The Witch of the Ivory Tower

I spent my first Class S lesson in a state bordering on an out-of-body experience.

The History of Magic teacher’s voice, as lulling as a lullaby, combined with the chalk scratching incomprehensible ancient runes onto the magical blackboard, made me profoundly understand the despair of an utterly incompetent student.

Beside me, Ella listened with exceptional attentiveness, periodically jotting down notes in her notebook.

Occasionally, she seemed poised to ask me something, but upon seeing my unapproachable profile, she would hesitate and swallow her words.

‘Please, don’t ask me anything.’

‘If you do, my facade as a ‘genius villainess’ will crumble on the spot.’

I maintained my outward aloofness, yet internally, I was praying frantically.

When the lesson finally ended, I gathered my belongings and stood up the very moment the bell rang.

“Miss Eckhart?”

Seeing me rise, Ella quickly stood up as well, a hint of confusion etched on her face.

“Next is Practical Mana Manipulation class. We’re supposed to go to the training grounds…”

“I’m not going.”

I interrupted her coldly, offering the excuse I had already prepared.

“I’m feeling unwell. I’ve already requested leave from my instructor.”

Without another word, and without waiting for her to react, I quickly walked out of the classroom.

I could feel several inquiring gazes on my back, one of which, I presumed, belonged to His Royal Highness the Prince.

But I couldn’t care less.

Compared to exposing my utter cluelessness about mana manipulation on the training grounds, it was far more important to choose the lesser of two evils and head to the library to ‘recharge’ my knowledge.

****

The library of the Royal Solfege Academy of Magic was a treasure trove of knowledge, one that the entire kingdom took immense pride in.

It stood as a magnificent, standalone Gothic edifice, reminiscent of a grand cathedral, silently nestled in the deepest part of the academy grounds.

As I pushed open the heavy oak doors, carved with a bas-relief of the World Tree…

A unique aroma, a blend of old parchments, dry sheepskin, and a faint hint of ink, washed over me.

In that instant, my heart, which had been in a constant state of anxiety since my transmigration, seemed to find a harbor to finally rest.

‘Yes, this is the scent.’

‘No matter which world I’m in, the scent of a library always brings me an immense sense of peace.’

Towering bookshelves, like silent giants, stood in neat rows, forming secluded pathways that seemed to lead into an abyss of knowledge.

Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows of the dome, casting colorful shafts of light into the air, where countless tiny motes of dust danced like living pixies.

A profound silence reigned, broken only by the occasional rustle of turning pages.

I took a deep breath, suppressing the professional excitement of a librarian bubbling within me, and began searching for the books I needed.

‘Foundational Magic Theory’, ‘Introduction to Mana Perception and Meditation’, ‘Comprehensive Guide to Common Continental Runes’…

Like a hungry hamster, I continuously hauled ‘provisions’ from the shelves.

Soon, my arms were laden with a thick stack of books.

Carrying my haul, I found a secluded corner by a window and settled down. Just as I was about to begin cramming knowledge, a soft yet undeniable voice drifted from not far behind me.

“Student, borrowing more than five books at once is not permitted in the library.”

I turned at the sound, seeing a lady in a long black dress standing quietly behind the service desk.

She was an exceptionally beautiful woman.

Her ankle-length, moon-white hair was loosely gathered with an ebony hairpin, while a few strands cascaded beside her pale cheeks.

Though she appeared to be in her mid-twenties, her expression held a serenity and detachment that transcended her age.

Her deep, amethyst eyes gazed directly at me, and a tear mole beneath one eye added an extra touch of mysterious allure.

Elinor von Windermere.

The academy librarian, a young countess widow, she was also a “functional NPC” only unlocked in the mid-game, who provided various ancient magical knowledge.

Erudite and mysterious, she lived reclusively on the top floor of the library year-round, rarely interacting with others.

‘Why was she here?’

‘Shouldn’t she be in the restricted section on the top floor?’

A flicker of doubt flashed through my mind, but I still rose, clutching the books, and approached the service desk.

“My apologies,” I said. “I’m a new student and unfamiliar with the rules.”

I placed the stack of books on the counter and selected five of them.

“Then I’ll just borrow these for now.”

Elinor’s gaze swept over the books I had chosen, and in her purple eyes, a subtle, almost imperceptible flicker of something unusual seemed to pass.

‘Foundational Magic Theory,’ ‘Introduction to Mana Perception and Meditation’…

These were all introductory texts meant for absolute beginners with no prior foundation.

Yet the person borrowing them was Lilliana von Eckhart, the acknowledged genius of the entire kingdom, possessing top-tier dark attribute mana.

It was akin to a world-renowned mathematician coming to borrow a first-grade arithmetic textbook.

The sense of incongruity was far too strong.

“…Miss Lilliana von Eckhart, is that correct?”

Elinor spoke, her voice light, yet possessing a unique, rich timbre, like a cello, that resonated with exceptional clarity in the quiet library.

“Yes.”

I nodded, alarm bells ringing in my mind.

“An interesting choice.”

She didn’t directly expose me, merely using her long, slender fingers with immaculately manicured nails to lightly brush the cover of one of the books.

“The pursuit of knowledge is a virtue. However, choosing knowledge unsuited to oneself can sometimes lead to losing one’s way.”

Her gaze was as deep as an ancient well, as if it could draw in a person’s very soul.

“I merely… wish to review the fundamentals.”

My excuse sounded incredibly feeble.

“Is that so?”

A subtle, yet profoundly meaningful smile played on Elinor’s lips.

She didn’t press further, simply picking up a quill and beginning to process my borrowing request.

“The first floor of the library is the public reading area. The second and third floors house specialized archives, requiring appropriate authorization for entry.”

She explained in an unemotional tone as she registered the books.

“As for the top floor… it is not open to anyone.”

Her voice seemed to hold a subtle, almost imperceptible pause on the words “top floor.”

“I understand.”

I nodded, eager to end this conversation that made me feel utterly seen through.

“Your request has been processed.”

She pushed the library card and the five books towards me, then raised her beautiful purple eyes and gazed at me silently.

“Miss Lilliana, if you encounter any fundamental difficulties in your studies… perhaps you could seek me out here. After all, guiding lost lambs is one of a librarian’s duties.”

Her words were gentle, yet I detected an unmistakable predatory amusement within them.

An unsettling premonition stirred within me…

‘She had definitely sensed something.’

Clutching the five heavy introductory texts, I practically fled the service desk.

I didn’t return to my previous spot; instead, I walked directly out of the library.

The gaze from behind seemed to still cling to my back, imbued with a chilling, scrutinizing intent.

No place in this academy was truly safe.

Be it the hostile knights, the seemingly harmless heroine, or even this library that should have been my haven…

All concealed gentle, yet deadly, whirlpools capable of devouring me whole.