Averyn's POV
The library had a smell, like wood that had been polished a lot and old paper. I walked between the rows of books my fingers touching the backs of the books.
These books told me about places she had never seen before.
The Codex, which I was holding under my arm felt a little strange like it was alive or something. It seemed to be pulling me in to go into the library.
The Codex was really drawing me closer, with every step I took The Codex was guiding me.
Around me, Jade leaned against a table, sketchbook forgotten, eyes wide as she traced the glowing symbols on the cover.
Vynessa hovered near a window, watching the sunlight shift across the shelves, her brow furrowed in concentration.
Carmira muttered under her breath, flipping through a random tome, though it was clear she wasn't reading.
Ruelle and Gianna exchanged quiet glances, the sort of unspoken conversation that only close friends could share.
I felt a feeling in my chest. It was like the Codex was calling to me or something. The Codex had this rhythm that was like music to my ears.
I had felt this before. Just, for a second or two. Now the feeling was sticking around. It was really getting my attention. The Codex was doing something to me. I could feel it all the time.
From across the room, near the librarian's desk, Lunara sat motionless, her hands folded neatly atop a stack of books. My eyes caught her glance once—brief, subtle, yet unmistakably directed at them.
Lunara's expression was calm, almost serene, but there was something behind the eyes that made my stomach twist with unease. I looked away quickly, focusing on the Codex instead.
"This book… it's… it's like it's alive," I whispered, putting into words the thought that had been lingering in her mind since the sleepover. There was a slight tremble in my voice.
Vynessa's eyes met hers. "I feel it too. Like it's… breathing."
Carmira's lips were pressed tightly together. "It's definitely reacting to us. I mean… the symbols are changing, they're glowing. Every time we touch it, something happens."
Jade nodded, turning a page to show a new drawing—a city suspended in a glow of pale light, with tendrils of energy connecting the spires. "It's. beautiful," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
I swallowed hard, feeling both fear and exhilaration. "We have to be careful," I said. "If it's alive, if it's. choosing us. we can't just ignore it. There could be consequences that we don't understand yet."
"We'll figure it out," I said, more to myself than to anyone else. I looked at my friends, seeing the curiosity, the excitement, and the fear reflected in their faces. "Together."
The Codex began to pulse once more, this time with a warmer light, and my fingers felt a tingling sensation, as if something had accepted my words.
I could feel the threads in motion—not physically, not yet—but definitely.
Somewhere deep beneath the normal world of Evershade, the tale of them had already started.
And I knew that whatever was about to happen, the library, the Codex, and maybe even the Librarian whose always watching, were all parts of a much bigger puzzle than any of them could possibly conceive of.