Zane slowly opened his eyes, feeling a slight headache and pain from his body.
"Where am I?"
He mumbled, barely letting out a voice.
Zane could feel his body lying on a familiar bed.
He stared blankly at the ceiling above. Waiting for his vision to regain its normal state. His body was still in pain, but it was bearable now.
As he stared blankly at the ceiling above, he felt that it was too familiar.
"Wait, hold on… am I back in Ironveil?!"
Zane immediately got up, ignoring the pain he was feeling from his body. He then looked around his surroundings, scanning the room he was in.
The room was large and stone-made, and it was also slightly dark, but not dark enough to not be able to see what was around him. There was also a window beside him, and the room was decorated neatly.
He was also on a very large bed.
Zane let out a big sigh.
After confirming that he was back in Ironviel, he lay down back on his bed again.
'So, I passed out, huh.'
'First day in the academy and I already passed out.'
"Hell… absolutely hell!"
As Zane was ranting about his experience in the academy, someone suddenly knocked on the door.
Knock!
Knock!
Zane looked towards the door, slightly surprised.
Then, someone suddenly opened the door and went inside.
A beautiful girl, with brown hair and dark eyes. She was wearing a maid outfit.
The maid outfit was simple yet elegant—a black dress with a white apron tied neatly at the back, trimmed with lace at the collar and sleeves. Black stockings and polished shoes completed the look, exuding quiet grace.
Nobody would be able to tell that this girl was a maid and a commoner if it weren't for the fact that she was wearing a maid outfit.
Zane stared towards the beautiful girl and got up.
"Lyra?"
Lyra was carrying new clothes for Zane, heading towards him. But as she got closer, her eyes widened in shock.
Lyra smiled as she stared at Zane, then said in a lively but worried tone.
"Young master! I'm glad you are finally awake! I was so worried; I heard that you completely drained your mana again and passed out!"
She said as he hugged Zane tightly around her arms.
Zane felt a bit surprised by the sudden hug. Hearing her words, Zane couldn't help but smile.
Zane then said in a relaxed tone.
"Yeah, I guess I overexerted myself again. Sorry, I know I shouldn't have gone too far."
Lyra took her arms out of Zane's body and then grabbed the new clothes she prepared for him.
She then handed it to Zane. Zane then took it from her and said.
"Thanks."
She stared at him for a bit, then sighed and said,.
"Zane, I know that you are frustrated by your lack of mana capacity, but at least think of yourself, Zane. This has happened three times already, you know! If you keep doing this, you might actually die!"
Zane stared at her blankly as she lectured him. He couldn't say anything; he was just glad that someone still cared for him despite how much of a failure he is.
Zane smiled, then said.
"Yes, yes. I will."
Lyra stared at her for a moment, then her brows furrowed.
"Hmm… you said that last time, you know…"
Zane showed an awkward smile, then said hardly letting out the word.
"...I'm serious this time, Lyra. Really… I think I really learned my lesson this time!"
Lyra let out a big sigh.
"Anyways, I will be going now! I still have things to do, you know.
She said, then headed towards the door and left the room.
Zane watched as she left the door and disappeared.
Lyra stood as a mother figure for Zane. Ever since Zane was a child, Lyra had always taken care of him. That's why seeing her warms his heart.
Zane slowly looked up to the ceiling. Thinking deeply about what he should do next. Since his body was still not well, he thought that he should probably just read some books for a while, then sleep afterwards.
It's been a while after all since he went back to this castle, since he moved into the academy's students dormitory.
He especially missed reading books in the library here. Reading books was his way of escaping the judgments he faced from others in this castle. Now that he is alone in this castle, he can have it all for himself.
Thinking about it made him smile.
He immediately stood up and changed his clothes.
After changing clothes, he headed towards the door. Then went out of the room, heading to where the library was located.
He walked slowly and deliberately, making sure he wasn't making any sound. If Lyra found out he was walking around already, he would have to face the consequences.
Severe consequences.
After walking around at the castle for a few minutes, he finally arrived at the library.
He stood before its large wooden doors.
He smiled and said.
"I miss you, baby! I know it's only been a few days, but whatever."
Excited, he opened the wooden doors of the library.
He opened it slowly, making sure that there was no sound.
However, by how large the doors were, it was bound to make a creaking noise. Still, he tried to make sure that it wasn't loud enough for anyone to hear.
As the doors opened wide, he slowly entered the library.
The castle library stretched endlessly into the shadows, its towering shelves disappearing into the vaulted ceiling. The dim glow of a few scattered lanterns barely reached the edges of the vast room. Rows upon rows of ancient books filled the air with the scent of aged parchment, while the silence was heavy, broken only by the faint crackle of a distant fireplace.
'It sure feels lonely here.'
He walked through the slightly dark library, looking left to right.
Although loneliness wasn't really a good feeling to have, he somewhat found it peaceful to be alone.
Zane took his time, scanning each row of the books.
Grabbing books off the shelves, then, take a look at it for a bit and put it back again. He had repeated this action for as long as he could remember.
'Hmm… I've read most of the books here…'
'Maybe I should try reading the books at the very top of the shelves? I've never really read most of the books there since it was just such a hassle. I would need to grab the ladder, and it's not even guaranteed that I will find a good book out there.'
Zane, as a child, loved to read books. So he often went to the library, reading all the stuff he took interest in. He always went to the library after he was done with his training, and after years and years of going to the library, he had almost read all the stuff in there. Well, not entirely, since he mostly read all the books that are below the shelves, since he thought that it was a hassle moving in the ladder to find interesting books to read at the top of the shelves.
But, since he couldn't really find a book to read below the shelves. He decided to find a book at the top of the shelves.
He sighed.
'Welp, this is going to be a real hassle…'
Zane then immediately took the ladder that was placed not that far away from him; he then placed it at the shelf he was in earlier.
This section had books that contained information about how one can increase someone's mana. Zane had actually been studying stuff regarding mana for a while. He was really determined to cover up his own weakness, which is his lack of mana.
But, no matter what he does, it just seems like his mana keeps getting lower.
Placing the ladder at the spot he was in earlier, he carefully climbed up, heading towards the top of the shelf.
After reaching the top of the shelf, he took his time scanning the books in front of him before grabbing a book.
'Hmm… there's nothing interesting here at all…'
However, before he went down. A certain book caught his attention.
'Hold on… what the hell?'
Zane, who was curious, decided to take the book out of the shelf.
The reason why it caught his attention was because of how ancient it looked. It almost looked like just grabbing it was going to make the book disintegrate.
Zane slowly put his hand on the mysterious book; as he felt the book on his hand, he could feel a sudden reaction from his mana core. It felt like his mana core was responding to the ancient book.
Zane's eyes widened in shock.
'Huh? That's strange…'
'Just what the hell is this book? Is it a cursed book perhaps? Then why the hell is it here?'
Zane was in deep thought. He didn't know if he should pull it out from the shelf or not. He was really curious about what this book was, but at the same time he didn't want to face the consequences of pulling this book out of the shelf.
He sighed.
In the end, Zane decided to take it out of the shelf. He thought that maybe the reaction from his mana core was because of how drained it was.
Maybe… just maybe it was just a coincidence?
'Probably right?'
After looking at the ancient book for a while, he finally decided to pull it out.
Slowly and carefully, Zane held the edge of the book tightly and pulled it out.
Closing his eyes, he pulled it out completely from the shelf.
"..."
"Huh?"
Staring at the ancient book, he scanned it for a while. Waiting for something to happen.
...However, nothing happened.
A faint smile appeared on Zane's face.
"So it really was just a coincidence after all!"
"That scared me; of course there wouldn't be a cur-."
Thud!
Suddenly, a strange sound could be heard in front of him. It was a sound that seemed like everything around him was changing shape.
Zane was distracted by the strange sound, leaving him speechless.
He stared in front of him, with his eyes wide open from shock. He simply couldn't believe the sight in front of him.
The shelf in front of him started changing shape; it was as if it was trying to open a hidden base.
Zane watched as the shelf in front of him started changing shapes.
Moments after, as Zane watched the shelf changing shape, making the middle of the shelf wide open.
Suddenly, Zane could see a hall.
Zane looked at the mysterious hall in front of him, with absolute horror on his face.
"W-what the hell is that?!"
The hallway was long and grand, lit by rows of flickering torches mounted on the stone walls. The arched ceiling rose high above, casting deep shadows that danced with the firelight. At the far end, a glowing white light blocked the way, bright and impenetrable, as if no one could ever pass through it. The air felt cool and still, carrying a quiet sense of mystery.
As Zane stared at the mysterious hall in front of him, his eyes shifted to the ancient book that he was holding.
He then said in a low and trembling voice, "Was this book… a lever perhaps?"
He then slowly looked in front of him again.
Zane was absolutely scared as shit. It's not that he is a coward; this was simply out of the ordinary. However, Zane was curious. He was scared, but at the same time he was curious about the strange phenomenon that just occurred in the library.
'Should I go inside?'
'No, no, no! This is bad; this could be really dangerous! '
Zane sighed heavily.
"Maybe I should tell Lyra about this? Maybe she knows about this mysterious hall?"
Zane thought for a while, then decided that the best choice was to tell Lyra about the strange hall. After all, she had been here longer than he had. Who knows, maybe she knew about this mysterious hall.
Zane decided to climb down.
However, before he could. He was pulled in by a mysterious force.
'Huh?!'
Zane could suddenly feel a very strong force of gravity, pulling him towards the mysterious hall in front of him.
The force was growing stronger as seconds went by.
'Shit! What the hell is happening?'
Zane held tightly onto the ladder. He clenched his teeth, trying to withstand the force.
However, it just got stronger and stronger as time passed by. He couldn't even try to shout for help. It got stronger and stronger until the ladder fell down along with Zane.
Thud!
'Damn it! Why does every decision I make always have to end up being really bad? '
Zane had nothing to hold on to.
…And eventually, Zane was pulled away by the mysterious force coming from the hall.
"Lyra! Please help!"
He tried to ask for help. However, no sound could be heard anymore, as he was already inside the mysterious hall.
He could feel his body getting dragged away, heading even deeper into the mysterious hall.
What's even worse is that the shelves were starting to go back to their normal shape, just like how they were before. It was all happening before Zane's eyes.