Chapter 4

"Wake up sir, we have arrived." Vanilla patted my arm while shaking it a little.

I blinked a few times, then looked around. It was dark already. I saw the clock in the taxi read half-past seven in the evening. After paying for the taxi I tucked my bag and got out of the taxi. What do we go to the library for? Will we stay at the library? Ah, never mind I'll just follow my instincts.

The brown-wood framed glass door wasn't that different from the last time I was here. It's been a while since I came here. The last time I remember I visited this place is when I was in eighth grade. I still remember that moment when I visited with my father and mother. Usually, when I come here I go around alone without my parent's guidance, only after a long time my father will look for me and then go back home.

Vanilla walks me into the library. The library on that night was very quiet, no one was passing by, it seemed like only Vanilla and me was there, even though in the city center the library is open 24 hours. Upon entering through that door a familiar scent hit my sense of smell. The aroma of a mixture of wood, paper, and the aroma of the dry air so that the book doesn't get damaged quickly. The temperature of the air conditioner is also made as optimal as possible to make wood and books stand for a long time. The lights are placed differently in the library, from the front door to the front desk for lending books, it set brightly in contrasting white. At that time the table was empty, but there used to be a girl who was standing guard there. For bookshelves that are commonly read, they are also arranged in a similar way to the table for lending books, but not as bright as the area for lending books. The reading area is made not too bright, a little dim with reading lights in certain places, such as desks, and some corners on the wall if you want to read while standing. When you go deeper to the inside, there is a room where the book area and reading area become one place, not too big, it can only be entered by certain people who have certain interests or also people with special memberships. The room was not too big, but the books in it were not simple, I remembered that I once sneaked into the room and saw my father reading a very thick book filled with a strange language.

After arriving in the innermost room someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned around and was quite surprised that it was the taxi driver driving me.

"Your head must be full of questions, later one by one your questions will be answered, but now you have to follow me first. My name is David, it's up to you to call me Uncle David, Mr. David, or even David it's okay. Before that did you bring the pocket watch that your father left you? "

I reached for the pocket watch and handed it to him. "This is it, Sir."

He opened the pocket watch then tinkered with the object. After turning a dial on the watch a key came out. The watch was indeed not small, the size of a fist and about half a finger thick.

"Take care of this key, never neglect to put it carelessly." He handed back the watch to me. How does he know about my father's inheritance? Does he have any relationship with my family?

After that Mr. David moved one of the bookshelves in the corner of the room. What is that? There was a brown wooden door there. Mr. David put out a key identical to the one I had into the keyhole on the door and opened the door.

"Come on over here, don't be afraid."

Vanilla and I followed Mr. David through the door. The door is connected to a hallway with white walls and a marble floor. The hallway is quite long with the lights a little dim. At the end of the hall, there was a dim light. The farther it gets it became clear that at the end of the hall there was a very large room. The room is like a living room equipped with several bookcases, a table, a sofa, a chandelier, a television, a radio, and a grand piano in the corner. Instantly, the quiet atmosphere that had been felt from the library door changed. It seemed that several people were busy with their respective activities. There is a muscled boy who is writing, a girl with glasses is arranging books, and two teenage boy and a girl who are chatting while snacking on snacks.

"Attention everyone." Mr. David's voice at that moment made the busy people immediately approached us. "Introducing our new friend at the library. His name is Sastra, starting from tonight he will stay here. "

" What do you mean? I still have a house don't I? "

"Sorry Sastra this might sound painful to you, but your house may be destroyed by now." Mr. David's face changed when he said that.

“Mr. David! Wasn't it too fast for him to digest all these situations? Look at his face! Do you have any empathy? " The woman with glasses snapped Mr. David a little.

"Then what will you say Wulan? Give him a sweet tale that he's here on vacation? The sooner he knows the better. Never mind for now we eat first. Alex, have you cooked? "

"Yes sir, to welcome the new member I have cooked chicken Soto. "

“Ah, warm chicken Soto after a long day. Alright, let's eat. "

*****

The chicken Soto at that time actually felt like it was rich in taste, the chef who cooked it was certainly very reliable. But that night the whole meal was tasteless in my mouth. We ate in that spacious room. A large cauldron containing soup is placed slightly in the kitchen so if you want to add another portion of your food you have to move on and walk a little. I sat a little away from the people. I feel strange about all of this. While eating, Mr. David began to open the topic of conversation.

"Attention." As soon as everyone stopped eating, I stopped too. "As we know, we have a new member tonight. His name is Sastra." I nodded slightly as I turned my head towards everyone. "Maybe we haven't been properly acquainted before, my name is David, I am the person responsible for all of you in this place. Alex, who is well-built, you may have heard his name, he is my assistant in the library, although in general he is young he is responsible for various activities in this library. The girl who wear glasses, Wulan is her name, is the most experienced in the investigation, translation, and archiving of source literature, do not be fooled by her sweet face, she is very good at martial arts, mastering several types of martial arts, both common and some that still rarely studied by the public. The two children next to her are non-identical twins, the boy named Kara, and the girl named Kiara, both of whom are responsible for overseeing all archives and libraries, even though they both look naughty, they are quite smart and disciplined, every day they supervise all activities in this place, except personal activities of course. And lastly of course you already know her, Vanilla is a person who has extensive knowledge, usually, she goes to find a new source of literature to be stored and guarded in the library. Sastra, everyone here is your people. Those who have a big interest in literature, literary arts, writing, practical and non-practical knowledge, and hidden facts in history. "

“I-I don't understand, why me? Why now? "

"Because your parents are also like us Sastra, people who gave their lives to protect knowledge, and after they died, you are part of us now."