Zita's eyes were fixed on the book, her mind reeling with the implications of the whispering walls and the hidden library. She felt like she was on the brink of uncovering a secret that had been hidden for years, a truth that could change everything.
As she looked closer, the words on the page began to shift and change, revealing a hidden message. The words danced across the page, weaving themselves into a narrative that drew Zita in.
"Arin... brother... truth..."
Zita's heart skipped a beat as she realized that the book was talking about her brother, about the secrets she had been searching for. She felt a surge of excitement, of anticipation, as she read on.
The words on the page told a story of betrayal and deceit, of a plot that had been hatched in the shadows of the palace. Zita's mind reeled as she realized that the truth she had been searching for was far more complex, far more sinister, than she had ever imagined.
As she read, the room seemed to grow darker, the shadows deepening and twisting around her. Zita felt a sense of unease, of fear, but she couldn't look away.
Suddenly, the words on the page stopped, the message ending abruptly. Zita felt a sense of disorientation, as if she had been pulled out of the story and back into the real world.
She looked up, her eyes adjusting to the dim light of the room. As she did, she saw a figure standing in the shadows, watching her.
"Who are you?" Zita asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The figure stepped forward, into the light. Zita's heart skipped a beat as she realized that it was the stranger from the gardens, the man who had set her on this path.
"I am a guardian," he said, his voice low and smooth. "A keeper of secrets and truths."
Zita's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with questions. What secrets did the stranger keep? What truths did he hold?
"Tell me," she said, her voice firm. "Tell me the truth about my brother."
The stranger's eyes seemed to bore into her very soul, as if searching for something. Then, with a slow nod, he began to speak.
"Arin... your brother... he was taken from you. But not by accident. By design."
Zita's heart skipped a beat as she realized that the stranger was telling her the truth, that he was revealing the secrets she had been searching for.