The Ink-Weaver

Chapter 5 - Empty pages

The following morning, Evelyn awoke to find Sebastian immersed in his library, surrounded by numerous books and scrolls, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. It was clear that he had been up for some time, trying to find a possible explanation for Evelyn's sudden appearance in his world.

"Good morning," he greeted without looking up from a thick, leather-bound tome. "Did you sleep well?"

Evelyn nodded, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. "Yes, thank you. Have you been up all night?"

Sebastian offered a sheepish smile. "I've been trying to find something that might explain how you got here, but so far, nothing quite matches your situation."

Evelyn watched as he flipped through pages filled with old scripts, illustrations, and diagrams. He seemed deeply invested in finding a solution, a way to send her back to her world. It was reassuring, and yet a small part of her was saddened at the thought of leaving.

Sebastian's eyes lit up. "May I see the book?"

Evelyn nodded and fetched the book from upstairs, its cover worn and faded, the pages within completely blank. Handing it over to Sebastian, she watched as his eyes traced the intricate patterns on the cover, the spark of curiosity in his gaze matching her own.

He opened the book, flipping through the empty pages. "This is odd," he murmured, his fingertips running over the blank parchment. "I've seen magical tomes before, but they usually contain some form of writing, not...nothing."

"That's what I don't understand either," Evelyn replied, her brow furrowed in confusion. "There was a story in it, I swear."

Sebastian looked up from the book, his stormy eyes meeting hers. "A story?" he asked, interest piqued. "What kind of story?"

Evelyn hesitated, trying to recall the text. "It was... strange. It was about a cursed prince and a tyrant sorcerer, set in a realm filled with danger and magic," she explained, her voice soft as the images played out in her mind. "It felt so vivid, so real."

Sebastian's eyes widened, the color draining from his face. He leaned back in his chair, the empty book still in his hands. The surprise in his eyes gave way to deep thought, his gaze unfocused as he stared into the distance.

"A cursed prince..." he muttered under his breath, as if the words resonated with him. He was silent for a moment, processing the information. "Could you describe more about this prince and the sorcerer?"

Evelyn recounted the bits she could remember from the book. The charismatic prince who bore a curse, transforming into a monstrous creature every full moon. The sorcerer, power-hungry and ruthless, seeking to control the realm.

Sebastian listened attentively, his eyes never leaving her face. His expression was unreadable, the lines of his face hardening with every detail she revealed. When she finished, he was quiet, lost in thought.

"It seems as though the book itself might be magical," he finally said. "Perhaps it served as a portal of sorts, pulling you into the world it depicted."

Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest. If what Sebastian suggested was true, then this world... "Do you think this is the world from the book?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Sebastian looked at her, his gaze serious. "It's a possibility we cannot ignore," he admitted.

With a sense of urgency creeping into his voice, Sebastian questioned Evelyn further. "Do you remember how the story ends? Is there a way to cure the prince?"

Evelyn closed her eyes, trying to recall the details of the book. It felt like a dream now, the specifics elusive and frustratingly out of reach. But as she delved deeper into her memory, certain fragments returned.

"I didn't finish the book," she confessed, opening her eyes to meet Sebastian's expectant gaze. "But I do remember something... a prophecy, perhaps."

Sebastian leaned forward, his attention fully on her. "What did it say?"

Evelyn frowned, struggling to remember the exact wording. "It was something like, 'When the heart of the mortal maiden intertwines with the cursed, a power unbeknownst shall rise. With love's true kiss under the blood moon, the beast will shed his monstrous guise.' But it didn't provide any concrete details or steps."

Sebastian's gaze held a measure of frustration as he listened to Evelyn's recollection. It was clear they were missing vital pieces of information.

"Well," he said, breaking the silence that had settled between them, "Let's try something else." He reached for a quill and a small bottle of ink from a nearby shelf.

Evelyn watched as he carefully dipped the quill into the ink and turned to the empty book. He wrote a simple phrase on the parchment - 'Return home'. They both watched in anticipation, but the ink simply absorbed into the page, the words disappearing without a trace.

Sebastian frowned, his eyebrows drawing together in concentration. "Strange," he muttered. He tried again, writing another phrase, this time more specific - 'Return Evelyn home'. Again, the words soaked into the paper, leaving nothing behind. No mystical portal opened, no flash of light, nothing.

A heavy silence descended upon them. The failed attempt at sending her home left them both crestfallen, each lost in their thoughts. Evelyn's heart sank as she realized she was trapped in this world. She turned her gaze to the fireplace, its flickering flames a stark contrast to the chill she felt.

Sebastian's voice cut through her thoughts, "We're not giving up, Evelyn," he said with a determination that brought her gaze back to him. "We'll figure out how this works, or find another way."

"Thank you, Sebastian," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sebastian simply nodded, his gaze shifting back to the blank book on the table.

Evelyn watched as the embers flickered in Sebastian's stormy eyes, reflecting the resolve that burned within him. He was silent for a moment, deep in thought. The soft glow of the hearth bathed the cabin, dancing shadows playing on his face and accentuating the rugged lines of determination set on it.

"I may know someone who can help," Sebastian finally said, breaking the silence. His voice was low and contemplative. "A wizard, a friend... well, an old acquaintance. He has vast knowledge of magical artifacts. Perhaps he can shed some light on how this book works."

Evelyn's heart fluttered with renewed hope. "That sounds promising. Where does he live?"

Sebastian ran a hand through his hair, a slightly uncomfortable expression on his face. "He resides in the capital city, Elysia. He is part of the High Council of Wizards."

Evelyn caught the hesitance in his voice. "You don't sound too keen on visiting him. Is something wrong?"

Sebastian paused, his gaze settling on the flickering flames of the fireplace. "Let's just say I'm not particularly welcome in the city..."

Evelyn reached out and placed a hand on his, her empathy for his plight surfacing. "If it's too much trouble-"

"No," Sebastian cut in, covering her hand with his. His touch was warm, comforting. "If it can help you return home, it's worth facing a few old ghosts.

"However, we might not need to go there," he said slowly, considering an idea. "Orion often sends messages using a magical courier bird. If we can send it to him explaining our predicament, he might come to us instead."

Evelyn nodded, relief washing over her. This was a glimmer of hope, a possibility. She watched as Sebastian pulled out a small silver whistle from a drawer and stepped out into the night. He blew into it, the sound barely audible. Yet, in a matter of seconds, a large bird with iridescent feathers swooped down from the night sky, landing gracefully on his outstretched arm.

Together, they penned a quick note explaining their predicament and dispatched the bird.