Back at the mansion, Kaivan and Isabel exchanged uneasy looks. A strange tension lingered in the air.
"You ready to go in?" Kaivan asked quietly.
Isabel squeezed his hand. "Yeah. I'm ready. What's the worst that could happen?" she said with a soft, reassuring smile.
The gates opened fully, revealing a stone path leading to a grand house surrounded by vibrant flowers. Their calm colors clashed with the unrest brewing in Kaivan's chest. They walked toward the slightly ajar front door, as if the house itself had been waiting for them.
A gentle mix of rose and lavender greeted them as they entered the marble-floored living room. The air felt cool yet strangely hollow, like a space abandoned for far too long. Kaivan scanned every corner, searching for the old woman. No one was there.
"Grandma, it's me, Kaivan! Where are you?" His voice resonated through the gallery of classical paintings. Isabel followed him closely, her eyes drifting from room to room. "Are you sure she lives alone? A house this big shouldn't feel this empty," she murmured.
Kaivan nodded slowly, though doubt flickered in his expression. "She used to live alone. But now… I don't know. Something feels off." He pressed the doorbell panel near the entrance, hoping for any kind of response. Silence was all that greeted them.
Meanwhile, at Kaivan's home, the front door creaked open. His older sister, Teh Kira, stood there with a puzzled look.
In front of her, Tania waited with teary eyes, hopeful yet terrified, clutching the strap of her bag like a lifeline. Behind her stood two striking women: Vella, with her mysterious smile, and Rapi, a tall, imposing woman with a sharp presence.
"Um… excuse me, is Kaivan home?" Tania asked, voice trembling.
Teh Kira blinked. "Oh, Kaivan's not here. He went out." Suspicion flickered in her gaze as she examined the unfamiliar women behind Tania. She tilted her head, trying to read the situation.
Back in the mansion, Kaivan moved through the hall, flinging open door after door.
"Grandma! Where are you?!" he called out again, but no answer came. The silence pressed against him, making every step heavier.
Isabel noticed a wooden table in the corner. "Kaivan, look. There's a note here," she said, handing him a small yellow paper.
Kaivan took it, eyes narrowing as he read the delicate handwriting:
"If you read this before February 8th, 2010, hold on. You're not alone, even if it means repeating the same path once more. If after February 8th, 2010, then it means time can truly change."
He read it aloud, then froze.
"What's today's date?" he asked quietly.
Isabel checked her watch. "Sunday. February 7th, 2010." Her gaze drifted toward Kaivan's face as confusion began to cloud his expression.
Kaivan exhaled slowly. "What does this even mean? I read it earlier than she expected… Did I change something without realizing it?" he whispered.
The long corridor stretched before them, lined with antique furniture and dimly lit by the fading light outside. Isabel stayed close behind him, her steps echoing his. Tension thickened the air as they walked past rows of old paintings.
"Why don't you just ask the Tome Omnicent?" Isabel's voice broke the silence.
The bag at Kaivan's side vibrated lightly, as if the tome itself was calling out to him.
Kaivan shook his head firmly. "No. I don't want to rely on it anymore. If I keep obeying it… I'm afraid I'll just become part of whatever plan it has. I want to make my own choices."
---
The scene shifted to Kaivan's house. Teh Kira stood awkwardly at the door, facing Tania, Vella, and Rapi. Tania looked nervous, peeking inside the house as if hoping Kaivan would suddenly appear. But before she could say a word, Vella stepped forward with a warm smile, one that somehow carried a strange, unsettling calm beneath it.
"Ah, let's do this instead," Vella said casually, though her tone held quiet authority. "Since Kaivan isn't here, Rapi, take Tania home. She can meet him another time."
Rapi hesitated for a second, then nodded obediently. Without further discussion, she gently took Tania's hand and guided her toward the car. "Come on, I'll take you home," she said, flat yet polite. Tania followed, confused and anxious. She looked back once, but Rapi was already leading her away. Teh Kira watched them leave, a faint guilt on her face, before slowly closing the door and allowing Vella to enter the living room.
Vella took a graceful seat on the large sofa, her sharp gaze fixed on Teh Kira. "If your mother is home, I'd like to speak with her about Kaivan's behavior," she said, her voice firm.
Teh Kira sighed softly. "Mom's inside. I'll call her." She stepped away, leaving Vella alone, who now seemed to be evaluating the house with eyes full of unspoken meaning.
Back at the Grandmother's House
Kaivan and Isabel wandered through the vast, silent rooms. Kaivan's bag kept vibrating, but he stubbornly ignored it, even though he knew the Omnicent Tome was trying to communicate.
"Kaivan… your bag's been shaking for a while. It might be a message," Isabel whispered, worried.
Kaivan exhaled, sounding exhausted. "It's probably just Tania. I don't want to see her right now." He quickened his pace, as if trying to outrun his own thoughts.
They arrived before a large door leading to the basement. Carefully, Kaivan pushed it open. Damp, cold air brushed against their skin. Isabel stepped closer to him as they descended the stone stairs. At the bottom, a wide chamber opened before them, its walls covered in inscriptions written in countless languages.
Kaivan read them slowly. "Kra, Lege, Soma, Po, Oku, Doc, Lees, Read, Baca, Iqro, Karanta, Anbib, Ik'ikthe… all of them mean 'read.'" His eyes widened. "It's like a command… but for what?"
Isabel studied the wall. "These words… it feels like they're urging someone to read something greater than a normal book," she murmured.
In the center of the chamber stood an old wooden table. On it lay a worn-out book with the words: Just read it, it will guide you. Kaivan reached out and touched it. His fingertips trembled. Something was inside, alive, waiting.
A House Filling With Sharp Words
Meanwhile, in Kaivan's living room, Vella was already seated calmly across from Kaivan's mother.
"So here's what happened," Vella began sweetly, yet with a hint of sharpness. "During the event I hosted last week, Kaivan came without an invitation and caused a scene. The guests were disturbed."
Kaivan's mother stared in shock. "Kaivan? Causing trouble at an event? Goodness, why would he do that?"
Vella let out a practiced sigh, her expression a fragile mask of concern. "Exactly. Please speak to him, ma'am. A child shouldn't be allowed to act like that. If needed, give him a proper lesson." Her voice rose ever so slightly, leaving Kaivan's mother silent, struggling to make sense of a situation that felt increasingly suspicious.