The Library

(Elysia PoV)

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Her small feet stepped on the marble floor that stretched as far as the eye could see. Her eyes were empty, staring straight ahead as if there was nothing. The rabbit ears still drooped as usual, almost never erect.

Beside her, Celina, walked parallel to her while greedily devouring the pancakes in both her hands. If people didn't know her, they might not believe that Celina was a duke's daughter.

"Você quer (do you want)?" Offering the pancake in her right hand. "I haven't bitten it yet."

Elysia shook her head. "Thank you, but I'm not hungry."

"Oh, Alright."

In one bite, half of the pancake was gone into her mouth. Elysia could only smile seeing it.

Along the corridor, they passed many senior students in red uniforms, a sign that she had entered the main academy.

"It's very crowded today, né?"

"Tomorrow is the weekend. Not many lessons. That's why many students are coming and going."

"Ah, really? It seems this academy isn't as strict as I imagined."

Elysia nodded.

Celina didn't stop staring at the students they passed. She even casually returned a few soft waves directed at her.

"Ely, do you know why the preparation academy is right in the middle of the main academy? Wouldn't it be better if we were placed separately, né?"

"Simple, some people have family connections like me and my sisters, they might want to see their younger siblings up close."

Celina furrowed her brow. "Só isso (just that)?"

Elysia opened her mouth before quickly closing it again. “Yes.”

Celina frowned in dissaticfaction, but No. protest came out of her mouth.

Elysia not intending to explain further. In her opinion, it wasn't important to tell the real reason to Celina who still didn't fully understand how the world worked.

After going through several turns, they finally arrived at a large building painted a striking yellow. The building looked very magnificent with several floors above and more than four entrances. Students came in and out non stop, some carrying stacks of books, others only carrying small sling bags.

Just as Elysia looked up for a moment, Celina was already in front of the door while waving her hand towards Elysia. "Ely, let's go in!"

A wry smile was drawn on her lips. Why does she seem more enthusiastic than me?

Elysia stepped elegantly, both of them entered one of the entrances.

Celina's eyes sparkled, looking so amazed by the vast library hall. Elysia was calmer. In her previous life, she had entered a library almost as big as this one.

This reminds me a little of the campus library. Ah, right, the day I met 'him'.

She looked down, hiding a bitter smile.

However, her reverie broke when Celina pulled her hand enthusiastically. "Ely, don't daydream. Let's look at the bookshelves together!"

Not far in front of them, several library staff were seen sitting while serving students borrowing books with various expressions.

In the sea of students, Elysia's eyes caught a pair of crimson eyes she knew very well.

"Ely. Nice to see you here." Her voice was soft, full of calmness. Approaching slowly and gracefully. Anyone who saw her would surely fall in love with her.

"Sister Mira," called Ely, with a voice softer than usual.

"You know her, Ely?" whispered Celina, her voice half choked.

Elysia nodded slowly. "She is my big sister. Mireya."

Mireya leaned her body slightly. Her smile was soft, full of warmth. Her crimson irises contrasted with her ocean hair, but suited her pale skin very well.

Celina looked at them alternately, as if comparing the two. "Again... just like Irine, you all aren't very similar. I doubt you are siblings or not."

Mireya chuckled softly. "The rabbit race is like that. I even have different eye colors from my two twin sisters." She looked at Celina with a gentle gaze. "What is your name, little girl?"

"Celina! Celina D' Velharis," she answered full of enthusiasm.

"Ah, you are the daughter of the Velharis family. Nice to meet you, Celina. I hope you will be good friends with my family."

"Wait, you know my family?"

Mireya nodded. "Your brother was my senior. We weren't that close, but at least I knew him. He was a good man."

Celina nodded firmly.

Not wanting this conversation to go further, Elysia immediately cut in. "Are you alone, Sister?"

Mireya let out a light sigh, brushing aside a few strands of hair that fell to her shoulders. "Yes. Syrene is taking a royal finance class. Elene? She is retaking Alchemy."

"Retaking?" Celina exclaimed too loudly, then hurriedly covered her mouth. "The lesson must be very difficult, right?"

Mireya laughed softly while covering her mouth. "Not difficult... more precisely she was too busy trying other things besides studying."

Celina nodded repeatedly. "I don't want to retake. I will definitely study hard!"

Mireya patted Celina's shoulder lightly. "Good. Study hard so you don’t have repeat a grade. Oh, you want to go to the library, right? Let me take you. This is your first time, right?"

Celina's eyes immediately sparkled. "You really want to take us? Not only beautiful, Sister is also very kind!"

Mireya just laughed lightly. Then with measured steps, she led them along the corridor towards the inside of the library.

As soon as they stepped in, a cold air instantly greeted them. Celina immediately gaped, staring at the high rows of shelves that seemed to reach the ceiling. Celina whispered in awe while her eyes kept moving, taking in every detail around her.

Mireya glanced back with a faint smile. "This library has seven layers of rooms. The deeper the layer, the more limited the access. To open the next layer, you must prove yourself by studying most of the books in the previous layer."

"How?" Celina leaned forward, almost bumping into a shelf.

"By studying most of the books in the previous layer. Every book has a magic record. When you read and understand its contents, that mark will be engraved in the academy's evaluation sheet."

Elysia stared blankly at the rows of high bookshelves beside her. Just by looking at them, she could guess one had to master thousands of books to reach the deepest layer of the library.

Elysia straightened her back. "Sis... Soul magic... on which layer?"

That question made Mireya stop in her tracks. She was silent for a moment, not answering. "Soul magic is a special branch of magic. So it’s definitely in the fifth layer."

"I see..." Elysia repeated in a soft tone.

"You're interested in that magic?"

Elysia nodded slowly before bowing her head deeply. She knew this wouldn't be easy. And it shouldn't be easy.

She died and reincarnated in a strange way. She didn't even know the cause for her and her husband being chosen as the reincarnated ones. But... the last words from the voice that once echoed in her ears brought a little hope.

As long as she didn't give up, she was sure that one day they would be reunited. Somehow. Studying magic was one of her efforts to be able to meet her loved one again.

A thin smile spread on her face again. Miracles don't come for free. There must be a hard struggle before that miracle knocks on your door.

That was the words embedded deep in her heart. The words from her husband moments after they got married long ago.

Silence greeted them for quite a while. Mireya finally broke it again with her soft voice. She stroked Elysia's head gently.

"You have struggled well. I'm sure one day you will definitely get it. We are proud of you."

For a moment, Elysia was silent. Her eyes trembled. She smiled thinly. "Thank you."

Perhaps, if I had never harbored wounds, I would have grown up to be like Sister Mira. Calm, gentle, and unburdened. But the reality is... it's not that simple.

Mireya released her hand, then turned to grab several thick books with black and dark blue covers. "Then, we will start from the basics. You can choose any book. If there's anything you don't understand, ask me."

Celina blinked quickly, unable to hide her delight. "Really? We can read together?"

"Of course."

They walked along the rows of other shelves. Celina stared intently and quickly grabbed every book in front of her.

Elysia followed behind, her steps slow. Her head was still bowed, her mind filled with the names of magic written on the shelves. Soul magic. Fifth layer. The distance stretching between them felt almost suffocating.

Finally Mireya stopped. She took a book from the side shelf, then looked back at the two girls still standing frozen behind her.

"This seems enough for beginners. Let's go to the reading room."

Elysia just looked at her sister with slightly raised eyebrows.

"Reading room? But I don't see any reading tables here at all," Celina murmured softly. She looked around, making sure there were no chairs or tables hidden behind the shelves.

"Me too," Elysia added, her tone flat but with a little curiosity creeping in.

Mireya laughed softly, every sound coming from her mouth was very quiet, almost like a whisper. "Follow me."

She stretched her palm towards the side of the shelf. A bluish white magic circle glowed slowly. The space beside the shelf vibrated as if folding in on itself. Cracks of light radiated, forming a portal.

"Secret portal?!" Celina was shocked, her jaw truly dropped this time.

Elysia wasn't much different. Her eyes widened, her mouth half open.

Mireya glanced back, smiling teasingly. "Come in."

Celina stepped forward first without hesitation, followed by Elysia behind her. As soon as they passed through the door, they were stunned for a moment.

A room measuring three by four meters stretched before them. The floor was covered with thick gray carpet, the walls were full of low bookshelves. Two round wooden tables stood in the middle of the room, each surrounded by soft moss green chairs. A white crystal light hung from the ceiling, emitting bright light enough for reading.

"Waaa... Is this a secret reading room?!"

"This is a special space magic stored in the shelf that can be activated by anyone by channeling a little mana. That place was made so every student can read quietly without disturbance."

Celina stared at Mireya with sparkling eyes, then suddenly pulled her sleeve. "Sister... ensina me... ensinar magia, por favor (teach me... teach me the magic, please)!"

Her words spilled spontaneously in Algarvean, a sign that she was so excited she forgot where she was standing now.

A small curve spread on Mireya's lips, answering her innocence patiently in the same language. "Calma, Querida. Eu vou te ensinar devagar (Calm down, dear. I will teach you slowly)."

Celina was a little surprised. Then she laughed softly. "Não esperava que aquela linda irmã entendesse a língua algarvia (I didn't expect that beautiful sister to understand the Algarvean language)?"

"Apenas alguns (just a little)," she answered gently.

Elysia watched them, a faint smile gracing her lips. But when her eyes shifted to the pile of books on the table, a faint tremor ran through her chest.

Those books were obstacles that might not be easy to conquer. But to be able to reunite with him, Elysia promised to try to study all of them. A faint smile spread faintly.

Suddenly, Mireya's soft call broke her reverie.

"Ely..."

"Yes, Sis?"

"Did someone invite you for tea party?"

"How did you know?"

"That... just a friend's experience." Mireya laughed stiffly, scratching her temple. "And maybe... a little help from the stars." A faint smile full of honesty spread on her face.

Elysia raised her eyebrows, her stiff laugh was her habit when lying or hiding something. Really, Sis Mira, too easy to read. But... the stars? Who did she mean?

Mireya looked back at Elysia. Then she reached into her pocket and gave her a small drop potion. "Take it."

"What is this, Sis?"

"That's a special potion I made to neutralize tea." Again, she scratched her temple and smiled stiffly. "I thought, in the near future you would have trouble with tea. So I gave you that potion."

Elysia accepted it albeit hesitantly.

Mireya shrugged. "Accept it. Just in case. And... I hope you promise not to use it on normal tea. You're a smart girl, you understand what I mean, right?"

Elysia was silent for a moment, before finally nodding slowly.

"Well, let's get back to studying."

The crystal light on the ceiling shimmered softly, framing the three figures now sitting close together. Among the newly opened piles of books, their small conversation flowed, warm and quiet.