In the quiet solitude of a private reading chamber within a grand residence at the edge of the royal capital, a soft humming echoed faintly—carried by a gentle, melodious voice.
The hum grew clearer as a young woman came into view, her long black hair cascading down to her waist. She sat leaning against the window frame, the moonlight pouring through and casting a soft glow upon her. A cool night breeze drifted in, brushing against strands of her hair as her eyes remained fixed intently on the pages of a book held in her hands. With her head slightly tilted to the left, she turned each page slowly and with deep concentration.
"Hufftt…"The hum ceased, replaced by a quiet sigh escaping her lips as she finally closed the book. Rising from her spot with the book still in her left hand, the young woman glanced around the room, her expression revealing a tinge of boredom. Rows upon rows of books surrounded her—familiar and no longer thrilling.
As if searching for something to ease the restlessness within her heart, her gaze landed on a small, neglected book tucked away in the far corner of the room. Its dusty cover shimmered faintly with an odd, subtle glow.
Curious, she stepped closer, trying to recall where it had come from.Three years ago, a close friend of her father—a renowned royal healer—had gifted it to her.
"Rara, this is the item I promised you—a gift from your father's old friend. Take it, with my blessings."Little Rara had nodded shyly, accepting the item with a small smile. The pages inside were thin, but the cover was thick and ornate, prompting her to save it for later, thinking it would be a quick read. And yet, she had never once opened it—until now.
With delicate fingers, she wiped the dust from its surface and slowly opened the book, unaware that something extraordinary was waiting within.
The first page revealed a beautifully illustrated frangipani tree, one glowing bud catching her attention. Her eyes seemed entranced, drawn to that single, radiant flower. As her fingers touched the page, a sudden chill coursed through her hand, spreading through her body and raising goosebumps on her skin. But her curiosity overpowered her fear. Ignoring the subtle tremor in her hand, she turned the next page.
There, inscribed in an ancient script known only to a few within the kingdom, she found a line of text. Thankfully, Rara was among those rare few—taught by her scholarly father to read the forgotten language.
"Within this flower lies the power to alter fate. Only those with a pure heart and unwavering courage may awaken it."
She furrowed her brow, absorbing the meaning."A power… to alter fate?" she whispered.
It felt as though the words were meant just for her. Without hesitation, she flipped to the next page, finding a diagram depicting hand movements and a chant—meant to activate the power sealed within.
Rara carefully followed the instructions, moving her right hand in a small circle through the air while holding the book with her left. Her lips began to utter the incantation:
"Swargha sudaṅ, bhakti sudaṅ, atma nirmala."
The moment the final word left her mouth, a brilliant light burst forth from the book, blinding her. She shut her eyes tightly, overwhelmed by the surge of energy flowing into her. After a few moments, the light faded, and Rara slowly opened her eyes again.
Before her floated a frangipani flower, glowing gently, as if alive. It rotated slowly in the air, as if waiting for her command. With trembling hands, she reached out and touched its petals—warm, calming energy rushed through her entire being.
"This... this is incredible," she whispered, awe spreading across her face.
But the warmth quickly turned. A wave of weakness crept through her limbs, replacing the lightness she had just felt. Her vision blurred, and the world began to spin. She struggled to stay upright, but her knees gave way.
The book slipped from her fingers, hitting the floor with a dull thud—barely heard through the haze clouding her senses.
"Why… is my body…" she muttered weakly, her voice fading as she collapsed.
Rara lay unconscious on the floor of the reading chamber, her breath shallow, the glowing frangipani still floating quietly beside her.
Outside, the night breeze continued to blow, cloaking the entire residence in a haunting silence. No one knew what had just happened to Rara—nor the ancient magic now awakened within her.A mystery had begun, and its secrets were only just starting to unfold.