Echoes of War

Fenix let out a frustrated sigh, slumping back into his chair.

Hours. He had spent hours in the Academy's library, scouring through every historical and magical record he could get his hands on. Books about Awakened abilities, past wars, even theoretical studies on lost artifacts—but not a single mention of the Fragment of Chaos.

'Figures…' he thought, rubbing his temples. 'It's like it never existed.'

He stared at the pile of books around him, then glanced at the massive rows of bookshelves stretching into the dimly lit corners of the library. The place was grand, ancient, filled with knowledge… and yet, useless for what he needed.

Fenix sighed again, pushing back his chair. "Guess I should just call it a day."

As he stood up to leave, something caught his eye.

In the distance, tucked away in a quiet, isolated section of the library, Sylis sat alone, her silver hair reflecting the warm glow of the hanging lights. She was leaning over a book, completely absorbed in its contents, her deep blue eyes flicking across the pages.

She looked… different.

Usually, Sylis had an air of confidence and poise, a noble-born presence that carried its own weight. But here, sitting alone in the quiet, she seemed almost relaxed.

Fenix hesitated for a moment, but then, on instinct, he walked toward her.

nstead of speaking immediately, Fenix sat down across from her, grabbing a random book and opening it—pretending to read.

He cleared his throat.

Once.

Twice.

Nothing.

Sylis didn't even glance up, her focus unwavering.

He coughed a little louder.

"I already saw you, Fenix." She spoke casually, still not looking away from her book. "Do you need something?"

Fenix chuckled. "I just came to say hi."

For just a brief second, the corner of her lips twitched upward—a tiny, almost invisible smirk. If Fenix hadn't been paying attention, he wouldn't have noticed it.

"And?" she said, flipping a page.

Fenix leaned forward slightly. "So, what's got you so hooked? What are you reading?"

Sylis finally lifted her gaze from the book, her piercing blue eyes meeting his.

"It's called 'Echoes of War'." She closed the book slightly, showing him the cover. The old leather was engraved with golden letters, and an ancient crest marked the bottom corner.

"It details the Great War—when the gates first appeared in our world and how the Five Great Families emerged to restore order, dividing the world among themselves."

She paused for a second, then continued.

"As you might know, North America and Africa fell. They couldn't be protected, and their lands were lost. Now, each of the Five Families governs and safeguards their respective continent."

Sylis realized she had been talking for quite a while, and a faint pink hue spread across her cheeks.

She looked slightly embarrassed.

Fenix noticed and smirked. "Why'd you stop? It was actually interesting to listen to."

She glanced at him, as if gauging his sincerity. After a moment, her shoulders relaxed slightly.

"You don't seem like the history type."

Fenix shrugged. "I wouldn't say I am. But considering how little I know, I figured I should start somewhere."

Sylis closed the book, setting it down beside her. "The Academy is the best place for that, but it's overwhelming. There's too much information everywhere."

Fenix nodded. "Yeah, I get that. It's huge. I feel like I still haven't even seen half of it."

Sylis smirked. "Then you're behind. The Academy isn't just a school, it's a city. We have everything—shops, restaurants, weapon forges, training facilities, even entertainment centers."

Fenix raised an eyebrow. "Entertainment centers? Like what, theaters and bars?"

Sylis nodded. "That, and more. The Awakened live and train here for a year, but they don't just fight and study. The Academy wants students to have an actual life too. There's a shopping district, sparring arenas for public matches, and even private businesses that only exist here."

Fenix leaned back, processing the information. "I guess that makes sense. A whole year would be hell if all we did was train."

Sylis nodded. "Exactly. You should explore sometime. There's a lot of good places to eat."

Fenix smirked. "Are you inviting me somewhere?"

Sylis gave him a blank stare before rolling her eyes. "I was giving you advice, not an invitation."

Fenix chuckled. "Right, right. Maybe I'll check it out with Dante and Mira."

Sylis arched an eyebrow. "Who?"

"Two people I met recently. Dante's a battle freak, Mira's quieter but really sharp. We've been training together. They're solid people."

Sylis tilted her head slightly. "You made friends fast."

Fenix shrugged. "Didn't really plan to, but they're not bad to be around."

Sylis looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding. "It's good to have people to rely on. Even in a place like this, a strong individual will never be as powerful as a strong team."

Fenix hummed. "Maybe. But at the end of the day, you can't always count on people to be there."

Sylis met his gaze. "True. But that doesn't mean you should push everyone away."

Fenix paused for a moment, then smirked. "You sound like you've given that speech before."

Sylis shrugged, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe."

The dim glow of the library lamps cast long shadows across the towering bookshelves, enveloping the room in a tranquil stillness. The warmth of their conversation had lingered longer than either of them expected, and now, as they prepared to leave, Fenix found himself hesitating.

Sylis had already tucked her book under her arm and was turning toward the exit when he spoke.

"Hey, before you go—mind if I get your contact?"

She stopped mid-step, raising an eyebrow as she slowly turned her head back to him.

"Are you asking because you actually want to talk, or just because you think you should?"

Her tone was unreadable, a mix of amusement and curiosity.

Fenix smirked. "Both?"

Sylis let out a small exhale, shaking her head slightly. Her lips twitched upward ever so slightly—barely noticeable, but it was there.

"Fine."

She reached into the pocket of her uniform, pulling out a sleek black phone. The screen lit up with a soft blue glow as she tapped through a few menus before extending it toward him.

"Here."

Fenix took out his own phone, a standard-issue device given to all students at the Academy, and quickly added her number. He glanced at the contact name for a second before smirking.

"'Sylis of Arventis'—your full name, huh?"

Sylis crossed her arms. "Is that a problem?"

Fenix shrugged. "No, no. Just a bit formal, don't you think? How about I change it to something cooler?"

She arched an eyebrow. "Like what?"

Fenix thought for a moment before typing something in and turning the screen toward her.

'Ice Queen'

Sylis stared at it, then let out a short breath that could have been a very, very faint laugh.

"...Cute." She rolled her eyes but didn't seem offended. "Just don't expect me to answer every time."

Fenix pocketed his phone with a satisfied nod. "Noted. But hey, you never know when I might need a 'royal consultation.'"

Sylis scoffed but didn't reply. Instead, she turned back toward the exit, her silver hair catching the soft light as she walked.

Fenix watched her go for a moment before shaking his head to himself.

As he started to walk toward the exit himself, a thought struck him.

"Wait… I never even told her my number."

He blinked, glancing down at his phone.

Right at the top of his messages, there was already a new notification.

A simple text from Sylis of Arventis.

'There. Now you don't have an excuse to say you forgot.'

Fenix let out a low chuckle.

"Huh… guess she's one step ahead."

He closed his phone and left the library, feeling oddly content.