“Do you understand now?” the sorceress asked.

Juliana was momentarily stunned. Moments before she had stormed to her door, ready to unleash her frustration on whomever had dared to interrupt her. Her research had not gone well. The secrets of the book still eluded her, and she was at the end of her rope.

Once she had recovered from the shock of finding a superior at her doorstep, she responded “Come again?”

“Do you understand now? About the book?”

Juliana was struggling to process this new development. How did she know anything of the book or of her possession of it? When she had found it, it was hidden away in the rarely used portion of the library. She had only found it by using her keen senses. Had this been a test all along?

“I see” she continued as she let herself in.

Juliana didn't object. She couldn't think of a reason to. She couldn't think of much at all actually, which may have frightened her, had her brain not turned to mush.

“You might be confused, I understand. Rest assured, the book chose you. It knows you're ready. Well, almost. That’s why I’m here. I’m here to open your eyes”

And with that, everything Juliana had studied and puzzled at moved around in her mind like pieces of a puzzle until they formed a whole, coherent picture. Gazing at it, was like gazing into the void and knowing the void gazed back.

In that moment, Juliana’s mind snapped.