Vivian made her way to the waiting area, selecting a seat beneath a softly glowing lamp shaped like an enchanted lily. The light pulsed faintly with a calming rhythm, designed to soothe those awaiting their companions. She waved Emma off with a smile, her posture relaxed, trusting her daughter to explore the grand bookstore.
Emma’s excitement bubbled as she wandered deeper into the labyrinth of shelves. Each corner revealed new wonders—books that whispered as they hovered midair, scrolls that unfurled themselves to display shimmering maps, and crystal orbs projecting holographic stories of ancient legends.
Her fingers trailed lightly across the spines of the books until her gaze landed on a floating tome etched with flowing, silver Elven script. The title, Ki Cultivation, glowed faintly with a soft azure light. The book’s cover seemed alive, depicting waves of mana swirling through an ethereal figure’s body. Emma reached out to grasp it, the magic dissipating the moment her fingers made contact.
She turned the book over, inspecting the price tag embedded in its back cover. “Eight blue mana stones,” she muttered. The price was a bit steep but not outrageous, though enough to make her hesitate about purchasing. A mischievous grin tugged at her lips. I’ll just read it here for free, she thought, hugging the book to her chest as she searched for a reading desk.
The rune-lined pathways shimmered softly beneath her feet, guiding her toward a row of individual desks lit with magical lanterns. But as she approached, her attention snagged on a figure moving through the aisles.
It was a boy, perhaps her age or a bit older. His black hair fell messily over his forehead, and his deep blue eyes darted around the room with an intensity that made him seem out of place amidst the calm serenity of the bookstore. He moved strangely, his steps hesitant, as though searching for something—or hiding from it.
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Emma frowned, her curiosity briefly piqued. She watched him for a moment longer before shaking her head and continuing to one of the desks. Not my problem, she told herself, sliding into a seat.
As she set the book on the desk and opened it, a rush of energy radiated from the pages. The Elven script seemed to shift, rearranging itself into symbols she almost understood, teasing her curiosity further. She leaned closer, entranced.
But then, just as she was about to immerse herself, the ground beneath her feet trembled.
It was subtle at first—a faint vibration that could have been dismissed as her imagination. But then it grew, a low hum building into a deep, resonating rumble that shook the air itself.
Her heart raced, her mind snapping to the cryptic words she’d overheard earlier. “All the traps have been set.”
Emma’s breath hitched as dread coiled in her chest. She shot up from her seat, the book forgotten. Her instincts screamed at her to move, to act. The serene atmosphere of the bookstore now felt suffocating, the magic in the air charged with something dark and unnatural.
She turned, her gaze darting frantically through the sea of shelves. Mom!
Vivian’s figure emerged in the distance, weaving through the aisles with urgency. Relief washed over Emma as she saw her mother unharmed.
But before Emma could take another step toward her, the world shifted.
The tremor beneath her feet intensified, and a blinding flash of light erupted from somewhere deep within the bookstore. The hum escalated into a deafening roar, and the intricate chandelier above shattered into a cascade of glowing shards.
Time seemed to freeze for a moment, the sound of the explosion drowning out all thought. Emma’s vision blurred, the vivid colors of the bookstore merging into a chaotic swirl. She stumbled forward, reaching out for her mother.
But before she could reach Vivian, darkness consumed everything.