The Hall of Petals was bright enough to make Raizen squint.
Morning light poured through the high windows and hit the chandeliers. It bounced off the glass and fell in pale shapes on the floor. A wide mosaic spiral filled the center of the hall, curling around the lotus crest like someone had planned the whole room around that one design.
The Academy had shelves here, too. As if the massive library wasn't enough.
They lined the walls in long rows - tall wooden frames with brass rails, little steps, and neat lables clipped to the sides. Some shelves were neat. Some lower ones were already messy, like students had picked whatever book they needed and forgot to put it back in order.
The air smelled like old paper and wood. It was clean and neat, feeling like a place that had been used for a long time but never neglected.
The seven Royal Scholars stood near the center of the room.
