The gang, minus Lin and Hershel stood in the balcony of their Dome, looking out at the horizon. It felt never ending, and this was the first time Max had seen a view like this. He felt a lot of emotions at the same time, but he couldn't pinpoint any single one. He kept looking, thinking of his family, hoping they were alive.
Chuck: Hey!! Is that where my village is..???!
Chuck pointed at the trees ahead of them, and there was a gap in between the trees. It wasn't exactly an open space, but the trees covering the village was shorter than those around it.
Max nodded as a yeah, and looked at the smiling Chuck. Chuck's eyes immediately dropped and had the expression of a bittersweet sadness. The feelings of self blame and depression still lingered around him. Max noticed this and put an arm around Chuck's shoulders and shook him lightly, as if giving him solace. Chuck looked at him and smiled. It was a sad smile, but a smile nonetheless. It was still a smile of a person that wanted to live.
The gang went back in after five minutes and locked the door behind them. Max opened the blueprints and kept walking straight to a corridor in this seventh floor. It was filled with doors on every side, confirming that this was indeed the living quarters.
Max: So...we have different rooms here with different wallpapers in the room background. Just choose the one that you like..okay??
Max asked his fellow companions, and they all replied with a yes. They kept opening the doors of every room, and it was mostly boring. There was a room with a blue aquamarine wallpaper, that caught Max's eye, but since no one wanted it, he kept it in his mind. They kept walking until they found a room full of plants.
Chuck: Wowww....
Melissa: It's sooo green!!!
Albert: Wait...? Green? Why are plants alive in here after all this time..??
That was a valid question from Albert, who was blindfolded. Chuck went ahead and touched the leaves and found out they are made of plastic.
Max: Oh...these are artificial ones...made of plastic...
Melissa: Pla-stick??
Max: Umm...don't worry about it....just think it's fake and made out of paper.
Max had no idea on how to explain plastic, but he still tried giving an answer to subside their curiosity.
Albert: Alright then! I am choosing this room!!
Melissa: Oh really....okay...
Max: Why...did you want it??
Melissa: Wha- no..no...nothing like that...
It was obvious that she liked this room in some capacity, but Albert couldn't see that. Literally. He kept his bag at the side of the bed and sat down.
Albert: I'm tired...you guys carry on..
The trio soon left him to his privacy and continued onward. Max noticed a sulky Melissa and reassured her.
Max: Don't worry! We will find a better room than that! Cheer up!!
Melissa smiled and raised her fists together, as if implying that she is pumped for that.
Soon enough they found a great room just like Max predicted. This room was different from the others as it had a red and pink background with flowers everywhere. There was a bed at the corner with two pillows. Melissa was sooo happy that she twirled in the middle of the room. There was even a tiny cupboard on the left and she opened it to find perfumes.
Max: Oh..those are...
Melissa: Perfumes!! I know!!
She immediately took one and put it in her arm and sniffed it. The sweet fragrance filled the room, calming all three of them.
Soon, Max and Chuck left the room trying to find another room for themselves. But they heard Melissa's voice from behind them.
Melissa: Max! Chuck! Wait for me!!
She ran towards them and stopped near them and huffed and puffed.
Max: I thought you found your room.
Melissa: Yes, I did. But I wanna see both your rooms too!!
And the three continued their walk, talking about stuff they like. It was Chuck's idea on asking their favourite colors. Chuck's was yellow, Max loved Turquoise, and Melissa liked Black.
Max: I'm noticing a pattern here!!
Soon they reached a larger door at the end of the corridor. It was a huge door and had golden sides to it.
Max: Oh...this is a ....library..
Chuck: Whhhhhaaaaatttttt????? Can I see? Can I see? Can I see??
Max: Relax, relax!! We are going to...do not worry..
Max gave him a kind smile and opened the door. And even Max was amazed at what he saw. There was a huge circular library in front of him, the likes of which he had only seen in films. There was a huge ladder at the corner of the room, matching the height of the shelves which was about nine times Max's height. There tons of books everywhere.
Chuck: Woah!!! Uncle Matthew would have loved this!!
All three of them were in awe at this sight. Melissa went near a book and opened it. She understood that it was in English, a language she didn't know.
Melissa: Max...
She called him and showed him the book. Max saw it and realised that no one here can read it.
Max: Hmmm....you know what...?? I can teach you both to read and write this language! How does that sound??
Chuck and Melissa: Reallllyyy???
They both looked like excited puppies, or overly enthusiastic kids. Max was happy.
Max: Of course!!
Max turned to the books and looked at all of them.
Max: There are a variety of books in here. Cooking books with recipes, fictional books, speeches from famous people, manga, novels, comic books in many languages...and it's weird...
Melissa: What is...?
Max walked to the bookshelf and picked out a book, in a language that he didn't know.
Max: This book is a Tamil book. It is an ancient language that was still used in India...and somehow...I can read it ALL.
Chuck: You mean to tell me, that you didn't know how to...before all this??
Max nodded and thought.
Max: I mean...Vaishaali tried teaching me some back in school...she was a Tamilian...but I didn't really understand it much..
Melissa: Vaishaali??
Max: My girlfriend....back then..
Melissa: Oh...I didn't know you bad one..
The room was quiet as Max tried thinking on what it meant. He was somehow able to read other languages, perfectly in that language. It wasn't the case of everything translated in his brain to English. It was just that, he could understand everything in that language easily, and could maybe even speak it. Max wondered if it was the work of him being a God now.
Chuck: Hey...check that out!!
Chuck pointed to the other side of the room and there was a small door. Max checked the map and it said "Room 14"
Max: It's another room!
Chuck: I want it!! Mine!!
Max: We don't know if it's good though...
Chuck: I don't care...I need a room IN the library!!
Chuck ran towards the door and opened it. Max followed him and they reached the room. It was bigger than the other rooms but it was very plain. Chuck didn't look like be cared. He saw another bookshelf right next to his bed. Chuck immediately jumped on his bed and looked at the bookshelf.
He removed his bag pack and got both the Eternal Tomes from his book. He put both the books side by side on the shelf.
Chuck: I will find all 151 Eternal Tomes and collect them here!!
Chuck was smiling a lot, pleasing both Melissa and Max.
Chuck: Max....can you read the Eternal Tomes, since you can read ANY language..?
Max also wondered about that and went beside Chuck. He read the title and he actually understood it!!
Max: No way!! I can read it!!
Chuck: Really???!!! That's awesome!!
Chuck opened the second book and showed him the title.
Chuck: What does it say...??
Max: Eternal Tome of ...Spacial Manipulation..??
They all sat and wondered what it meant. Max read the first page in that specific language.
Max: Shugrhfyth Ahhryugth Shugrath Manasagharnth Bhumi.....
Chuck: Huh...?
Max: It just was a spell...but below it, it says it only works if we already have a Spacial Manipulation Blessing....darn it.
Max put the Tome back in. And as soon as he did it, the entire Dome started shaking. The book started glowing and gave off a black aura. Ripples of grey air, flew through the book towards the entirity of the Dome.
Max: What the...?? Hershel..is that you...??
Max used the Transponder to ask the question. Hershel answered in the speaker.
Hershel: I'm afraid not sir. I still haven't prepared for flight..
Max immediately started running out, Melissa and Chuck in tow. As soon as he git out of the library, he saw Albert on the opposite side.
Max: Albert!! Go to Hershel!!
Albert nodded. And he ran towards the stairs.
Max jumped through the gap in between the floor that led to the dining hall. He landed perfectly using his left arm as a shield and absorbed the impact. He started running and met Lin.
Lin: What..was that..?
Max: I don't know come with me!!
They both ran together and reached the main door in the third floor. They jumped out and turned back to see the Dome, half the size it was...and shrinking..!!!