I returned home with an overwhelmed heart after my conversation with Dave.
The moment I stepped into the house, my eyes landed on my dad, who was sitting on the small sofa in the living room, quietly watching television.
I bit my lower lip, trying to suppress the storm of emotions rising inside me.
Then my gaze shifted toward the kitchen.
Mom was inside, preparing dinner.
Even from the doorway, I could see her back as she moved around the kitchen, and suddenly, a sharp ache crawled through my chest like hot iron.
"You're home, my princess," my mom said warmly as she walked over to me and gently touched my shoulder.
"Yeah… I'm home. Good evening, Mom. Good evening, Dad," I greeted softly.
Dad turned to look at me, a warm smile spreading across his face.
That smile.
It always had a way of melting my heart, no matter how upset I was.
"How was class today, sweetheart?" he asked.
"It was okay. I'll head upstairs," I said quickly.
"Alright, my baby," Mom replied. "Freshen up, change, and come down for dinner."
"Okay, Mom."
I forced a small smile before heading upstairs.
As I reached the hallway, my eyes drifted toward Helen's room, right beside mine.
The door was slightly open.
I slowed my steps and stared at it for a moment before walking closer and knocking lightly.
No response.
I pushed the door open a little more.
"Are you okay?" I asked, concern lacing my voice.
From inside the room, I could hear faint sobbing.
But still, no answer came.
After waiting a few seconds, I quietly stepped away.
I guess no one was really living a perfect life.
It reminded me that it was foolish to envy a life you knew nothing about.
Her relationship I once believed was perfect had fallen apart overnight.
Helen hadn't gone to school today.
And yesterday, she barely joined us downstairs for dinner.
I entered my room and shut the door behind me.
I wished I could comfort her.
But somehow… I knew I wasn't the person she needed right now.
And truthfully, I was already carrying too much of my own pain.
I was going through heartbreak too.
At least Helen had gotten the chance to fully experience love before losing it.
I didn't even get that far.
I sat on the edge of my bed, my gaze drifting toward the strange book lying on my desk.
Questions swirled endlessly inside my heart.
Had I made the right decision?
Slowly, I stood and walked toward the desk, staring at the page-less book in front of me.
Just then—
A strong gust of wind swept through the room, sending a chill through my body.
I turned sharply toward the open window and walked over to shut it.
But the moment I turned back—
Dylan was standing there.
Dressed in a white shirt and a pair of black pants, he stood only a few steps away from me, looking as dangerously handsome as ever.
I nearly jumped out of my skin.
A shiver ran through me from the sudden shock.
I guess I still wasn't used to all these supernatural appearances.
Without saying a word, Dylan walked past me and stopped at the desk.
He picked up the strange book and flipped through its blank pages.
I stared at him in disbelief.
"You can see the book?" I asked.
"Yes," he replied calmly.
"This is an ancient magic book," he said. "It's spiritual. Ordinary humans can't see it."
So that was why Helen couldn't see it that day.
I frowned.
"But… you just said humans can't see it."
"Yes," he repeated, lifting his eyes to meet mine.
I hesitated before asking the question that had been bothering me.
"What about old Mr. Gareth?" I asked. "The old man who ran the library down the street. He saw it. And his library… it disappeared with him."
Dylan's expression remained unreadable.
"He had already completed the mission assigned to him by Ellen."
I blinked.
"You're right—the library was small, but it was never ordinary," Dylan continued. "That library is ancient and mysterious. It moves from time to time. Its disappearance is normal. It has simply gone in search of its next resting place."
I stared at him.
"So this book…" I said slowly. "This is the book Ellen locked away? The same book the demons are searching for?"
Dylan nodded once.
My eyes dropped to the blank pages.
"Then why is it blank?" I asked. "The first day I opened it, there was writing inside. But now… everything is gone."
Dylan's gaze softened slightly.
"Maybe it is waiting for the right time," he said.
Then he looked at me with quiet intensity.
"And maybe… that time is you, Clover."
My breath caught.
I lowered my head.
The room suddenly felt heavier.
Then Dylan's voice broke the silence.
"So," he said, "what is your decision?"
His tone was calm, but there was weight behind every word.
"The journey ahead will not be easy. And we do not have much time. I understand if—"
"If…?" I cut him off, lifting my head.
He went silent.
I clenched my fists.
"If the witch clan fails to win this battle…" I said slowly, my words heavy with fear, "what will happen to me?"
My voice shook.
"What will happen to my family?"
I swallowed hard.
"What will happen to the world?"
For a moment, Dylan simply stared at me.
Blankly.
Quietly.
As if he already knew the answer.
Earlier today, during my conversation with Dave, I had asked him something.
I had asked him…
If I wasn't the girl he thought I was… would he still want me?
If I turned out to be something terrifying… something hideous… would he still choose me?
But Dave said nothing.
He had been speechless.
And somehow…
That silence had told me everything.
I closed my eyes briefly, then looked up at Dylan.
"If my life can contribute to the safety of this world…" I said, my voice steady now, "then I'll be happy to lay it down."
Silence.
Total silence.
And then—
A purple light burst from my eyes in a quick flash, as if my resolve itself had awakened something ancient.
At the same time, the Book of Evil resting on the desk began to move.
Its blank pages fluttered wildly on their own.
And for the first time since the first day I saw the book—
The book wrote its first chapter.
A powerful force swept through the room, swallowing both Dylan and me whole.
The next moment, we appeared somewhere else entirely.
I blinked in confusion.
We were standing in front of a carriage that looked ready to depart.
This place was nothing like the beautiful, mystical landscapes I had seen before.
No glowing skies.
No magical palaces.
This looked like a small, quiet village.
Then the young man from before walked toward us.
"Is everything ready?" Dylan asked.
"Yes, sir," the young man replied.
His eyes shifted to me.
"This is Clover," Dylan said. "She'll be coming with us on this journey."
The young man frowned immediately.
"But she's human," he said bluntly. "What power could she possibly have? Bringing her along will only be extra work."
Wow.
He clearly didn't like me.
Not even a little.
He looked at me like I was an inconvenience from the moment he saw me.
Still, I forced a sweet smile.
Which, judging by the way his expression darkened, only irritated him even more.
"Escort her to change," Dylan instructed.
And just like that, I was left with the grumpy stranger.
"Don't try to act smart."
That was the first thing he said the moment we reached the changing area.
Definitely that was a warning.
I turned to look at him.
He tossed a set of clothes at me before stepping back to give me space.
I caught them with a small glare.
What exactly was his problem?
Still, I quickly changed.
The clothes were surprisingly comfortable.
I slipped into a simple but elegant ancient gown that fit the environment much better than my modern dress.
At least now I wouldn't stand out so much.
When I returned to the carriage, Dylan was standing there waiting.
And for a second…
I forgot how to breathe.
He had changed too.
Gone was the modern outfit.
Now he wore a traditional robe, the kind I had only ever seen in ancient K-drama dramas.
And somehow—
It suited him ridiculously well.
Effortlessly handsome.
Dangerously handsome.
Honestly, he must have heard compliments his whole life, because the man practically carried himself like he knew he looked good.
Oh my God… am I seriously staring?
I mentally scolded myself and quickly looked away.
Why was I even thinking like that right now?
Then he noticed me.
And started walking toward me.
My heart skipped.
"Why are you nervous?" he asked, his voice unexpectedly gentle.
I blinked.
Gentle?
Since when was Dylan gentle?
"I'm not," I replied way too quickly.
The corner of his lips lifted into the faintest smile.
Then, with two fingers, he lightly flicked my forehead.
My eyes widened.
"Let's go," he said.
Before I could even recover from the sudden contact, he guided me toward the carriage.
Everyone took their places.
And just like that—
He ushered me inside.
The carriage began to move.
And together…
We set off toward an unknown journey.