XII

Lia and Shannon stayed in the room waiting until everyone was asleep. The candlelight on the table was the only light in the room. Shannon sat in the chair looking at the light while Lia sat on the bed looking in the same direction.

Once they were sure that the night was long enough, they left and went to the archive room again. There wasn't much lighting around them, nor did Shannon want to bring candles and arouse suspicion.

However, every few minutes there would be soldiers walking around. Shannon and Lia had to sneak around, trying not to meet anyone. Using the castle's huge pillars to hide or being forced to retreat and take another path to avoid people. Every minute was tense. 

When they reached the archive room, Lia and Shannon quickly explored the shelves. Reading each neatly arranged spine, Lia couldn't understand the writing on each book. She had never seen letters like that before. Did it exist in ancient Roman or Egyptian times? Lia wasn't sure.

Shannon carried a large book in her arms and placed it carefully on the long table. Papers and other books were scattered about. 

The moonlight was quite bright through the glass with diagonal bars on the side. Lia kept the candle lit while Shannon flipped through the pages. There was a drawing shaped like half an island. There were twisting lines, triangles, waves. Each explained something. 

There was writing at the top of the book. Shannon knew that it explained the map of the kingdom of Arckeley. Obviously, there was no area called Germany there.

Shannon sighed, she looked around. Did they need to check the other books? But this big red book was the only one that contained information about the surrounding area.

Shannon closed the book and tried to put it back on the shelf, but she wasn't strong enough, so the book fell and made a loud thumping sound. Both of them looked at each other, Lia hurried to help Shannon pick up the book and put it in its place. Then she hurried to the door.

The sound of footsteps could be heard just as they were about to exit. Shannon immediately pushed Lia to hide. Shannon held her breath as in front of her stood a soldier who seemed to be on round duty. Shannon tried to act normal, but when she looked back to make sure Lia was hiding properly, she realized that the candle on the table was still lit.

"What are you doing here?" The soldier's torch came closer so that he could see Shannon's face clearly.

Shannon dodged slightly, "I thought there was someone inside when I heard something."

"You heard it too?"

"I checked, there's nothing there." Shannon tried to block him from entering as the man's eyes scanned around the room.

The soldier gave up. Shannon was very relieved. If Lia was caught, not only Lia would be punished, but also herself. Shannon had to pretend to go downstairs until she came out of the lower door. After staying in place for a while, watching the soldier continue his patrol, she went back upstairs.

"Lia." Shannon called out to her in a whisper. 

Shannon stepped slowly as she looked around. Then, she almost screamed because Lia came out from under the table.

"You scared me," she whispered. "Let's get out before the others come."

The two of them went back to the room. Shannon and Lia lay down on the same bed, felt tired. When Shannon turned to face the door, Lia was still awake. But she tried to close her eyes while saying silently that she wanted to go back, Lia really wanted to go home.

The necklace she wore shone, the blue color inside swirling like wisps of clouds. The jeweled fringe accents twisted and then broke to form a blob of water that covered her entire body. The mattress softened, Lia seemed to sink slowly. Shannon, who was beside her, felt her back slightly cold.

Lia moved under the bed instantly, she opened her eyes as someone knocked on the door. She was still shocked even though it wasn't the first time. Lia quickly went out and opened the door. Berta was looking at her seriously. 

"Are you okay?"

Lia looked confused about what had happened to her. Oh, no way, did she know or hear her fall?

"You were just there, right?"

That conversation was getting weirder and weirder. Lia didn't want to be provoked, Berta could use the story of magically traveling to a place as a lie and end up being considered crazy. Berta even looked at her like she was looking for something that could be used as evidence.

"I just woke up, I'm not going anywhere." Lia closed the door, "Don't play here, come on."

The girl walked alone without waiting for Lia. Hoping Elisa wouldn't notice her leaving that night.

Elisa was busy opening the shop. After the war ended, life had to continue. They lived among people who were hungry for power. And the innocent were always victims of the government's greed.

Mrs. Berta helped Elisa, apparently so that they wouldn't be expelled.

The smell of gingerbread wafted over, Lia inhaled and smiled contentedly. Her footsteps brought her closer to the Lebkuchen that had just been taken out of the oven. 

"Are you feeling better?" Elisa sighed, "Mom was busy making the bread."

"I'm fine, Mom." Lia held Elisa's hand, who was currently staring at the translucent glass. 

There were times when Elisa would stay silent for a few minutes, as if waiting for someone's presence. The warm atmosphere they usually had every morning turned cold. Both Elisa and Lia understood that neither of them wanted to discuss Klein's death. 

It started when Lia's father was forced to join the military. Klein couldn't refuse, for the safety of his wife and child. The man's crisp laughter was gone, loneliness was all Lia could feel every time her mother looked outside.

"Herzlich willkommen," Elisa Schmidt said as someone came in. Lia watched her mother as she helped customers choose bread.

Lia felt that the bakery could cheer Elisa up a little. Losing her son had devastated her, and losing her husband was like being hit by ruins over and over again. Lia and Elisa felt like they had nothing to hold on to as the men in their lives left so quickly.

Elisa Schmidt, a woman who now makes a living from bread, looked tough, even though she didn't know her husband's condition. Even her eldest son died last year when he was recruited by the government. So, there was no hope of seeing her husband again.

"Danke," Elisa said, smiling, handing the bread to the customer.

Lia approached, leaning on Elisa's shoulder. The woman had light brown hair that was just below armpit length. Her fair skin looked charming with a sharp nose and small red lips that perfectly carved a smile.

"This place is so quiet," Elisa said suddenly.

"Berta and her mother are here. Why do you say that?"

"Then get married, it will make the house more crowded." 

Lia rolled her eyes because her mother never stopped talking about marriage. If a prince came to propose to her, of course she would get married. But Lia wanted the prince from outside Germany.