The instant the cover lifted, a soft shimmer pulsed through the air—silent, unseen by the world beyond the book itself. The pages within unfolded like breath, ancient parchment lined with golden script that glowed faintly… but only to her.
Alicia blinked.
The text came alive beneath her gaze, curling across the page in elegant strokes, a language she didn't recognize—yet understood. It whispered to her soul, resonated in her chest like it had been waiting for her, and her alone.
Adrien leaned closer, one arm still around her. "What does it say?" he asked, his eyes trained on the page.
She glanced at him in surprise. "Can't you see it?"
He frowned, eyes narrowing as he stared at the open spread. "See what?"
He reached out, brushing the edge of the page with his fingers. "It's blank."
Alicia's breath caught. She looked down again—there it was, clear as day: lines of glowing script dancing across the parchment like fireflies stitched into ink.
