Lian was sitting on the edge of a fountain in the academy courtyard, watching the reflections in the water as the distant sound of laughter and chatter from other students echoed around him. He felt restless, trying to process everything that had happened during the tournament and what it all meant for him. The fight against Elios was still fresh in his mind, as was the frustrating feeling of coming so close to victory.
"Lost in thought again, Lian?" Saya's voice broke the silence, and he turned to see her approaching with a calm smile. "You seem like you're brooding over something."
"I can't stop thinking about that fight," Lian admitted, running a hand through his hair. "It was so close... I think those are the worst defeats, when you're just inches away, and everything falls apart right in front of you."
Saya sat down next to him, leaning forward slightly. "Maybe you're right. But I also think you're trying to push yourself too hard. Have you thought that maybe what you need now is a little knowledge?"
"Knowledge?" Lian raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Saya replied, smiling. "You're the kind of person who worries about what you don't understand, aren't you? Why not do something about it? You're in Class A, which means you have access to the Main Library."
Lian frowned. "Main Library?"
Saya laughed, shaking her head. "It's impressive that you've never been there. The Main Library is reserved for Class A students only. It's enormous and full of information that isn't available to other classes. You should check it out. I'm so glad I'm in Class A now." Saya finished with a contented sigh.
Lian was silent for a moment. The idea of exploring an exclusive library was tempting, especially if it could provide answers about the vision he had. Finally, he nodded. "Alright. Tell me where it is."
The Main Library was an impressive building, with towering columns and ornate wooden doors that looked ancient and imposing. Lian was surprised he'd never noticed it before, but given that it was far from the main training arena, it made sense he'd never paid attention to it.
As he approached, a magical seal on the entrance glowed briefly, scanning his presence. When Lian touched the door, it opened with a low, deep sound, revealing a vast hall filled with towering shelves, labyrinthine corridors, and a soft light emitted by floating globes that illuminated the space.
He stopped for a moment, admiring the grandeur of the place. There was a reverent atmosphere here, as if time itself moved slower.
"You look impressed," he turned to see Saya entering, an amused smile on her face. "I thought you might need some help finding what you're looking for."
"You didn't have to bother," Lian replied, though there was a note of gratitude in his voice.
"I know. But honestly, I'm curious to see what you'll discover." Saya walked past him, glancing around. "The Legends and Mythology section is on the second floor, at the back. Shall we?"
The two climbed the spiral staircase leading to the second floor, where the atmosphere felt even more isolated. The shelves were taller, and the smell of ancient parchment and ink was stronger. A simple sign marked the beginning of the section: Legends and Mythology.
Lian began walking through the shelves, running his fingers over the aged books and carefully stored scrolls. The variety of titles was impressive: Gods of Creation and Destruction, The Lost Weapons of Heroes, Portals: Myths or Reality? He finally stopped in front of a thick book with a dark cover and gold lettering on the title: Relics of Creation.
"This looks interesting," Lian said, pulling the book off the shelf and placing it on a nearby table.
Saya approached, looking over his shoulder. "Relics of Creation? Sounds important."
Lian opened the book, and the first page was a detailed introduction about mysterious legendary weapons that possessed divine powers. He flipped through a few pages until he reached a section titled: Oblivion, the Blade of the Void.
The description was accompanied by an illustration of the sword, surrounded by an aura of darkness. The text below read:
"Oblivion, the blade that dwells on the boundary between creation and destruction, is a unique artifact capable of consuming both its wielder and its enemies. Its origin is shrouded in mystery, but there are rumors that it was forged by the Gods of Creation as a tool to balance the extremes of the universe. Others claim it is a sword with a sealed demon. However, those who wield Oblivion must pay a price: the greater the power used, the closer the wielder comes to losing their humanity."
Lian read the words carefully, a chill running down his spine. He had already suspected that Oblivion wasn't an ordinary weapon, but seeing it confirmed in such ancient words was something entirely different.
"What are you reading there?" Saya asked, trying to peek over his shoulder. "Blade of the Void? That's a cool name. You like these legends?"
Lian didn't answer immediately. He closed the book and placed his hand on the cover, feeling the weight of the words he had just read. "No, I don't like legends."
Before they could continue, the sound of footsteps interrupted the moment. Lian tried to see who it was when a tall, familiar figure entered the section: Adrian Von Grath. The moment Lian realized who it was, he quickly hid behind a shelf with Saya.
Adrian seemed to be searching for something, walking slowly between the shelves. He stopped for a moment, picked up a book titled The Origin of Portals, and began leafing through it. He appeared focused but simultaneously frustrated.
"Why are we hiding from him?" Saya whispered to Lian.
"I don't like him," Lian replied, watching Adrian intently. "If he sees me, he'll want to start a fight, and I don't want to waste my time on someone like that."
Adrian muttered something inaudible, put the book back on the shelf, and left without noticing their presence. When the sound of his footsteps faded, Saya let out a relieved sigh.
"That was weird," she commented. "Why would Adrian be looking for something here?"
"I don't know," Lian said, his mind working quickly. "But if he's interested in something in the Legends and Mythology section, it could be important. I'll have to keep an eye on him."
When they left the library, Lian carried the tome Relics of Creation with him, determined to study it later. He knew the answers to his questions wouldn't be easy to find, but this was the first step toward understanding Oblivion and, perhaps, himself.
"If you don't like legends, then why are you taking that book?" Saya asked as they walked back to the courtyard.
Since the book lacked illustrations and Lian had never revealed the name of his sword, only he knew it was mentioned in the book. Lian didn't want to reveal this to anyone. If the legend were real and others discovered it was Lian's sword, they might try to use him as a tool.
Lian had to think of an excuse. "Even if it's just a legend, there's always something to learn from them. After all, every legend was inspired by some truth." He spoke without hesitation, even though he felt like he might be spouting nonsense.
Looking at the sky above the academy, Lian couldn't shake the feeling that he was stepping into something much bigger than he had imagined. Oblivion had a far more mysterious origin than he'd believed, it wasn't just a powerful weapon. He was determined to uncover everything, no matter the cost.