The Five Evolution

Chapter 38: The Book!

『"You thought this would be a song lyric, didn’t you?" — The Book』

"Ah, Sword," the book said, its pages turning slightly as if regarding her. "Where are my manners? I’m the Book," it said with obvious pride.

Amara folded her hand, still not lowering her guard. "Yeah, we can see that, you’re a book."

"No, no, no, no... not a book. THE Book." It somehow managed to sound smug despite lacking a face as its pages gestured at itself... which was unsettling to watch. "What you see here is merely an avatar."

Hiro’s jaw was still hanging open, not quite yet able to wrap his head around what he was seeing. "It’s an actual talking book..." he muttered, gesturing wildly. "A talking book!"

"Talking book?" the book repeated, sounding offended by the simplicity of the description. Then it seemed to deflate, calming down. "Fair enough, I suppose I’m a talking book."

Amara took a cautious step forward, Angel’s Bane manifesting instinctively in her hand.

The sword hummed once, and the book’s pages fluttered with what might have been recognition.

"Well, if it isn’t Angel’s Bane," The Book said, its tone shifting to something almost reverent. "We meet again."

"Again?" Amara asked carefully.

The book gave another dramatic flutter of its pages, almost like it was clearing its throat and dismissing the question. "Nevermind that. Let’s not ruin the pacing."

"What?" Amara’s grip tightened on the hilt of her blade, confused. "That’s not an answer."

"No, it’s not." The Book’s pages rustled. "And you’re not getting any, so drop it."

Its pages flapped open and closed as it continued speaking. "The point is, I’m just a compendium of vast knowledge who simply wants nothing but to help you five."

Amara’s eyes narrowed. "Bullshit."

Beside her, Ethan folded his arms. "That means you’re lying, try again."

"Alright, alright..." It turned slightly toward the glowing barrier surrounding its pedestal. "Let me just get rid of this nuisance, and then we can really talk. Face to page, as it were."

Its pages fluttered rapidly and suddenly, the lights around the library began to flicker.

The containment barrier around the pedestal sparked, then cracked. At the same moment, the blinking red security light by the library door went dark.

"Uh," Hiro said, taking several steps back. "Is that supposed to happen?"

The runes pulsed frantically, trying to reinforce the barrier. But the cracks spread anyway, spider-webbing across the translucent surface.

"Everyone back!" Ethan commanded.

They scrambled backward as the containment field shattered into fragments of light that dissolved before hitting the ground.

The Book settled back onto its pedestal, looking entirely too pleased with itself.

"There," it said, sounding slightly winded if that was possible for a book. "Much better. Do you have any idea how uncomfortable those wards are? Like wearing a wool sweater made up of bees."

"You just..." Ethan stared. "You just broke through six layers of Institute security."

"Seven, actually," the Book corrected. "They added another one last decade. Didn’t help."

"If you can escape containment," Raj asked slowly, "why are you still here?"

"Containment, shmontainment," the Book replied casually. "I’ll put it back up when we’re done. Our little secret." It said, intentionally avoiding the question.

Then Sophia popped her gum loudly. "So? You were about to come clean, right?"

The Book seemed to straighten itself on the pedestal. "Very well. I am bound by certain cosmic rules I won’t bore you with. The short version is this: I can answer your questions. I can give you information. But I require... entertainment in return."

"Entertainment?" Sophia asked suspiciously, raising an eyebrow.

"Stories, music, jokes. I prefer music though," the Book continued, its pages rustling with excitement. "Last time I requested AC/DC."

"Nice..." Raj nodded approvingly.

"So all I pretty much require are stories of your exploits or a song for a truth," the Book finished.

"That’s all you require huh?" Sophia muttered.

"Yup." Its pages turned thoughtfully. "And this time... I’m in a Rolling Stones kind of mood. ’Gimme Shelter,’ ’Sympathy for the Devil’ you know... the classics."

Hiro blinked slowly. "So you want us to play you rock music..." his eyes narrowed. "...in exchange for information?"

"See? Boots here gets it. I like him," the Book said warmly. Then its tone suddenly changed, becoming heavier as it focused on Hiro intensely.

Hiro’s eyes darted left and right, his breathing quickening upon noticing this.

"Though you should know," the Book continued, "your constant self-deprecating humor is just a defense mechanism. You feel intellectually inferior to your fellow students, and it’s completely unfounded, by the way. You’re much smarter than you give yourself credit for."

Hiro’s mouth opened and closed, completely speechless.

But the Book didn’t stop there.

"As for you," It turned its attention to Sophia and her entire body went rigid.

"Your mother’s alcoholism was never your fault, no matter what your mind tells you at three in the morning."

Sophia went still as her mouth stopped chewing. Her usual smirk vanished, replaced by a cold, dangerous look that made the air feel ten degrees colder.

"Breastplate," the Book continued mercilessly and Raj took an involuntary step back.

"Your fear of being weak comes from watching your father collapse from a heart attack when you were twelve... and being unable to do anything about it."

Raj’s massive frame seemed to shrink and his eyes were wet, though no tears fell.

Then its focus shifted toward Ethan, whose expression remained neutral. "Shield, your abandonment issues manifest as compulsive overprotectiveness."

Ethan’s jaw worked, but he said nothing.

Finally, inevitably, the Book addressed Amara, its voice dropping as it spoke.

"And Sword... you already know the truth, don’t you? The weapon has been showing you. You simply don’t want to accept it yet."

"That’s enough," Amara said and Angel’s Bane dematerialized from her hand. "You don’t get to psychoanalyze us for your amusement." She turned on her heel. "Keep your deal. We’re leaving."

"What she said," Sophia added, pulling the gum from her mouth and plastering it directly onto the Book’s pages before turning away with the others.

"Pfft!" The Book made a spitting sound, trying to get the gum off its pages. "Wait! Wait up!" It called after them but they were already walking away, moving back toward the library entrance.

"I’ll give you a freebie!" It said. "No music or stories required!"

The five paused but didn’t turn around.

The Book’s tone grew serious. "You may think you have time... but you don’t. The Malices currently in stasis will be triggered sooner than you think. And when they wake up, you will all be completely overwhelmed."

That got their attention and they slowly turned back, their expressions a mixture of shock, disbelief, and unease.

Hiro looked visibly shaken, Raj’s usual easygoing face had hardened, Sophia’s jaw was clenched tight, and Amara’s eyes had gone cold and focused.

"Why should we trust you?" Ethan was the first to speak.

"You shouldn’t," the Book replied cheerfully. "But you will. Because deep down, you know I’m telling the truth. Your Sword there can sense it."

Amara said nothing, but her silence was confirmation enough.

Afterwards, they turned and kept moving towards the exit without another word.

"You’ll all be back!" the Book called after them. "And when you do, I’ll be waiting for that song! I’m thinking ’Paint It Black’ first! Really sets the mood!"

Behind them, the containment field crackled back to life, swirling around the pedestal in layers of protective magic and the red security light by the door blinked on, resuming its monitoring.

They were almost to the library doors when all five of their Institute-issued devices buzzed simultaneously.

The message was short and not remotely ambiguous: DIRECTOR’S OFFICE. NOW.

"Shit," Ethan muttered under his breath as they hurried out of the Library.