Leo woke with Iori on his mind.
The almost-kiss. Her hand pressing firmly against his chest. The way she had looked at him when she whispered "not yet." Two years suddenly felt like forever and nowhere near long enough.
He pushed the thoughts aside and focused on something practical.
The academy would start after the Jubilee. He would be surrounded by students who had trained their whole lives. They understood magic and combat from childhood. He only had raw experience and survival instinct.
That would not be enough. He needed real foundational knowledge. By mid-morning, he had made his decision. He would visit the Imperial Library.
---
The library sat in the scholar quarter, a massive building of white stone and tall windows. Leo had seen it from afar but never stepped inside.
Inside felt overwhelming.
Shelves reached toward impossibly high ceilings. Books covered every surface, thousands upon thousands. The scent of old paper and ink hung thick in the air. Enchanted lights floated gently near reading areas. The quiet felt almost sacred.
Students and scholars moved with clear purpose. Everyone seemed to know exactly where to go.
Leo did not.
He wandered for twenty minutes, pulling random books only to find them too advanced or completely useless. He stood in front of a shelf labeled "Foundational Theory," staring at titles that made no sense.
A familiar voice spoke behind him.
"You seem lost?"
Leo turned.
She stood there with an amused smile. Those hazel eyes caught the light from nearby enchantments. Her polished black hair was tied back simply, and she wore a casual dress that somehow still looked elegant.
It was the lady from the plaza.
"You," Leo said.
"Me," she agreed, clearly enjoying his surprise. "What are you doing here, Leo?"
"Looking for books."
"That much is obvious." She gestured at the shelf. "The question is what kind of books. Because based on the confusion on your face, you're not finding them."
"I need..." Leo paused, then chose honesty. "As you are aware, I'm starting at the academy soon. I need to learn the basics before I get there. Magic, combat fundamentals, anything that'll keep me from looking completely incompetent."
Her expression softened. Amusement gave way to something warmer. "Quite practical of you." She stepped past him, fingers trailing along the book spines. "Most people wouldn't even bother."
"I'm guessing you're not most students."
"Who knows." She pulled a book from a high shelf with easy grace, then another, then a third. "Here, start with these."
Leo took them. The titles were straightforward: Mana Fundamentals, Aura Theory and Application, Combat Basics for the Unprepared.
"These are beginner texts?" he asked.
"The best beginner texts. Written by people who actually understand teaching rather than showing off how smart they are." She pulled two more books. "These are supplementary. One on ring formation, since you have at least one ring now, yes?"
"How did you—"
"I can sense it." She tapped her temple. "Mages recognize mana structure. Yours is still rough around the edges, but it's there." She handed him the last two books. "And this one covers dual-core cultivation. It's rare, and not something you're advertising, I assume."
Leo's grip tightened on the stack.
She met his stare calmly. "You won't be able to hide it at the academy, especially not from people who know what to look for."
Leo stared at the books. "How do you know so much about this?"
"I read." She smiled, mischievous again. "A lot. Come on, there's a better section for this."
She led him deeper into the library, weaving through the shelves like she had walked the path a thousand times. They reached a quiet corner with tables near tall windows where natural light streamed in.
"Sit," she said, claiming a chair.
Leo sat across from her and set the books down.
She pulled the Mana Fundamentals text closer and flipped it open. "Start here, chapter three. It explains mana circulation in a way that actually makes sense."
For the next hour she guided him through concepts he had struggled with. Ring formation theory, why mana needed structure, how to improve circulation, the link between physical training and energy capacity.
She explained everything clearly and patiently. When he asked questions, she answered thoughtfully. When he did not understand, she tried different words until it clicked.
Leo found himself fascinated, not just by the material, but by her. The way her eyes lit up when she explained an elegant idea. The clear passion in her voice.
"You're really good at teaching," he said during a break.
"I've had practice." She leaned back and stretched. The movement made her dress shift, fabric clinging briefly to her curves before falling loose again. Leo noticed. He forced his eyes back to her face.
She had caught him looking. Her smile turned knowing.
"So," she said, resting her chin on one hand. "Why the sudden drive to learn? Most people would just coast into the academy and figure it out as they go."
"I don't have that luxury. I'm starting late, behind everyone else. If I don't catch up fast, I'll get left behind."
"Or eaten alive," she added. "The academy can be quite brutal and very competitive."
"You sound like you know from experience."
"I do." She did not elaborate. "But I think you'll be fine. You're very determined, but don't be afraid to ask for help."
They kept studying. She pulled more books, showed him resources he would never have found alone, and explained details the texts skipped.
Time slipped away.
At some point their chairs had moved closer. She leaned over to point at something in his book. Her shoulder brushed his. Her hair fell forward, carrying that faint sweet scent.
"Are you paying attention?" she asked, amused.
"Yes," he lied.
"Liar." She stayed close. "What did I just explain?"
"Mana resonance in dual-core systems."
"Lucky guess." She straightened, putting a little space between them. "But I guess you were listening. Good."
The afternoon continued. They talked about more than magic: the academy's hidden social rules, which professors to avoid, and the unwritten codes new students never heard about.
She laughed when he mispronounced a term. He made her laugh again when he complained about mages using complicated words for simple ideas.
"Because they're pretentious," she said, grinning. "And because making things sound complicated makes them feel important."
"You're a mage and you're saying that?"
"I'm a mage who's self-aware." She closed the book. "Most aren't."
Eventually the light through the windows turned a warm evening orange.
She sighed. "I need to go. I've responsibilities."
"You keep saying that," Leo said. "What kind of responsibilities?"
"The kind I can't avoid." She stood and smoothed her dress. "But this was... nice. I don't usually spend afternoons teaching beginners."
"Why did you today?"
She looked at him for a long moment. Something shifted in her expression. "Because you asked for help instead of pretending you didn't need it. And because..." She trailed off, then smiled. "Because I wanted to."
Leo stood too. "I still don't know your name."
"No, you don't."
"Are you ever going to tell me?"
"Maybe." She gathered a few books and handed them to him. "Keep these. Study them. Oh, and Leo?"
"Yeah?"
"I'll see you at the Jubilee." She said it with calm certainty, like she knew something he did not.
Then she walked away, disappearing between the shelves with the same graceful ease.
Leo stood there holding the books, wondering how someone could be so mysterious and so captivating at the same time.
---
He stayed longer, studying alone. The concepts felt clearer now, solid building blocks.
But his mind kept drifting. To Iori's touch the other night. To hazel eyes and playful smiles today.
Eventually he gathered the books and left.
The walk back to the estate took him through narrower streets and shortcuts between districts.
He reached the compound as the sun dipped low.
Voices and laughter drifted from the dining hall. He could hear Akane clearly, Daichi's calm replies, and Takeshi's distinct tone.
Inside, the group had already seated. Iori looked up as he entered. Something unreadable crossed her face. Last night still hung between them.
"Where have you been?" Akane asked cheerfully. "We were wondering where you were!"
"I was at the library, studying," Leo said simply, taking his seat.
"Boring," Akane declared. "You should've come exploring with us! We found the most amazing sweets shop—"
"You mean you dragged us to five different sweets shops," Yuki corrected gently.
"Same thing."
Dinner moved with easy conversation. They talked about the Jubilee starting tomorrow, the opening ceremony, and the coming competitions.
Leo joined in and laughed when expected, but his thoughts stayed elsewhere.
Iori's hand on his chest.
Hazel eyes and that knowing smile.
Two very different women, both filling his head.
After dinner he excused himself and returned to his room.
The library books sat on his desk. He opened one and tried to study, but the words kept blurring.
Tomorrow the Jubilee would begin. Everything would change.
Outside, the capital prepared. Stages rose, banners hung, security tightened.
And in the deeper shadows, other plans moved forward.