Chapter 4 — The Library Encounter

Talia

The library was cloaked in a reverent silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of parchment or the soft tap of a quill against ink. Talia’s eyes traveled along the spines of ancient tomes as she moved between towering shelves, her finger lightly brushing over embossed titles that shimmered faintly in the flickering candlelight. High above, the enchanted ceiling reflected the cloudy night sky—a patchwork of stars barely visible behind shifting veils of mist. The faint hum of magical wards, layered into the very walls of the library, thrummed like an invisible heartbeat, grounding her in this timeless space.