The tremor slowly faded, leaving Jonathan's heart pounding in the eerie silence of the library. He sank into his favorite corner, the place where he usually read, trying to steady his breathing.
He pulled out his phone, suddenly realizing how unaware he had been of the outside world. Ever since acquiring the library, every waking hour had been consumed by arranging shelves, cataloging books, and preparing for the grand opening.
The library had become his entire world. His entire existence.
Jonathan opened the news app.
What's happening out there? he wondered, unease curling in his stomach.
"This is an emergency alert—" a reporter's voice broke through the silence, tight with tension.
"For several days now, tremors have been reported worldwide, accompanied by ongoing volcanic eruptions. Entire towns are affected, evacuations underway—"
Jonathan's chest tightened. It's reallyserious… I didn't know it was this bad.
The camera jolted violently.
"—we're experiencing yet another tremor right now," the reporter continued, struggling to keep balance as the ground shook. "Y-you can feel it—this is happening as we speak."
The shelves! I worked so hard on those…! Panic clawed at his chest. This can't be happening here—now of all times!
"Authorities urge everyone to remain alert and seek shelter if advised. No region is completely safe at this time. Please… stay safe."
Jonathan's mind raced. I should get out… the park, open space… anywhere but here.
But before he could move, the tremor intensified. Books quivered on the shelves, then toppled one by one. A deafening crash of wood and paper surrounded him. He tried to rise, but the floor pitched violently.
"Ugh…" he groaned, dizziness washing over him. I feel like I'm going to pass out…
Shelves collapsed like dominoes. One slammed against him, sending him crashing to the floor. Pain bloomed across his body; warm blood trickled beneath him. Books, the stories he cherished, lay scattered, pressing down like a silent accusation.
His vision blurred. A faint, bitter thought crossed his mind.
Is… this the end?
I haven't even fulfilled what I promised Sister Hannah…
I… haven't even opened the library…
A fragile calm settled over him.
Well… I guess I'll die where I belong.
Then—something shifted.
A golden warmth radiated from the necklace he had bought at the flea market, casting light that made the dust swirl like shimmering motes. The edges of reality seemed to blur. Jonathan felt himself lifted, weightless, suspended between panic and wonder. Beneath him, the wooden floor transformed into a glowing magic circle, its intricate runes pulsing with power—and the surge of energy knocked him unconscious.
Memories flickered, fragments of the orphanage, Sister Hannah's gentle voice:
"Ugh! Jonathan! Be careful, or you'll fall off the desk one of these days! Why don't you play with the other children for once?!"
He blinked. Sister? Why do you look so young?
The scene shifted rapidly—she turned, muttering to herself, then paused, smiling knowingly, as if she had always been waiting.
Before he could react, a blinding light engulfed everything.
"THE SOUL HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED SUCCESSFULLY. INITIATING ETERNAL YOUTH AND PERFECT MEMORY SKILL."
The words on the stone tablet flickered like burning runes. "SUCCESSFULLY IMPARTED."
From the shadows, a black cat emerged. Its fur shimmered with a night-like glow, and its eyes mirrored Jonathan's own, burning with uncanny intelligence. It padded silently to his side, meowing softly before leaping onto his chest.
The cat nudged him gently, coaxing him awake. Slowly, he opened his eyes. The library around him was no longer ruined; shelves stretched endlessly in every direction, perfectly ordered. The air smelled of old paper and ink, warm and comforting. His body ached not at all.
Jonathan gasped. Wasn't I… dead? Am I… alive?
The black cat purred softly, answering in its own way.
Jonathan pushed himself up. This place… he whispered, awe threading his voice. He looked at the cat. You're real, right?
The cat blinked, tilting its head.
He laughed quietly, the absurdity striking him. I died in a library… and now I wake up in another one… with a cat.
Then—a voice, calm and precise, echoed around him.
NOTICE: Mental stability confirmed. Physical condition: Optimal. Memory integrity: Perfect.
"You have been selected as a Suitable Librarian of the Eternal Library," the tablet intoned.
Jonathan's hands clenched. "I… I don't remember applying… I even left my old office job to be a librarian.."
The black cat let out an amused meow.
MR. HEINRICH, we don't care about your old job, the tablet replied, its words flashing with sharp emphasis. Initiating one million years of lockdown. During this time, you must systematically learn all the knowledge stored in this Eternal Library. Skills imparted will help you achieve this. Time outside is paused until you complete your tasks.
Jonathan froze. …Then why me? Disbelief and frustration rose like a storm inside him.
During this million-year journey, we will provide you with food or anything you desire to eat, the tablet's words glowed softly. As for your question… we cannot answer it at the moment. Everything will be revealed in time.
Jonathan stared at the food, then at the black cat curling beside him. "Well… I guess they really mean it," he said, scratching the cat behind its ears. "If I'm going to spend… who knows how long here, I might as well eat well, right?"
The cat purred softly, its glowing eyes watching him like a patient teacher.
Jonathan grinned, warmed by its presence. "Alright… let's see what you can do." He paused, thinking. "Hmm… I want a beef steak. Juicy. Medium rare. Cooked perfectly. With that volcano-style crust, you know—the one that's impossible to pull off without… magic or something."
The cat blinked, tilting its head. Its tail flicked slowly, as if saying, Why not?
Jonathan looked back at the tablet.Well… maybe it can. He hesitated,then whispered, "Do it."
The air shimmered. Light danced over the shelves, and dust swirled like tiny sparks.
Then the smell hit him—sizzling beef. Steam curled into the air, mingling with the warm scent of paper and ink.
A perfectly cooked steak appeared on the tray. Charred just enough to look like the impossible volcano-style he had once seen on a cooking show. Roasted vegetables sat beside it, arranged neatly.
Jonathan's jaw dropped. "…It actually worked." He laughed nervously. "Impossible… and yet, it's here."
He stabbed the steak with a fork. Juices glistened. He took a careful bite. The flavor was perfect—just as he had imagined.
The cat leapt onto the table, nudging the plate. Jonathan smiled. "You get a taste too." He slid a piece toward the feline. The cat sniffed delicately, then ate, purring loudly as if approving.
Jonathan leaned back, full and satisfied. He stared at the endless shelves above him.
"Well… I guess I don't have to worry about hunger here. If the library can do this… maybe it can teach me other things too."
The tablet stayed silent. Its runes glowed steadily, unyielding. Jonathan shrugged. "Alright… I'll wait for answers. But at least I have lunch."
The cat circled his feet, purring. Jonathan chuckled. "Yeah… I think we'll make a good team."
"And so began his million-year isolation…"