The night swallowed Lina as she stepped away from the old library.
The glowing book in her hands pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat that wasn’t hers.
The streets were empty.
Too empty.
Even the wind had gone silent.
Somewhere in the distance… a bell rang once.
Then stopped.
Lina pulled her coat tighter around herself and looked down at the ancient book. The symbols on its cover slowly rearranged themselves, forming a single line of glowing words.
“The first story waits in the ruins.”
Before Lina c