Chapter 5: The Key to the Mystery

Rogers and Aria sat in the dimly lit library, their books spread out before them. Finally, they got to the library. Safe. Except for the occasional rustling of pages, the atmosphere was unusually quiet. After all, what can you do in a library? Outside, the city was still on edge from the recent attacks, but inside the library, a new battle was brewing—one neither of them had anticipated. Thank God, they informed their families where they were and that they were safe. So were Aria's guests!

Rogers leaned back in his chair, flipping through his book, when he abruptly asked, "Did you know the King of Persia was after your prince's wealth?"

Aria blushed at his words, but she didn't know why. "Oh! Finally, more context for this prince who has never been mentioned before in history!" she joked.

They both laughed, but as Aria turned another page of Prince Adrian Valemont - The Caged Ruler, she stopped. Her fingers touched something unusual—something embedded in the book itself.

She carefully pulled apart the pages and gasped. There, hidden between the sheets, was an old, intricate key. A key she had never seen before, nor had she felt it while flipping through the book earlier. It was impossible. She showed it to Rogers, her hands trembling.

"This is... unreal," Rogers whispered, his eyes wide with shock. "I have to agree with you now. All your stories weren't just cooked up. This is real. And if this key is connected to something as insane as time travel, the mafia is definitely after it. We need to do something about it, Aria. This is not a joke anymore."

Aria looked up at him, panic setting in. "What should I do? Give it to Mum or Dad? Tell someone else?"

Rogers immediately shook his head. "Aria. Shut up. No one should know about this! Read the text beside it. There has to be something written."

She took a deep breath before focussing her gaze on the fine print at the page's edge. The faded ink text read as follows:

"This key unlocks the path to the lost prince. The door will reveal itself only to the one chosen by fate. To enter, you must complete the book, for knowledge is the bridge between time. You may take only one with you. But beware—the past is not a story to be altered without consequence. Only by helping the prince reclaim what was lost can you return. Fail, and you will be trapped forever."

Aria's heart pounded. It wasn't just a book anymore. It served as a gateway. A test.

She looked up at Rogers, who was already dealing with the gravity of the situation. "We need to find the door." We need to finish the book before we even consider using the key.

Rogers exhaled deeply as he ran his hand through his hair. "Aria, this is not funny. If we don't change history and fail to help him, we'll be stuck there forever. There is no way back."

Aria clenched her fists. "Then we will not fail. I will go. And you're coming with me."

Rogers hesitated. "We should tell somebody. At least, our families. If something is wrong—"

Aria cut him off. "No. We do not have time for that. We need to find the door first. Then, if we are certain, we will tell them. But I'll come back, Rogers. I know it."

He looked at her, uncertain but confident in her determination. "Let's start looking. Everything is about to change forever."

Together, they turned the pages of history, looking for the answer that would lead them to a fate neither of them could have predicted.