The last chime of the bells echoed through the grounds of Luminaria Academy, signaling the end of the day's classes. Kojo, still perched casually on the teacher's desk, found himself surrounded by a small throng of students, their initial awe replaced by a flurry of eager questions.
"Sensei, how did you make the ice sculpture without a circle?" a girl with bright, curious eyes asked.
"Is it a secret technique from Archadia?" a boy chimed in, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet.
Kojo chuckled, running a hand through his white hair.
"It's not so much a secret technique as it is understanding the fundamentals differently. Think of it like… knowing how to boil water without needing a specific pot. The water will boil, given enough heat, no matter the container. Magic is similar; the intent and energy are key, the circle is just one way to focus it."
He tried his best to simplify concepts that were second nature to him due to his.....nature, but alien to their structured understanding. He elaborated using the principles of real-world physics, drawing crude diagrams in the air with a glowing finger, linking it to how the ambient Arcana could be directly influenced by a concentrated will, bypassing the need for complex incantations.
The students listened intently, some still scribbling notes furiously, others simply staring in wide-eyed wonder. After a few more questions about the practical applications of his "circle-less" magic, they thanked him profusely, their faces alight with a new kind of excitement, and then scattered, eager to discuss the day's revelations.
As the last of them hurried out, Lambert and Latif approached, their expressions a mix of youthful enthusiasm and polite deference. Lambert, true to form, was practically vibrating.
"Sensei! That was incredible! I've already got a dozen questions about the energy transfer you mentioned, Radiation, right? And how it relates to the Arcana flow in our textbooks! Can we—"
"Whoa, hold your horses, kiddo," Kojo interrupted with a laugh, holding up a hand. "One thing at a time. Save those burning questions for tomorrow. We've got plenty of time."
Latif, ever the composed one, inclined his head.
"If I may ask, Sensei, where are you headed now? We could perhaps escort you, if it's on our way."
Kojo paused, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, the library, actually. I want to compare some information." As he spoke, he reached into the air and with a subtle shimmer of distorted space, pulled out a book, its cover intricately carved with swirling elven script.
"Specifically, this thing needs some context."
Lambert's eyes widened to the size of saucers.
"Sensei, how did you do that? What is it even? Is that another Archadian technique? Can you teach us? Does it require a circle?" He began to pepper Kojo with a torrent of questions, his voice rising in excitement.
Kojo laughed nervously, a faint flush creeping up his neck.
"Uh, well, it's… complicated. Let's just say it's a handy trick. And no, it doesn't require a circle. Now, are you two coming or are you just going to stand there gawking?" He quickly tucked the book under his arm, trying to deflect the attention.
The two young men, still buzzing with curiosity, quickly fell into step beside him as they walked towards the grand library.
"What kind of information are you looking for, Sensei?" Latif asked, ever polite. "Is it about Magic Circles? Or perhaps other magical theories?"
"Just… history," Kojo replied vaguely. "And some other stuff."
"I'm surprised you're going to the library, Sensei," Lambert piped up, looking genuinely perplexed. "You seem so knowledgeable already! Like you know everything about everything."
Kojo snorted, shaking his head.
"Kid, I'm not that smart. If anything, you probably know more about this world's history and its intricacies than I do. Your textbooks are probably filled with stuff I've never heard of."
"Sensei, you're being too modest!" Lambert insisted.
(I agree with you on that one. You're not smart. Thanks for being honest.)
"Shut up, Sysia," Kojo muttered under his breath, barely moving his lips.
"Pardon, Sensei?" Latif asked, tilting his head.
"Oh, nothing," Kojo waved a hand dismissively. "Just talking to myself. Happens often once you become an adult." He gave a dramatic sigh, earning a bewildered look from Lambert and a small, polite smile from Latif.
They soon arrived at the imposing entrance of the Grand Library, its massive oak doors flanked by silent, watchful gargoyles. Inside, the air was cool and hushed, filled with the scent of aged parchment and dust. Rows upon rows of towering bookshelves stretched into the gloom, reaching heights that seemed to pierce the very stone ceiling. This library wasn't exclusive to the students alone, so even though it was on campus, it could be accessed by normal people who sought information.
"Well, Sensei," Latif said, pausing at the threshold. "This is where I part ways. I promised my mother I'd help her with the evening meal."
"And I'm going to go over my notes from today!" Lambert declared, his eyes gleaming with renewed purpose.
"I'll be back tomorrow with a whole new set of questions, Sensei!"
Kojo smiled, a genuine warmth spreading across his face.
"Alright, you two. Don't work too hard. See you tomorrow."
He watched the two young men walk away, their youthful energy a stark contrast to the quiet solemnity of the library.
Now, alone amidst the towering stacks, Kojo thought about what he truly wanted to know. Where to begin?
(I still advise against seeking any further information. You already have the Babel Archives....)
"Which you're not allowing us to utilize."
(That's because.....)
Kojo ignored her. He considered using his enhanced speed to quickly scan through volumes, but then his gaze fell upon the librarian. The man was a formidable figure, perched behind a massive, ornate desk, his bald head gleaming under the soft magical lights. He pushed a pair of thick, horn-rimmed glasses up his large nose and scanned the room with an almost predatory intensity, as if daring anyone to so much as rustle a page too loudly.
"Yeah, I'd avoid any 'disruptions.' This place probably has enchantments to prevent any shenanigans," Kojo thought. He wasn't in the mood for a confrontation with an overly zealous librarian. He began to explore, wandering down a narrow aisle, his fingers trailing over the spines of ancient tomes.
He turned a corner and stopped. There, tucked away in a quiet alcove, bathed in the soft glow of a reading lamp, sat Valeri. She was, as usual, engrossed in a massive book, her brow furrowed in concentration. She seemed utterly oblivious to her surroundings, a lone island of studiousness in the vast ocean of knowledge.
Kojo approached her, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"Well, well, if it isn't the skeptic," he said, his voice a low, teasing murmur.
Valeri didn't even flinch, her eyes remaining glued to the page.
"Giving your new Sensei the cold shoulder already?" Kojo pressed, leaning slightly against the bookshelf beside her and craning his neck to see what she was reading.
Valeri let out a long, exasperated sigh, finally looking up. Her normally cold eyes met his with a flash of annoyance.
"This is a library, Sensei. I'm trying to read. If you have nothing productive to say, perhaps you should go disturb someone else."
Kojo raised his hands in mock surrender. "Whoa, touchy. Is it that time of the month?"
Valeri's eyes narrowed dangerously. Kojo instantly raised his hands higher and took a step back, a nervous chuckle escaping him. "Alright, alright! Just kidding! Sheesh. No need to freeze me solid."
He cleared his throat.
"Look, I actually do have a productive question. Where's the section with books about history? Specifically, ancient history, if you know."
Valeri stared at him for a moment, as if debating whether to simply ignore him. Then, with another long sigh, she pointed a slender finger towards a distant entrance. "This is a library, Sensei. You should ask the librarian."
Kojo tilted his head, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
"But you're right here. And you seem to know your way around."
Valeri rolled her eyes, a tiny, almost imperceptible gesture of exasperation. "Fine," she muttered, pushing herself to her feet. "Follow me. But don't make a sound."
She led him through a labyrinth of shelves, her movements precise and efficient, until they reached a dimly lit section filled with ancient, dust-laden books. Kojo thanked her, and she merely nodded, returning to her alcove. He, meanwhile, began pulling out books, one after another, until he had a precarious tower balanced in his arms. He noticed one particular one high up on a shelf, and for some reason, he just jumped and grabbed it. He looked down at its spine, wondering why he picked it up, but his eyes widened when he saw the cover.
He returned to Valeri's alcove, carefully setting the stack down beside her, and then settled onto the cushion next to her, pulling out one of the thickest volumes.
From his pocket dimension, he produced a perfectly ripe, glistening fruit, its skin a vibrant shade of crimson. He bit into it, a faint, sweet aroma filling the air. He then pulled out another, equally perfect fruit, and offered it to Valeri. She glanced at it, then back at her book. Kojo merely shrugged, placing the fruit gently beside her.
Valeri, despite herself, found her gaze drifting from her book to Kojo. He was utterly immersed, his head bowed over the ancient text, his fingers occasionally tracing a line of script. He seemed to devour the words, his eyes moving with incredible speed across the pages. She wondered what he was looking for, what secrets he hoped to uncover in these old books.
He truly was different.
He looked human enough, with his dark skin and sharp features, but there was an undeniable otherness about him. He had claimed to be "old," and the way he moved, the way he thought of magic, the sheer power he exuded in class… it all spoke of a history far deeper than his youthful appearance suggested. And his white hair, so striking against his skin, only added to the enigma. He was… cute, she admitted to herself, a fleeting thought, though certainly not in a romantic way. More like a fascinating, slightly annoying, very powerful puzzle.
Just as this thought crossed her mind, Kojo suddenly raised his head, his crimson eyes meeting hers. Valeri instantly flushed, her gaze snapping back to her book, her heart giving an involuntary thump. She pretended to be deeply engrossed in the text, acutely aware of the warmth of the fruit he had placed beside her.
Hours passed in the quiet sanctity of the library. Eventually, the stern librarian cleared his throat loudly, signaling closing time. Kojo, with a sigh, gathered a few of the books, and borrowing them with his temporary faculty pass. He stepped out of the library with Valeri, the cool night air a stark contrast to the warm, dusty interior.
"Mind if I walk you home?" Kojo asked, his hands tucked into his sweater pouch.
Valeri shook her head, her voice firm.
"No. I prefer to walk alone."
Kojo shrugged, a faint smile on his face. "Suit yourself." With a casual flick, two magnificent, feathered wings, the color of midnight, unfurled from his back, catching the moonlight. With a powerful beat, he launched himself into the sky, soaring effortlessly into the moonlit night, a silent, graceful silhouette against the stars.
Valeri watched him go, a strange mix of exasperation and wonder on her face. He really is something else, she thought, a faint smile touching her lips. His power, his casual disregard for norms, his unexpected kindness with the fruit… he was a whirlwind of contradictions. She found his appearance pleasing to the eye, yes, but it was his sheer difference that truly captivated her mind. He was like a living enigma, a disruption to the predictable order of her world.
She turned and began her walk home, the familiar path through the quiet streets of Eldrida.
The crisp night air felt invigorating. As she approached her family's modest home, the warm glow of light spilled from the windows. Her younger brother, Flam, a whirlwind of energy, burst out the front door, followed by her even younger sister, Lisa, who clung to his leg.
"Valeri! You're home!" Flam shouted, his eyes wide with excitement.
"Sister!" Lisa squealed, reaching for her.
Valeri smiled, the tension from the day easing. "Hey, you two. Don't cause too much trouble for Mom."
Her mother, a kind-faced woman with eyes a deeper shade of blue than hers, appeared in the kitchen doorway, wiping her hands on an apron.
"Valeri, welcome home, dear. Food will be ready in a bit."
Valeri nodded, heading straight to her room. She closed the door behind her, the familiar comfort of her space a welcome embrace. She laid on her bed, staring at the ceiling, the day's events replaying in her mind. Kojo, his strange theories, the ice sculpture, and then… the library.
She reached into her bag and pulled out the crimson fruit Kojo had given her. It felt cool and smooth against her fingertips, still perfectly preserved. She brought it closer to her face, inhaling its faint, sweet aroma. Then, with a quiet sigh, she took a bite.