A moment later, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a blond boy with emerald eyes, probably around twelve, wearing jumper jeans over a bright yellow T-shirt, walking toward our table.

Beside him was a teenage girl with brunette hair tied back in a ponytail, secured by a white handkerchief.

She had piercing brown eyes that were almost a shade of red. One strap of her jumper hung loose while the other was properly placed on her shoulder, with a pink shirt underneath. A silver chain glinted around her neck, her hands buried in the side pockets, and a lollipop perched between her lips. The two walked up to us with an air of confidence.

Charlie noticed them immediately and stood up, a broad grin spreading across his face. “Yo, Luke! Ghram!” he called out enthusiastically, extending his hand for the familiar bro handshake.

Ghram, the girl, matched his energy, playing along, while Luke, the boy, stood back, looking completely uninterested in the whole routine. After a quick bro hug, Ghram’s sharp eyes landed on me, and I felt her gaze sweep over me like an inspection. Instinctively, I straightened my back, feeling a little on edge.

“Hm? Yo, Charlie, who’s this chick?” Ghram asked, tilting her head slightly, her voice carrying a tone that instantly put me off. I raised an eyebrow, caught between feeling annoyed and confused.

“Oh, this is Aria, a visitor. Aria, these are my buddies,” he said, gesturing to the duo.

Ghram’s lips curled into a mischievous smirk as she extended her hand toward me. I shook it hesitantly but politely, still trying to figure her out. “Aren’t you not supposed to eat in a library?” I said, glancing at the lollipop in her mouth.

She didn’t answer. Instead, she pulled another lollipop out of her pocket, unwrapped it in one swift motion, and before I could react, shoved it into my mouth. My eyes widened in shock as the candy hit my tongue.

“Now we’re partners in crime,” she said with a smirk, clearly amused by my stunned reaction. I blinked, completely speechless, still processing what had just happened.

Charlie chuckled and stepped in, shaking his head. “Hey, Ghram, ease up on Aria, will you? She’s not used to your antics.”

The boy, Luke, standing beside Ghram, stepped closer to me and quietly extended his hand, waiting for my response. I took and shook it. He smiled warmly, and despite still being shaken by Ghram’s antics, I couldn’t help but smile back. There was something endearing about this boy—different from Sky’s kind of adorableness but just as charming in his own way.

“What brings you here, Charlie? Are you planning to read books and finish an entire shelf again?” Ghram’s voice, deep and effortlessly cool, broke through my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.

"An entire shelf?" My head snapped toward Charlie, my eyes wide with disbelief. The lollipop hit my teeth as I spoke, spreading its lemon flavor. "Wait—how many books is that? Do you seriously read that much in one day?"

Charlie chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “That’s a bit exaggerated. Sure, I read a lot, but it’s not that crazy. I just like keeping my mind busy.”

That made sense, especially considering how he explained things to me earlier. My hunches almost never miss. He’s not just an avid reader—he’s practically conquering the library.

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I heard Ghram scoff and saw her cross her arms. “Exaggeration, my foot. Don’t play humble, Charlie. Just own it—you’re a total nerd.”

At the mention of “nerd,” I couldn’t help but speak up. “I don’t see anything wrong with being a nerd,” I murmured softly, stepping in to defend Charlie. My voice was gentle, almost hesitant.

Ghram burst into laughter, shaking her head. “Relax, Aria! Nobody’s throwing shade at nerds here. No need to get defensive.” She winked, her teasing tone making me blush. She was right—she hadn’t meant anything bad by it, and I’d overreacted.

Still grinning, Ghram turned her attention back to Charlie. “Alright, if you’re not here to read, then what’s the deal? Why are you here?”

I glanced over at Luke, who was standing quietly to the side, taking in everything with a calm, thoughtful expression. He hadn't said a word, but there was something about him that felt more mature than his age—a quiet perceptiveness that set him apart from other kids.

“Well,” Charlie turned to me, his eyes seeming to ask for something, before shifting his attention back to Ghram. “We could use your help to find someone,” he replied, scratching his nose with his thumbnail.

Oh right, my mission—to find where my aunt might be. The thought of having extra help seemed advantageous; more hands meant a quicker search.

Suddenly, my aunt's voice echoed in my mind: "Don't trust anyone else. Trust only him." Her words from the video resurfaced, sending a wave of unease through me.

Could I really trust these people? Aunt Marie had given me so little of a lead. And who was him? Who was I supposed to find?

Before I could spiral further into doubt, Charlie’s hand landed firmly on my shoulder, pulling me back to the present. His confident voice broke through my thoughts. “Me and my new friend here need to pay someone a visit,” he said with a reassuring nod.

I glanced at him, worry flickering in my eyes. Was this the right decision?

“Oh, Charlie, bud, what is it this time? Have I ever told you how I can always catch you red-handed when you’re up to something? Old habits die hard, you know.” Ghram teased, throwing a casual arm over Charlie’s shoulder.

The gesture was so natural, it was clear they shared an easy familiarity. She smiled slyly, tapping Charlie’s cheek with her free hand. There was a lot of skinship between them, which spoke volumes about their closeness.

“You two must be really close. Are you childhood friends?” I asked, genuinely curious.

After hearing my question, Ghram bit down on her lollipop, slipped the stick into her side pocket, and turned toward Charlie, her mischievous grin widening. She leaned in closer, tilting his face toward hers with her hand. Her lips hovered dangerously close to his as she locked eyes with me, giving a provocative smile, as if silently saying, What’s it to you?

For a moment, they seemed to take center stage as if the world faded around them. The way they looked—like models in a high-end magazine—left me momentarily in awe. Then, in a low, almost enchanting tone, Ghram asked, “What do you think, Aria?”

It felt like I was momentarily under a spell, but the illusion shattered as soon as I noticed Luke watching the scene unfold. Without thinking, I reached out and covered his eyes. “What are you two doing? Get a room!” I blurted, my voice a mix of flustered irritation and embarrassment.

Ghram’s teasing grin only made it worse—I could feel my face heat up, frustrated not just by her antics but also by how easily she managed to get under my skin.

Charlie shoved Ghram back, shuddering slightly as he looked both flustered and irritated. “Knock it off, Ghram,” he muttered, brushing his shoulder as if trying to shake off the moment entirely.

Ghram, however, just laughed, her voice loud and carefree. It echoed through the library, drawing disapproving looks and hushed shushing from nearby readers. She raised her hands in mock surrender, still grinning like she’d just won some invisible game.

Moments later, after recovering from her laughter, Ghram’s expression turned serious. “So, who exactly are you looking for, and why should we help you two?” she asked, her tone firm and direct.

I blinked, caught off guard. What? I couldn’t read this girl at all. Aren’t friends supposed to help each other out? I thought she and Charlie were close, and after all the playful teasing and displays of camaraderie, why was she asking for a reason to help him? What was her deal?

Meanwhile, Luke quietly grabbed a book and took a seat at the table we’d been at earlier, seemingly uninterested in the conversation.

Charlie, as if he had rehearsed it, didn’t hesitate. “We’re looking for someone on behalf of Granny Chan,” he explained, his voice calm and collected. “This person owes Granny a debt, and since she’s out at sea again, we’re stepping in to collect it. Besides, the more people helping, the faster we can find her.

"And,” he added with a sly grin, “I happen to know you two are free today. You’re here in the library, after all. Oh, and I’m sure neither of you wants me mentioning to Mrs. Grayman that you skipped training and duty last week.”

Ghram arched a brow, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “Hmm… still not quite enough,” she said thoughtfully. Then, her eyes lit up. “Tell you what—I’ve been wanting to let off some steam. If you agree to join us for a dodgeball match later, we’ll help you out.”

Charlie turned to me, one brow raised. “What do you say, Aria? You any good at dodgeball?”

“Yeah,” I said confidently. “We play it all the time at school.”

“Perfect! Hear that, Luke? They’ve agreed to play dodgeball with us,” Ghram said, her excitement evident. “Lead the way, Charlie. The sooner we get this done, the better.”

It was clear Ghram had a genuine enthusiasm for dodgeball—enough to overshadow Charlie’s thinly veiled blackmail about last week’s skipped duties. Luke simply nodded in response, quietly closing the book he’d been reading and returning it to where he had taken it. He stood up and tucked his chair back into place with careful precision.