The rain had begun just past noon, light at first, barely more than mist. But by the time Merlin reached the academy's old library, it had deepened into a steady curtain that blurred the view beyond the windows.
The air inside was cool and dry, carrying the faint smell of parchment and mana-ink. Rows of tall shelves stretched like silent sentinels under the soft glow of enchanted lamps. No students came here anymore. The new wing was larger, brighter, and easier to navigate. This one was for those who sought things better left forgotten.
Merlin moved quietly down the narrow aisles, his footsteps soft on the polished stone.
A single shadow followed, light, elegant, deliberate. Elara.
"You never said why we're here," she said, her voice low, curious but cautious.
"I'm looking for something," he answered without turning.
Her tone tilted slightly. "In the abandoned archives? You realize most of this collection hasn't been updated in decades, right?"
"That's exactly why."
