The next morning, sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting warm patterns across Sheenah's room. Yet, despite the brightness outside, a restless energy hummed beneath her skin. The glow from the book last night, the whispered message—it all felt like a summons she couldn't ignore.
Sheenah sat at her desk, the midnight-blue book open before her. The pages no longer seemed static; faint symbols shimmered along the margins, as if alive with magic. Her fingers traced the delicate script, and for a moment, she could almost hear the Duke's voice echoing softly in her mind.
Sheenah immediately write a note to say goodbye to her friend Leah who's still sleeping in the next room. She leaves Leah's apartment and went returned to the spot where Sheenah had first found the bookshop—the quiet alley between the bakery and the thrift store. The street was filled with silence and nothing but an empty alley. But the old was in there standing as if he was waiting for her.
Sheenah's heart raced as she hurried toward the old. She clutched her bag, the midnight-blue book nestled safely inside, questions tumbling through her mind. As she reached him, he turned with a gentle smile, his eyes reflecting a wisdom that seemed to span centuries.
"Good morning, grandpa! Do you still remember me?" she asked, a little breathless.
He chuckled softly. "Of course, child. You read the book, didn't you?"
Sheenah nodded, settling beside him. "I finished it last the other night. I have so many questions. The ending… it felt unfinished, like there's more I'm supposed to understand. Also, last night something happened like-"
"Some stories are meant to be lived, not just read," as he cut her off. "Especially when magic is involved."
Sheenah frowned, her fingers tightening around her bag. "What do you mean? Is the book really… magic? Like last night? Was it real?"
He smiled, a touch of sadness in his eyes. "You'll see soon enough. Tonight, when the blue moon is at its highest, keep the book close. Listen to your heart, Sheenah. Magic finds those who are ready."
Before she could press him for more, he rose and shuffled away, leaving her with more questions than answers. Her phone buzzed. It was a message from Leah: "Coffee later? We need to talk about last night."
Sheenah smiled. She needed the comfort of her friend, especially now.
At the café, the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and warm pastries filled the air. Leah was already waiting, her expression serious but curious.
"So," Leah began, stirring her latte, "what do you think that message meant? 'The true journey begins now'… It sounds like something out of a fantasy novel."
Sheenah nodded. "I know. It feels like the story isn't just a story anymore. Like it's reaching out to me."
Leah leaned in, lowering her voice. "Do you think you're supposed to… step into it? Like, actually?"
The idea sounded impossible, but Sheenah couldn't shake the feeling that the old man's gift was more than a simple book. "Maybe. I don't know how, but I want to find out."
They spent the afternoon brainstorming, flipping through the book for clues. The story mentioned a blue moon—a rare celestial event tied to powerful magic. Tonight was the night of the blue moon's peak.
"Sheenah," Leah said softly, "what if the old man means the blue moon is a gateway? Maybe the book is the key."
The thought sent a shiver down Sheenah's spine. Could it be true? Was she really standing on the edge of something extraordinary?
As evening fell, Sheenah prepared herself with a mix of excitement and nervousness. She dressed warmly and tucked the book safely into her bag. Leah insisted on accompanying her, unwilling to let her face the unknown alone.
"Leah, Grandpa said that tonight the blue moon is at the highest and told me to keep the book close to me".
"You believe him?" Sheenah just shrugged. "Let's just sleep tonight and just don't think about it hmm?". Then the two sleep and just forget about it.
The day passed in a blur. At the café, Sheenah tried to focus on her work, but her mind kept drifting back to the old man's words and the book's mysterious pull. Leah noticed her distraction.
"You're a million miles away today," Leah teased as she wiped down the counter. "Still thinking about that book?"
Sheenah managed a weak smile. "Yeah. I just… I feel like something big is about to happen."
Leah grinned. "Remember, when you told me that something will happen tonight the last time? Nothing happens though. Well, if you start seeing dragons or portals, let me know. I'll bring popcorn."
Sheenah laughed, but a shiver ran down her spine. What if Leah's joke was closer to the truth than she realized?
That evening, Sheenah returned home, her nerves taut with anticipation. The apartment was quiet, her friends having left earlier with promises to meet again soon. She set the book on her desk and watched as the blue moon rose higher in the night sky, its light spilling through her window in silvery waves.
Unable to resist, she opened the book. The pages glowed faintly, the words and the symbols along the edges began to glow softly, matching the moon's hue, shifting and swirling until they formed a single line she hadn't seen before: "When the heart believes, the door will open."
A sudden gust of wind rattled the window. The room grew cold, and the air shimmered with a strange, electric energy. Sheenah's breath caught as the book's cover began to glow, brighter and brighter, until the light filled the entire room.
The air was thick with anticipation.
A gentle breeze stirred, carrying with it the faint scent of wildflowers and old parchment—the same scent she'd remembered from the shop. Suddenly, the ground beneath her shimmered, and a swirling portal of light and shadow began to form.
She reached out instinctively—and the world tilted. Sheenah took a deep breath, her heart pounding. "I don't know what's waiting on the other side, but I'm ready to find out." She stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the unknown then she heard her friend Leah on the other side.
"SHEENAH, NO! WHY IS IT VANISHING?! WAIT! I WON'T LET YOU GO ALONE!" Leah run towards the vanishing portal.