Aletheia: Following the Luster of the Froth
CHAPTER VIII

"Why bring this book here?"

Daniel closed his old book. "The topic you brought in history class yesterday was very interesting. I guess we can discuss that with this book."

Joerrel rubbed his chin. Feeling attracted. "Where did you get this book?"

"It was given by my grandfather."

Of course it's a lie. Daniel never even knew his grandfather.

Joerrel remained silent, waiting for Daniel to continue.

"He got this book from an expedition he had done in his youth with his team. He went to different parts of the world to get this book."

Joerrel stood up from his chair and went to the table. He brewed two cups of tea and brought one of them before Daniel. Daniel drank the tea and continued his story.

"At the end of his life, he advised his family to take good care of this book. So he'd rather let us keep it than leave it to the museum."

Joerrel nodded. "What do you want to know about this book?"

Daniel: "Regarding demons and angels. Combined the two forces are said to oppose the policy of the universe."

Joerrel looked at Daniel. It is probably told in the book. But it is rarely talked about. The existence of the combined two forces was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Why did Daniel ask this?

"Ahh, why do you want to know about this Daniel?"

"Randomly just because I'm interested, sir. Ha ha ha."

Joerrel propped up his chin. "It looks like the contents of this book are very interesting to you huh. Unfortunately I don't know about this at all."

Daniel was disappointed, he sighed. It might be natural for Joerrel not to know. No one has talked about this for a hundred years. Maybe people had forgotten about it and drowned.

"It's a pity, but this thing that no one has ever discussed it will certainly be very difficult to find out. Isn't that right, sir?"

"Hm, right." Joerrel sipped his tea then continued, "Is that all you want to know?"

Daniel was silent for a moment. Seemed thinking. Is there anything else Daniel wants to know?

After a few minutes, he was still silent. Then suddenly shook his head. "No, Sir. I guess that's all."

Joerrel nodded.

Daniel got up and put the old book back in his bag. But then he sat down again, grabbed a teacup and drank it to the ground.

"Thank you for the tea, sir. Joerrell!"

Joerrel stood up, "No problem."

"I'll excuse you then. Thank you for your time."

The door closed, leaving Joerrel inside back alone.

He remembered someone he admired. That guy must know a lot about this. But Joerrel couldn't just say this to Daniel without the person's permission.

A rather crazy person, likes to lock himself up in a lab full of books. The old man, even though he was over half a century old, still looked young. He also has a daughter. The one he disturbed last night.

Attienes.

In a club room. Attiene followed Gwenalle to help with her activities. Gwenalle was happy to allow him to help.

"Where should I put this box?" Attiene looked troubled as she lifted the toolbox in her arms.

"Put it next to the closet." Attiene is sorting out old books. Which is still worth reading.

His book is partially finished at the termite meal. Some turn yellow because of water droplets. It also gave off the scent of an unkempt old book.

Together with several other club members, they cleaned up a room in the southern building that was never used. Plans to change that room for the organization's club activities.

"Gwenalle, you're so cool..."

I turned to Attiene. "Huh, why?"

"I've never done anything like this before..."

Gwenalle, "And you think this is cool?"

Attiene nodded.

"You didn't participate in any activities at your university before?"

Attiene shook her head.

"Ahh, let me guess that means you're a butterfly student?"

Attiene shakes her head. Baffled. "Butterfly...?"

Gwenalle laughed, she lifted the sorted book onto the table.

"Lecture home - college home. That's an abbreviation. That is, a person goes to college just to follow the subjects and not do anything else. Yeah, but it's not a bad thing. No need to feel bad, Attie."

Attiene: "Stay still. You can meet so many people and make friends..."

Gwenalle: "From now on you can do it too. Isn't that right?"

Attiene: "I'm not very good at socializing. You know..."

"Hmm. I don't think you're that bad. Look at us, thanks to you we're friends now."

Attiene's face flushed red, she covered her face. "That's not true! That's because Elle is a good person. So I'm..."

Gwenalle laughs.

Braak!

Everyone looked in one direction. Daniel was standing at the door.

Where Daniel is, there is a commotion.

Now these words were well embedded in Gwenalle's head.

"You'll have to replace that door if it breaks." Gwenalle shifted the box behind the door and checked if the book inside was damaged.

"All right!" Daniel came in and put his bag on the table. "What are you guys doing?"

Gwenalle: "What are you doing?"

Daniel shakes his head, confused. "Of course to see my friends."

Gwenalle's face distorted hearing that statement. Attiene smiled.

"Daniel, why did you miss class?"

"What class?" Daniel scratched his head.

Gwenalle shook her head and exhaled.

"Biology..."

Daniel clapped his hand. "Ah. I forgot, ha ha ha."

"Because you're here. Can you help us get these boxes to the warehouse, Daniel?" Gwenalle handed a box full of books into Daniel's arms. Daniel received the box with pleasure. These books are not a problem, the muscles can handle it.

Club members are like worker bees, carrying boxes and unused objects into the warehouse. Four hours later, the room was clean and tidy. The few remaining members would clench his room. So they drove the others out.

Gwenalle, Attiene, and Daniel went to the cafeteria. Spending the morning until the afternoon being more workers made them dehydrated and starving.

Daniel was tired of sitting in the canteen. Gwenalle and Attiene sat across from Daniel.

They ordered food and drinks. Eating as if three days had not been fed.

In the middle of the meal, Daniel commented, "When have you guys been so sticky like this?"

Attiene chokes. "Ah... What do you mean?"

"Are you guys already bestie?"

Gwenalle drank the juice. "Hm, yeah."

Attiene's face flushed. Daniel who saw that wanted to disturb him. "ah! Look at that, you put Attie to shame, ckckck."

Gwenalle looked at Daniel sharply. "Whatchu mean? Is he ashamed to be friends with me?"

Daniel laughed so hard he fell off his bench.

Attiene looked panicked and stiffened Gwenalle's arm. "Th-that's not true! I'm so happy to be friends with you!"

Daniel's face flushed with laughter, he again chewed his food with a hint of laughter.

"Isn't Daniel my friend and Gwenalle now?" Attiene said in a voice so small it was hard to hear. Fortunately Gwenalle who was sitting next to Attiene could hear it well. Daniel who was sitting across vaguely heard Attiene say something, but did not know what it was, so he asked.

"She said, aren't you now our friend."Gwenalle said, then went back to correcting, "That's Attie saying."

"Wow, Attie, you're a really nice and cute girl. Gwenalle, you have to follow Attiene. Ha ha ha."

Gwenall pretended not to hear.

Attiene finished her meal and brought back her dinner tray. He returns to say goodbye to Gwenalle and Daniel because he suddenly has to leave because of business. They split up there, leaving Gwenalle and Daniel.

For a few minutes, there was no conversation between them. They just focus on chewing food. But secretly watch each other. Who will open his mouth first? And what will it say? It made the atmosphere a little tense.

But Daniel is still Daniel. He opened his mouth first.

"I know you."

Gwenalle almost choked on hearing that. "What?"

"But you don't have to worry, Gwenaelle. I don't have any intention." Just this time Gwenalle heard Daniel's normal and serious tone, his skin goosebumps. Usually the way the talk always sounds a bit funny. Filled jokes.

Gwenalle remained silent, glancing at Daniel several times. Then he opened his mouth. "All right?"

"So you admit it? He he."

Gwenalle. Because Daniel looked so serious, he got carried away.

"Sorry, but I'm serious. I just want to help you, that's all."

This time Gwenaelle fell silent, only focusing on scooping her food into her mouth.

Daniel: "I don't know what kind of you you are, but you are definitely..."

Gwenalle lifted her face and looked at Daniel. Gwenalle laughed, not looking upset at all. "Types..." Gwenall laughed at that word. "You think I'm some kind of species?"

Daniel: "Hmmm, you could say that, right? Or rather race?"

Gwenalle found it very funny, so she remembered the dog belonging to her friend. His friend often mentions his dog race. Although Gwenaelle understood what Daniel meant, she only felt funny at the thought of this.

Daniel laughed.

"No need to be confused. I'm serious..." Daniel looked at Gwenalle, no joke on his face. Gwenalle who once again saw it goosebumps. Daniel's serious version somewhat made him want to back off. Gwenalle turned her face.

Daniel continued, "I don't know as much as you know about the world outside of humans, maybe you know more. But I myself also believe that I have a lot of knowledge about it. We can discuss it and I'll try to help you."

Gwenalle put down the spoon. "Why do you want to help me?"