It was early morning when Henrry reached Mclery's house and pressed the doorbell. Moments later, Mclery opened the door, rubbing his eyes, surprised to see Henrry.
"So early? Is everything okay? Did something happen?" Mclery asked.
Henrry nodded, looking serious. "I need to tell you something."
They stepped inside. Just as Henrry was about to speak, Mclery interrupted, "Sorry."
Henrry blinked, confused. "You're saying sorry? I should be the one—"
Both looked at each other, puzzled. Then, at the same time, they said, "For yesterday."
A short, awkward silence passed as they exchanged curious glances.
Finally, Mclery began, "Yesterday, while I was on my way to the Mchen Tree, I saw a man. He had a stick that looked exactly like the one you showed me. I followed him. First, he went into our usual gaming parlour. Then, he left and headed toward the school. He was peeking through the boundary wall and then went around to the back. When I followed, he had vanished."
Henrry's expression turned even more serious. The weight of the mysterious book, and now this man, was beginning to overwhelm him.
Mclery continued, "He wore something like a raincoat and had a strange mark on his face. Like a burn or scar. When I didn't find you at the tree, I thought you'd gone home. Then it started raining, so I returned."
"Is anyone home?" Henrry asked.
"No," Mclery replied. "Aunty Rose is away on a trip. It's just me."
Henrry took a deep breath. "Remember how you said you couldn't read what was written on the stick?"
Mclery nodded.
"When I got home yesterday, I tried to read it again. you don't believe a book appeared and in the book something written inside that same language that written on the stick. And the moment I closed it, it vanished."
Mclery's eyes gleamed with excitement. He loved adventure—mysteries thrilled him.
"Can you do it again?" he asked eagerly.
Henrry hesitated. The memory of the book still gave him chills. But Mclery persuaded him.
Henrry whispered, "Ayana Wiste."
Once again, the floating page appeared, forming into a book before their eyes. Henrry opened it and began reading.
Mclery narrowed his eyes. "Are you actually reading it or just making stuff up?"
Henrry glanced at him seriously.
"Okay okay, read louder," Mclery said, trying to lighten the mood.
Henrry declared, "Vido Narmate."
Nothing happened.
Mclery chuckled nervously.
This time, Henrry glared at him. Mclery replied, "You were holding the stick when the book appeared. Maybe it only works when you hold it."
Henrry picked up the stick and said again, louder, "Vido Narmate!"
Suddenly, a fierce wind burst through the room. The front window shattered with a loud crack. The stick flew out of Henrry's hand and dropped to the floor. He quickly slammed the book shut.
Silence.
They both sat frozen. The air felt heavy, charged. Neither of them noticed—the book had vanished again.
Henrry looked at Mclery. There was fear in both their faces, but in Mclery's, there was something else too—curiosity.
"We should destroy it," Henrry said.
But Mclery's voice cut through, firm and urgent. "No. That man. We need to find him. If he had the same stick, he might know something."
Henrry stayed quiet, still shaken.
"Let's go to school" Mclery said. "He might be there."
Henrry nodded slowly.