That afternoon, the light in the library shifted like flowing crystal honey. Each sunbeam fractured into thousands of tiny sparks, dancing on Alice's silver hair, reflecting on Lucen's face and the clear eyes of Elior. After the recent "bookstorm," the room was filled with the scent of old paper, a hint of mint, and the soft laughter of the three friends.
Lucen sat cross-legged on the floor, tidying up the scattered books, muttering under his breath as if singing.
"See, Elior? The first accident is always good luck!"
Elior frowned slightly. "Good luck that almost buried me under a bookshelf?"
"Well, at Astra, anything that explodes, falls, or catches fire means your energy is strong enough to make a 'first impression!'" Lucen replied, then burst out laughing.
Alice stood nearby, smiling gently, her voice clear as a silver bell.
"Lucen, stop scaring him. At Astra, new students are only tested on their abilities. Nobody wants a 'first impression' that nearly destroys the library."
Elior chuckled softly. A warm feeling spread in his chest. He had never laughed this much in his life. In just one afternoon, he had found his first two true friends in the Celestial Realm.
As the light shifted to amber, Elior looked out through the crystal window—the sunset painting the sky in soft golden-orange hues. He slung his bag over his shoulder and stood up.
"I should probably head back. Later, I might get a warning."
Lucen propped his chin on his hand, grinning. "Already reporting to the guardian on your first day?"
"Yeah… you could say that," Elior murmured, avoiding Lucen's gaze. A fleeting image of Remiel crossed his mind.
He nodded slightly, pressing his lips together. That secret—about Remiel—was something he dared not share with anyone.
Lucen, of course, didn't notice. He patted Elior's shoulder, voice brimming with excitement:
"Come by my place tomorrow! Minas Solair district. We'll plan your enrollment. Only a month left until Astra!"
"Yeah, okay." Elior nodded.
☁️ Journey to the Celestial Bank of Radiant Clouds
When Elior stepped out of the library, the sky was tinged with sunset. The horizon melted into pale gold, clouds stacked like layers of fire. He took a deep breath and called a Seraph Cab. He suddenly remembered Lyria's words about the Celestial Bank.
The angelic taxi descended gracefully before him, its silver wings glowing faintly. A soft, automated female voice greeted him:
"Welcome, esteemed guest. Please enter your destination."
Elior spoke quietly:
"Celestial Bank of Radiant Clouds, high cloud layer, Beijing Outpost."
"Confirmed." The voice replied, and the cab lifted, slicing through the crystalline clouds.
From above, floating islands appeared like gems scattered across a sea of light. As the cab descended, Elior saw the Celestial Bank clearly—a massive crystal structure suspended in midair, radiating a cool blue glow. Streams of golden and silver light crisscrossed around it, like rivers of energy flowing in the sky.
The cab landed. Elior stepped out, immediately overwhelmed.
The bank gates rose high, inscribed with glowing runes:
"AUREA VENTIS – Radiant Clouds, River of Golden Wind"
Two quartz elemental statues flanked the entrance, their sapphire eyes following every guest. The air was crisp, scented with silver, morning dew, and… a hint of music.
Inside, hundreds of ethereal bank spirits flew gracefully—tiny, translucent beings no larger than a hand, glowing with pale blue light. They moved in intricate patterns, their hums blending like crystal chimes with the breath of the wind.
A small spirit approached Elior. Its wings shimmered like dragonfly wings in sunlight, and its voice was delicate and crystalline:
"Greetings, esteemed guest. I am Lyre, a neutral bank spirit of the Celestial Bank of Radiant Clouds. Are you here to deposit or withdraw?"
Elior hesitated.
"Uh… deposit."
Lyre tilted its head, its translucent eyes twinkling. "Excellent! Please follow me."
It waved a silver wand, and a doorway of light opened. Inside, thousands of coins and energy orbs floated midair—each radiating a different color: golden Kim Diem, silver Ngan Quang, blue Thiem Bac, and rare Aurum Coins shining like sunlight.
Lyre turned, pride in its voice:
"In the Celestial Realm, the currency is as follows:
Ten Thiem Bac form one Ngan Quang.
One hundred Ngan Quang equal one Kim Diem.
And ten Kim Diem make one Aurum Coin—the sacred gold, rare and precious.
We do not trade mortal-world currency, as corrupted energies can pollute the Ether."
Elior listened intently, eyes glimmering with curiosity.
"And you neutral spirits… do you work for the Celestial Realm?"
Lyre smiled faintly, voice chiming like bells.
"We belong to no world, esteemed guest. We originate from the core of Ethera—the primal source of universal balance. Thus, this place is absolutely neutral. No wars, no angels, no demons. Only energy… and trust."
Elior smiled softly. Peace filled his chest.
He took out the small silver pouch Remiel had given him—engraved with runes, faintly glowing. Remiel had warned him not to let anyone know he had it, as the runes were a high-level divine seal.
Elior glanced around. No one was paying attention. He placed the pouch on the counter and whispered:
"Deposit the entire amount into a new account."
Lyre waved its silver wand. The pouch dissolved into golden light, spiraling into the floating energy stream like a miniature galaxy.
"Complete. Your account has been created and linked to your soul-seal. No one but you can access it."
Elior received the transparent crystal card, his name engraved in delicate runes.
"Thank you. Uh… Lyre, you won't… tell anyone about this deposit, right?"
The spirit tilted its head, surprised.
"Oh no, esteemed guest. All transactions here are strictly confidential. We do not share information with any realm. Whether Celestial or Middle, no one has access."
Elior exhaled in relief. "Good."
Lyre hovered around him, smiling translucently.
"Wishing you a peaceful evening, Elior. The Celestial Bank of Radiant Clouds always welcomes your return."
🌇 Evening Return to Remiel's House
By the time Elior left the bank, the sun was nearing the horizon.
The western cloud layers blazed crimson, light spilling over crystal towers like molten fire. Seraph Cabs shimmered silver in long lines, like schools of fish swimming through a sea of light. Elior stepped onto one, whispering:
"Truong An Luu, Thien Dang Street."
The cab drifted gently on the wind. He leaned his head against the window, watching the sky turn purple. Sounds faded, leaving only the steady beat of his own heart.
Remiel's house lay nestled in a small cloud garden, surrounded by glowing herbs. As Elior stepped onto the porch, the door opened slowly, as if waiting for him.
Inside, all was silent.
Outside, night had fallen; clouds glittered like a mirrored lake reflecting the stars. Elior placed the bank card on the table, murmuring to himself:
"First day… not so bad after all."
He poured tea and sat by the window, listening to the wind singing through the cloud layers.
A new world waited ahead—and in that quiet darkness, Elior began to understand that sometimes, remaining silent was the only way to survive amidst the light.