"W-well... if you ever need anything else, come by whenever," Shira said softly, her voice slightly breathless. A rosy blush lingered across her cheeks as she tucked a few strands of silver hair behind her pointed ear.
Zay gave her a small nod, he reached down and effortlessly lifted two large bags, each filled to the brim with neatly folded outfits. Two pairs of boots were tucked beneath his arms, their soles clicking softly against each other. Without another word, he stepped out of the store, the wooden door creaking gently as it closed behind him, and began his steady walk eastward through the misty cobblestone streets.
Behind him, Shira stood still for a moment, her hand brushing down the front of her dress as she exhaled slowly. She adjusted a loose strand of hair, gave a faint smile, and turned back toward the quiet shop floor—ready to greet the next customer.
The great elven library loomed ahead—three towering stories of sculpted white stone, with arched windows that gleamed with the reflection of drifting clouds. Vines with soft blue flowers curled across the upper floors, framing the carved balconies like nature's own lace. The massive front doors, engraved with flowing ancient runes, gave a quiet groan as Zay pushed them open.
The scent of old paper, cedarwood, and polished floors greeted him from inside. The vast interior was lit by hanging crystal lanterns, suspended in mid-air, casting a soft, golden glow. Ornate wooden railings lined the curved staircases leading to the upper floors, while polished marble columns reached toward the domed ceiling, painted with scenes of starlight and drifting islands.
Zay's eyes scanned the upper levels until he spotted Renzo seated beside a towering bookshelf on the second floor. Books were scattered across a long wooden table, and Renzo was hunched over one of them, flipping a page.
Zay ascended the stairs, the soft thud of his boots muffled by the velvet runners lining each step. When he reached Renzo, he leaned over slightly. "Anything about that weird book—or anything that might be connected?"
Renzo sighed, rubbing his eyes before glancing over. "All of these—first shelf to the fourth—are written by people with the same damn initials. Fifty-seven books. I've been reading these for two hours straight. Where the hell were you?"
Zay let out a dry cough into his hand, then strode over to the table. He set down the bags with a dull thump, carefully placing the boots beside them. He walked back to the shelves and retrieved a few books, running his fingers along the spines as he searched. "I got us all of our clothes for free. That's what I was doing. Don't worry about the details."
Renzo gave a skeptical side-eye, his lips twitching, but didn't press it. He grabbed two books from the shelf, and the two of them sat down at the table. The wood cool beneath their elbows. Zay reached for one of the open books, flipping to the next page. His thumb glided along the edge, letting the parchment slip past like a breeze.
"Do we even know what the hell we're looking for, honestly?" Renzo muttered, eyes narrowing as he skimmed the second page of a leather-bound journal.
"Not in the slightest," Zay replied with a small chuckle, his eyes flicking across the neat handwriting. "But look for anything that feels out of place. Same tone, and the same handwriting as that weird book we have on the ship."
They both fell into silence, the only sound being the whisper of pages turning and the distant creak of floorboards as other readers walked quietly in the background.
An entire day had passed, and neither of them had stepped outside the library—not even once.
Zay closed yet another book, the sound of parchment brushing against leather echoing softly in the quiet hall. He leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh. "I don't think there's shit here, man. We've gone through at least thirty of these, and we've got absolutely nothing—except now I know some guy named Rivers supposedly created a legendary book of knowledge on aura."
Renzo, hunched over a worn journal, flipped a page with a sharp motion before slamming it shut and standing abruptly. "I think you're right... I've never read so many damn books in my life. And here I am reading them to dig up some clue about a random person we've never heard of—like it's some grand mystery that might tie into the damn universe or whatever. Screw it. Let's train. We can study another time."
Zay stood as well, grabbing one of the bags of clothes and his pair of boots. Renzo reached for the second bag and his own boots. They exchanged a silent nod, the exhaustion clear in their eyes, and began descending the wide staircase of the library.
As they reached the first floor, a faint shimmer of light sparked behind them—emanating from one of the books that had fallen from a high shelf. A woman nearby noticed it, her gaze catching the glow. She bent down slowly, her long blonde hair swayed as she picked up the book, and turned it in her hands. Her eyes lingered on the title, then flicked toward the retreating forms of the two men. A smile curved across her lips as she slipped the book into her sleeve and left.
Outside, the air was thick and still, the sky above tinted a dark silver-gray.
"When we were walking around near that clothing store yesterday," Renzo began as they left the library and stepped down its wide stone steps, "I saw a building with 'Training Center' on the sign. Figured that's a good place to start?"
Zay passed the tall dragon statue near the entrance and gave him a nod. "That's a pretty damn good place. Good eye, man."
They turned west and made their way down the main road, boots echoing softly on the stone as the wind began to pick up. Thick clouds rolled overhead, heavy and low, and just as they arrived at their destination, the sky finally broke.
Plip... plip... plip...
The rain started light, then grew into a steady rhythm, drumming softly against the rooftops and cobblestones. The scent of petrichor filled the air as the world around them darkened under the rain-soaked sky.
They reached the building—a wide, reinforced structure with broad archways and banners hanging from its stone pillars. A large wooden sign read:
Vesta's Training
They stepped through the open doorway, greeted by warmth, light, and the buzzing energy of motion.
Inside, the atmosphere was alive. Men, women, children—even elders—were training. Some meditated in quiet corners, their bodies still and centered. Others engaged in strength training, lifting aura-imbued weights that shimmered. A few ran on glowing treadmills powered by their own aura circulation, lightning crackling faintly beneath the machines.
"This place is fucking awesome," Renzo muttered, eyes wide as he scanned the training zones. The brothers were still observing the room when a towering figure stepped into view from a side corridor.
The woman stood over eight feet tall, her build muscular and imposing, her long braided hair cascading down her back like a thick rope of steel.
"Vesta's the name," she said bluntly, her voice deep and commanding. "If you're here to train, then stop standing around. Get to it."
She turned and strode away, every step shaking the floor just slightly.
"...Was that the tallest person in the world we just saw, or what?" Renzo asked with a laugh, clearly impressed.
Zay nodded, grinning. "Well, you heard her. Let's get started."
They moved toward the strength training area first, setting their boots and bags down beside the weight racks. The sound of clinking metal and quiet focus filled the air as the brothers began their workout—starting with their arms, pushing their limits under the ever-present hum of aura and the sound of rain softly hitting the windows high above.