Chapter 26

Summary

• Evar tries to save Livira, a girl who fell into a pool, but the water prevents him from entering. He eventually gives up and starts the search for his own pool.
• He finds a dagger marking his pool, relieves and questions if the other pools would also reject him as Livira's did.
• Choosing a random pool, Evar tests its water and decides to dive in, reminiscing about a lost love along the way.
• Evar emerges from the pool in a familiar place - the library. He is surprised to see it full of strangers.
• He realizes he is invisible and intangible to the other people there, a spectral observer to their daily lives.
• Fascinated by the crowd, Evar watches the strangers as they engage in social activities, raising a variety of emotions in him.
• Evar stumbles upon a family and is drawn to their young red-haired girl, Clovis, feeling a strong sense of familiarity.
• While attempting to communicate with her, they are attacked by invaders coming through the pools.
• Evar watches helplessly as the family is attacked, unable to physically intervene despite his efforts.
• The mother successfully protects Clovis but Evar is left horrified by the scene and realizes that the attackers are coming in from the pools.