The Lumina Academy's Grand Archives buzzed with the hushed vibes of old spells and forgotten stories. Moonlight streamed through the tall stained-glass windows, lighting up rows and rows of old books as dust danced in the light. For Elara, it wasn't just a place to study; it was a safe space. Here, with that old paper and ink smell, her being mute felt less like a bad thing and more like it fit with the quiet.
She touched the cover of a thick, leather book, the title too faded to read. Her hands, rough from doing chores for years, wanted to touch a quill and feel the ink move on paper. But that kind of dream was for the gifted, the real mages of Lumina, not for a mute helper like herself who couldn't even say a spell.
A loud, scratchy laugh broke the peace. Elara jumped, pulling her hand back from the shelf as if burned. She knew that laugh – it was Lyra's, the Head Archon's top student. Her blonde hair and easy control of the elements made everyone jealous, especially Elara.
Look who we found, Lyra said, her voice sharp and clear, echoing in the big hall. She stood with two other students who looked just as happy to see her. They had clean robes and shiny wands. Still hiding in the shadows, Elara? Haven't you learned your lesson yet?
Elara kept her back to them, her shoulders down. She wanted to disappear into the shadows, as unseen as the dust. Her heart beat fast, like a drum against the silence of her throat.
Oh, don't ignore me, little mute, Lyra said softly, stepping closer. The air around her seemed to shine, showing off her natural power. Did you forget how to act? Or are you dreaming about a spell you'll never say?
One of Lyra's friends, a big guy named Kael, laughed. She thinks if she stares at enough books, magic will just jump into her.
The other, a skinny girl with a mean smile, added, Yeah, right. Some people just don't have it. She's wasting space here, if you ask me.
Elara's hands tightened. The unfairness of it all burned hotter than fire. She worked harder than anyone, learning every rune, every idea, every story of magic, hoping that working hard would make up for what she was missing. But without being able to say even one word, the hard vocal parts of spells were out of her reach.
What's this? Lyra's voice was right next to her, with fake interest. Elara felt a tug on her worn-out robes. Lyra had taken the small, leather notebook Elara always carried, her personal book of notes, rune drawings, and quiet thoughts.
She started to panic. This notebook was her heart, her way to let out the words stuck inside. She turned around, her eyes wide, trying to reach for it.
Lyra held it just out of reach, smiling wider. Oh, what secrets does our quiet scholar have? Let's see... 'Notes on Aetheric Flow in Lumina's Ley Lines'? She scoffed. You can barely light a candle, Elara, and you're thinking about ley lines? How sad.
Kael and the girl laughed, making fun of her.
Lyra flipped through the pages, looking at Elara's carefully drawn pictures and small, neat writing. And what's this? 'Idea: The Sound of Intent'? She stopped, her eyes getting small. Are you making fun of the Archons' lessons? This is almost heresy!
Elara shook her head hard, unable to breathe. She tried to sign, to talk, but her hands shook too much. Her idea, her way to try to find another way to cast spells without saying them, was being turned into something bad.
Quiet! Lyra snapped, losing patience. You think you're smart, don't you? Hiding your bad thoughts in a notebook. With a flick of her wrist, Lyra made a small, shiny ball of magic. It glowed with a soft, blue light, a simple Lumina Orb spell, but it felt like a burn to Elara.
Maybe I should remind you of your place, Lyra said, her voice full of hate. She pointed the orb at Elara's notebook.
Elara's eyes got wide with fear. Not the notebook, not her words, her thoughts, her only way to the magic she wanted so badly. It was all she had.
Without thinking, with a strong, desperate feeling, Elara jumped forward. Her hand shot out, not to grab the notebook, but to push Lyra's arm away. It was a clumsy move, powered by sadness.
Lyra, surprised by Elara's sudden fight, stepped back. The Lumina Orb, still forming in her hand, shook. Her foot hit the edge of an old, fancy rug.
With a yell of surprise, Lyra lost her balance. The Lumina Orb flew out of her hand. It hit the tall bookshelf behind Elara with a soft thump and a tiny crackle of wild magic.
It wasn't a strong hit, but it was enough. The old shelf, already heavy from years of books, shook. A small shake went through the floor.
Lyra, back on her feet, glared at Elara. You clumsy idiot! Look what you did!
But Elara wasn't looking at Lyra. She looked at the bookshelf. The Lumina Orb had hit a spot that looked empty, without books. A small line, almost unseen, had appeared where the orb hit.
A low sound went through the air, deeper than anything Elara had felt. It wasn't just in her ears; it was in her bones, her heart. The air felt heavy, filled with an old, real power.
Kael and the girl looked at each other nervously. Even Lyra looked scared. What was that? Kael whispered, his voice not as mean as normal.
The line on the bookshelf got wider, slowly at first, then with a loud crack of wood. Dust puffed out like a sigh. Behind the opening panel, a small, dark space was shown.
Inside, on a velvet pillow, was not a book, but . It was different than anything else in the Archives. Its cover wasn't leather or wood, but looked like it was made of obsidian, smooth and dark, taking in the moonlight instead of showing it back. There was no title, just one swirling mark that seemed to move, like smoke in the wind. It made that same deep sound.
A strange pull pulled Elara forward. Her feet moved on their own, without her thinking. She didn't see Lyra's sharp breath, Kael's curse, the girl's whimper. All that mattered was the obsidian .
As she reached it, the mark on the cover pulsed with a soft, green light from inside. It wasn't bright, but it felt deep, as if it was alive.
Her fingers, shaking from the fight, reached out. As they touched the smooth, cool surface of grimoire, a jolt of pure knowledge went through her. It was as if a dam had broken, and spells, stories flooded her mind.
A voice, not heard with her ears but felt inside her, said. It was old, big, and had a tired power.
"Finally… someone. One who understands silence. One who wants what she can't have."
Elara gasped, a silent scream. The voice was in her head, clear as if spoken, yet no sound came out. It was the first voice she had heard in years, a voice only for her.
The grimoire seemed to stick to her hand, warm and alive. The green light got stronger, lighting up her face, showing the tears falling down her face – tears of awe and a scary, great hope.
Behind her, Lyra yelled. What is that?! Don't touch it, you idiot! That's... that's not okay!
But it was too late. As Elara grabbed the grimoire, the obsidian cover melted into her skin, not hurting, but as if it had always been part of her. The swirling mark put itself on the back of her right hand, glowing with green before fading, leaving a small mark.
And then, a new feeling. A shining screen, only she could see, showed in her mind.
[Grimoire of Echoes Activated]
[Host Bound: Elara]
[Echo System Starting...]
[Checking Host for Innate Mana: None Found]
[Checking for Magical Ability: None Found]
[Starting Echo Calibration: Wait for First Echo]
Elara looked at the words, her mind racing. No mana? No ability? The system said what everyone had told her. Yet, it was here. And it was hers.
A light, like the Lumina Orb Lyra had used, flashed at the edge of her vision. It was an echo, a perfect copy.
[Echo Acquired: Lumina Orb (Basic Arcane)]
[Echo Type: Copy]
[Mana Cost: 5]
Elara blinked. She looked at Lyra, who was staring at her with fear and confusion, her face pale. Lyra had just used a Lumina Orb. And now, Elara had it.
Without thinking, without a word, Elara held out her hand. A small, perfect Lumina Orb, just like Lyra's, appeared in her palm, glowing with the same blue light.
The silence in the Grand Archives was big, only broken by Elara's heart.
Lyra's eyes opened wide, her mouth dropped. Kael and the girl gasped, stepping back.
Elara looked at the Lumina Orb in her hand, then at the screen in her mind. A strong thought came to her, clear and strong, a thought that found its voice, not in sound, but in pure feeling:
I can do this.
The Lumina Orb in her hand pulsed, showing her resolve. The game had changed.