It had been a week since the whole "club disaster," as Lana liked to call it.

A full week of teasing, side comments, and playful nudges that never seemed to end.

Una didn't know whether to laugh or roll her eyes as they sat in their favourite corner of the small café down the street. The place smelled like roasted coffee beans and baked croissants, the kind of warm smell that wrapped around you and made everything feel calm.

"So," Lana said with that sly grin she always had, stirring her drink lazily, "guess who ran out of the library the second he saw me?"

Una groaned. "Lana, please. Don't tell me..."

"Oh, I'm telling you," Lana cut in, her grin widening. "He said, and I quote, 'I'm not sitting anywhere near your friend Una. That girl's got demon strength.'"

Una almost choked on her laughter. "He did not say that."

"He did!" Lana insisted, laughing. "You should've seen his face. The poor guy looked like he'd seen a ghost. Honestly, I don't know what you did to him that night, but you've officially made history."

Una tried to laugh it off, though she felt that tiny knot of unease in her chest. "Yeah, well... maybe I just have good reflexes."

"Reflexes that throw people into walls?"

"Shut up," Una said, nudging her playfully. "You're impossible. And for the umpteenth time, Lana! It wasn't a wall."

They both laughed, and for a moment, everything felt normal again.

When the waitress came over, she smiled brightly at them. "The usual?"

"Yeah," Lana said. "One caramel latte, extra foam, and a cappuccino for me."

As the waitress left, Lana leaned forward on her elbows. "So, have you told Aunt Reina about it?"

Una shook her head. "She says I need to stop hanging around boys who can't handle a little push."

Lana giggled, and Una joined in. Their laughter carried softly through the café, mixing with the gentle buzz of conversation.

A few minutes later, the waitress came back with their drinks. "Careful, they're hot," she said, setting them down. But just as she was about to place Una's cup on the table, her hand slipped a little.

The latte tilted forward, just a second away from spilling all over Una's lap.

Without thinking, Una's eyes darted to it.

The cup froze. Not in midair, not dramatically but just enough. The liquid steadied, the waitress blinked in confusion, and somehow, the cup ended up perfectly upright on the table, without a single drop spilt.

"Oh...uh, that was close," the waitress mumbled, embarrassed, and hurried off.

Lana blinked. "Okay... did you see that?"

"See what?" Una asked, pretending to laugh.

"The cup. It..." Lana stopped, frowning slightly. "Never mind. Must've been my eyes."

Una shrugged and lifted her drink. "You've had too much caffeine."

But Lana didn't look convinced. She kept watching Una, her brow furrowed just a bit. "It's weird, though. For a second, I could've sworn your eyes... did something. Like they flickered or glowed or something."

Una almost snorted into her cup. "Lana, you seriously need sleep."

Lana laughed finally, shaking her head. "Yeah, yeah. Fine. But if you start floating next week, I'm selling your story to Netflix."

They both burst out laughing again, and the air between them eased. But as Una took another sip, she couldn't help glancing at the cup.

The memory of that frozen moment stuck in her head, and deep down, under the laughter, under the normalcy, something inside her whispered that it hadn't been an accident.

By the time Una and Lana got back to campus, the sun had already climbed high enough to make the courtyard glow gold. Students were scattered everywhere, chatting in groups, rushing to classes, or lounging lazily under trees that lined the long stretch of the walkway.

Lana was still teasing her about the "coffee magic show," but Una wasn't really listening. Her mind was elsewhere.

Because as funny as Lana made it sound, she knew deep down that what happened back there wasn't a coincidence.

She'd seen it before.

The flicker. The strange light that came and went in her eyes was like a shadow playing tricks.

It used to happen rarely, once in a long while when she was angry, scared, or... hurt. But lately, it felt like it was happening more often. And now, with the cup, it felt too real to ignore.

"Hey," Lana said, bumping her shoulder playfully, "you're zoning out again. You okay?"

"Yeah," Una lied quickly, forcing a smile. "Just thinking about that project due tomorrow."

"Ugh, don't remind me." Lana groaned. "Anyway, I'll catch you later. I promised Cara I'd help her with her costume for the event tonight."

"Sure," Una said. "See you."

Once Lana disappeared into the crowd, Una didn't waste a second. She turned left and headed straight for the library.

The library was old... like, really old. Half of the bookshelves were made of dark oak wood that creaked when you brushed past them, and the smell of dust and paper filled the air. It was quiet, except for the soft hum of the air conditioner and the faint sound of pages flipping somewhere at the back.

Una hesitated at the entrance of the library, clutching her backpack as though it could ground her to reality. The idea of looking for a book to explain... whatever this was, felt ridiculous. Magic wasn't real. Things like glowing eyes and trembling trees belonged in the fantasy novels stacked neatly on the shelves before her - not in her life.

And yet, something tugged at her.

It wasn't just curiosity. It was stronger, deeper like an invisible thread pulling her forward, whispering to her in ways that didn't make sense. Her feet moved before she could decide to, carrying her past the rows of tables and through the maze of tall shelves.

Her pulse quickened. Every few steps, her chest tightened like the air itself was trying to tell her something. Her gaze flicked from one shelf to another until she stopped in front of a dimly lit section near the back.

"This is stupid," she muttered, shaking her head. But her hand still lifted, tracing the spines of dusty old books until her fingers paused on one, a dark green volume with no visible title.

Her heart skipped.

It wasn't that she saw anything special about it. She felt it, like the book itself was waiting for her.

For a moment, she stood frozen between sense and instinct, reason and that quiet, impossible pull. And then, finally, she gave in.

She slid the book from the shelf.

"The Veiled Ones."

She pulled it out carefully and sat down by the nearest table. The cover felt strange like it was slightly warm to the touch.

Flipping through the pages, she saw sketches of women surrounded by strange symbols, their hands glowing, their eyes shining with light. The drawings were detailed, haunting, and beautiful all at once.

One page caught her attention:

A mark of power lives in the bloodline. Hidden until the soul awakens.

Una frowned. "What does that even mean?" she whispered under her breath.

Her fingers brushed across one of the symbols on the page, and suddenly, a soft pulse ran through her fingertips, like the page itself had a heartbeat.

Startled, she slammed the book shut and looked around.

No one was near. The few students scattered around the library were quietly reading, completely unaware.

She exhaled slowly and whispered to herself, "Okay, that... that didn't just happen."

Her heart was beating fast, but even through the panic, a tiny part of her felt drawn to that book like it was calling her.

After a moment, she tucked it under her arm and whispered, "If I'm losing my mind, at least I'll have proof."

Then she walked straight to the counter to check it out, the dark green book thrumming lightly against her side, a heavy, silent answer to the question she hadn't known she was asking.

From behind the counter, the librarian watched her.

She had come in quietly, like most students did, no sound except the faint creak of the door and her soft footsteps brushing against the old carpet. But there was something about her movement that caught his attention. It was not random. She wasn't browsing. She walked like someone who already knew exactly where she was going.

He adjusted his glasses and pretended to stack a few returned books, but his eyes stayed on her.

The girl - Una, that was her name, he remembered - stopped in front of the oldest section of the library. Hardly anyone ever went there. Most of the books in that corner hadn't been touched in decades. They were from another time - handwritten, strange, and whispered about by the few who still believed in things beyond the ordinary.

Yet, here she was, running her fingers along the dusty spines as though she could feel them humming beneath her touch. Her head tilted slightly, and then she reached for a thick, worn-out book, the one with the leather binding and the faint, carved sigil on its cover.

The librarian's heart skipped. Not that one...

He opened his mouth to call out, but she had already pulled it down. The old book groaned as it opened, its pages fluttering like wings as if it had been waiting for someone to touch it again.

She sat down at a nearby table, leaned forward, and started to read.

The librarian moved a little closer, pretending to dust one of the nearby shelves. His eyes narrowed as he saw her expression move from curiosity, confusion, and then to something like recognition. She was reading words written in a language long forgotten. He could see it from where he stood - looping symbols, flowing like river marks across the page.

But what startled him most was the way her lips moved. She wasn't just reading, she was understanding.

No one should have been able to read that book. Not unless they were one of them.

A chill crept down his spine. He glanced around, making sure no one else was there. The air around Una seemed to thicken, like the whole room had gone quiet just to listen to her breathe. The lamp above her table flickered.

She didn't notice. Her eyes were glued to the page, tracing the ancient markings.

Every now and then, her lips parted slightly, whispering words that had never been spoken aloud in centuries. Then her eyes darted to the bottom of the page, where the faint name of one of the authors was written. Her voice caught.

Nevera.

The librarian froze. The name sent a sharp sting through his chest. He hadn't heard it in years. Not since...

Suddenly, the room seemed to hum. The faint air shifted, and for a heartbeat, he could have sworn the lamps around them flickered in rhythm with her heartbeat.

He stepped closer, heart pounding. "Miss?" he said softly, trying not to startle her.

But she didn't hear. Her eyes were wide, shining faintly like candlelight catching in glass. The book pulsed faintly beneath her hand, almost alive.

"Miss," he tried again, a little louder, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

The instant his skin touched her, the air snapped.

Una gasped and jerked backwards, her chair scraping harshly against the floor. Her eyes glowed for a second, just a bright and unnatural flicker. The librarian stumbled back, catching his breath.

He knew that light. He had seen it once before - long ago, in the old forests of Carmenta, where witches hid from the world.

"I...I didn't mean to-" Una stammered, closing the book and holding it tightly to her chest.

Her hands were trembling. She didn't understand what had just happened, but something deep inside her told her she needed to leave.

She grabbed her bag, eyes darting to the exit. "I'm sorry," she muttered and hurried toward the door.

The librarian didn't move. He watched as she disappeared through the heavy doors, the sound echoing faintly in the silence that followed.

Only then did he exhale and press his shaking hand to his chest.

"She read it," he whispered, more to himself than anyone else. "After all these years... someone finally read it."

Una clutched the old, dusty book tightly against her chest as she hurried out of the library. Her heart was beating fast, and she could still feel the flicker in her eyes fading away. She didn't even know what had just happened. One moment, she was reading strange symbols she somehow understood, and the next, the librarian was looking at her like she had grown horns.

As she pushed open the library doors, she almost bumped into someone. The impact made the book slip a little from her hands. When she looked up, her stomach dropped. It was him-the guy from the party.

His eyes went wide like he'd seen a ghost. "Oh my God," he muttered, backing away. "It's you."

Before Una could say anything, he turned and ran off without another word.

Una stood there, frozen for a second, her mind spinning. Then she heard a familiar voice from behind.

"Una! Hey!"

It was Lana, walking out from one of the halls. She was waving at her, smiling, completely unaware of the tension that had just passed.

Una forced a shaky smile. "Hey, Lana. I...I'll call you later, okay?"

"What? Why-"

But Una was already moving fast toward the parking lot. She didn't want to talk. Not now. Not when everything felt so wrong.

She got into her car, threw the book on the passenger seat, and drove off. The whole ride home, her mind kept replaying the images, the glowing symbols, her flickering eyes, the way the librarian stared, and the guy's terrified face. It all felt unreal. Like she was walking through someone else's nightmare.

When she got home, she slammed the car door shut, grabbed the book, and went straight inside. The house was quiet except for the sound of the clock ticking in the living room. She dropped the book on the dining table and stood staring at it. It felt... alive somehow. Like it was calling to her.

She ran a hand through her hair and groaned. "What the hell is happening to me?" she whispered.

A few minutes later, the front door opened. "Una? You're home early," Aunt Reina said, walking in with a grocery bag in each hand. She was smiling at first-until she saw the book.

Everything about her changed. The smile dropped. The bags slipped from her hands and hit the floor with a dull thud.

"Where did you get that?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

Una frowned. "What? The book? I got it from the library."

She moved closer, eyes locked on the book like it was poison.

"Why are you acting weird?" Una tried to laugh it off, but it came out shaky.

Reina shook her head, her voice rising. "You shouldn't be reading things like that. Those are dark, dangerous writings. They're not meant for children, certainly not for us. We're Christians, Una. You can't fill your mind with these things. Take it out!"

Una blinked, confused. "It's just a book, Aunt Reina. Relax."

"I said I don't want it in this house!" Reina snapped suddenly. The sharpness in her tone made Una's chest tighten. "Throw it out. Now, Una. I'm serious."

​

Una stared at her aunt, shocked. The frantic fear in Reina's eyes didn't look like worry over sin; it looked like terror over exposure. Aunt Reina knew what this book was.

​

"What the hell, Aunt Reina? It's just a book!"

​

But Reina's eyes were cold now, desperate almost. "Please, Una," she whispered, voice trembling. "Get rid of it. Before it's too late."

​Una didn't know what that meant, but the fear in Reina's voice and the sudden, crushing sense of betrayal scared her. Her hands shook as she picked up the book.

​"Fine," she muttered, her voice breaking slightly.

"I'll take it where it can't hurt you."

​She turned and walked straight toward the front door, the book pressed tight against her chest once again. She wasn't throwing it away. She was leaving.

​

​Una didn't look back at Reina. She didn't need to. In that moment, she knew she wasn't sure if she was taking the book away... or if it was finally leading her exactly where she was meant to go.

She turned and walked out the door, the book pressed tight against her chest once again-only this time, she wasn't sure if she was taking it away... or if it was leading her somewhere.

Una didn't stop running until the house was far behind her and the trees swallowed her whole. The book was still clutched tightly to her chest, like it might burn her if she let go. Her breath came in ragged bursts, the argument with Aunt Reina still echoing in her ears.

When she finally slowed down, she found herself at the lake, the small one tucked just beyond the woods behind their house. It was quiet there, almost too quiet, and for a long moment, she just stood there, trying to catch her breath. Then she walked to the edge and sank onto the grass.

The book sat beside her, untouched. She didn't want to open it. Not yet.

Her mind was a storm - confusion, fear, and that strange heaviness in her chest. Aunt Reina's voice still rang sharp in her head: "I don't want that book around here, Una. Throw it out immediately."

Una scoffed softly. "It's just a book," she muttered to no one, hugging her knees.

That's when she noticed it.

The water. It was moving.

At first, it was just a faint ripple, so small she thought she'd imagined it. But then it kept going, circling, shifting almost as if it was alive.

She frowned and glanced around. There was no wind. No stones. Nothing.

"Okay..." she murmured, "that's weird."

She raised her hand slowly, just testing a thought and the water moved again.

Una froze. "Wait. No way."

She looked at her hand, then back at the lake. It was ridiculous. Impossible. She gave a nervous laugh. "Alright. If I'm moving water right now, then I might as well be Katara."

Grinning half in disbelief, she waved her hand dramatically, pretending to bend like in Avatar: The Last Airbender. The lake responded, the water gliding up like a silk ribbon following her command.

Her jaw dropped.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," she breathed, half laughing, half terrified.

So she tried again, this time imagining one of Katara's early training scenes. She swirled her wrist, and the water twisted; she lifted her hand, and it rose, shimmering under the afternoon light. It was clumsy and uneven, but it worked.

The absurdity of it made her giggle. She felt like she was dreaming, like she'd slipped into some strange world where her imagination had come alive.

On impulse, she focused on a leaf lying near her foot. "Alright, let's see," she whispered, flicking her fingers. The leaf trembled, lifted, and floated straight into the water.

She gasped, then laughed - an honest, giddy sound.

"Okay, Katara," she whispered to herself, "looks like we've got competition."

Feeling bolder, she shaped her hands, drawing the water into a small, glimmering sphere. It hovered for a second - just long enough for her to think she'd done it - before wobbling and smacking her right in the forehead.

Cold water splashed down her face.

Una yelped and fell backwards into the grass, laughing so hard her stomach hurt. "Alright," she said between giggles, "maybe not a master yet."

The lake quieted again, but it almost felt like it was smiling back at her.

Una couldn't stop laughing as she ran. The air was cold against her wet face, and her hair stuck to her skin, but she didn't care. She had just-what, moved water? Controlled it? Made it dance?

Every few steps she found herself giggling again, half from excitement, half from disbelief. She didn't even think about where she was going until she was standing outside Lana's house, clutching the still-damp book against her chest.

She burst through the door without knocking.

"Lana!"

Her voice rang through the living room, right over the sound of soft music and, well... other noises.

Lana froze on the couch, half-straddling a guy from school, Marco, or maybe Milo, Una wasn't sure. They both turned at once.

"Una?" Lana blinked, her lipstick smudged. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Una stood there, breathing hard, dripping lake water onto the carpet.

Lana squinted. "Wait-are you wet?"

Una didn't answer. She just pointed at the guy. "You. Out."

The guy blinked. "Uh-"

"Now," she said, still catching her breath.

Lana rolled her eyes, waving her hand. "You heard the witch, Marco. Go before she turns you into a frog."

He muttered something and scurried off, adjusting his shirt as he left. The door slammed.

Lana sighed, flopping back on the couch. "Seriously, Una, you have amazing timing. What's next, you gonna crash my shower too?"

But when she finally looked at Una properly, her teasing tone softened. "Hey... what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost. And what's that?" She nodded at the book in Una's hand. "That creepy thing you were running out of the library with?"

Una just shook her head, pacing. "Lana, you won't believe me. You literally won't."

"Try me."

Una stopped, staring at her friend with wide, bright eyes. Her voice came out breathless. "I moved water."

Lana snorted. "You what?"

"I...moved...it!" Una said, throwing her arms around for emphasis. "At the lake. It moved, Lana! Like, it listened to me! I didn't even mean to...okay, maybe I did...but it just...happened!"

Lana blinked once. Then twice. Then she burst out laughing.

"God, you're serious!" she said between laughs. "You're serious! Oh my God, Una, this is the best thing I've heard all week."

Una frowned. "I'm not joking!"

"I know you're not," Lana said, still laughing, "and that's what makes it even crazier! Can't believe you're letting Katara get into your head."

She got up and grabbed a towel from the kitchen, tossing it at her. "Here. Dry off before you start floating my furniture."

Una caught it, glaring but then she smiled too. "I mean it, Lana. It's real. The water moved. And I think it was because of this." She lifted the old book slightly, almost reverently.

Lana's laughter quieted a bit. "The creepy witch diary?"

"It's not a diary," Una said, hugging it again. "It's... something else. I don't even know how to explain it. But when I read it, it felt like I knew what it was saying. Like the words were talking to me."

Lana stared at her for a long moment, half skeptical, half curious. Then she sighed and flopped onto the couch again.

"Okay," she said, patting the spot beside her. "Sit. Start from the top. And don't leave anything out. I want the full freaky details."

Una sat, still clutching the book.

As she began to tell Lana everything, the pull to the library, the flickering eyes, the symbols and Aunt Reina's reaction. As Lana listened, her usual humour dimmed little by little.

And by the time Una was done, the laughter had faded from her face completely.

"Okay," Lana said slowly, glancing at the book. "You're right. That's... not normal."

Una exhaled shakily, sinking deeper into the couch. "Yeah. Welcome to my new normal."