The bird's identity
The library was a maze of light and shadow, its endless shelves stretching into the darkness like the ribs of some ancient beast. The faint glow of the books pulsed rhythmically, their light casting shifting patterns on the walls. Elena, Marcus, and Jaya stood in the center of the chamber, their flashlights cutting through the gloom. The air was thick with the scent of aged parchment and something metallic, like the tang of blood or iron. It was a place that felt alive, breathing, watching.
Elena's mind was still reeling from the vision she had experienced moments ago. The man from the café—his transformation into a bird, the shimmering feathers, the ancient sadness in his eyes—it all felt so real, so significant. She couldn't shake the feeling that he was the key to understanding the library's secrets.
"We need to find him," she said, her voice firm. "The man from the café. He's connected to this place. I can feel it."
Marcus crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "How do you even know he's still in town? For all we know, he could be long gone."
Jaya shook her head, her flashlight illuminating a row of glowing books. "He's here. The vision showed him in the town square. And if the library is tied to the people in this town, then he's part of it. We need to talk to him."
Elena nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. "But what if he doesn't want to talk? What if he's… I don't know, dangerous?"
"Then we'll deal with it," Jaya said firmly. "But we can't just ignore this. Not after what we've seen."
---
The three of them made their way back to the surface, the staircase groaning and shifting beneath their feet as they ascended. The town square was quiet, the cobblestones slick with rain. The clock tower loomed overhead, its face frozen at 3:17. Elena scanned the square, her eyes searching for the man from the café. He wasn't hard to spot—he was standing by the fountain, his hands in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the water.
"There he is," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the rustle of the wind.
Marcus frowned, his brow furrowed in thought. "What's the plan? We just walk up to him and ask if he's a bird?"
Jaya shot him a look. "We need to be careful. If he's connected to the library, then he knows more than he's letting on. We need to approach him with caution."
Elena took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "Let's just… talk to him. See what he knows."
---
The man looked up as they approached, his expression calm but guarded. His eyes were a deep, piercing blue, and they seemed to see right through her. "You've been to the library," he said, his voice low and measured.
Elena froze, her breath catching in her throat. "How… how do you know that?"
The man smiled faintly, his gaze shifting to the fountain. "I can feel it. The library… it has a way of marking those who enter. You've seen things, haven't you? Things you can't explain."
Marcus stepped forward, his expression wary. "What do you know about the library? And what's with the bird thing?"
The man's smile faded, replaced by a look of deep, ancient sadness. "The bird… it's a symbol. A sign of crossing over. Of moving between realms."
Jaya's eyes narrowed. "Realms? What are you talking about?"
The man sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The library is more than just a collection of books. It's a gateway. A bridge between worlds. The glowing books… they're tied to the people in this town. To their destinies. To their souls."
Elena's heart raced, her mind struggling to process his words. "But… why? Why is it here? What does it want?"
The man's gaze met hers, his eyes filled with a mixture of sorrow and resolve. "It's a test. A trial. The library chooses those who enter, and it shows them what they need to see. But it's not without danger. There are others who seek to control its power. A shadowy organization. They've been watching, waiting for the right moment to strike."
Marcus groaned, running a hand through his hair. "Of course there's a shadowy organization. Why wouldn't there be?"
Jaya ignored him, her expression serious. "Who are they? What do they want?"
The man shook his head. "I don't know their names. Only that they're dangerous. They've been searching for the library for years, and now that you've found it, they'll come for you."
Elena's stomach churned, a cold knot of fear tightening in her chest. "What do we do?"
The man's gaze softened, and for a moment, he looked almost human. "You need to be careful. The library is powerful, but it's also unpredictable. It will show you things—visions, memories, prophecies—but it's up to you to interpret them. And you need to be prepared. The organization… they won't stop until they have what they want."
---
The three of them stood in silence, the weight of the man's words settling over them like a shroud. The town square was quiet, the only sound the gentle trickle of water from the fountain. Elena's mind raced, trying to make sense of everything she had just heard. The library was a gateway. The glowing books were tied to the townspeople's destinies. And now, there was a shadowy organization hunting them.
"We need to go back," she said, her voice trembling. "To the library. We need to find out more."
Jaya nodded, her expression grim. "But we need to be careful. If what he says is true, then we're not just dealing with the library. We're dealing with something much bigger."
Marcus sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Great. Just what we needed. More complications."
---
As they turned to leave, the man called out to them, his voice low and urgent. "Be careful. The library… it's not what it seems. And the organization… they're closer than you think."
Elena glanced back, her heart pounding in her chest. "Who are you? Really?"
The man smiled faintly, his eyes filled with a deep, ancient sadness. "I'm just a traveler. A wanderer. But you… you're the key. The library chose you for a reason. Don't let it down."
---
The three of them made their way back to the library, their flashlights cutting through the darkness. The air was thick with the scent of aged parchment and something metallic, like the tang of blood or iron. The library seemed to stretch on forever, its secrets waiting to be uncovered. But as they ventured deeper, the air grew heavier, the hum of the books growing louder. And somewhere, in the shadows, something stirred.