The floating city stretched endlessly before me, towers spiraling impossibly into the sky, bridges connecting buildings that seemed to defy gravity. My legs trembled beneath me, but Eiran's steady presence gave me a strange sense of grounding.
"You have to understand this place," he said, his storm-gray eyes scanning the horizon. "It exists between your world and countless others. Here, the chosen learn to control the power of their books. And you… are one of them."
I blinked. "Chosen? Control? Books with power?" My voice cracked. This had all happened too fast—too unreal. "I'm just… me. I don't understand any of this!"
Eiran didn't respond immediately. He gestured for me to follow. "First, we walk. Then, you will begin your training. The book responds to emotions. Fear, doubt, anger—it will sense them. You must control yourself."
We navigated narrow walkways and twisting streets, strange lanterns floating above us. Shadows danced, not entirely from the light, but from shapes I couldn't recognize. My chest tightened as I noticed figures perched on rooftops, hidden in the city's corners. Their eyes seemed to track every movement I made.
"Who are they?" I whispered.
"Observers," Eiran said calmly. "They're not all friendly. Some are testing you. Others… are waiting to see if you fail."
A chill ran down my spine. My palms itched to touch the book. Its symbols pulsed softly in my bag, almost alive.
We reached a platform surrounded by an invisible barrier, shimmering like heatwaves on asphalt. Eiran gestured for me to step inside. "Your training begins now."
I hesitated. "Training? I can't even control my breathing, let alone a magical book!"
Eiran's expression softened, just a fraction. "Start by focusing. Empty your mind. Feel the book's presence."
I did as he said. The world quieted around me—the whispering shadows, the floating lights, even my racing heartbeat seemed distant. And then I felt it: a warmth spreading from the book, weaving into my chest, pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat.
"Good," Eiran said. "Now extend that feeling. Let it reach outward."
I raised my hands instinctively, and a faint golden aura emanated from my fingertips. The air shimmered, rippling like water. My heart leaped. "I… I did it?"
"Yes," he said, a hint of pride in his voice. "But that was only a fraction of your power. You will need much more to survive here."
I barely had time to feel accomplished before a whisper cut through the air. A voice, soft and chilling, came from the rooftops:
"You don't belong here… but I've been waiting."
I froze. The hairs on my arms stood on end. Someone was watching me, and they knew my name.
Eiran's hand landed lightly on my shoulder. "Ignore them for now. Focus. You will have to face them eventually."
The aura around my hands dimmed, but the sense of danger didn't fade. I swallowed hard and followed Eiran deeper into the city.
As we moved through the twisting streets, I noticed small details I hadn't seen before—the way the bridges bent at impossible angles, the soft hum of energy in the air, and the faint glow of symbols etched into the stone walls. Every step seemed to make the city itself aware of my presence.
Eiran paused before a narrow alley, the shadows thicker here. "Control is not just power," he said. "It's awareness. You must sense danger before it touches you. The city will try to test you in ways you don't yet understand."
I nodded, clutching the book tighter. My fingers traced the embossed symbols on its cover, feeling the subtle thrum of magic, almost like it was alive.
Suddenly, a shape flickered across the rooftops—a shadowy figure moving with impossible speed. My breath caught.
"Focus," Eiran reminded me. "Fear is a weapon against you. Don't give it the advantage."
I closed my eyes, centering myself. The golden aura returned, stronger this time, enveloping my arms. The shadows on the walls wavered as if sensing the power flowing through me. I felt the city itself reacting, almost like it was breathing with me.
A faint whisper reached my mind, coming from the book: "You are being watched… choose carefully whom to trust."
My heart skipped. The book had never communicated so directly before. I glanced at Eiran, whose calm eyes betrayed nothing. "They're closer than ever," he murmured. "And they are patient."
We emerged onto a large plaza, the air thick with energy. Floating lights swirled above us like stars caught in a storm. The city's architecture twisted in impossible angles, towers bending and connecting in ways that defied reality.
Eiran gestured for me to stand in the center. "Now, extend your power beyond yourself. Reach into the air, into the city. Let it sense your presence—but do not let it control you."
I inhaled deeply. The warmth of the book surged again, spreading through my chest, down my arms, and outward like ripples across water. Light poured from my fingertips, touching the ground, the buildings, even the distant bridges. Shadows recoiled at its presence, writhing as though resisting.
And then I heard it again, clearer this time—a whisper carried by the wind: "You cannot hide… Aria."
I stiffened, the words sinking into me. Whoever was watching had been tracking me for a long time. They knew my name. They knew me.
Eiran's voice broke through my panic. "Well done. You are learning. But remember, this is only the beginning. Your journey will demand everything—courage, focus, and trust you haven't yet earned."
I swallowed hard, gripping the book like a lifeline. The plaza seemed to pulse with the echo of unseen eyes, watching, waiting. I realized then that the city—and the Crimson Book—were alive in ways I had only begun to understand.
And as the last light of my aura faded, I knew one undeniable truth: my training had begun, but the path ahead was far more dangerous than I could have imagined.