Sheenah awoke to the faint glow of dawn filtering through the narrow window. For a moment, she forgot where she was—her mind drifting between dreams and reality—until the cold stone beneath her palm and the unfamiliar weight of the midnight-blue book on her bedside table brought her back to the present. Leah was still asleep, curled up on her side, her brow furrowed even in rest.
Sheenah sat up quietly, careful not to wake her friend. She reached for the book, running her fingers over the cover, willing the words to return. But the pages remained stubbornly blank, as if the story had been erased from existence. She let out a slow breath, fighting the frustration that threatened to overwhelm her.
A gentle knock sounded at the door. Sheenah tensed, but it was only Maya, the maid, her arms full with a tray of breakfast—warm bread, honey, and a pot of tea.
"Good morning," Maya whispered, setting the tray on the table. Her eyes lingered on the book in Sheenah's hands. "Did you sleep well?"
Sheenah managed a tired smile. "As well as we could. Thank you, Maya."
Leah stirred and sat up, blinking sleep from her eyes. She offered Mira a grateful nod before reaching for a piece of bread. The three shared a quiet moment, the silence broken only by the clink of cups and the distant sounds of the castle waking up.
Maya hesitated at the door. "Captain Aldric will come for you soon. His Grace has allowed you to visit the library, but you must stay with the Captain at all times."
Sheenah's heart leapt. "Thank you, Maya. Really."
Maya smiled shyly, then slipped out, leaving the girls alone with their breakfast and a glimmer of hope.
Leah looked over at Sheenah. "Maybe today we'll finally find something. Anything. I wanna go home, I miss the taste of coffee and coke already."
Sheenah nodded and chuckled, her determination renewed. "We have to. If there's even a chance, we have to try to get us home."
They dressed quickly, tucking the blank book into Sheenah's satchel. When Captain Aldric arrived, he was as stern and formal as ever, but there was a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
"Follow me," he said, leading them through the winding corridors. The castle was alive with activity—servants carrying baskets of laundry, guards marching in formation, the distant clatter of dishes from the kitchens. Everywhere they went, eyes followed them, whispers trailing in their wake.
At last, they reached the library. The doors were tall and carved with intricate patterns of snowflakes and vines. Inside, the air was cool and smelled of old parchment and leather. Rows upon rows of shelves stretched to the vaulted ceiling, ladders perched at odd angles, and sunlight poured through stained-glass windows, casting colored patterns on the floor.
Sheenah's breath caught. She had always loved libraries, but this one felt different—older, wiser, as if it held secrets waiting to be discovered.
Aldric cleared his throat. "You may look, but do not wander far. If you need anything, call for me."
Sheenah nodded, and he took up a post by the door, arms folded.
She and Leah moved slowly through the aisles, scanning titles in languages both familiar and strange. Sheenah ran her fingers along the spines, searching for anything that might connect to the midnight-blue book or the magic that had brought them here.
"Look at this," Leah whispered, pulling a thick volume from the shelf. Its cover was embossed with a symbol that matched the one on Sheenah's book—a sun encircled by ice.
Sheenah opened it, her heart pounding. The text was dense and archaic, but she recognized a few words: "curse," "heart," "legacy." She flipped through the pages, stopping at an illustration—a figure shrouded in mist, a heart of ice glowing in his chest.
"It's him," Sheenah breathed. "The Duke."
Leah leaned closer. "Can you read any of it?"
Sheenah tried, but the words blurred and shifted before her eyes. "Not much. But I think it's about the curse. Maybe… maybe if we find more books like this, we can piece it together."
They spent hours searching, gathering a small stack of volumes with similar symbols and references. Sheenah's mind raced with possibilities. If the curse was written about in these books, maybe there was a record of how it began—or how it could be broken.
As the sun climbed higher, the library grew warmer, and Sheenah felt a strange sense of peace. For the first time since arriving in this world, she felt like she was doing something—moving toward an answer.
Suddenly, the doors swung open. The Duke strode in, his cloak billowing behind him. Captain Aldric straightened, bowing his head.
"Your Grace," Aldric said.
The Duke nodded, his gaze settling on Sheenah and Leah. "Have you found anything of interest?"
Sheenah hesitated, then held out the book with the sun and ice symbol. "We found this. It's about the curse, I think. There are pictures—drawings of you, or someone like you."
The Duke took the book, flipping through its pages. His expression was unreadable, but Sheenah thought she saw a flicker of something—hope, maybe, or fear.
"I have read these before," he said quietly. "They speak of my family's curse, but they offer no solution. Only warnings."
Sheenah's heart sank. "But there must be something. Some clue."
The Duke closed the book, his eyes meeting hers. "You are persistent, I will give you that. But persistence alone does not break curses."
Leah stepped forward, her voice trembling but determined. "We're not giving up. There has to be a way. Maybe… maybe the answer isn't in the books. Maybe it's in Sheenah?"
"Hey, why me?". Sheenah answered Leah with confusion. "Uh, i-it is because you finish reading the book? Hehe". Sheenah just shrugged off at Leah.
The Duke studied them for a long moment. "Perhaps. Or perhaps you are simply part of the curse's design. Magic is unpredictable, and it rarely gives without taking something in return."
He turned to leave, then paused. "You may continue your search. But be careful. Not everyone in this castle wishes you well."
As he left, Sheenah felt a mix of frustration and determination. The Duke was right—books alone might not save them. But she refused to believe they were powerless.
They spent the rest of the day poring over the texts, making notes, comparing illustrations. Sheenah's mind spun with theories—about the curse, about the book, about the strange connection between her world and this one.
As the sun set, Aldric returned to escort them back to their chamber. Sheenah carried the blank book and her notes, her heart heavy but hopeful.
That night, as she lay in bed, Sheenah stared at the ceiling, the Duke's words echoing in her mind. Magic rarely gives without taking something in return.
She turned to Leah, who was already drifting off to sleep. "We'll find a way," she whispered. "I promise. We'll get back home, Leah."
As she closed her eyes, Sheenah felt a strange warmth in her chest—a spark of magic, or maybe just hope. Either way, she clung to it, determined not to let go.
Outside, the blue moon rose over the castle, casting its light on the library's ancient shelves and the two girls caught between worlds, searching for a way home.