Dydra sat beneath the wide canopy of an apple tree, its leaves offering a gentle shield against the afternoon sun. A half-eaten apple rested in her hand, its flesh uneven where she had absentmindedly bitten into it. Another lay forgotten beside her, rolling slightly in the grass.
Her true focus, however, was the book resting in her lap.
Its pages were filled with strange symbols and unfamiliar words—curving scripts and sharp markings that refused to make sense no matter how long she stared at them. Still, she did not close it.
Not yet.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she traced a line with her finger, silently mouthing the shapes as though willing them to reveal their meaning.
It had taken her time to even begin understanding such texts.
She would take all the time she needed.
"Hello… again."
The voice came from behind her.
Dydra startled.
