Chapter 23 : Talk [ 1 ]

Mica and Lo stood before an enormous door, preparing to enter the library. Mica removed the disruption spell around them and puts on a pair of black glasses.

Perplexed by her sudden actions, Lo asked, "Why did you put on glasses as we're about to enter?"

Mica paused for a moment. Her sapphire blue hair swayed as her light blue eyes stared back at Lo from behind the black frames.

With a smile, she turned back to Lo and answered, "Well, that's because I can't see the letters properly without my glasses. How do I look?"

***

I gazed at Mica in awe as I unconsciously muttered, "Gorgeous."

My comment brought a smile to Mica's face, and without warning, she tightly clasped my hand in hers. The sudden movement paralyzed me, and I felt like a frozen statue as her hand gripped mine. Although I had held a girl's hand before, this time was different. Never had a girl been bold enough to take my hand in hers.

As her hand enveloped mine, I couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and comfort that I had never experienced before. It was as if her touch had awakened something deep within me, something that had been buried beneath me this entire time.

Mica chuckled at my stiff, and frozen posture. "What are you standing there for? Let's go in"

"Y-your hands..." I stuttered as I unable to comprehend why she is holding my hands.

She glanced at our joined hands and answered casually, "Well, since we're friends, this is fine, isn't it?"

Her words unsettled me. This wasn't appropriate for friends. As I tried to slip free, her fingers tightened around mine.

"Just relax, Lo. nothing will happen between us."

Mica's reassurance did little to calm my racing heart. Rather, a twinge of disappointment tempered my heart. Why did her insistence that "nothing would happen" between us sting? I shook off the thought.

Stepping inside the futuristic library, I was immediately struck by the sleek, modern design.

The walls were a pristine white, accented with blueish lights that gave the space a futuristic feel.

The shelves were made of white wood, and each column was flanked by holographic displays that showed the categories of books contained within.

It was a technological marvel, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as I gazed around the space.

But it wasn't just the cutting-edge design that made the library so impressive. It was the sheer volume of knowledge contained within its walls.

Every shelf was packed to the brim with books, each one containing information and stories that were waiting to be discovered. And with the holographic displays making it easy to navigate the vast collection, it was no wonder that the library was always packed with people, each one eager to learn something new.

Making our way through the rows of shelves, I was pleasantly surprised to stumble upon a big lounge area.

The space was vast, with high ceilings and walls lined with plush couches and armchairs. The room was filled with the soft glow of lamps, casting a warm and inviting atmosphere over the entire area.

Entering the lounge, I noticed that there were numerous rooms branching off from the main area. Each room had a number on it, and soon I realized that they were private reading rooms, available for students to use when they needed a quiet space to study.

Inside, I found a cozy little space, with a small table and a comfortable couch.

The walls were lined with bookshelves, filled to the brim with books of all genres and subjects. It was the perfect place to settle in for some serious reading, and we wasted no time in making ourselves at home.

As we sat on the couch, surrounded by books and the soft murmur of other students in nearby rooms, I felt a sense of peace and contentment wash over us.

"Alright, let me grab some books that might help you understand more about the Fundamentals of Mana and Magic," Mica said as she strode purposefully towards the towering bookshelves that lined the walls.

***

Meanwhile, Aya and her friends gathered together to study at the library. As they made their way inside, they couldn't help but notice the curious glances of the other students.

It was clear that they were well-known figures within the school, despite only being first-year students.

Aya, Leo, Lena, Mary, and Eleanor had all come from prestigious academies before being admitted to Aleksia, and their reputation preceded them.

Their uniforms, which were slightly different from those of the other students, marked them out as individuals of note.

But it wasn't just their backgrounds and clothing that made them stand out from the crowd.

When the group gathered together, they looked like characters that had stepped out of a storybook.

Aya's long, purple framed her delicate features, while Leo's sharp features and piercing golden yellow gave him an air of mystery.

Lena's silver white hair flowed around her like a silken veil, highlighting her sharp, angular features, and Mary's long, black hair shimmered in the light, framing her delicate face.

And then there was Eleanor, with her long, golden blonde hair tied back in a sleek ponytail, her forest green eyes sparkling with intelligence and confidence.

As they made their way through the lounge, the group couldn't help but notice the countless stares that were directed their way.

Aya leaned in close to Leo, her long hair brushing against his arm. "Where do you think we should go?" she hushed as her scarlet red eyes scanned the room. "At this point, anywhere we go will attract the attention of the other students inside the library."

Leo thought for a moment before replying. "Why don't we try using one of the private rooms?" he suggested. "That way, we can avoid any distractions from others."

Mary chimed in, "But all the rooms seem to be occupied already."

Despite being the strongest rankers within the elite class, the group knew that they were not the smartest when it came to academics. This was particularly true for Leo, Lena, Mary, and Eleanor, who had all focused their training on combat skills rather than learning theories.

However, Aya with her past memories, had the knowledge and understandings that surpasses even 4th year students inside the academy.

She is also the one who will be helping her fellow friends on the academics.

They strolled around, while taking in the sights of the lounge, and the group suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure. A young man with snow-white hair sat on a plush couch could be seen inside of a set of transparent glass door.

Eleanor's eyes widened in surprise and glance towards Lena with a sly smirk. "What is he doing here?"

Lena rolled her eyes while replying to Eleanor with a hint of irritation, "Why are you asking me that, its not like I am his girlfriend and obviously, he is here to study,"

Leo turned to the girls as he ask the group, completely unaware of the tension between Eleanor and Lena. "Hey girls, do you think that he wouldn't mind us joining?"

"I think it's best that we should just ask him," Mary mumbled, "I mean, he is alone in the room after all."

"Alright then, let's ask his permission if we're allowed to stay inside," Leo replied, while Aya just silent stares at Lo.

The group enters the private room, startling Lo by their sudden appearance. He took a deep breath before quickly regaining his composure while getting approached by the group.

"Hey there," Eleanor spoke as her friendly voice resonating through the room. "Mind if we join with you?"

Lo look up as he stares at Eleanor's forest green eyes, before he nods his head and responds impassively, "Sure, I don't mind."

Eleanor and Lena settled down into the plush couches near Lo. While Aya, Leo, and Mary gone out of the room to retrieve the books they require for their studies, leaving the three of them alone in the room.

The atmosphere was tense and awkward, the silence was almost suffocating. Lo sat with his hands on his chin, his arms resting on the couch as he closed his eyes, deep in thought.

Eleanor and Lena exchanged glances, wondering what was swirling through his mind.

Eleanor felt a sense of curiosity and intrigue towards Lo, she wanted to know more about him and she couldn't help wonder what he meant back on the first day when he mentioned Lena looked like someone he knew in the past.

***

I thought that my cold and impassive attitude would make it harder for others to approach me. That's why I decided to act cold, arrogant, and impassive so that students would leave me alone and the story could follow the main line.

However, I couldn't understand why Eleanor, Lena, and the others had boldly asked me if I could share the same room with them. Of course, I would share the room if they asked, but I couldn't fathom why they would approach me even with my cold and distant personality.

lost in my thought, I couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion. What had caused Eleanor, Lena, and the others to approach me in the first place? A voice suddenly interrupted my train of thought.

"Hey Lo, mind if I ask a question?" Eleanor softly and gently spoke.

I turned my head towards her, "Sure, I don't mind."

Eleanor took a deep breath as her forest green eyes stares at my scarlet red eyes. "I've been wondering," she began, "what did you mean back then when you said Lena looked like someone you knew?"