Chapter 105: Library
Chapter 105: Library
"How about you come with us and show us around?"
Seris looked at Andras for a moment before nodding.
"Okay. Sure."
She turned toward Mirelle, Talia, and Celeste.
"I’m going with my brother and Seraphina."
"Okay," Mirelle replied.
Talia smiled.
"Have fun."
Celeste nodded.
"See you later."
Mirelle then looked toward Andras.
"Andras."
He turned toward her.
"Next time we meet at the training grounds, spar with me."
Her eyes carried a hint of anticipation.
Andras nodded.
"Okay."
Mirelle smiled.
"Good. Don’t forget."
Andras, Seraphina, and Seris left the training grounds together.
Once they were outside, Seris glanced at them.
"So, where would you like to go first?"
Andras answered without hesitation.
"The library."
"The library?"
Seris raised an eyebrow.
"You’ve just finished classes in morning, and you want to visit is another place filled with books?"
"I haven’t seen it yet."
Seraphina smiled.
"I’d like to see it too."
Seris sighed lightly.
"All right. Follow me."
She led them along a quieter pathway.
The noise of the training grounds gradually faded behind them. They passed several stone buildings and small courtyards where students were resting between classes.
After several minutes, they arrived before a massive stone building.
Its tall walls were covered with faintly weathered carvings, and narrow arched windows stretched across its upper floors. Above the entrance was an engraved emblem of an open book surrounded by intricate magical symbols.
Seris gestured toward the entrance.
"This is the academy library."
Andras stepped inside.
The atmosphere immediately became quieter.
The library was enormous.
Rows of tall bookshelves stretched across the vast hall, some reaching nearly to the ceiling. Wooden staircases connected the upper levels, while ladders rested against the taller shelves.
Several balconies overlooked the main hall, each lined with additional shelves packed tightly with books.
Students sat at long wooden tables throughout the library.
Some read silently.
Others wrote notes beside stacks of books.
Nobody spoke loudly.
Even footsteps seemed softer within the library.
Tall windows allowed sunlight to fall across the polished wooden floor, while magical lamps hanging from the ceiling provided a steady glow.
The faint scent of old paper, ink, and aged wood filled the air.
Seraphina looked around.
"It’s beautiful."
Seris nodded.
"The academy has collected books here for centuries. There are records and texts that can’t easily be found anywhere else."
Andras didn’t answer.
His gaze slowly moved across the library.
Then it stopped.
One particular section caught his attention.
The shelves there were older than the others.
Their dark wood was worn with age, and the books appeared to have been left untouched for years. Even the stone floor around them seemed darker, as though that section had been separated from the rest of the library by time itself.
Andras stared at the section.
For several seconds.
He didn’t move.
He didn’t speak.
Neither Seris nor Seraphina noticed.
Eventually, Andras looked away.
"Let’s continue."
Seris nodded.
"Sure."
---
Seris continued showing them around the academy.
Their next stop was the central courtyard.
A large stone fountain stood at its center, surrounded by trees and wooden benches. Clear water flowed continuously from the carved figure at the fountain’s center.
Students gathered beneath the trees, talking, eating snacks, or simply enjoying the afternoon.
"This is where most students come when they want somewhere quiet to rest," Seris explained.
They continued through the academy.
Seris showed them the gardens, where colorful flowers and several unusual magical plants grew along carefully maintained paths.
They also passed the healing hall, where students injured during training could receive treatment, before moving through several of the main student facilities.
Every section seemed to have its own purpose.
By the time they finished, the sun had already climbed high into the sky.
Seris glanced upward.
"It’s already afternoon."
She looked at the others.
"Should we get lunch?"
Andras nodded.
"Sure."
Seraphina agreed.
"Let’s go."
---
The cafeteria was crowded.
Students filled the long tables, while others waited in line to collect their meals.
The smell of freshly prepared food filled the large hall, mixing with the steady hum of conversation.
The three selected their food and found an empty table near one of the windows.
They sat together and began eating.
Seris and Seraphina soon started talking about their classes.
"Professor Elowen seems like a good teacher," Seraphina said.
Seris nodded.
"I’ve heard she’s very knowledgeable."
"What about Professor Kaelen?"
Seris smiled slightly.
"He’s strict."
"Very strict."
"But he’s an excellent weapons instructor."
Andras listened quietly while eating.
Their conversation continued for a while, covering their first impressions of the academy and the morning’s lessons.
Eventually, Seraphina placed her utensils down.
"I should go."
Seris nodded.
"All right. See you later."
Seraphina looked at Andras.
"See you."
"See you."
She stood and left the cafeteria.
Seris soon followed.
"I should return to my dorm as well."
Andras nodded.
"All right."
"See you later, brother."
"See you."
Seris left.
Andras remained alone for a moment.
He stood and initially headed toward his room.
But after a few steps, he stopped.
His eyes shifted toward another path.
The library.
He turned around.
Then began walking toward it.
This time, he was going alone.
---
Andras reached the library once more.
The atmosphere had changed since his first visit.
Fewer students occupied the tables, and the once-busy halls were considerably quieter.
The afternoon sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting long golden shadows between the shelves.
Andras walked between the aisles for a while before randomly selecting a book.
He didn’t choose anything specific.
It was simply the first book that caught his attention.
He carried it to one of the empty tables near the window and sat down.
He opened the book.
Then began reading.
The subject wasn’t particularly important.
He simply wanted to wait.
Page after page passed beneath his fingers.
The afternoon slowly faded.
The sunlight shifted across the floor as the sun descended beyond the academy walls.
Students gradually began leaving.
One table emptied.
Then another.
The quiet murmur of voices became softer until only the occasional rustle of paper remained.
Andras continued reading.
He didn’t hurry.
Eventually, the final students gathered their belongings and left.
The doors closed behind them.
Silence settled over the library.
Andras looked toward the windows.
The sky outside had begun turning orange.
Sunset was approaching.
He closed the book.
Thud.
For a moment, he sat quietly.
Then he stood.
He walked toward the shelf where he had taken the book and carefully returned it to its original place.
Afterward, he remained still.
His gaze shifted across the library.
There was no one else around.
Andras turned.
His eyes settled on the old section he had noticed earlier.
The library was completely silent now.
No students.
No footsteps.
No voices.
Only the faint sound of wind passing outside the tall windows.
Andras slowly walked toward the old shelves.
His expression remained calm.
But his eyes were focused.
He stopped in front of them.