Chapter 46: The First Puzzle

Lyra

I held the old book close, feeling its worn cover against my chest. The dimly lit room around me was filled with dusty shelves and ancient artifacts.

My pounding heart was weak, I was nervous but stayed strong getting ready.

"Let's see...," I murmured as I opened the book.

I was hit by the smell of old paper when I opened the first page.

I was surprised to see it covered in unfamiliar writing and drawings. It looked nothing like any book I'd studied before.

"What is this?" I muttered, running my finger over the strange text.

Just then, I felt a slight tremor. I stumbled a bit, making sure not to drop the book.

This version keeps the essence of discovery and mystery, but presents it in a more realistic setting without the fantastical elements. The protagonist's reactions and the environment are described in a way that's easier to relate to and imagine.

A section of the far wall groaned and shifted, revealing a hidden passageway.

'Well, that's not ominous at all,' Ria remarked dry