36: Fantasy
The bookshelves in the library of the Underhill manor were absolutely massive – the room stretched upwards for two stories, requiring a staircase to ascend to the next level, and countless stepladders were located at every other corner.
It was one of Sydney's favorite places to get lost in.
The first time, of course, it had been frightening, and when she could not find her way out, the four – year – old child had screamed for help until one of the maids within the household at that time had come running to find her.
However, now that she was older – eleven, to be exact – getting lost in such a room was a magnificent adventure.
Of course, she could never truly get lost – she had been through these countless rows of books so many times that she practically knew the layout of this labyrinth by heart, as if the blueprint of it had been imprinted into the back of her eyelids so that the girl would merely have to blink in order to remember where she was.
As chaotic as such a place often seemed, the library was extremely well – organized – by subject, and then by author, and then by alphabet.
It must have taken years to place everything so, Sydney often thought, and she could practically picture an army of servants busily shuffling the leather-bound volumes up and down, back and forth, sorting them into this exact order.
She had often spent many hours upon the lower floor of the library with her tutor, sitting at the small table that was placed just behind the second shelf of the right section, with multiple books that must have been at least a fifth of her weight stacked upon the floors and the surface of the table itself, but those had been history books, vocabulary books, works of literature that she could not understand nor cared for, as there was little that seemed more than nonsensical rambling to her.
No – as much as she yearned to one day read her own name recorded in such factual books of history, this section was not what she preferred to hide in at all –
Rather, it was the shelf that was located on the upper floor, north segment, seven back – it was where the fantasy books were kept.
Here is where she would find what she wanted – tales of great wars, of bloodshed and imperial armies, of sorcerers that wielded supernatural abilities and deranged villains that would pursue futile causes for no reason aside from their own personal gain –
None of which could happen in reality, of course – it was what made these sorts of books all the more appealing.
Even though she was most always alone when she disappeared within these wonderful stories, Sydney could practically hear the voices of disapproval from both of her parents if she were ever to be discovered, berating her for filling her head with silly little children's tales.
But for now, she would remain hidden away during these few hours in which the occupants of the household were taken by other matters within her state of wonderful, ignorant bliss – she would continue to disappear into her numerous pages of fantasy lands.
Sydney was a bit of a bookworm as a child - it was the only interesting pastime that she was allowed, really, as practicing the piano loses its fun when it's just another routine solely done to please one's parents (as a pianist, I would know XD).
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed, and do be sure to leave a review!
- Severina