Merslin, Elena, Lisa, and Aria made their way to Silvermoon's library, hoping to uncover more details about the scroll they had discovered. Lisa groaned at the mention of a library but was intrigued enough by Sella's high-level magic scroll to tag along.
"A library, huh? Ugh, I can already feel my energy draining," Lisa grumbled, stretching her arms lazily. "But a high-level magic scroll? Now that's got my attention. Let's see what we can dig up."
"If we can learn more about this scroll, it could be a major asset for our future adventures," Elena said, her eyes shining with curiosity.
Aria smiled and took Lisa's hand. "Come on, Lisa! If we find something valuable, it'll all be worth it."
Merslin nodded. "Sella's magic… If she really existed and left behind something as powerful as this scroll, understanding it might help us prepare for whatever challenges lie ahead."
Unlike the grand, scholarly libraries of Luminaria, this one had a more casual atmosphere, filled with books that catered to entertainment and curiosity.
Elena, convinced that this place might hold more records on Sella, pulled Aria along and eagerly began searching the shelves.
Lisa, uninterested in a book hunt, plopped herself down at a nearby table while Merslin slowly browsed the aisles, scanning for anything mentioning Sella, the legendary master of dance.
Elena and Aria delved into the library's ancient archives. As they sifted through rows of dusty tomes, Elena suddenly pulled out a book and gasped.
"I found something about Sella!" she called out.
Merslin and Lisa quickly joined her, and the four of them gathered around the table to read.
The book detailed Sella's legend and her famed 'Unstoppable Dance.'
She was not a magician, but an artist whose dance captivated audiences without the aid of magic. Her sheer mastery of movement enthralled people, drawing them into her rhythm effortlessly.
However, the book also mentioned that she had participated in a great battle at the kingdom's request—a bizarre revelation, considering her reputation as an entertainer.
Yet, beyond that, there was frustratingly little information.
One passage described her as "The Legend of the Unfathomable Buff. A great artist and the most extraordinary performer."
It concluded with a single phrase: "Worship her dance."
Lisa snorted. "Hah! I like her already. Imagine someone being so good at dancing that even the battlefield couldn't ignore her."
Elena frowned. "But why are there so few details about her battle? It feels like someone deliberately erased her history…"
Merslin exhaled. "Looks like we'll have to dig deeper."
Infiltrating the Secret Academy
Determined to learn more, the group decided to visit Silvermoon's Dance Academy, a prestigious institution where artists and magicians trained side by side. If there were any surviving records of Sella's battle, this was the best place to find them.
"This place looks amazing," Elena said, admiring the academy's grand entrance.
"But do you think they'll just let us waltz in?" Aria asked, sounding doubtful.
As they approached the academy's gate, a guard stood blocking their path. Merslin, ever the diplomat, stepped forward with a polite smile.
"Hello, we'd like to enter and research the legend of Sella," he said.
The guard barely spared him a glance before shaking his head.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible. This academy is strictly for women. No men allowed."
Merslin blinked. "…Oh."
Lisa burst into laughter. "Hah! Looks like you're out, Merslin."
Merslin sighed. "Well, that complicates things. If I can't enter, gathering information is going to be difficult."
At that moment, a magical communication device in Merslin's pocket vibrated. He pulled it out, surprised to see a message from Serena.
"Serena's calling," he muttered before activating the device.
Serena's voice came through. "Merslin! I heard you guys are in Silvermoon. What are you up to?"
"We're trying to investigate Sella's scroll, but the Dance Academy only allows women inside," Merslin explained.
Serena's voice took on a mischievous tone. "Oh? That's an easy problem to solve. I'm actually nearby—I'll be there in two days."
Elena's eyes lit up. "That would be a huge help! Thanks, Serena."
Two days later, Serena arrived, meeting them outside the academy. She studied the entrance with an amused smirk.
"Yep, I checked. This place is strictly for women. But don't worry—I have a solution."
Merslin narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What kind of solution?"
Serena's grin widened. "You're going to dress as a woman."
Lisa immediately doubled over with laughter. "YES! Oh, this is going to be amazing!"
Merslin groaned. "Is there really no other way?"
Elena gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "I hate to say it, but this might be our only option."
Serena pulled out Aria's combat undergarments with an innocent smile. "I brought these just in case."
Aria gasped and turned beet red. "S-Serena! That's way too embarrassing!"
Merslin froze. "…Wait. You expect me to wear that?"
Serena smirked. "Oh, absolutely. If you're going to pass as a woman, you have to commit."
Merslin sighed in defeat. "Fine. Let's just get this over with."
Lisa and Serena gleefully set to work transforming Merslin. Serena strapped a bra onto him, stuffing it with extra padding. She gave it a poke and mused, "Huh. Actually looks pretty convincing. About the same size as Aria's."
"Serena!!" Aria squeaked, covering her face.
Lisa wiped away tears of laughter. "Merslin, you're prettier than I expected. Maybe we should keep you like this permanently?"
Merslin scowled. "Not. Happening."
Once he was in a wig, makeup, and a dress, the transformation was complete.
"Flawless!" Serena declared.
Merslin stared at his reflection. "This is so wrong… but if it gets us inside, I guess I'll deal with it."
Lisa smirked. "So, do we call you Merslina now?"
Merslin sighed. "Let's just go."
Two days later, Serena arrived, meeting them outside the academy. She studied the entrance with an amused smirk.
"Yep, I checked. This place is strictly for women. But don't worry—I have a solution."
Merslin narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "What kind of solution?"
Serena's grin widened. "You're going to dress as a woman."
Lisa immediately doubled over with laughter. "YES! Oh, this is going to be amazing!"
Merslin groaned. "Is there really no other way?"
Elena gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "I hate to say it, but this might be our only option."
Serena pulled out Aria's combat undergarments with an innocent smile. "I brought these just in case."
Aria gasped and turned beet red. "S-Serena! That's way too embarrassing!"
Merslin froze. "…Wait. You expect me to wear that?"
Serena smirked. "Oh, absolutely. If you're going to pass as a woman, you have to commit."
Merslin sighed in defeat. "Fine. Let's just get this over with."
Lisa and Serena gleefully set to work transforming Merslin. Serena strapped a bra onto him, stuffing it with extra padding. She gave it a poke and mused, "Huh. Actually looks pretty convincing. About the same size as Aria's."
"Serena!!" Aria squeaked, covering her face.
Lisa wiped away tears of laughter. "Merslin, you're prettier than I expected. Maybe we should keep you like this permanently?"
Merslin scowled. "Not. Happening."
Once he was in a wig, makeup, and a dress, the transformation was complete.
"Flawless!" Serena declared.
Merslin stared at his reflection. "This is so wrong… but if it gets us inside, I guess I'll deal with it."
Lisa smirked. "So, do we call you Merslina now?"
Merslin sighed. "Let's just go."
Inside the Academy
Disguised as a woman, Merslin entered the academy without issue. The interior was elegant, with walls adorned with portraits of famous dancers. Students were practicing various styles—some graceful, others energetic and wild.
"We need to find Sella's records," Elena whispered.
After scouring the library, they finally found a book about her.
The records confirmed that Sella was not a magician, yet her dance held unexplainable power. Her presence alone could influence the battlefield, inspiring warriors and unnerving foes.
The most shocking part?
She fought in a massive war.
Alongside her were two disciples, and together, their performance turned the tide of battle.
Merslin's jaw dropped. "Wait. She was this influential? Why was this erased from history?"
Elena frowned. "I've studied war records, but I've never seen anything mentioning her."
Aria pointed to the last passage.
"She remained a renowned artist, but her role in war was buried. The world remembers her dance, not her battlefield."
Lisa whistled. "Damn. What a way to be remembered."
Merslin sighed, closing the book. "At least we know more now. But it feels wrong, like something—someone—deliberately erased this part of history."
Elena nodded. "Whoever did it wanted to keep her legacy separate from war. Maybe to protect her reputation? Or maybe to keep people from discovering how powerful she really was."
Aria traced the faded words on the page. "Even after all these years, her story still isn't complete. There must be more out there."
Merslin glanced at the scroll they had found earlier. "And we might be the ones to uncover it."
Lisa grinned. "Well, if we're gonna do that, I say we figure out how to use this unstoppable dance."
Serena chuckled. "Guess that means Merslin really will have to dance, huh?"
Merslin groaned. "I was afraid you'd say that."
Despite his protests, there was no denying the excitement in the air. They had found another missing piece of history. But more questions remained:
Why was Sella's role in war hidden? What kind of power did her dance truly hold?
One thing was certain—this was only the beginning.