"Rayne?"
Following that figure, Pei Geduo rushed into the inner stacks.
In the dim light, rows upon rows of bookshelves stretched out before him. Each elegantly crafted wooden shelf stood twelve meters high, continuing beyond the limits of his vision.
Numerous brass ladders stood scattered among the shelves, connected by intricate gear mechanisms and frictionless rails, allowing readers to freely retrieve books from high places.
"Hello?"
He called out, changing direction and looking down another row.
How had that person vanished so quickly?
He caught a flicker of movement from the corner of his eye and immediately turned around, barely glimpsing the hooded figure passing between two rows of shelves.
He rushed over, trying to catch up, but by the time he reached the spot, there was no trace of it left.
"Rayne! I've had enough!"
Pei Geduo shouted.
"Stop fooling around! I'm leaving right now!"
He involuntarily turned, wanting to leave this place that made him deeply uncomfortable.
But Pei Geduo stopped dead in his tracks.
The hooded figure stood directly behind him, only a step away, as silent as a ghost.
It slowly raised both arms from its sides, spreading them like wings, like a ceremonial priest calling upon the name of a god.
In its gloved right hand, it held a dagger.
It was a ritual dagger.
Pei Geduo recognized its shape at once. It was a sacrificial blade, often used by ancient priests to offer lives to gods of the void.
What it symbolized sent a chill through him.
"You're not Rayne..."
Pei Geduo said softly, slowly taking a step back.
"You must make a choice."
A voice appeared. It was neither Rayne's nor the hooded figure before him.
Tension gripped Pei Geduo's heart.
"What choice?"
"You have great potential. We are willing to work with