Two Echoes?

Faust's thoughts were interrupted by a nudge. He turned to see Erif standing awkwardly, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Looks like we're in different classes," Erif said, his voice trailing off as he tapped Faust's shoulder. He paused, his hand lingering for a moment before he added, "I'm fine with that, as long as we'll still get along."

Faust shrugged. "We can't really do anything about the placement, right?"

Erif opened his mouth, hesitated, then closed it again. He gave a stiff nod and walked away, his steps slow and deliberate, as if unsure whether to stay or leave. His shoulders hunched slightly, and he didn't look back as he joined his new classmates.

***

Maria approached Faust with a smile, her dual-colored hair catching the light as it swayed. Her attire was unusual, at least to Faust's eyes - a corset paired with a flowing skirt and gloves that reached her elbows. Fashion in other parts of Alderia seemed far more flexible than in Asperbone, where even Gelatea, a noble, stuck to traditional gowns and petticoats.

"Hello, Maria," Faust greeted, realizing they were both in Class Hyades.

"Fate, isn't it?" Maria said, her smile widening. "We just met the other day, and now we're in the same class."

Faust remained silent, his brow furrowing slightly. Fate , The word felt foreign, something he hadn't heard since attending a random mass at the Whispering Church. He glanced at Maria, who fell into step beside him as the group began their tour of the academia.

***

As they moved through the sprawling halls, Faust's mind wandered to the people he'd met so far. Maria, Jared, and the lone girl were in Class Hyades with him. The Berrik boy - Bahl, was it?, was in the same class as Erif. The lone girl's name, however, escaped him. He frowned, muttering under his breath, "Bahl Berrik… what was her name again?"

***

The tour continued, and Faust learned the stream he'd seen from his room's window was called the "Castor's Stream". The instructor emphasized that the academia was a place of interaction, not just instruction. "If you wish to know," he said, "you must wish to do."

By noon, a bell rang, its sound rippling through the air in visible waves. The students stared, dumbstruck, as the vibrations shimmered like heat on a summer's day. Faust, exhausted, called out to the instructor, "Sir, we've passed that slightly opened door countless times. What's behind it?"

The group fell silent, all eyes turning to Faust. Faust adjusted his posture feeling like an illusory spotlight like those at operas was now above him.

The instructor smiled faintly and walked over. "That door is just a...regular door," he said, his tone light but firm. "Its contents aren't for new intakes like you to see—at least, not yet."

Faust muttered under his breath, "I thought this was a tour." He sighed, disappointment etched across his face.

***

The final stop was the academia's library. As they entered, Faust noticed Maria's open demeanor. She spoke freely, her words flowing without hesitation, though she avoided eye contact, her gaze often drifting to the floor or the walls.

The library was vast, its walls adorned with intricate carvings and filled with the faint scent of herbs. Faust couldn't help but be drawn to the front of the group, his curiosity piqued.

"This is the academia's chief librarian, Professor Imothep Sol," the instructor announced.

Faust studied the man. He appeared to be in his early forties, with an air of quiet authority. A silver-rimmed monocle rested over his right eye, covering the tattoo of a spiderweb which was on his right eye.

Faust raised an eyebrow, A tattoo on the eye? And why a spiderweb? His father had called people with tattoos "walking canvases", but this was the first time Faust had seen one so prominently displayed.

"Good day, students",Professor Imothep began, his voice echoing unnaturally through the library. "As you have been told, I am Professor Imothep Sol. The academia's library is the very backbone of this institution. Knowledge is…" He paused, and a few students murmured, "Power."

Imothep's gaze swept over the group, his expression unreadable. He removed his monocle, scratched his beard, cleaned the lens, and replaced it before continuing.

He led the group as they followed behind him, Imothep introduced the sections of the library and how to access some of its contents.

***

"This is the reading section," he said, gesturing to a row of tables and chairs. "The diner where you devour the knowledge you seek."Wiping a stream of sweat, the exhaustion of the tour already evident.

The students exchanged puzzled glances, murmuring at his odd choice of words. Imothep walked around the tables, his fingers brushing against the chairs in a way that made Faust uneasy. He glanced at Maria, who stifled a laugh. Faust chuckled too, the absurdity of the moment breaking the tension.

Maria leaned in and whispered jokingly, "Who uses the library?" Faust laughed, avoiding her gaze as if the question were rhetorical.

A strange, almost theatrical laughter echoed through the library. The students were surprised to see Professor Imothep wiping a tear from his eye, his laughter fading into a sudden, piercing seriousness. His gaze fixed on Faust and Maria. "You'll be back here," he said, his voice low and certain.

Maria's eyes widened, her cheeks flushing as she realized he had overheard her earlier remark. She quickly looked down, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.

"That will be all, for now," Imothep continued, his tone shifting to one of finality. "You all will come here sooner or…"

"Excuse me, sir." A soft but firm voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd. The students parted to reveal the bob-haired lone girl, her expression as impassive as ever.

Imothep's eyes lit up with interest. "Ah, hello there, young miss. What's your name? It seems you're the only one here curious enough to inquire directly."

Curious? Faust scoffed inwardly, his gaze shifting to the girl. So she speaks.

The lone girl adjusted her exaggerated sleeves with deliberate precision, her movements slow and deliberate as she stepped forward. "Her name is Isolde," she said, her voice flat and devoid of emotion.

The students exchanged awkward glances, the air thickening with discomfort. Maria leaned closer to Faust, whispering, "It seems she's still recovering from the whispers' effect on her. Personality fragmentation, perhaps."

Faust shook his head slightly. I doubt that. Gelatea had the same exposure, but she never spoke like this. "It seems more… intentional,than an effect of the whisper".

Isolde raised an eyebrow, wondering why they had reacted like that, but said nothing, her attention returning to professor Imothep.

"Isolde," Imothep repeated, his lips curling into a faint smile. "A wonderful name. You may ask your question."

Isolde took a single step forward, her posture rigid, as if ensuring she maintained her personal space. "What makes you so sure we will come back here?" she asked, her tone as cold as her expression. "What about the fear of the unknown?" She paused, her gaze unwavering. "After all, ignorance is bliss."

The library fell silent, the weight of her words hanging in the air. Imothep's smile faded, replaced by a look of contemplation. He began pacing, muttering under his breath, "Ignorance… ignorance… ignorance." After a few moments, he stopped abruptly, his head snapping up to meet Isolde's gaze.

"Ignorance is bliss?" he said, his voice sharp and mocking. "Laughable. In this world, the fear of the unknown and ignorance are equally dangerous." His words echoed through the hall, leaving a heavy silence in their wake.

"What veil are you?" Isolde stood facing Imothep, her expression as unreadable as ever. The word "veil" seemed to puzzle her, and she tilted her head slightly. "Veil?" she repeated, her tone flat but curious.

Imothep palmed his face, muttering under his breath. "Ah, I forgot - you're all new students," he said, glancing at the instructors who gave expressions like it was a normal behavior of his with a wry smile.

"How many Echoes do you have?" he asked again, his voice carrying a note of challenge. "I'm sure you all know what that is by now."

Isolde answered without hesitation, her voice steady and devoid of emotion. "Two. She has only two."

The instructor instinctively adjusted his top hat, his surprise evident. "It seems we have a prodigy here," he said, his tone a mix of admiration and disbelief. "Two Echoes—that's excellent."

The students exchanged bewildered glances, murmurs rippling through the group. "Who is she?" one whispered. "The bob-haired girl—what's her name again?" another asked, their voices hushed but urgent.

Isolde remained silent, her arms crossed and her gaze fixed on Imothep, as if the whispers around her were nothing more than background noise.

"Just two? You call two echoes just" Faust said with jealousy written over his face as Maria looked at him with shared feelings as she also had no echo.

Suddenly, Imothep glanced at his pocket watch, his demeanor shifting once more. As if possessed, he turned on his heel and strode away from the library without another word, leaving the students and instructors in stunned silence.

The instructor cleared his throat, breaking the tension. "That concludes the tour of the academia's library. You're all dismissed. Classes begin tomorrow."

As the students filed out of the library, Faust glanced back at Isolde. She stood apart from the crowd, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. For a moment, their eyes met, but she slowly looked away, retreating into her usual solitude.