The next day, he decided to visit the library. He felt he needed some historical knowledge, considering the incident on Ishtara and thought that he would need it. At least in locations where the seal was present.
The Academy Library was huge.
The floors were polished stone, smooth enough that his cane didn't catch. The air was dry and carried the faint scent of old paper and binding glue. Every step echoed just enough to map the space without overwhelming him.
Shelves stretched upward in neat rows. Thousands of books. Histories stacked atop histories. Languages buried beneath other languages.
Solace walked slowly, cane tapping once every two steps.
He sat.
For a moment, he simply listened. Pages turning somewhere far away. The soft scrape of a chair. A cough, politely suppressed.
Then footsteps approached.
They were light. Unhurried. Confident in the way.
"Are you looking for something specific?" a voice asked.
Female. Calm. Curious rather than intrusive.
Solace turned his head slightly toward the sound. "Languages."
A pause.
"Any particular era?"
"The beginning," he said after a moment. "Origins."
That earned him a soft, thoughtful hum.
"You picked a dense subject," she said. "Most students start with war."
She smiled at that, though he couldn't see it.
"I'm Love," she said, pulling out a chair. The wood scraped quietly as she sat across from him. "Second year."
"Solace," he replied. "First."
"I know," she said easily
He nodded and didn't ask how. Their whole cohort probably had become pretty famous in the academy.
He then tried to remember if there was someone in the novel with the name love. From what he remembered, there wasn't anyone important with such a unique name.
She waited until he spoke again.
"I can't read," he said simply. "If you don't mind."
"I don't," Love replied. "Actually… I like reading out loud."
She stood, steps light as she moved away. Probably to get the required books.
'I actually know a little bit about the languages that they spoke in most of the places. And since I have the memories of Solace, I naturally am already fluent in the language.
The language that Theon uses is 'Thalorin'. It's also the language I am fluent in. Then there is the native language of Nuan 'Karsyne'. There is also "Brathen" The language spoken in Hera and Kirola. And lastly Aurelion the universal language. It was like English in a way. Meant for businesses and trading between countries.'
Before he could get lost in his thoughts, Love returned with the sound of several thick books being placed on the table. One of them thudded heavily.
"These should cover what you want," she said. "Old stuff. Dry. But important."
Solace angled his head toward her voice. "Let's start with the language everyone speaks."
Love opened the first book.
The pages were brittle. Old parchment, not paper.
She read slowly,
"A Primer on Thalorin," she began.
Solace's fingers twitched slightly at the name.
"Thalorin," Love continued, "is the common tongue spoken across most of Theon and parts of eastern Hera. It is a fluid language, designed for adaptability. Its grammar allows meanings to shift subtly depending on context, which is why it spread so easily."
She turned a page.
"The earliest known Thalorin inscriptions were discovered in the northeastern highlands, near the Ishtara mountain range. Stone tablets, partially eroded. Scholars believe the language emerged there during a time of early consolidation, when scattered tribes began to trade."
She paused.
"It's believed Thalorin wasn't created deliberately," Love added, glancing up. "It… grew. From an earlier source."
Solace absorbed that in silence.
Ishtara again. He thought
I wonder if the language used in various murals and runes carved on the ancient city is precursor to Thalorin.
"Next," he said quietly.
She reached for another book.
"On the Tongue of Kings," Love read. "The language known as Aurelion."
Her voice shifted slightly, reverent without meaning to be.
"Aurelion is the universal language used in treaties, seals, ancient artifacts, and royal decrees across all kingdoms. Its syntax is rigid. Its meanings precise. There is no room for ambiguity."
Another page.
"The origins of Aurelion trace back to the Age of Kings. Some believe it was crafted deliberately to prevent misunderstanding between rulers. Others believe it predates the kings themselves and was merely adopted."
There were many ages that were named by researchers according to important events happened in history. One such was Age of Kings. In this era, the ongoing campaign of the first King of Theon ended. The campaign was to rule all of "Amasia" The super continent.
But leader from six local tribes came with oppositions and formed alliance and made the king withdraw. Later the six tribes merged and formed three Kingdoms Known as Nuan Hera and Kirola.
This lead to formation of Three new kings, hence the era was named after that.
"Next," he said again.
Love nodded and picked up a slimmer volume.
"This one's from Nuan," she said. "The Winter Lexicon."
Her tone sharpened slightly as she read, unconsciously mirroring the language itself.
"The native tongue of Nuan is called Karsyne. It is a clipped, angular language. Designed for efficiency. Words are short. Commands shorter. Emotion is often implied rather than spoken."
She turned the page.
"The earliest Karsyne texts were discovered in the catacombs beneath Winterfell City. Massive underground structures spanning beneath the entire city. Their purpose remains debated."
Love paused.
"Some scholars believe the catacombs were religious," she said. "Others believe they were… containment."
She didn't elaborate.
Solace didn't ask.
"Continue."
She reached for the next book.
"Hera and Kirola share a native language," Love said. "It's called Brathen."
She cleared her throat before reading.
"Brathen is heavy. Harsh. Built from deep vowels and forceful consonants. It's a language meant to be shouted across battlefields."
She flipped the page.
"The earliest Brathen inscriptions were found beneath the royal palace of Hera. Carved directly into foundation stone. Many of these inscriptions are ceremonial, invoking strength, endurance, and dominion."
Her fingers lingered on the page.
"It's a language that assumes conflict," she said quietly.
Solace's jaw tightened slightly.
"And Aurica?" he asked.
There was a longer pause this time.
Love closed the book.
"Aurica's native language is lost," she said. "No complete records remain."
She took a breath.
"During the Aurican Campaign, Theon recovered fragments of the land—but no texts. No tablets. No living speakers. Whatever language was spoken there vanished entirely."
She hesitated.
"Ulma," she added, softer, "is fully lost. We don't even know if it had a written language."
The library lamps hummed softly as the light outside began to shift.
Love closed the last volume with care.
"That's probably enough heavy history for one day," she said, stretching her arms slightly. "If I read any more, I'll start dreaming in dead alphabets."
Solace huffed quietly. "That sounds unpleasant."
"It is," she agreed, without humor. Then, after a moment, "You didn't ask many questions."
"I was listening."
She smiled at that. He didn't see it, but he heard the change in her breathing. A faint ease.
They sat there a moment longer, neither rushing to stand.
"You'll need to cover practical theory next," Love said eventually. "Threads, domains, historical case studies. Midterms don't care if you almost died on a mountain."
"That's reassuring."
"I try."
She hesitated.
"Solace," she said, more casually than the moment deserved, "would you want to study together?"
He turned his head toward her voice.
"I mean," she continued quickly, smoothing over the words, "you can't read on your own right now. And I'm in the library most afternoons anyway. Four o'clock. Same table."
Solace considered it.
It didn't matter to him. Honestly, the only reason why he was alone and not with Phoebe or Nolan was because after some careful consideration, the Principal decided that The survivors of the incident are free to decide if they want to attend the current classes. And with most of my dear friends being Heir of the main pillar families in Theon. They had some work, to say the least.
Returning to the conversation.
"That'd help," he said honestly. "If you don't mind repeating things. I forget faster than I used to."
Love snorted. "Trust me. You won't be the slow one."
A chair slid back as she stood. He heard her gather the books into her arms.
"So," she said, "every day at four. We'll start with Geography theory tomorrow. Maybe survival case studies if you're feeling adventurous."
"I'll try not to die again," Solace said dryly.
She paused.
Then laughed.
"I'll hold you to that."
She stepped away, her presence fading gradually rather than all at once. Solace remained seated for a few seconds longer, letting the library settle back into itself.
Four o'clock.