head back?" Moss said as he stood up facing the two. Max was obviously taken aback since his personality has always been pushy, he bit his lip before he looked at Alice with a pathetic look in his eyes, but the girl just smirked as she shrugged "what the boss said the boss gets it done." she said before standing up as well in between them "shall we get going Mutt?" she said with a smirk. 

"Hey not fair! I did told you two we will be out here 'til night so we could check out the glowing shrooms..." he bit his lip feeling frustrated but then again he just ended up resigning from his insistence "fine maybe just next time." Moss chuckled "I'm sure there will be next time."

before the three was even able to leave their spot a scream was heard deeper into the forest, it doesn't resemble a human's but for some reason the green haired boy was so drawn to it "You two go ahead! I'm gonna save that person deeper into the forest!"

before the two could even react Moss was already gone deep into the forest "THAT IDIOT!" Alice exclaimed as she run after Moss "HEY MUTT GO FIND HIM YOU'RE FASTER ANYWAYS!" Max nodded as he dashed faster than he ever did before the two hoped Moss will be alright but a strong metallic stench can be smelled from deeper into the forest, the mushrooms that Max was holding in his pockets began glowing brightly "wait Alice don't come! something is wrong..."

he brought it out of his pocket and tossed it in front of them, the mushroom glowed brightly and turned into a crystallized mushroom, the two seemed shocked from the sight of it "What kind of mana vein could do that?" Alice pulled Max away "We need to go! if that dumbass Moss doesn't come back tonight we will report it the chief! but we cant go deeper into that forest! its not only veins that are hidden in this forest... a large mana stone is right here... its the only thing that can do that to anything organic..."

"but the grass was still the same what's up with that?" Max asked as they continue running out of the forest pathing down where they came from. "its an illusion like how an oasis appears in a desert its a gamble... might be a mirage... or the actual thing... or the thing that will kill you! how do you not know this you stupid mutt?!" Max growled at the other before letting go of her hand "well I ain't bookish like you and Moss!" 

After the two has reported to the chief, the night has already fallen.

"if something happens to our friend... I wont be able to forgive myself Max..." Max has remained silent while he continued pacing back and forth in front of the fireplace "the mages will be here soon... they will make a search party... he will be found... I'm sure he will be found."

Meanwhile deep into the dark forest.

'Where was the person needing help?' Moss thought to himself as a few minutes passed by he decided to returned back to where they were resting, but they were gone and the sun has already set, darkness creeps into every corner of the forest, He continued looking around but nobody was there, the glowing mushrooms in his pockets has began glowing in that night, seems like Max was right with that one, the forest was a nice view to see as everything began to glow, he has decided to just go back to the path that they came from, he walked down the path for a whole hour before the darkness began to set in once again now that the glowing vegetation has become scarce the farther from the deep forest he got.

a rustling can be heard from behind him as he continued pacing through the dark path only illuminated by the moon, he decided to look behind him to check what it was, there was already a tall figure standing in front of him, he couldn't even look up to check what was or who was it before he got flung against a tree, he coughed up blood from the impact with some of his ribs broken and had his legs injured as well.

"who are you?!" the tall shadowy figured stepped onto his severely injured chest before he smirked "I commend your virtuosity for trying to save something that does not even sound remotely human..." He slit his wrist with his sharp fang... black blood dripped from the wound he inflicted on himself, he placed it over the other's mouth "celebrate human... from this point on you wont be recognized as a mortal anymore... you have moved the queen from your foolish actions... therefore I the Viscount has come personally to bless you." 

Moss has unconsciously drank the blood the other offered, when his consciousness came to be the mages were already strapping him into their vehicles to be rescued, he was not injured when they found him, but signs of battle was found on the spot.

"That is what they saw based on the report they have delivered..." The book keeper said as she explained the whole situation to Alice and Max who was horribly worried about Alex's situation.

"he will be alright? right?" Alice asked, while Max was still pacing back and forth in front of the window where the moonlight seeps into the book keeper's residence.

"I'm sure he will be fine." she said with a smile, before a disaster strike.