A few minutes of silence passed between them, their footsteps the only sound echoing through the wide, stone-lined halls as they approached the library. The door that greeted them was grand—towering and made of polished mahogany, its surface etched with intricate carvings of owls, scrolls, and stars. Above the arch, a bronze plaque gleamed under the corridor light, clearly marked: Library.
Maria stepped forward, placing her hand delicately on one of the ornate door handles. With a gentle push, the heavy door creaked open, revealing a breathtaking sight within. Towering bookshelves stretched up toward a vaulted ceiling lined with golden beams.
The air held the faint scent of parchment and aged wood. Some books floated lazily through the air, flipping their pages mid-flight before returning to their places, guided by an unseen enchantment. Soft glows from enchanted lanterns hung overhead, casting a cozy warmth over the vast interior.
Scattered throughout the space were velvet armchairs and long wooden tables, most of them occupied by students quietly conversing or poring over thick study tomes—some of whom Silas recognized from his earlier classes.
Silas stepped in behind Maria, following her into the sea of knowledge. As the door slowly swung back, he caught it with one hand and closed it gently behind them, the click of the latch muffled by the hushed ambience inside. The soft thud felt oddly grounding—like crossing a threshold into a different world.
"Where should we sit?"
Maria's whisper softened further, almost reverent in the library's hush.
Silas let his gaze drift, eyes scanning quickly and efficiently. He wasn't just looking for a place to sit—he was calculating sightlines, proximity, and isolation. Finally, he found what he was searching for: a table tucked away in the far corner of the library, partially hidden behind rows of tall shelves.
The corner held a modest table meant for four, flanked by high-backed chairs. A large arched window loomed just beyond it, offering a serene view of the courtyard below, where the afternoon sunlight filtered through gently swaying leaves. Golden light pooled on the marble floor like warm silk.
"How about there?" he said, pointing.
Maria followed his gaze, and upon spotting the table, her expression brightened with subtle delight. She offered a faint smile and raised both thumbs up with exaggerated approval.
"Woah… nice eyes!" she whispered, her tone still soft but filled with playful admiration.
"One of my better features, I guess."
Silas smirked faintly, his voice dry but tinged with modest amusement.
They began making their way toward the corner, weaving between the labyrinth of bookshelves and occupied tables. As they passed, a few students lifted their eyes from their books, curiosity flickering behind cautious glances. Some eyes lingered a little too long.
"Why would a student from 1-A hang out with a 4-D delinquent…?"
"Isn't that Lady Maria? What's Marcus doing with her?"
The whispers were low, careful not to carry—but futile. Silas caught every word, his ears trained to detect even the subtlest sounds. His expression didn't change, but a flicker of awareness passed behind his eyes.
Maria, while not privy to the precise comments, noticed the stares. She didn't need to hear them to know what was being said. Still, she kept her pace steady, her expression light.
"I hope they don't get the wrong idea," she said with a soft chuckle, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.
"It'll be quite a scandal."
Her tone was amused, but her eyes twinkled with mischief—like she wasn't entirely opposed to the idea of stirring a little chaos.
As they both sat down on opposite sides of the table, the quiet hum of the library enveloped them. Silas leaned back slightly in his chair, his arms loosely crossed, eyes drifting toward the tall arched window beside them.
Golden sunlight spilled across the wooden tabletop, catching the edges of his sleeve as he stared beyond the glass, lost in thought. The courtyard outside swayed with the gentle breeze—grass bending in smooth, synchronized ripples. His mind wandered restlessly, occupied with how to navigate the unfamiliar terrain of his new home life.
"You're quite a thinker, huh?"
Maria's voice cut gently through the silence, bringing him back. Her elbows were propped on the table now, chin resting on her folded hands as she observed him with open curiosity.
Silas let out a soft chuckle, amused by the comment but not surprised.
"Is that a bad thing?"
He tilted his head slightly, feigning mock offense as a lopsided grin played on his lips.
"I just have that keen of an intellect."
Maria raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a smirk as she playfully rolled her eyes.
"Woah… does that explain why you happened to be in 4-D?"
The teasing tone in her voice was unmistakable—light and biting in equal measure.
The jab landed. Silas froze, just for a fraction of a second, his smile faltering before he masked it again. A flicker of vulnerability passed behind his eyes, but it was gone almost as quickly as it appeared.
"You're quite good at comebacks, huh?"
His voice was calm, edged with reluctant admiration.
Maria grinned, her expression bright and unbothered—as if she relished the sparring match.
"I'm no slouch when it comes to it, I guess."
She chuckled, the sound low and musical, before pushing back her chair with a soft scrape against the floor. Her skirt swayed slightly as she stood and brushed off the faint wrinkles from her uniform.
"Where are you going?"
Silas asked, his voice casual as he leaned forward, resting both arms on the table now, the sleeves of his uniform pulling taut at his elbows.
"I'll be back," She replied, already turning on her heel.
"Just going to grab some books to read."
She offered no further explanation and didn't wait for a response, simply walking off with a lightness to her step that contrasted the weight of Silas's brooding.
Silas watched her disappear down one of the aisles between towering bookshelves, then turned back toward the window, his gaze trailing once more to the sunlit courtyard. The blades of grass danced like tiny waves beneath the pale sky.
"Guess the characters' personalities in the game were far more detailed than I thought…"
He grinned faintly to himself, lips barely parted as the thought drifted aloud. The realization hung in the air like a whispered truth, spoken more to the afternoon light than to anyone else.