The day slipped by in a blur, each one of the new lessons seems like a challenge that seemed designed to test my limits. Alchemy was nothing like I'd imagined—it was far more intense, intricate, and exhilarating. Freya was a hard but fair teacher, pushing us to understand each element as though it were alive and had a mind of its own. The complexity of combining them to produce precise effects fascinated me, each concoction a small miracle of creation.
The next few days follow the same rythem, challenging but fun. It was after another grueling session of perfecting a healing elixir that I decided to return to the library to read up on ingredient affinities. My curiosity kept nagging at me—maybe there was something I hadn't learned yet that could help me piece together a cure for Kai Xu's illness. Even though I barely understood why I felt so compelled, the idea of unraveling his mystery lingered at the edges of my thoughts like a shadow.
The library was quieter than usual when I arrived, the warm, low hum of candlelight casting a soft glow across the endless shelves. I made my way up to the third floor, heading straight for the alchemy section. But as I turned the corner, I noticed a figure in dark robes poring over a thick, ancient tome.
It was the librarian, with his usual sulky, closed-off expression. He barely glanced up as I approached, though his eyes flicked over my hand as I reached for a volume on alchemy. I felt his gaze linger there, noting how I found the book's placement without hesitation.
"Back again?" he murmured, his voice quiet, almost reluctant.
"Yes," I replied, a small smile forming despite his brooding presence. "There's still so much to learn. I thought I'd study ingredient affinities to improve my healing elixirs."
He paused, seeming to weigh his next words. "You've got a keen memory. Not many can navigate the library as quickly. Perhaps you'll find some answers here if you're persistent enough."
I nodded, taking his words to heart as I settled down with my book. The alchemy texts were dense, filled with terms I was only beginning to understand, but I pushed through, absorbing every detail I could. I wanted to be prepared for any possible way to harness healing—especially if it could help with rare illnesses like Kai Xu's.
But my focus was broken when I overheard two students at a nearby table, their voices low, as if they were discussing something forbidden. I stilled, only just catching snippets of their conversation.
"Did you hear about the Church of the Goddess?" one whispered, glancing over his shoulder. "They say they're sending someone to the academy to keep an eye on... him."
"Him?" the other asked, brow furrowing.
"Yes," the first replied, lowering his voice further. "Apparently, they suspect he may have ties to the prophecy."
My mind began to whirl. The Church of the Goddess… I'd heard whispers about them—an influential sect with followers all across the kingdom, including the nobility. I'd assumed they were like any other religious order, but the rumors suggested they had their own hidden agendas, their eyes fixed on people of power.
Could they really be interested in the prophecy? And who was this mysterious 'him' they were watching?
I knew I should look away, pretend not to hear. But the moment they said the word "prophecy," it was as if a pulse shot through me, like a forgotten memory clawing its way to the surface.
But before I could piece together any more of what they were saying, their conversation was cut short. A shadow fell over their table, and a familiar voice, cold and authoritative, cut through the silence.
"If you have time to gossip, you have time to study," Kai Xu said, his expression unreadable as he glared down at them.
The students stammered a quick apology, their faces paling as they packed up and left in a hurry. I couldn't help but watch him from my corner, my heart suddenly pounding for reasons I couldn't explain. Kai's presence was like an invisible weight, an intensity that filled the air around him and forced everyone to take notice. He turned and looked directly at me, and for a moment, our eyes met.
It was only for a second, but it felt like hours. His gaze was as cold as ever, but there was something else—a flicker of curiosity, as if he were sizing me up, trying to see if I was worthy of his notice.
Just as quickly, he looked away and started browsing the shelves, as if our silent exchange hadn't happened at all.
I exhaled, feeling like I'd been holding my breath the entire time. The room seemed to settle again as he disappeared into the shadows between the shelves. And yet, his presence lingered, a reminder of the quiet, magnetic pull that I couldn't shake.
I left the library not long after, my mind buzzing with questions about what I'd overheard. I returned to my dormitory, my thoughts still racing, and shared what I'd read with Mira, Aerin, and Caius during a quiet evening.
They listened intently, especially as I mentioned the Church of the Goddess. Mira's brow furrowed, clearly concerned. "The Church isn't just any order. They're powerful and… controlling. They have followers in every level of society, even within the royal family."
I felt a chill. The pieces were coming together, but I still didn't understand what any of it meant for me. Why would they be interested in the prophecy?
"Maybe they're just being cautious," Caius suggested, shrugging. "Prophecies can be vague. They could be after anyone with unusual powers, like that Princess Isabelle."
At the mention of the princess, my thoughts flickered back to Kai, and I wondered how he fit into all of this. He was an enigma wrapped in rumors, but I couldn't ignore the feeling that he was connected to this mystery in a way I hadn't yet uncovered.
It was a lot to process, and I knew there was much I didn't understand. But one thing was clear—the academy was a web of secrets, and I was already caught in its threads.