The Library of Endings

December 1st, 1624 of the Creation Calendar.

Winter had arrived. The academy grounds, which only months ago shimmered beneath rain and sunlight, were now buried beneath a pristine blanket of snow. Alofis in winter resembled a scene pulled from a fairytale: marble pathways, gardens, and spires alike all softened beneath layers of white. Students roamed the grounds in laughter, building snowmen, tossing snowballs, and savoring the fleeting innocence of academy life.

Within Vanessa Academy's main building, the mood was far more serious.

Inside the Star Class classroom, the students sat together, gathered solemnly around Kayle's desk. With the graduation assignment upon them, the room was steeped in focus.

"So then," Rames spoke up, breaking the silence, "it's about time. Have you all finally decided?"

"Yeah, I've made up my mind too. What about you guys?" Mariya asked, leaning forward with interest.

"Yup. I'll take a group assignment with Mariya, Rose, and… this loudmouth over here," Jack said, pointing lazily at Rames.

"Can't you change that mouth of yours? Because you simply can't shut it," Rames retorted, a vein pulsing in his temple.

"If you've got a problem, then leave and pick another group." Jack smirked.

"As always, brawling without thinking first," Rames muttered, rolling his eyes.

"You two! Enough already." Rose slammed her hand on the desk, silencing them. "We're having a serious discussion. If you want to fight, take it outside. We don't have time for your childish squabbling."

Both Rames and Jack instantly fell silent, glaring at each other but keeping their mouths shut.

"Good. Now, what about you guys?" Rose turned to the others.

"Just like we discussed before. I'll take a group assignment with Kayle, Latty, and her." Silvia said, motioning towards Sara.

"Of course. I'll be with Kayle to protect him." Latty declared, mischievously ruffling Kayle's silver hair. Wrapping her arms teasingly around Kayle's shoulders.

"Latty, stop messing up my hair," Kayle sighed.

"And who'll be leading this merry band of chaos?" Mariya asked.

"Me," Kayle said without hesitation. "I'm the only one who can stop them from tearing each other apart mid-mission."

"Well, it's true," Aeon thought, a wry smile touching his lips. "Silvia won't even take orders from Sara, and Sara would never follow Silvia's lead. They literally argued in the cafeteria and made a mess. On the other hand, Latty is good at commanding, even if she's 'only' a Fourth Circle Mage."

"I think that's good," Rames conceded. "You are a good leader, but have you thought about what kind of assignment you're going to take? If your assignment requires students from the Knight Department, you will have to persuade them to accept you as their leader."

"I doubt anyone would have a problem with Kayle being our group leader." Sara interjected. "After the third-year practicals exams, even the knight department respects his leadership. Remember how he led his group to victory with the Sky Class students with pure tactics and judgment?"

"She's right. They won't object," Mariya agreed. "So, what difficulty are you thinking?"

"Four-star. With Silvia, Sara, and Latty, it should be within reason. They've all agreed." Kayle answered.

"Then it's settled." Jack leaned back. "What about you, Jin, Shawn?"

"I'll be taking a solo three-star mission," Jin said.

"Three stars? Confident, aren't you?" Jack teased.

"Not every assignment is monster hunting, Jack," Jin said calmly. "We have requests from nobles and Clans within the Atheliya Empire covering politics, economics, healthcare, even local disputes, and public safety. I'll take something that suits my skills."

"Same here. I'm better with finance, so I'll take a related mission." Shawn nodded.

"Alright, then," Rose concluded. "We're all set. Tomorrow's the day we officially pick our assignments. Let's do our best and come back victorious."

"Yes!" They responded in unison.

---

The Next Day - Assignment Selection

The auditorium was packed with students from both the magic and knight departments. Professors Lucy, Olivia, Orlando, Mark, and Ires stood representing the mage faculty. From the knight department were Sir Nicolas, Sir Daniel, and Professor Ash.

Professor Ires stepped forward, taking the mic.

"Students, it's good to see you all healthy and standing strong. Three and a half years have passed since your enrollment, and you've achieved much during your time here. Now, all of you are in your fourth year and preparing for the final assignment of your graduation. I'm proud to see you all made it here, and I'm eagerly waiting for you all to make names for yourselves!"

She continued, "Without wasting further time, let's proceed. Solo assignment applicants, please step forward and choose your missions."

One by one, students from both departments approached the stage and selected their assignments.

"Now, for group assignments—group leaders, please come forward to select your missions."

Professor Ires and Professor Ash subtly turned their attention to Kayle, and indeed, every eye in the auditorium seemed to gravitate towards him. Kayle stopped before Professor Lucy, who held a stack of sealed letters from various noble families and clans. She presented them to Kayle.

Laid before him were requests from various noble families and prestigious clans. Kayle carefully sifted through them.

[Weronif Family: Baron Jim Weronif]

•Difficulty: Three stars

•Details: Resolve water drainage issues and design an improved irrigation system.

•Required: 3 magic engineers.

[Xenon Family: Count Harmis Xenon]

•Difficulty: Four stars

•Details: Exterminate momots on the Eastern Plains.

•Required: 5 mages, 4 knights

[The Mage Clan, Vaviniya Clan: Head Rubious Vaviniya]

•Difficulty: Five stars

•Details: Develop advanced runestone arrays to enhance efficiency and stability.

•Required: 4 mages

[The Alchemist clan, Roxidon clan: Head Karan Roxidon]

•Difficulty: Four stars

•Details: Devise new financial policies to alleviate tax burdens and promote working-class stability.

•Required: 4 researchers

[Timquess Family: Viscount Sally Timquess]

•Difficulty: Three stars

•Details: Mediate trade disputes between regional merchants.

•Required: 3 students skilled in negotiation

[The Healer's Association, Serenity Bloom Hall: Matron Elara]

•Difficulty: Three Stars.

•Description: Investigating a mysterious plague affecting livestock in rural villages and developing a magical cure.

•Required: Three mages (specializing in healing or life magic).

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[The Maklice Family: Duke Harrison Maklice] •Difficulty: Four Stars.

•Description: Wiping out the monsters in the Western Territory.

•Required: Four mages, three knights.

"This is the one… the fabricated mission tied to the original tragedy," Aeon thought, eyes narrowing.

He took the Maklice letter and presented it to Lucy.

"Professor, I'll take this assignment."

Lucy nodded. "okay, Kayle."

Returning to his group, Kayle was immediately surrounded by the girls.

"Well? Which mission did you pick?" Silvia asked.

"Come on, don't keep us waiting!" Latty pouted.

"I'm dying to know already!" Sara added.

Kayle smiled and handed over the assignment.

Their eyes widened as they read.

"A monster subjugation in the Maklice territory… looks like we're headed west," Latty said.

"Sir Harrison's lands? This might get interesting. It's been a while since I've been to the western territories." Sara smiled.

"Alright then, time to start preparations," Silvia declared.

Kayle Grabbed Silvia's palm.

"You've spoken with James, right?" Kayle asked.

"Yeah, I told my brother to pick the same assignment as us," Silvia replied.

"Good. Then go and remind him." Kayle said.

"Okay, leave it to me." Silvia nodded and left.

Silvia left to inform James of their grouping, Kayle and Sara stood quietly together.

"You know about the Maklice Territory?. Have you been there." Kayle asked, folding the letter in his hand and slipping it into his pocket.

Sara tilted her head with a small smirk. "Of course I do. My clan and House Maklice have strong ties. My oldest brother's wife is Sir Harrison Maklice's second daughter. I used to visit the western region often before enrolling here at the academy."

"Woah, Seriously?" Kayle blinked. "I didn't know that."

"How would you know?" Sara teased, stepping closer to him, a playful glint in her eyes. "You're always cooped up in your own world, not paying attention to anything."

Kayle chuckled, slightly embarrassed. "Fair enough. So you're very familiar with the western territory. "

Sara stepped a bit closer, her hands casually behind her back. "So yes, I'm very familiar with the western territory. It's vast. The entire region falls under the governance of Duke Harrison Maklice. He has several noble houses under his command—counts, viscounts, barons... the whole hierarchy."

Kayle listened carefully as she continued.

"in the western territory. The western part of the border connects directly to the Larko Kingdom, and that's where the infamous Garxiz Forest lies. To the north, you'll find the Dead Mountain Ranges—rugged, harsh, and crawling with desert-type and wild monsters. That's why this territory is so well-known. It contains two of the most dangerous monster zones in the empire. And now... we're tasked with exterminating monsters in one of them."

Kayle gave a slow nod and thought "Yeah, I knew that much. The letter I received only mentions a 'monster extermination in the western territory,' but doesn't specify whether it's the Garxiz Forest or the Dead Mountains."

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

"These letters only consist of a small description of the assignment. Before we leave the academy, we will get the full description of the mission. This is when someone will change our original location from the Dead Mountain to the Garxiz Forest. This letter is marked as number two—it's the one corresponding to the Dead Mountains. House Maklice sent two different assignment requests: one for the Garxiz Forest and the other for the mountains. Someone will switch them."

He clenched his jaw in thought.

"They'll swap this letter with the other—the one for the Garxiz Forest. I already know who's behind it."

Sara didn't notice the flicker of tension in his eyes and smiled. "Well, I'm glad I could be of some help."

"Oh, thanks for the information," Kayle said genuinely.

Sara raised an eyebrow and tilted her head playfully. "A simple thank you won't cut it. You'll have to compensate me some other way."

Kayle blinked. "What do you mean 'other way'?"

She smirked. "Hmm, like... dinner in the my dorm, or maybe a little shopping trip together."

"I don't think sneaking into the your dorm is a great idea," Kayle deadpanned. "And we really don't have time for shopping."

Sara stepped closer, eyes sparkling with mischief. "It's not like we're leaving right away. We still have time. So I've decided—dinner and shopping tonight. No backing out."

Before Kayle could argue further, Silvia returned, her usual energy lighting up her expression.

"Hey, Silvia did you tell him." Kayle said.

" yeah, I told James about our assignment," she announced. "He's joining us."

Kayle nodded. "Good. That makes the group complete."

Just then, Professor Ires' voice echoed through a magical amplifier.

"Now that you've all received your assignments," she began, her tone brisk yet composed, "you'll have one week for preparation. Make sure you're fully equipped before setting out. If you're already prepared, you're free to depart as early as tomorrow. That is all. Begin your preparations accordingly."

As the crowd began dispersing, Latty approached, full of energy. "Kayle! We need to gear up. Only a week left. Let's head out tonight for some shopping."

"You're right. I need a few materials too," Silvia added quickly.

At that moment, James, Nana, and Rolex arrived, greeting the group with bright faces.

"Yo, what's the plan?" James asked.

"We were just talking about prep," Kayle said. "We've got a week. What about you guys."

"We're already set," James replied with a confident grin. "Me, Nana, and Rolex have our gear ready."

Nana gave Kayle a soft smile. "It's reassuring to have you as our team leader, Kayle. I know we're in good hands."

"Yeah, looking forward to working with you," Rolex added earnestly.

Kayle raised his hands in mock modesty. "Oh please, I'm still learning. I'll be counting on all of you too."

"We believe in you," Nana said with quiet conviction.

"So what were you guys planning just now?" James asked.

Silvia chimed in, "Brother, we're heading out to buy some equipment and supplies tonight. Want to join us?"

"Sure. I need to pick up my sword from the blacksmith Sir Jackson recommended anyway," James replied. "You two need anything?" he asked Nana and Rolex.

"I do," Nana said. "A few essentials."

"Me too," said Rolex.

"Perfect!" Latty exclaimed. "Then we should all go together and grab dinner while we're out!"

"That's a great idea, Latty," Silvia beamed. "What do you think, Kayle?"

Kayle smiled, glancing at Sara beside him.

"I think it sounds good," he said.

Sara, still glaring at him for dodging their 'date,' looked like she was one second away from using wind magic to blow him off his feet.

"Alright, then it's settled," Silvia clapped her hands. "We'll head out this evening. Be ready!"

"Yeah!" the group responded in unison.

As they broke into laughter and began walking together.

— — —

At night.

The capital night pulsed with life, a symphony of sounds and sights.

Kayle, Silvia, Sara, Latty, James, Nana, and Rolex wandered through the bustling, moonlit streets, enveloped in the vibrant colors, infectious laughter, and clamor of merchants. Brightly lit stalls shimmered with enchanted lamps, casting a warm glow, and the enticing aroma of grilled delicacies danced through the summer air.

Silvia was, as expected, the first to plunge into the delightful chaos, leaping from shop to shop like a joyous hurricane.

"I'll need this... and this... and definitely that for the journey!" she declared with the authoritative command of royalty.

Kayle, resigned to his fate, was demoted to her personal luggage boy. His arms were quickly stacked high with an eclectic mix of bags, boxes, rolls of fabric, and one extremely cool-looking cloak.

They visited a dizzying array of establishments: merchant shops, the bustling market, a clanging blacksmith's forge, elegant boutiques, and many other places. Silvia bought things with unrestrained enthusiasm, acquiring everything she deemed necessary for the upcoming journey.

As they all browsed the market, Aeon's keen eyes caught sight of a particular stall. He detached himself from the group and gravitated towards it, curious about what the merchant was selling.

"Here, take a look, gentleman! These jewelries are made from the precious gemstones of Alofis! You won't find better quality anywhere else in the whole market!" the stall owner proclaimed, his voice boisterous.

Aeon stood before the stall, his gaze sweeping over the various jewelries. His unique ability to perceive mana particles made it effortless for him to discern the authenticity of the gemstones. Real gemstones shimmered with tiny sparks of their respective light, distinct from the intricate mana threads generated by mana stones. The thickness of these mana threads, in turn, determined the quality of the mana stone itself. The thicker the rarer.

All the gemstones displayed reflected tiny sparks of light, confirming their authenticity. But as he scanned further, his eyes were drawn to an unusually thick mana thread emanating from beneath the stall. Aeon's attention was immediately captivated by this hidden source.

"Excuse me, sir, do you only have these jewelries and accessories out here?" Aeon inquired politely.

"Oh, young gentleman, yes, these are all the items we have displayed. Is there anything to your liking?" the owner replied, eager to make a sale.

"Well, I'm actually looking for a ring or a bracelet for a friend," Kayle said, maintaining his cover.

"Oh, young man, for your girlfriend? I like young people like you!" the owner chuckled, a knowing twinkle in his eye. "Well, I think I have both. Let me take a look."

The owner reached beneath his stall, rummaging around for a moment before producing a small, worn box. "Young man, you're quite lucky," he said, opening the box.

"Here, take a look. I have these rings and bracelets."

Aeon looked into the box. The strong mana thread he had detected was indeed coming from a particular bracelet. It was an old, somewhat worn-out bracelet with several light pink mana stones imbued within its design. Aeon picked it up, feeling the unmistakable hum of power. A very thick mana thread pulsed from it, indicating a mana stone of exceptionally high quality.

"Sir, I'm buying this one," Aeon stated, his voice firm.

"This one?" the owner questioned, surprised. "Well, as you can see, it's pretty worn out and rusty. In my opinion, this silver bracelet would be a better choice." He gestured to a shinier item.

"No, I want this one," Aeon insisted, unwavering.

"Well, if you insist," the owner conceded, shrugging.

Just then, Silvia appeared beside him, her sudden presence startling. "Hey, Kayle, what are you buying without me.?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

"Nothing, just looking around," Kayle quickly responded.

The stall owner, seeing Silvia holding Kayle's hand, immediately understood that she was the "friend" Kayle had been referring to. He looked at Kayle and gave him a conspiratorial smile. Aeon instantly realized the man had completely misunderstood the situation.

"These are all women's accessories," Silvia observed, a suspicious glint in her eye. "For whom are you buying it?"

"Oh, young lady," the owner chimed in, smiling, "this young man has been looking for things for his girlfriend."

Silvia Froze.

Silvia's gaze turned icy as she fixed it on Kayle. "Oh my, his girlfriend? Kayle, you didn't tell me about this."

Aeon found himself caught in a sudden dilemma.

"You see," Kayle began, scrambling for an excuse, "I thought of buying something for you. As we'll be leaving the academy in a week, so... a gift from me."

Silvia's eyes immediately sparkled, the icy gaze melting away. "Seriously? You were buying this for me?"

"Yeah, of course!" Kayle affirmed, seizing the opportunity. "I didn't get a chance to give you anything despite all your hard work for me. So tell me, what do you want?"

"Anything you like, Kayle," Silvia replied, her smile radiant.

As they completed their shopping, Kayle ended up buying a ring for Silvia, some other accessories, and of course, that peculiar bracelet.

They eventually met up with the rest of their group and headed to a bustling restaurant, where they enjoyed a good dinner together.

"Yeah, Silvia, that ring looks beautiful on you!" Nana exclaimed across the table. "When did you buy it?"

"Oh, this? Kayle bought it for me," Silvia said, holding up her hand and wiggling her fingers, specifically ensuring Sara saw it. "He said he

wanted to give me something, calling it a gift!"

"My, my," Latty purred playfully. "Kayle, I didn't know you were this romantic! You bought a ring for Silvia!"

James, watching the scene, looked at Kayle and gave him a proud, knowing smile.

"Well, I also bought something for you guys also, as you all have helped me a lot," Kayle announced, pulling out more gifts. He gave a bracelet to Latty and another to Sara.

"Oh, thank you, Kayle! I really love it!" Latty gushed, admiring her new bracelet.

"Well, you have good taste, Kayle," Sara said, examining her own bracelet. "I also like it, especially these violet gemstones in this bracelet."

"It matches your eye color, so I bought it," Kayle explained.

Then, Sara also made a point of showing off her new bracelet to everyone, especially Silvia. But Silvia, quick-witted as ever, subtly took off the ring from her index finger and slipped it onto her ring finger, then held it up, showing off to Sara.

Silvia and Sara exchanged sharp, intense gazes across the table, creating a momentary, unspoken battle of wills.

And just like this, the night came to an end, the playful tension lingering in the air.

They all left for their respective dormitories.

Inside Kayle's personal dorm.

Aeon sat on his bed, meticulously examining the worn bracelet he had purchased from the market.

"I didn't expect to come into contact with this," Aeon mused, turning the bracelet over in his hands. "It's a high-quality mana stone which can be used for artifact creation and advanced research. But it was just lying in a box of worn-out jewelry and accessories."

He channeled a small amount of mana into the mana stone within the bracelet. Immediately, it pulsed, generating a vivid, crimson light that filled his entire room.

"I can't believe it! It's the highest quality mana stone! I haven't had a chance to use anything like this in the academy after completing the research with the professors. With this in my hand, I can finally make that thing which I couldn't before. I have a week, and my own lab in the research facility is still there. I'll have to complete it in a week." Aeon's eyes gleamed with renewed determination.

Then.

A week passed in a blur. Everyone in Aeon's group diligently prepared themselves for the upcoming assignment. Meanwhile, Kayle secluded himself in the research lab for the entire week, working tirelessly.

Now, it was time to leave the academy. In the morning, on Venessa Academy's vast grounds, Professor Olivia, Orlando, Mark, Lucy, and Ash stood before the assembled students, ready to see them off.

"So, it's time for you guys to go," Olivia said, her voice a mix of anticipation and a touch of melancholy.

"I can't believe the past three and a half years went by like this," Mark mused, a nostalgic smile on his face. "I still remember you all were small in size, and now you are all standing together, shoulder to shoulder. I'm glad to see you all."

"Hey, don't be like this," Orlando chided him gently. "They're just going for an assignment, not leaving the academy for good right now."

"Yeah, get a grip, Mark," Lucy added, nudging him playfully.

"I just got emotional, seeing them off," Mark mumbled, a slight blush on his cheeks.

Lucy stepped forward, her expression serious. "Kayle, take care of your group. This time, it's just you guys alone. We won't be with you, so please be careful, okay?"

"Yes, Ma'am. I'll keep that in mind. You guys also take care of yourselves," Kayle replied respectfully.

"Yeah, professors, you don't need to worry about anything! We'll do great!" Silvia declared confidently.

"I believe in you, Silvia. You're my strongest student," Olivia said, placing a proud hand on Silvia's shoulder.

"You too, Sara, be good to your team and listen to Kayle," Orlando advised.

"I'm not a kid, Professor. I know what to do," Sara retorted, a hint of defiance in her tone.

"Well, I hope you guys are all set to go," Ash said, his voice grave. "But keep this in mind: your safety and life come first. Everything else is secondary. Okay?"

"Yes, Professor!" they all replied in unison.

Then, Lucy, overcome with emotion, suddenly rushed forward and hugged Kayle tightly.

"P..Professor...!" Kayle exclaimed, surprised.

"Oh, Lucy, snap out of it! Now you're acting like a kid!" Olivia said, gently pulling her back.

"Kayle, promise me you will come back safe and sound!" Lucy pleaded, her eyes glistening.

"Yes, yes, Professor. Now, can I leave?" Kayle asked, a slight chuckle in his voice.

Lucy finally released him. Then, Kayle and his group, now fully equipped and mentally prepared, set off for the Maklice Territory.

It was the beginning of a journey of misfortune, one that would change so many things.