Chapter 029: A brother's pain.

Dust danced in the slivers of light that dared to creep through the old library's grime. My fingers grazed the rough cover of a hidden book, the inscription 'Do Not Read' sending a tingle down my spine. Intrigue clawed at me like a mischievous cat.

As I gingerly opened the book, the world seemed to hold its breath. My heart thumped like a trapped bird.

"What you got there?" Lazaros' gruff voice shattered the silence. He peered over my shoulder, his brow furrowed. "Let's see that," he mumbled, reaching for the book. His calloused fingers traced the ancient symbols, his face drawn in concentration.

My gaze wandered to the other dusty tomes, searching for something, anything. What I was looking for, I didn't even know.

"This shouldn't be here," Lazaros muttered, his voice barely a whisper. "It shouldn't be here at all."