The cobbled streets of the city were quiet that morning, the golden light of early sun casting long shadows as Noah and Cordelia walked side by side. He had his hands in his pockets, a faint breeze tugging at his black hair. Cordelia held a stack of notebooks pressed against her chest, white hair falling across her shoulders like a curtain of snow.
"Please tell me you brought the notes for Magical History," Noah said without looking at her.
"I brought summaries for that, Elemental Theory, and Advanced Combat Tactics," Cordelia replied flatly. "You’re welcome."
"Efficient as always," he muttered. "Just don’t expect me to do flashcards again. My patience died last time."
Cordelia smirked. "You didn’t have patience to begin with."
Noah was about to respond when he heard the unmistakable sound of rushed footsteps—followed by a loud voice.
Lys was sprinting toward them, nearly tripping over the uneven stones. Her short blue hair bounced wildly, and the star-shaped ornament pinned to her bangs gleamed in the sunlight. A ridiculously oversized satchel bounced at her side, bulging with who-knows-what.
She stopped just short of crashing into them, panting. "You... you guys didn’t tell me you were going to study again today!"
Cordelia blinked. "We didn’t think you’d care."
"I always care!" Lys huffed. "Especially if Noah’s involved!"
Noah sighed. "We’re going to the library. You sure you won’t get bored and start talking to your spirits again?"
"I brought snacks this time," she said proudly. "And Fire promised to behave. Mostly."
Cordelia narrowed her eyes. "As long as you don’t set anything on fire again."
Lys raised a hand in mock salute. "Scout’s honor."
Cordelia shook her head and kept walking. Noah followed. Lys bounced happily behind them.
’This is going to be a long day,’ Noah thought.
The city library loomed ahead, its wide arched doors framed by ivy-covered stone. Inside, sunlight filtered through high windows, casting warm hues across rows of ancient tomes and polished tables. The scent of old parchment and mana-ink filled the air.
They settled at a large table near the back—Noah on one side, Cordelia directly across, and Lys plopping down beside Noah with a victorious grin.
Cordelia immediately opened her notes, laying them out with clinical precision. "We’re starting with Magical History. Noah, you’ll summarize Chapters seven through nine."
"Already?" Noah raised an eyebrow. "No warm-up questions? No coffee?"
Cordelia didn’t look up. "You had cake yesterday. That was your warm-up."
Lys, meanwhile, pulled out a cloth bundle and unwrapped a small mountain of colorful snacks—glazed buns, berry-filled pastries, cinnamon crisps, and something suspiciously glowing.
Noah eyed it. "Is that thing... humming?"
"It’s a spirit-infused sugar drop," Lys beamed. "Totally harmless! I think."
"Please don’t put anything magical near the textbooks," Cordelia muttered, sliding her own books away from Lys’s snack zone.
Lys tore into a bun with alarming speed. "Studying burns calories!"
Noah rolled his eyes. "You mean talking about studying."
Cordelia, still focused on her notes, didn’t even glance up. "If you’re not going to help, go flirt somewhere else."
Lys coughed, cheeks slightly red. "I’m not flirting! I’m just... supporting morale!"
"Support it quieter," Noah said, flipping open a thick leather-bound book. "Alright, let’s get this over with."
They dove into the material—Cordelia directing the pace, Noah simplifying complex topics with ease, and Lys asking questions every five minutes that somehow circled back to Noah’s opinion on spirit compatibility, magic types, or what he’d eat for dinner.
Despite the chaos, the group made progress—books filled with notes, crumbs quietly piling up near Lys’s section.
Noah looked up for a moment and caught a glimpse of both girls—Cordelia furrowing her brows as she annotated, Lys resting her chin on her hand while smiling dreamily at him.
’Yep. Long day confirmed,’ he thought, before turning back to the Chapter on the Arcane Rebellion.
The sun had begun its slow descent, casting long orange beams through the library’s windows. Shadows stretched between the shelves, and the once-busy reading room had grown quiet as most students packed up and left for the evening.
Cordelia closed her final book with a satisfied thump. "That’s enough for today. We’ve covered three units and finished two practice exams."
Lys stretched her arms overhead, letting out a small groan. "Ugh, my brain is melting..."
Noah stood up and adjusted his jacket. "That’s what learning feels like."
"You say that like it’s a good thing," Lys muttered.
Cordelia ignored them, carefully stacking her notes. "We’ll meet tomorrow again—same time."
Lys perked up. "Can we meet earlier? Maybe get pastries again? Or lunch? Or—"
Cordelia cut in dryly, "It’s a study group, not a brunch club."
"Hey! There’s no rule against mixing food and facts," Lys defended herself with mock offense. Then, with a soft smile, she looked at Noah. "Thanks for the help today."
Noah paused, giving a faint nod. "No problem."
As they stepped outside the building, the air was cooler, crisp with the scent of late autumn. Students passed by in small groups, talking, laughing, heading to dorms or dinner.
Cordelia took off first, waving without looking back. "I’m off. Don’t forget to review elemental theory tonight."
"Slave driver..." Noah mumbled.
Lys lingered for a moment longer, hands behind her back. "Um... do you need company on the walk back?"
Noah shook his head. "I’ll be fine."
"Okay..." she said, voice small but not disappointed. "Then I’ll see you tomorrow!"
She skipped off, humming to herself, leaving Noah alone beneath the purple-tinged sky.
He stood there for a moment, stretching, letting the quiet settle in—
Then a deep, commanding voice cut through the air.
Standing a few meters away was a tall, broad-shouldered man with dark skin and a trimmed black beard. His sleeveless teaching vest showed a physique carved by decades of combat training. Sharp eyes locked onto Noah like arrows drawn.
Combat instructor. Physical enhancement specialist. Veteran of three mana wars.
"You’re ready for your second assignment," Darius said, stepping forward. "I’ve already spoken to the administration. You leave in two days."