The apartment corridor was narrow and dark. The old lamp on the ceiling flickered softly, like eyes too weary to stay open.
Kael still stood in the doorway.
The woman before him showed no signs of hurry. She stood casually, both hands in the pockets of her long coat, as if visiting an old friend's house.
But Kael knew one thing.
People like this did not come without reason.
The woman's gaze slid past Kael's shoulder again. Her focus fell upon the wooden desk inside the chamber.
Upon that black book.
She smiled thinly.
"May I come in?"
Her tone was calm. Almost polite.
But Kael did not move from his place.
"I don't recall inviting anyone tonight."
The woman did not appear offended.
On the contrary, she looked... amused.
"That is not the wrong answer."
Several seconds passed in silence.
Then the woman exhaled softly.
"Very well. Let us do this the simpler way."
She took something from her pocket.
A small badge of dark metal.
Its shape was simple: a thin circle with a crack line dividing its center.
The same symbol.
The symbol now on Kael's wrist.
Kael's gaze changed slightly.
The woman observed his reaction with interest.
"So you have seen it."
She raised the badge slightly higher.
"That means the process has begun."
Kael finally opened the door slightly wider.
The woman entered without waiting for a second invitation.
Her steps were light, almost soundless on the old wooden floor.
Once inside the chamber, her eyes immediately fixed upon the desk.
Upon that black book.
She stopped several paces from the desk, as if not wanting to get too close.
That small detail did not escape Kael's attention.
The woman stared at the book for a moment.
Then spoke softly.
"So it truly is this one."
Kael closed the door behind him.
"You came only to see the book?"
The woman laughed lightly.
"No."
She glanced slightly, looking at Kael from the corner of her eyes.
"I came to see the person chosen by that book."
That sentence hung in the air for several seconds.
Kael walked toward the desk.
He stood beside the book, as if unconsciously placing himself between the woman and the artifact.
"You haven't answered my question."
The woman raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Which question?"
"Who you are."
A few seconds of silence.
Then the woman answered with an almost casual tone.
"The name I commonly use is Lyra."
She walked slowly around the desk, observing the book from a different angle.
"And I work for people whose task is to ensure..."
She paused for a moment.
"...that certain knowledge does not fall into the wrong hands."
Kael crossed his arms.
"Sounds like impossible work."
Lyra smiled.
"True."
She indicated the book with a slight nod of her head.
"Especially if objects like that still exist in the world."
Kael glanced at the book.
"You know what that is?"
Lyra did not answer immediately.
She stared at the book with a more serious expression now.
"I know enough to feel uncomfortable standing too close to it."
She looked at Kael again.
"The more important question is..."
her gaze dropped to Kael's wrist.
"...do you know what has happened to you?"
Kael looked at the cracked symbol on his hand.
"A little."
Lyra shook her head.
"No."
Her tone was calm, but this time truly serious.
"You don't know at all."
She stepped closer by one pace.
"Tell me."
"When did you touch that book for the first time?"
Kael thought for a moment.
"A few hours ago."
Lyra closed her eyes briefly.
"Faster than I expected."
She opened her eyes again.
"Did the book speak to you?"
Kael did not answer immediately.
But his expression was answer enough.
Lyra laughed lightly again.
"Of course."
She pointed to the chair before the desk.
"Sit."
Kael remained standing.
Lyra shrugged.
"Very well."
She crossed her arms.
"I will explain the situation simply."
She pointed to the symbol on Kael's wrist.
"That is called the Mark of the Veil."
She pointed at the book.
"And that object is most likely a very ancient artifact."
Several seconds passed.
Then she said the next sentence in the same calm tone.
"Artifacts like that usually have... a price."
Kael looked at her without expression.
"A price?"
Lyra nodded.
"Knowledge."
She looked directly into Kael's eyes now.
"The more you learn from it..."
she paused for a moment.
"...the less of you will remain."
The room became very silent.
Only the sound of night wind outside the window was heard.
Lyra finally asked with an almost curious tone.
"So now the question is simple."
Her gaze fell upon the book again.
"After all... the book has already chosen you."
She looked at Kael again.
"Do you want to close it now..."
or
her smile appeared again, very thin.
"do you want to turn to the next page?"