24

Elara sat on the floor of the dimly lit basement, the two books still in her hands, but this time, the weight of the knowledge within them seemed heavier. The one that had been chained was now free, but as her trembling fingers touched its pages, a sense of unease washed over her. It felt as though the book was losing its power—like it had given her all it could, and now, it was beginning to fade. But something was different. The air around her felt charged, like it was anticipating something.

Her breath caught in her throat as the words on the pages seemed to flicker and change before her eyes. They weren't words she recognized, not at first, but as she stared harder, something in her mind shifted. The letters began to form into coherent sentences. And it was as if the book was reading her thoughts.

"You seek answers, Elara. But do you truly understand the price?" The voice came not from the book, but from within her own mind. The words weren't spoken aloud, but they echoed as if the book had reached inside her and was pulling her thoughts into it.

She gasped, dropping the book, her hands shaking uncontrollably. She could feel a cold sweat forming on her brow as the words continued to swirl in her mind. The book wasn't just telling her things—it was sharing something deeper, something ancient.

"There are two worlds," the voice in her head said, and the words on the page followed, "separated by a barrier that no human can cross. The beings from the other world can return to theirs, but humans cannot. It is forbidden—by the hunger for power, the greed that consumes those who seek to cross it."

Elara's heart raced, but she had no idea what this meant. What was this other world? Why was she being told this now? And why did she feel so connected to the book as if it knew her better than she knew herself? She barely understood her own powers, yet here was the book, speaking of something far greater than her—something far more dangerous.

She forced herself to focus, turning the pages, even as her hands trembled. The words seemed to recognize her fear, responding to it. The book was alive with knowledge—knowledge that it was sharing willingly, or perhaps, that it was compelled to share with her. It wasn't just random information; it was meant for her, as if the universe itself had guided her to this very moment.

The pages began to change, and Elara found herself staring at a passage that described a race of beings. A species that was no longer in existence, wiped out long ago. They had once lived in both worlds, bridging the gap between the human realm and the one beyond. These beings had been able to cross the barrier freely, but in the end, they were destroyed by their own power, driven mad by the hunger that grew within them.

"These beings," the book continued, "were cursed with a gift. They could see beyond the veil, into the other world, and they could walk between the two realms. But as their powers grew, so did their desire for more. They wanted to take the power of the other world for themselves, and in their greed, they brought about their own extinction. Their hunger consumed them, and they became monsters—nothing more than shadows, wandering between the worlds, filled with a never-ending craving for power and souls."

Elara's eyes widened, her breathing shallow. This was too much—too much to comprehend. How could this be related to her? What did it have to do with her and her strange abilities?

The book seemed to answer her thoughts once more, as if it were guiding her through her own fears. "You are like them, Elara. You possess the same power. The power to cross the barrier. But be warned—the hunger will rise within you, just as it did with them. If you do not learn to control your visions, if you do not tame the power that grows within you, you will fall into madness. You will become one of them—an ostrus."

Elara recoiled, feeling her body go cold. An ostrus? What was that? Was it what she had been seeing in her visions? The dark shadows, the creatures that whispered to her from the other side of the veil? Were they the ostrus?

The book continued, the words now seeming to glow with an eerie light, "The visions are a warning. They are a guide, but they are also a test. If you cannot master them, they will consume you. The hunger will take hold, and you will be lost."

Elara closed her eyes tightly, trying to block out the terrifying image of what could happen to her. But the visions, those strange images that filled her mind whenever she closed her eyes, were starting to feel different. They weren't just flashes of the past or glimpses of her power. They were growing stronger, more vivid. She could see the other world, a twisted reflection of her own, and in it, she saw the ostrus—creatures with glowing eyes, their bodies writhing with a terrible hunger, reaching out toward her.

She shook her head, trying to clear the images, but they persisted, like a storm inside her mind. They weren't just visions anymore—they were memories, her memories, of a life she had never lived. Or was it the future? Was she destined to become one of those creatures?

The book seemed to sense her fear and spoke again, "The only way to stop this is to learn control. You must master the power before it masters you. And to do so, you must face the truth of your existence."

Elara's heart skipped a beat. The truth of her existence? What did that mean? The book had already revealed so much, but it felt like there was more—so much more that she couldn't yet understand.

With trembling hands, Elara closed the book, trying to steady herself. The air around her felt heavy, like the weight of the knowledge had anchored her to the ground. She could hear her heart pounding in her chest, each beat louder than the last. The hunger was starting to rise inside her, like a low hum beneath her skin. She could feel it—this terrible urge, this insatiable desire for power, for more of what the other world could give her.

She wasn't sure how much longer she could hold on.

As she closed her eyes, the visions continued to haunt her. The faces of the ostrus, their outstretched hands, their empty eyes, filled her mind. She had to find a way to control it. She had to learn before it was too late.

But for now, she could only hold onto the knowledge the book had given her and pray that it was enough.

The hunger was starting to grow.

And it would only get stronger.