A word was on the tip of her tongue.
Caelan's expression gave nothing away, but she was sure he hadn't been joking.
But before she could object or even formulate another question, something changed. It was the light. The emptiness above them began to change color. A soft, peach-colored glow seeped in, like the first signs of dawn without a sky. At the same time, the silence was undermined by a barely perceptible, deep hum.
Caelan's relaxed posture disappeared instantly. His shoulders tensed, and he turned to her with such sudden urgency that Leona flinched involuntarily.
"We have to go," he said. The calmness had disappeared from his voice, replaced by a command. "Now."
His cloak brushed her arm as he moved quickly past her.
"Don't look directly into the books when they call to you. And whatever happens, don't stop."
Everything inside her screamed in confusion, but she had no choice. She simply had to trust him now. She forced her trembling legs to obey and hurried after him.
"What? What's calling me?" Leona gasped, her heart seeming to squeeze the last breath out of her lungs.
"I already told you, you'll understand," he replied curtly.
She had expected that answer. With a suppressed sigh, she concentrated on his footsteps again and followed him at a brisk pace through the narrow corridors. The world around them began to stir. Out of the corner of her eye, Leona saw the pages of some books begin to flutter quietly, as if they wanted to fly away.
"Keep going," Caelan urged without looking at her. He grabbed her wrist again.
But instead of dragging her forward, he suddenly pulled her to an abrupt halt. The movement was so unexpected that Leona stumbled against him.
"Stop looking around," he said sharply. "Your eyes are lying to you here. They only show you what wants to lead you astray. This place has a current that you must follow."
"I don't know what you're talking about!" she cried desperately. The rustling of the leaves around them grew louder, as if mocking her ignorance.
Leona. You... it whispered through the room. At that moment, Caelan covered her ears with his hands. He shook his head as an unmistakable warning: she should not listen.