Chapter 343: Mapping the Shadows
The door clicked shut behind Sophia, the sound a small punctuation that separated the outside world from the quiet tension of Orion's home. She leaned against it for a heartbeat, letting the solid wood reassure her—a simple barrier that meant she was finally inside, finally away from the chill of the wind and the lingering echoes of the shrine.
Orion moved deliberately toward his desk. The room smelled faintly of both of them. Due to how much she stayed in his home, she wasn't surprised. Orion's home even felt more like home than hers did.
Orion handed her a book, heavy and plain, its cover unassuming but solid in her hands. She opened it, anticipation mixing with unease, and blinked at the blank pages. She had no idea why he would even give her a book.
"It's empty," she said, voice barely above a whisper.
Orion's lips curved into a half-smile. "Yes, I know that."
"And?" she asked.
