After school, Jaylen made his way to the library, his footsteps echoing in the quiet corridors.
A lingering sense of anticipation followed his figure as he approached the grand entrance. Without hesitation, he pushed open the heavy wooden doors and stepped inside.
The library welcomed him with a serene silence, the kind that envelops you like a warm blanket. Towering shelves filled with ancient tomes and modern texts alike stretched up to the high ceiling, creating a labyrinth of knowledge.
The air was thick with the comforting scent of old paper, mingled with a hint of fresh ink. Whispers and the quiet rustling of pages were the only sounds, as students hunched over their desks, lost in their studies.
Jaylen took a deep breath, savoring the atmosphere.
'Sigh, it's a little sad,' he thought, glancing down at the sleek, high-tech index wrapped around his wrist. The device pulsed softly, a symbol of the future's relentless march forward.
'Once indexes become more widespread, fewer people will come to libraries. All these great books will be left to sit without any readers.' His outlook on the future was pragmatic, recognizing the inevitability of progress.
Indexes, with their convenience and efficiency in communication and information gathering, were necessary to change the fate of Yonus. Yet, the thought of these grand halls becoming obsolete filled him with a sense of melancholy.
Letting out another sigh, Jaylen knew it was inevitable. As time passed, that which could not keep up would be lost in the chimes of time, forever forgotten. The weight of this realization pressed heavily on his heart, but he shook his head, determined to dispel such depressing thoughts.
With renewed focus, he began his search for the book in question.
He moved through the aisles, his fingers trailing along the spines of countless volumes, feeling the texture of their covers.
Each book held a story, a piece of history, a fragment of wisdom. Jaylen couldn't help but feel a deep respect for the tangible weight of the knowledge contained within these walls.
As he wandered the aisles of shelves, unsure of the exact location of the book, Jaylen felt a growing sense of frustration. The sheer number of volumes made the task daunting.
His eyes scanned the rows of spines, but none of the titles seemed to match what he was looking for.
Just as he was about to give up and seek help, a calm, melodious voice called out to him, "Excuse me."
"Hmm?" Jaylen turned in the direction of the voice, his curiosity piqued. What he saw made him blink in confusion. It was a kid?
Or at least, that's what she looked like.
Even from a distance, Jaylen could tell she was small, her height likely only reaching up to his waist. All her physical traits suggested she might be around the age of seven.
Her black hair was a few shades lighter than pitch black, cascading down her back in soft waves. Despite her youthful appearance, she was dressed in the school uniform, which struck Jaylen as odd.
The uniform bore a purple symbol with Sagittarius and a golden thread marking her year and class. The incongruity of her appearance and her attire left Jaylen momentarily speechless.
"Uh... Senior? How may I help you?" he managed to ask, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
The girl let out a melodious giggle, her laughter ringing out like a chime. "Sorry, Junior. It's just the uncertainty in your voice made me laugh. Yes, I am indeed your senior,"
As Jaylen opened his mouth to ask why she looked like a kid, she spoke first, cutting him off. "Yes, I know I look like a kid. It's a trait from the race that I am."
Her clarification revealed a fact Jaylen hadn't noticed before. He felt a familiar aura emanating from her, although he could sense a hint of something different.
The girl's amber eyes met his as she switched topics. "So, are you looking for something specific, Junior?" she inquired, her tone more polite and composed.
"Uh, yes, Senior. I'm looking for a book, but I'm not sure where it is," Jaylen responded, his tone more reserved.
"Aw, come on, you don't have to be so formal," she said, leaping up and playfully hitting him on the back. The force was greater than Jaylen had anticipated, and he had to stop himself from falling on his face.
Readjusting himself, Jaylen changed his words. "Senior, I'm looking for a book titled 'The World of Yonus and Its Magical Energies.'"
The girl's eyes lit up with recognition. "Follow me," she said simply, turning on her heel and leading him through the maze of shelves.
Jaylen followed, still trying to make sense of this strange encounter with his enigmatic senior. The scent of old paper and ink grew stronger as they delved deeper into the library, the towering shelves casting long shadows in the dim light.
As they walked, Jaylen couldn't help but steal glances at his peculiar guide.
There was something mysterious about her, something that didn't quite fit the image of a typical student. He pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on the task at hand.
Finally, they arrived at a secluded corner of the library. The girl pointed to a shelf filled with thick, dusty volumes. "It should be around here," she said, whispering.
Jaylen scanned the titles, his eyes catching on various bindings, some worn and frayed, others still vibrant despite the dust.
With her help, he soon found the book he was looking for. It was a large, heavy tome with a deep blue cover, embossed with silver lettering and intricate designs that hinted at the magical knowledge within.
He pulled it off the shelf, its weight reassuring in his hands. "Thanks," he said, turning to face her.
But to his surprise, she had disappeared without a trace or sound, leaving Jaylen standing alone in the dimly lit corner, the mysterious encounter lingering in his mind.
'Are all the third years like this? I remember Emily saying that the third year here was the weirdest, but this is not what I expected,' Jaylen thought as he walked through the rows of tables, looking for a place to sit and read.
He found an empty table not far away and took a seat, placing the hefty tome in front of him.
The book's title, 'The World of Yonus and the Magical Energies Found on It,' was embossed in elegant silver letters on the deep blue cover. The author, Eldrin the Wise, was renowned for his extensive knowledge and thorough research.
"Huh, he must have spent a lot of time writing this," Jaylen mumbled to himself as he carefully flipped the book open. The pages were thick and slightly yellowed with age, and the text was accompanied by intricate illustrations and detailed diagrams.
'Chapter 1: Introduction to Mystical Energies. Energy is the fundamental force within the universe, present in all living and non-living things….' Jaylen read the first few lines of the chapter and quickly realized it was a recap of concepts he had learned when he was younger.
He skimmed through the familiar material, his eyes glazing over the basic principles and definitions, before flipping to the next chapter.
'Chapter 2: Mana – The Foundation of Power. Mana is the most basic and least volatile form of mystical energy, second only to life energy. Mana is omnipresent, flowing through all creatures and objects…'
Jaylen read more attentively, intrigued by the details, but found himself focusing primarily on Mana's relation to life energy. He paused for a moment, considering the implications, then moved on, eager to find more substantial information.
When he reached 'Chapter 3: The Diverse Forms of Mystical Energies,' Jaylen felt a spark of hope.
'Maybe I'll finally find the answers I'm looking for,' he thought.
But as he read on, his excitement waned. The chapter merely discussed different types of energy such as Ki, Qi, and Chakra. He sighed, feeling a pang of disappointment. These energies were fascinating, but they weren't what he needed right now.
Even though he felt there was no point in reading further, Jaylen relented and flipped to the next chapter: 'Theorized Types of Mystical Energies.' His interest was piqued once again as he read about two types of energy.
Aether, described as a higher form of Mana, is supposedly used by the gods to control the laws of the universe. Aether is said to be pure and incredibly potent, allowing for the manipulation of reality itself.
Jaylen's eyes widened slightly at the concept. The idea of such a powerful energy was awe-inspiring, and he couldn't help but wonder if such a force could truly exist.
Then came Chaos Energy, a mysterious and powerful force foretold to be the energy that created the entire universe.
The book stated that little is known about Chaos Energy, except that it was wielded by Yonus, the Goddess of Chaos Aliat. Chaos Energy is described as the strongest form of energy, its true nature and potential remaining a profound mystery.
While reading about Chaos Energy, Jaylen felt something stir deep within him. It was a sensation he was all too familiar with, a powerful force he had felt whenever he used a spell or technique. For the first time, he felt he had found the answer he was searching for.
Standing up abruptly, Jaylen clenched his fist, excitement, and determination coursing through him. "This is it, Chaos Energy, huh"
Forgetting about the book entirely, Jaylen calmly walked out of the library, eager to experiment with Chaos Energy or perhaps schedule a visit to the church of the Goddess of Chaos. His mind raced with possibilities, but he didn't get his hopes up.
Back where Jaylen had been sitting, the girl from earlier appeared.
She shook her head and clicked her tongue, a bemused smile playing on her lips. "Tch, tch, tch. This junior of mine is always in such a rush. As your senior, I'll clean up after you this time,"
She picked up the book Jaylen had left behind and, with a graceful motion, disappeared once more, leaving no trace of her presence.