Chương 17

Please tell me you've waited for me, Vaela thought. The crowded stairs to the third floor of Saint Aster's Library cleared up before her red hair. Everyone went embarrassingly quiet. They avoided her eyes, and she avoided theirs, too, quietly moving past. This was how it always went. Vaela was a mage with red hair, and thus, she had the power to punish anyone she came across with her imagination alone. Speaking to her became risky, and thus, everyone ignored her.

The shelves on the third floor were far less crowded with their obscure selection of books, like old historical novels that hadn't been popular even when they came out, or science books that had been made obsolete by newer discoveries. Preserving history was the only reason the books were kept here at all. The reading spots here were much quieter, and an unwritten rule was placed to keep the floor quieter than the others.

Vaela snuck past empty shelves, to the very back of the floor, where booths with thick sound-proofed doors led to small reading or study booths. Those were always popular amongst students and old people alike, or even board game groups. Vaela moved to room number three with a "Reserved" sign on it. Nervously, an hour late, she opened the door and peeked inside the cozy dimly lit chamber-like room, big enough to fit four people and maybe some snacks.

Celina, the plump spectacled girl with brown hair, sat under a reading light. She raised her head, and her face lit up, seeing Vaela.

"You came!"

"I'm so sorry for making you wait."

"No, not at all," Celina said.

"I understand if you have sudden jobs you need to take care of." Vaela let out an embarrassed laugh as she sat down. That had indeed been what happened. Father had been especially strict on her mage training lately. She wasn't allowed to leave before she'd memorized the entire spell pattern for both Stronger Mind Protection and Mana Nullification.

The former she actually wanted to learn to avoid what happened in the alleys last time, and nullifying someone's casting would definitely be useful, but training had made her late to meet who could very well be her only friend. When Fellia finally catches the gang, Father will calm down. I'll have more time.

"This book was so much fun," Celina said.

"Your taste in stories is so good. I decided to start a re-read while I was waiting." Another nervous chuckle.

"I didn't get very far…" Vaela said. She grabbed her copy of The Court of The Heartless," an enemies to lovers story about a ruthless Princess whose ability to feel love had been ripped out of her with magic.

"I'm just now at the part where she meets the Prince for the first time."

"Oh," Celina said. Disappointment shone through for a second, but she smiled right after. With a laugh, she said, "I'm a bit past that on my re-read. Her father is so cruel. Her sister was just murdered, and she was given, what, two hours to mourn before she had to take over duty on a political marriage? I'm so glad the idea of political marriages is outdated."

"Yeah…" Vaela said.

"I'm already liking this concept of muted emotions. She's cold, but she's clearly hurting inside."

"Wait until she cries for the first time," Celina said.

"Is that too much of a spoiler."

"No, no." Vaela held her hands and laughed.

"Can't wait. I'm really hoping I'll have more time to read next week. Sorry again for being so busy."

"I should also focus on school more. Oh, and I made cookies!" Celina reached into her bag and uncovered a tray. With a wide grin, she showcased cookies. Animals were drawn on with colored icing. You're the only person who smiles at me like that, Vaela thought. And after I made you wait for over an hour as well. She accepted a cookie and continued chatting. Right now, Celina was Vaela's only normal Asterran friend. They'd met a year ago when Vaela took an empty seat to join a group of girls.

Vaela had smiled at them, saying hello—and that was as far as she got before everyone apologized, and the table cleared. Celina had seen it from the side and walked over and nervously asked, " Did you want them to leave?" As impossible as it had felt, Vaela somehow had a friend now.

"Are academies really as romantic as the books say?" she asked.

"Do all the boys keep asking you out?" Celina laughed at that.

"You sound like such a bookworm, Vaela. People say school in real life. Academy is just the official term."

"Oh. Sorry."

"No, no, I didn't mean to insult you. That just sounded funny. But it depends. My classmates get asked out a lot. As for me… less often. My mom says it's because I eat too many cookies."

"What?" Vaela paused in the middle of taking a bite.

"Isn't eating cookies always a romantic event in books?" Celina shifted nervously.

"Maybe I should bake some for… uh…" Vaela tilted her head.

"For the guy I like…" Celina sighed.

"But I think he might have a crush on someone else."

"What if you invite him to a secret reading corner in the academy? Or, um, school." She laughed.

"That stuff only happens in books, Vaela. In real life, we just dream about our crushes, and then we do nothing and regret it later."

"Right." Vaela ate the cookie.

"Well, if one thing is like in the stories, it's that your cookies are way better than in any of the descriptions in books."

"Really?" Celina rubbed her cheek.

"I had to try three times to get the recipe right. That's a relief you like them."

"Did your parents let you bake when you lived with them?" Vaela asked.

"Of course. Yours don't?"

"No… I tried to ask once. My mother said we had bakers for that." Another amused chuckle.

"You're such a noblewoman, Vaela, I love it." I don't think I want to be, though, she thought, and was reminded of the black obsidian frock on her ears. Ever since the last incident, Vaela had been forbidden from leaving the house with any of her other frocks. She'd been afraid that Celina would be afraid of this one, but thankfully, Celina had never judged Vaela by her clothes, and she didn't now either.

Topics and time passed, and Vaela caught herself smiling a few times, though the emotions quickly dampened, as if to remind her that this was just a temporary break from the problems of gang violence her family was supposed to deal with. She had already spent more time here than Father wanted. Well, Father wanted her to spend no time here at all.

"Wait, it's already nine o'clock?" Celina said after glancing at the clock. That put a troubled look on her face.

"Dammit, why do I need to have a test in two days?"

"Oh, am I holding you?" Vaela asked.

"I'm so sorry."

"No, it's just linguistics, I think I can handle that," Celina said.

"I think I need to head home, though. Mom needs help with carrying the stove downstairs to get repaired." I could lift it with magic. And if she mentioned that, she could already imagine Celina awkwardly declining the offer. Vaela wouldn't be surprised if Celina kept these meetings entirely secret from her family. Not because Celina was skipping schoolwork, but because she was hanging out with Vaela. A mage. This story originates from a different website.

Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"Yeah, I'm sorry for coming late," Vaela said.

"And I'm sorry I couldn't get far in the story."

"No, no, it's fine," Celina said while packing the empty cookie tray to her bag. Vaela felt a cloud of guilt while she watched. I can read it by next week, she wanted to say. Could they meet again next week? How could Vaela request that, when she came an hour late having done no work? Were they still friends? Could they still hang out? Celina smiled at her.

"I do want to hear your opinion on what you think of the ending, though. Should we hold the same book next week?"

"Yes!" Vaela said.

"I'll try to make some time. I promise I won't be late again." She laughed awkwardly.

"Wait, I already promised that last week, didn't I? I, uh, I'll read as far as I can."

"I had fun," Celina said at the door.

"Thanks. And see you again, Vaela!"

"Me too, see you!" Celina left, and the door clicked shut. The room quieted down. The smiles she'd just shared were over, and Vaela was left in the silence of her thoughts. She slumped down on her seat, staring with her eyes out of focus at the title of The Court of The Heartless. Celina always said she felt bad for the protagonists in the grim stories. With the last book, Celina had said it was almost too cruel for her to finish it.

But since it was a story, she knew it would have a happy ending, and she continued through. Vaela didn't really feel bad for the protagonists. More so… she liked books for the sense of belonging. The protagonists just felt… relatable. With a sigh, Vaela stuffed the book into her bag and headed out herself. The overhead lights were dimmed now to remind everyone that it was night. A dark window pointed at Saint Aster's plaza and all the streetlamps within.

The bustling traffic of day was over, which left room for more loitering. A couple sat outside on a bench, holding their hands in the cold. The girl kicked her feet, laughing at something. Their smiles were a little too far to spread. Vaela turned, heading downstairs. Her head wanted to point low, but she forced to keep it up. She was scolded for appearing weak if she showed herself in public with anything that wasn't perfect posture. It was the perfect weather for a quiet walk home.

She could take the less populated streets to avoid disturbing too many people. Vaela headed to the back door. She paused there. Father had told her not to walk alone. She usually disregarded that. Asterra was one of the safest cities in the whole world. Regular, non-magical folk, even children walked home alone in this country. But Vaela was a mage. With a level two core… No, she couldn't walk alone.

Vaela turned to the main entrance, and blinked a signal with her mana core, like causing a tremble in the mana realm. Anyone inside the library should be able to feel it. Soon enough, a mage officer walked out from Ellaris' break room—separate from the librarians' normal staff room. The presence of a level two purple core seeped into the ambient mana as Benry walked up to Vaela. He was an elite officer with the uniform to signal that, having more red than grey. His eyes under his hat were far from smiling.

"Yes, Miss Vaela?" he asked.

"I should probably be escorted home," Vaela said.

"With the gang here and all." Benry bowed, having no intention of talking back to a daughter of Ellaris.

"Yes. We have been instructed to not let you leave premises. Shall we head to the estate?" I would sleep here if I could, Vaela thought. That would really upset Father.

"Yes, please." With respectful professionalism, Benry led her to the back doors, and they entered the streets of Asterra—a city which almost became more beautiful at night. Mana lamps had such a unique way of shaping light exactly where the architects intended, creating a contrast of perfectly lit and darker areas. All alley entrances were lit, and there weren't any spots for ambushers to hide. Having Benry with her was probably overkill.

He was one of Ellaris' best officers, and a purple core was a good combo with Vaela's pink. She didn't need to cast any offensive magic with him around. All she had to do was power up his magic. She really hoped nobody attacked them, because they'd most likely get burned down. If magic didn't exist, I could live a normal life, Vaela thought. I'd be preparing for tests with Celina. Not avoiding gangs…

Benry crossed the intersection to Main Street, where he passed the turn for the walkway, and headed straight to the carriageway. The horses of a merchant paused as Benry walked in the very middle. Shame flowed through Vaela. This was one of the many reasons she liked to walk alone. Instead of taking the quieter routes to alert the least amount of people, Benry walked straight through the middle of the road with not one care about traffic.

Worse, Father agreed with the maneuver, making Vaela's arguments against it useless. What if Celina spotted her now? She wouldn't support this either. Nobody supported this. Everything Ellaris did was a drain on the happiness of those around them. When the gang is dealt with, Vaela thought, I'll sneak out with regular clothes. I don't care if Father scolds me. I want to know what it's like. Maybe I'll dye my hair as well.

No, that would make Father— Benry paused his step, and Vaela did so, too, feeling a concentration of mana above them, on the roofs. A level one core. Another presence came from the walkway to her left.

"We're surrounded," Benry said through gritted teeth.

"Prepare for battle." A horrible pressure of fear washed over her. In a hurry, she drew the pattern of Stronger Mind Protection and filled it with mana, replacing the regular weak Mind Protection she always normally had active. The two mana cores grew to five, then six, now getting closer. Vaela glanced around in each direction. A sharp spike of mana fired like a firework past the trees, from the walkway to the middle of the road, crashing spike first into Benry's head. He groaned, taking the hit head-on.

"We break out of the contain!" he called as his feet bolted in the direction where he'd been hit. A level two mage awaited there. The same, horrible crimson core of the man who'd nearly killed her. His cloaked figure was revealed from behind the trees. He held his palms together in a ball, crimson mana forming inside. Snapping his hands outward, a burst of little shards hit them like hail of daggers. Benry was ready with Arcane Barrier. The purple shield blinked with a sharp thud each time it blocked a shard.

The attack ended, and Benry didn't wait a second to toss his shield aside and counter-attack. Vaela ran with him, knowing they'd both lose the moment they separated. Benry is an expert! Vaela reminded herself through all the panic. Just enhance his mana! As the only level two purple core of Ellaris, Benry was the lone master of his next spell, Finler's Wrath. His eyes glowed purple from the spell's insane Strength Enhancement effect, as an aura of pure mana surrounded Benry. He then cast a normal Mana Dart.

The dart passed through his aura and grew twice in size, evolving to a true javelin of destruction. It fired at the crimson gang member faster than any human could throw. Mana formed a slopy surface in the sixth realm, and the opponent clearly cast Redirect. The Mana Dart bounced off angle, missing. Benry was already casting his next spell. Flame Burst exploded from his hands, charring a low-hanging tree branch to ashes before reaching the gang member. My turn! Vaela thought.

Pink formed on her palms as she formed Mana Gasoline. The burst of heat burned her skin, and flames too bright to see behind hit the spot where the gang member had just stood. The flames shrouded the mana realm, as well as the mana core inside it. A new feeling of mana surged from behind. Benry ignored it, casting only Mana Shield to protect himself as he ran forward. Vaela did the same, feeling the residual heat from the street they'd just burned. The crimson core was gone.

If he'd died, the core would have been there to be picked up. He wasn't, meaning he'd somehow moved out. But they had cleared an escape route. Benry ran forward, and— The ground collapsed under Benry, the stones dissipating to mana. A ward broke, and Benry fell into a hole. Vaela yelled out and tried to cast Levitation on him, but by the time she'd drawn the patter, he hit the bottom, ten feet down.

A fireball shot from the roofs, straight into the hole, and Vaela screamed in her head for casting Levitation and not Arcane Barrier. The fireball burst straight on Benry's head. With Finler's Wrath still active, his grimace was lit up in purple. The fireball crashed into his barrier, burning it, but he wasn't harmed. He jumped, grabbing the edge of hole and pulling with enhanced strength. By the time Benry was up, both sides of the alley were covered.

A level two crimson core blocking the way forward, and a new, strong presence of a gang member Vaela had never seen behind them, where they'd come. Please, just talk it out! Vaela pleaded in her panicked head, only for a Barrier Breaker to crash onto Benry's head. He grimaced and charged the crimson core, when the man from behind shot Mana Shackles. A chain of yellow mana shot from his palm, connecting onto Benry's upper body. His charge stopped with a jolt.

Screaming out loud, Vaela cast Disrupt Mana and slammed her palms on the shackles. The effect broke, and Benry was freed. His charge didn't continue. The purple around his eyes was diminishing, having burnt mana too quickly. He fell to his knees, shouting in pain from the onslaught of mental attacks pounding him.

"No!" Vaela cried out.

"Stop! We'll surrender! Stop!" Nobody said a thing. Benry's remaining mana went to repairing his barrier, while Vaela stood in silent panic. What spell could she use? None. They'd lost. She was useless. Benry's barrier shattered. The next spell that came was a cloud of mana on his head. Vaela pushed her mana against it with Cloud of Mana, pushing the effects aside. The mask of the crimson core stared at her.

"Take off your barrier, and you'll live."

"Promise he'll live as well!" Vaela shouted back. The answer did not come confidently, but the gang member said, "Remove your barrier, and he will." Vaela's chest moved up and down from the panicked breaths. For a second, no spells flowed. Benry was powerlessly on the ground. A tear flowing down her cheek, Vaela took off her mental barrier. A cloud of mana washed over her head, and she lost consciousness.