The Codex of Reverie

CHAPTER 2: Into The Unknown

Selena's POV

          My heart pounded in my chest as I stared at the glowing book in my hands. The warmth radiating from it spread up my arms, like invisible threads stitching me to its very existence.

Pinalibot ko ang aking paningin. Everything about this place feels so overwhelming. The towering bookshelves, the dim light filtering through the cracks in the ancient walls, the palpable hum of energy that buzzed in the air—it felt unreal. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa mga nakikita ko. But no matter how much I wanted to believe I was dreaming, the cold ground beneath my feet and the faint scent of old paper told me otherwise.

I blinked rapidly, trying to calm myself, but the library stretched endlessly in every direction, and my breath hitched. It was suffocating yet beautiful—a labyrinth of books, histories, and secrets I had no way of understanding. I gripped the blue book tighter, as though it was the only anchor I had in this strange world.

“Where am I?” I whispered to no one, my voice trembling as it echoed into the void. My words disappeared into the silence, leaving me feeling even more isolated.

I looked down at the book, its glow softening, as if it were calming me. “Dinala mo ako rito, ano? You showed up in my dreams. Now tell me—why?”

The symbols on the cover seemed to shift under my gaze, their patterns weaving and dancing like restless shadows. I brushed my fingers over them, tracing the delicate vines that spiraled toward the center. The warmth pulsed, steady and strong, almost like a heartbeat.

Steeling myself, I opened the book again. The pages glowed faintly, the words written in a language I didn’t recognize. Each letter curved gracefully, like tiny vines entwining into a larger story, but no matter how hard I stared, I couldn’t decipher them.

“Ano bang kailangan mo sa akin?” My voice cracked, a mixture of frustration and fear. I flipped through the pages, faster this time, hoping for answers, anything to tell me what I was supposed to do.

And then, I saw her.

Ang babaeng nasa panaginip ko, ang babaeng may kulay pilak na buhok! She wasn’t drawn or painted. It was more like her figure was alive, moving beneath the surface of the parchment. She raised her head, her hidden gaze somehow piercing through me.

“Dumating ka.” Her voice wasn’t spoken—it resonated directly in my mind, soft yet commanding.

I gasped, nearly dropping the book. “Sino… Sino ka?” I stammered, clutching the edges of the book tightly. “What is this place? Bakit ako nandito?”

Her figure flickered, the light in the book intensifying. “This is the Codex of Reverie,” she said, her tone gentle yet heavy with meaning. “You are the one it chose, Selena.”

Hearing my name sent a chill down my spine. How did she know my name?

“What do you mean ‘chose me’? I didn’t ask for this! I don’t even know why I keep dreaming about you!” My voice rose, the weight of the situation pressing down on me.

The woman paused, her ethereal form dimming slightly. “The Codex calls only to those it deems worthy,” she replied. “You have a role to play, Selena. The fate of two worlds depends on you.”

“Two worlds?” My head spun, the sheer gravity of her words making my knees weak. “I don’t understand. Ako? Bakit ako? I’m just... I'm just an ordinary girl!”

Her voice softened, almost mournful. “Ordinary? Perhaps that is what you believe. But the Codex never makes mistakes.”

Bago pa man ako makapagtannong ulit, kuminang ang librong nasa mga kamay ko, at ang pigura ng babaeng kausap ko ay unti unting naglaho. The light burst from the pages, spilling into the air around me, wrapping me in a cocoon of warmth and energy.

“No! Wait! I still have questions!” I shouted, but my words were drowned out by the sudden roar of wind. The library around me blurred, its towering shelves and endless rows of books melting into streaks of light and shadow. I felt myself being lifted, weightless and untethered, as though I was being carried by an invisible current.

My heart raced as I clutched the book to my chest, my only lifeline in the chaos. The wind grew louder, a storm of colors and sensations that blurred the line between reality and imagination. And then, just as suddenly as it began, it stopped.

I landed with a thud, the impact jarring me as I sprawled onto soft grass. Blinking, I pushed myself up, groaning as I tried to steady myself. The world around me came into focus—a lush, vibrant forest bathed in hues of green and blue. The trees glowed faintly, their leaves shimmering like tiny stars.

The air was alive, humming with energy. It smelled fresh, clean, and utterly foreign. This was not Earth.

Nasa kabilang buhay na ba ako?

My breath caught in my throat as I stared in awe. “Where... where the holy pickles am I?”

The book in my hands pulsed again, its glow faint but steady, like it was trying to reassure me. I opened it, hoping for answers, but the pages were blank.

A soft rustling sound drew my attention. I turned, my heart pounding, and froze. Emerging from the shadows of the trees was a figure—a tall man clad in armor that shimmered like polished obsidian. His dark long hair fell over sharp features, and his piercing gaze locked onto mine.

“Who are you?” I asked, my voice shaking as I took a step back.

The man stopped, his expression unreadable. He tilted his head slightly, as if he's assessing my whole existence. “Ikaw marahil si Selena,” he said, his deep voice cutting through the silence like a blade.

My stomach twisted. Paano niya nalaman ang pangalan ko? Even though he's as handsome as a demigod, it didn't help ease the fact that I am somewhere I do not know, nor I even know why, and he's a total stranger!

“Sino ka sabi?” I repeated, gripping the book tighter.

He placed a hand over his chest and bowed slightly, his movements deliberate and precise. “My name is Caius. I’ve been sent to escort you.”

“Escort me?” I asked, suspicion lacing my voice. “By who? Nasaan ako?”

“You are in Aerosyne,” he replied, his tone calm but firm. “And as for your questions... all will be answered in time. But for now, we must move. It isn’t safe here.”

“Not safe?” My pulse quickened. “What do you mean?”

Caius straightened, his gaze hardening. “This realm is not as peaceful as it seems,” he said. “If you wish to survive, you’ll have to trust me.”

His words sent a shiver down my spine. I didn’t know him. I didn’t know this world. But something in his eyes—an unspoken urgency—told me he wasn’t lying.

I glanced down at the book, its faint glow pulsing steadily, and took a deep breath. Whatever was happening, whatever this world was, I had no choice but to follow.

“Fine,” I said, meeting his gaze. “Lead the way.”

And so, with the Codex in my hands and fear in my heart, I took my first step into the unknown.

@dorxthea:
Hello, everyone. I’ve been encountering challenges in writing the story in Tagalog. While my initial goal was to maintain a balanced mix of both English and Tagalog, I’ve found myself struggling with certain Tagalog terms. To ensure the story remains detailed and cohesive, the Tagalog portions will be reduced moving forward.