“But we still don’t know what this word means.” Bernard’s eye magnified ten times its size through the lens as he brought his bushy grey mustache down to the book. Mavery leaned her nearly hairless head on the red leather couch and threw a small globe from a shelf up, nearly missed it when it fell but caught it just before it hit the ground. She yawned. Her short hair obscured the many eyes tattooed around her head.
“How do you say it again?” she asked in a dry monotone.
“Corpentulanzoria,” he exaggerated each vowel, “All will be well when the Antagonist has the sun shine on Corpentulanzoria. The final prophecy. And this is the original written version of the Old Prophet. The same as all the copies.”
Mavery replaced the globe on one of the many library shelves that surrounded them. She hoped that the original version would be different somehow, make the solution more obvious. She stretched her feline-like legs before slowly standing and squinting up at the old ceiling, a boarded up sunroof. She knew they would figure it out, they’d already come so far. She would empty her Father’s throne soon and lead the people in a glorious revolution. They had already fulfilled two of the expected prophecies of the mythic “Antagonist.” She didn’t believe in destiny, but she knew the power of belief and she was ready to be the Antagonist who would bring an end to her family’s thousand year rule, even if she had to write herself into the role. So much more dramatic that it would come from inside the family too. First she tamed the many colored birds of the far island and let them loose at her Father’s gala, matching the prophecy of “feathered rainbows filling the sky.” Then she covered her head in eye tattoos because the “Antagonist” was said to be an “ambitious beast with a thousand eyes.” The rumors were spreading throughout the Country. It was obvious to many what she was trying to do without her needing to say it herself. But the final prophecy was still here, with this undefined word.
“It’ll come to us.” she said.
“We can’t hide from your Father’s investigators forever,” Bernard said nervously.
“He won’t arrest me, I’m just expressing myself creatively,” Mavery smirked but then dropped into a frown when she thought of the detention camps and abusive raids, “it’s the only way to subvert that tyrannical bastard.” As if challenging her words three loud knocks banged on the door.
“This is Royal Law Enforcement, this Off-Limits library is being occupied illegally, open the door immediately,” a loud voice boomed. Bernard slammed the book shut and jumped up. Mavery grabbed the book from him but Bernard pulled back.
“The jig is up Mave,” he grunted, “we gave it our best but I’m not going to die.” Mavery pulled back but Bernard had a stronger grip. It slipped from her fingers.
“We don’t know what the word means!” He yelled. Mavery’s eyes went wide.
“I’m sorry Bernard,” she said and sent a full kick into his stomach. He fell back and she took the book. She jumped onto one of the shelves just as the investigators broke through the door. She climbed up to a shelf as they shouted at her to come down. She kept climbign up. A spear smashed into the shelf just inches from her head. Mavery pulled it free and finally leapt once more to reach the top of the shelves. The three black robed investigators grabbed the book shelf and violently shook it. Steadying herself she stood on top with the book in one hand and the spear in the other and slammed the spear up into the ceiling. It broke through the thin wood and shattered the glass behind it. The book shelf finally collapsed and Mavery plummeted. Sun shone in from the ceiling though and before they could get to her she opened to the final prophecy and held it open to let the light land on the word Corpentulanzoria. The Investigators froze, confused.
“I don’t have to know what Corpentulanzoria means to let the sun shine on it!” She called out triumphantly.
“The prophecy,” one of them hissed.
“Is something supposed to happen?” another asked.
“It doesn’t mean anything Mavery,” Bernard said sadly, crouched in a corner.
“It will,” Mavery raised the book higher. “Because I’m deciding now to define my character in this story. I am the Antagonist.” she said out loud for the first time. The sun lit up her eyes and she looked around at the Investigators. “Together, we will free ourselves from a blind King and return power to all people.”
Two of the Investigators lowered their spears. The third one dropped his and ran away in a panic. The revolution had begun.