The library was massive, larger than anything I had ever imagined. Endless shelves stretched upward, filled with books of every size, shape, and color. Some hovered in mid-air, others shimmered like liquid silver, casting flickering light across the polished floors. The air smelled faintly of parchment and magic, a scent that made my chest tighten with both awe and unease.
"This is where chosen ones before you have recorded their journeys," Eiran said, walking slowly between the shelves. His hand brushed past a glowing tome, and it opened on its own, revealing pages filled with moving symbols. The letters danced and shifted like they had a life of their own. "Each book is a gateway, a record, and a weapon. The knowledge here will help you understand your own."
I approached a silver-bound tome that pulsed beneath my fingers. As I touched it, a whisper echoed faintly in my mind: "Power is not given. It is taken—and guarded."
"What does that mean?" I asked, glancing at Eiran.
"Every chosen one has faced betrayal, danger, and the temptation to misuse the book's power. You must understand history… or you will repeat it."
As I moved deeper into the library, I noticed movement in the shadows. A boy with sharp eyes and a mischievous grin stepped from between the shelves. "Finally, someone new," he said, bowing theatrically. "Name's Kael. Don't worry, I won't bite… unless you deserve it."
Before I could respond, a girl appeared from another aisle, her expression serious, eyes scanning me carefully. "Don't trust everyone here," she warned. "Especially not those who smile too easily. Some of us have motives you can't even imagine."
I frowned. "Motives? Why is everyone so secretive?"
"Because knowledge is power," Eiran said, "and power attracts danger."
I pulled the Crimson Book from my bag. Its pages fluttered violently, as if alive, then stilled. One page glowed, revealing my name written in crimson ink. Beneath it was a warning:
"The one who betrays you is closer than you think."
My stomach sank. Someone was watching me. I felt it—the subtle prickling sensation on the back of my neck, the way shadows seemed to shift just slightly in the corners of the library.
Kael smirked. "You already sense it, don't you? Danger never sleeps in this city. You have to be alert at all times."
I shivered. "I… I don't know if I can handle this."
"Focus," Eiran said softly. "Your instincts will guide you, but you must trust them. And trust yourself."
A gust of wind rustled the pages, and I heard a faint whisper behind me: "Aria…"
I spun around. No one. Just shelves stretching endlessly. The whisper lingered in my mind, sending a chill down my spine. I could feel the subtle pull of magic in the air, as if the library itself were alive and aware of my presence.
The warmth from the book pulsed against my palms, grounding me. It was almost comforting, a reminder that while shadows and secrets surrounded me, I had power of my own.
Kael tilted his head, watching me carefully. "You're stronger than you realize. But the book tests more than strength—you'll see that soon."
I nodded, though I didn't fully understand. The warning on the page and the lingering whisper made my chest tighten. I wasn't alone in this library. Not really.
Eiran led me to a circular platform in the center, surrounded by books hovering mid-air. "Many of these tomes belonged to chosen ones who failed their trials," he said quietly. "Their knowledge, their regrets… they remain here. Sometimes their mistakes whisper to those who enter."
I looked around nervously. The shadows seemed to shift more insistently now, almost like the past itself was watching. I could almost see fleeting figures among the shelves—silhouettes that dissolved when I tried to focus on them.
"The book doesn't just contain power," Eiran continued. "It contains lessons. Each page can teach or deceive. You must learn to discern the difference. Failure here can leave marks far deeper than a scar."
I swallowed hard. The crimson glow of my name on the page pulsed again, almost like a heartbeat. I traced the letters with my finger, feeling the warmth seep into me. A strange sense of connection, both comforting and terrifying, surged through me.
Kael leaned closer, whispering just for me: "The past chosen ones didn't always survive their own ambition… or trust. Watch carefully, Aria. Learn quickly."
I nodded again, taking in the enormity of everything—the hovering books, the shifting shadows, and the knowledge that danger could be closer than I imagined. The book's warmth steadied me, but the feeling of being watched never left.
Another whisper, softer this time, grazed my ear: "Not everything is as it seems… and not everyone is what they appear to be."
I froze. My heartbeat thundered in my chest. The library seemed to pulse around me, alive with whispers of the past, warnings of betrayal, and the faintest touch of magic brushing against my skin.
The girl from before stepped closer. "Remember," she said quietly, "the library reveals what you need to see, not what you want. And sometimes… that can be dangerous."
I clutched the Crimson Book tighter. My eyes darted to Kael, then to the endless shelves around us. Danger was everywhere, lurking in shadows, whispering my name. And someone—somewhere—was watching. Waiting.
And I realized, with a chill running down my spine, that the warning wasn't just for me. It was for everyone. The city, the book, and the shadows were alive—and they had their own agendas.