Lucas was just as puzzled as she was. "An update of the novel?" he repeated, his expression a mixture of wonder and confusion. "But how can that be? The novel is written. It's already finished."
Sereena shook her head. "I don't know," she admitted, her finger hovering over the 'update' button. "But it's right there. It's...it's like someone is changing something in the story."
The implications of this were dizzying. If someone was indeed changing the story, it meant that it was still a work in progress, that it wasn't set in stone. The idea sent a shiver down Sereena's spine as she hovered her trembling finger over the 'update' button.
"Should I..should I check it out?" she asked Lucas, her voice almost a whisper.
Lucas looked at her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Finally, he nodded. "Yes, go ahead," he said. "Let's see what this update is."
Taking a deep breath, Sereena pressed the 'update' button, her heart racing. The phone vibrated once again and the screen faded to black. A moment later, the screen came back on, but this time, the novel was different. The text and the images had changed, the story had evolved somehow.
Sereena's eyes darted across the screen, her eyes widening at the new events unfolding in the story. "It's...it's different," she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What's different?" Lucas asked, leaning closer to peer at the screen.
"It should be this time you'll meet your love interest... But now.... It's... All about narration of what happened to me earlier..."
Lucas looked at the screen again, his head cocked to one side as he read the new words. A frown graced his forehead, his mind struggling to understand what he was seeing.
"What does this mean?" he said, his voice laced with confusion. "Why is the story now just describing what happened to you?"
Sereena shook her head, her eyes fixed on the screen. "I...I don't know," she admitted, her voice tinged with worry. "This...this has never happened before. The story never just randomly changed like this..."
They were both quiet for a moment, the only sound in the room the gentle ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. Finally, Lucas broke the silence. "Can you...can you tell me what it says?" he asked, his eyes still on the screen. "What does it say about you?"
Sereena took a deep breath, her eyes flickering over the words on the screen. She began to read aloud, her voice gaining strength as she repeated the words that now described her earlier.
And as Sereena recounted the tale of her accident and her arrival in this strange, medieval world, Lucas listened intently, his eyes never leaving her face. The story was now a reflection of Sereena's experiences, her fears, and her current predicament.
As Sereena finished, the room fell silent once more, both of them lost in their own thoughts. Lucas broke the silence first, a look of determination on his face.
"We need to figure out what this means," he said, his voice resolute. "Why is the story now tied to you? And who's changing it?"
"I… I have no idea," Sereena admitted, her eyes drifting back to the screen. "I... I never thought the story could even do something like this... It's always been about the characters, about their stories, their struggles, their love... Not about...not about me..."
Lucas's expression was thoughtful. "Perhaps..." he started, his voice deep in thought. "Perhaps the story is adapting, responding to your presence here. It's like it's somehow aware of your situation and has changed accordingly."
Sereena's eyes widened at his words, a mixture of wonder and unease settling in her gut. "You're saying...you're saying the story is...alive?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly.
Lucas shrugged, a slight smile on his lips. "Maybe not 'alive' in the traditional sense," he clarified. "But perhaps it's something more. A form of magic that's tied to the very essence of this world, a magic that's now reacting to your presence."
Sereena absorbed his words, her mind whirling. The thought of being so directly involved with the story of this world was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. "So you think...you think whatever magic controls the story is aware of me? And it's...it's changing the story because of me?"
"It's just a theory..." Lucas admitted, his gaze fixed on Sereena. "But it makes sense. Your arrival here somehow triggered this change, and the story is now shifting to...to fit you into its narrative."
Sereena's brain was spinning with this new information. The idea was mind-boggling, and yet it fit perfectly with the weird and surreal turn her life had taken. She looked down at her phone, the words on the screen staring back at her like a silent witness to her strange predicament.
"But why?" she murmured, more to herself than to Lucas. "Why would the story...why would it care about me? I'm... I'm not a character, I'm not a part of this world's story."
"Perhaps it's not about whether you're a character or not," Lucas mused, his eyes flicking to the screen and then back to Sereena. "Maybe...maybe it's about your role in this world. Your presence here has somehow changed the balance, and now...now the story is trying to accommodate you, to integrate you into it."
Sereena's heart skipped a beat as she remembered the tragic fate awaiting Lucas in the original plotline of the story. The civil war was destined to claim his life, a harsh and unavoidable truth.
"Lucas..." she murmured, her voice edged with fear. "I... I remember the story. You...you were...destined to die in the war..."
Lucas's face darkened at her words, his expression hardening as he remembered the dark fate that had been written for him. "Yes," he admitted, his voice low. "I... I was meant to lose my life in that war."
Sereena felt a pang of fear and sorrow for him. The thought of Lucas, a man who had shown nothing but kindness and resilience, being fated to die in such a brutal way was unbearable. "But...but that doesn't have to happen anymore," she said, the words rushing out of her. "The story has changed! Maybe...maybe you don't have to die anymore..."
"I won't let that happens to you Lucas"
Lucas looked at her in surprise at her words, his eyes meeting hers. "You...you don't want me to die?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
"Of course! Because you're my favorite!" Sereena blushes after she realized of what she said
Lucas's eyebrows rose at her words, his face betraying his surprise. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Your...favorite?" he repeated, his tone soft and amused. "You like me that much?"
Sereena's blush deepened, a mixture of embarrassment and determination in her expression. "Well...yes," she confessed, her eyes meeting his. "I... I really like you. You're kind, strong, and...and I don't want to see you die in that war..."
A myriad of emotions flickered across Lucas's face as he processed her words. Surprise, disbelief, and then...something softer, warmer. A look of tenderness in his eyes. "You...you really feel that way about me?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of vulnerability.
Sereena swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She reached out and touched his arm, her hand trembling ever so slightly. "Yes," she said, her voice steady despite her nervousness. "I... I care about you. More than just as a character in a story."
Lucas's eyes widened at her touch, he looked at her hand on his arm, his gaze lingering on her fingers. He remained silent for a moment, the words hanging in the air between them like an invisible thread. "Sereena..." he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I... I don't know what to say..."
A flicker of hurt crossed Sereena's face before she quickly masked it. Of course...of course, he wouldn't return her feelings. She suddenly felt silly for confessing her feelings to him. "It's...it's okay," she said, pulling her hand away from his arm. "You don't...you don't have to say anything..."
Lucas's hand shot out and gently grasped her retreating wrist, stopping her from pulling away. His touch was soft but firm. "Sereena," he said, his voice gentle yet earnest. "Can I...can I say something?"
Sereena froze, her heart now in her throat as she looked at Lucas, his hand around her wrist. "Y--yes," she managed to say, her voice quavering slightly.
"I still don't trust you"
Sereena's heart sank at his words. She had hoped for a different response, for him to reciprocate her feelings, but instead, he expressed his cautious skepticism. "I... I see," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's not that I don't want to trust you," Lucas explained, his grip on her wrist loosening but not letting go. "I just... I need more time. You come from a world that's completely foreign to me. I've never met anyone like you. How can I just trust you instantly?"
"You're...you're right," Sereena agreed, her disappointment hidden behind a brave facade. "I understand. Trusting someone takes time. I... I'll prove myself to you, Lucas. Furthermore, I won't let you down."
Lucas studied her face for another moment, searching her eyes for any signs of deceit. When he found none, his grip on her wrist softened, but he did not release her. "I...I hope you do," he said, his voice still guarded yet with a hint of vulnerability.
Sereena swallowed hard, her heart fluttering at the feel of his hand on her wrist, the warm touch sending a shiver down her spine. She looked into his eyes, his wariness making sense to her, yet it still stung. "I promise I will," she murmured, her voice sincere.
Lucas held her gaze for a few more moments, his eyes darting over her face as if he was trying to memorize her features. Finally, he gave a slight nod, his grip on her wrist loosened even more, yet his hand didn't move away. "I believe you," he said quietly. "But I'll still keep an eye on you."