PROLOGUE – THE MUSEUM TRIP
Lirael Cirrane's white hair flowed behind her as she stepped into the grand museum, her diamond-crimson eyes shining with excitement. Her energy spread like wildfire classmates smiled at her, and even teachers admired how cheerful she always seemed. Curiosity, joy, and endless friendliness made her the kind of girl everyone gravitated toward.
Ancient artifacts lined the halls behind glass. Shimmering paintings stared down at the students, and relics hummed with mystery. With every step, Lirael felt the thrill of discovery.
"Guys, look at this!" one student shouted.
The class rushed toward a giant hourglass sealed behind ropes. Excitement swelled too much excitement. Someone shoved another student, who stumbled backward.
BAM.
Lirael's hand slammed onto a red emergency switch.
Alarms wailed.
WEEEOOO! WEEEOOO!
Water sprayed from the ceiling sprinklers, drenching students, teachers, artifacts, and floors. Paintings bled with color, sculptures pooled with water, and papers clung to the glass.
But one book remained perfectly dry.
It sat upon a pedestal, glowing faintly.
Lirael blinked. "Huh? Why aren't you wet?" she whispered.
Her curiosity stirred like a heartbeat. She reached out.
The moment her fingers brushed the cover-
WOOSH.
A burst of wind exploded from the pages, pulling her in like a vortex.
"W-Wait-KYAAA!!"
Light swallowed her. The world twisted.
Then-
Everything went Black.
"HAHAHAHAHA!!"
Silence pressed in around her.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Lirael's eyes snapped open.
A strange ceiling came into view. Her head throbbed, and her body felt heavier than it should have. Someone was laughing loud, sharp, and far too close.
"W-who's t-that?" she muttered, her voice shaky.
Before she could gather her thoughts, a voice suddenly barked out, "Who are you?"
"WHA-WHAT? NO, I SHOULD BE THE ONE ASKING THAT!" the stranger shouted. "WHO ARE YOU?! WHY ARE YOU IN MY ROOM? HOW DID YOU GET HERE? AND WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WEARING?!"
Lirael flinched. "I-I don't know…"
"WHA-WHAT?"
"Please… stop screaming and breathe," she said weakly. "I can't answer all your questions if you won't calm down. I can't even understand you."
There was a pause.
"…Fine. Sorry," the voice said, calmer now. "But first who are you?"
Lirael hesitated. Her mind felt blank, like a book with its pages torn out.
"I… I don't know."
"Hello??"
"I-I…"
"Um, I can't hear you. Please say it louder."
"…I don't know."
"What do you mean, 'I don't know'?!"
Silence stretched between them.
"Hey!" the stranger snapped. "Answer me! Hmph. I guess you're not a talkative person, huh? Okay, noted. I mean… me neither."
Lirael frowned slightly.
"Hey," she said.
"Hm?"
"Where am I?"
"In my room."
"I know that," she replied, forcing herself to focus. "But what I mean is what is this place?"
"Oh. You're in the Philippines."
"Huh? Phili-what?! Where is that?!"
"PHILIPPINES!!"
She blinked. "Where on Verdantia is that?"
"Verdantia?" the stranger repeated. "What even is that? And you still haven't answered my questions."
"What were your questions again?" Lirael asked, attempting a weak smile.
"Seriously?" A sigh followed. "Fine. First-who are you? No joking this time."
"I really don't know."
"I said-"
"I heard you," she said softly. "It's just… I can't remember."
"…Not even a little?"
She shook her head. "But I do remember something."
"Okay. Go on."
"My classmates and I went to a museum," Lirael said slowly. "Someone bumped into me, and I accidentally hit a red emergency button. The sprinklers went off everywhere. Then I saw a book-everything around it was wet, but it wasn't. I touched it… and then I was pulled in."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Oh-and my name," she added. "I remember my name. I'm Lirael Cirrane. Nice to meet you."
There was a short pause.
"So that's what happened," the stranger said. "I'm Yaine. Yaine Ancer. Nice to meet you too. Forget the other questions I'll just ask one."
Lirael nodded. "Sure."
Yaine hesitated. "So… how are you going to go back?"