Crowded Silence

The afternoon classes concluded in a drowsy tranquility.

Ever since Prince Alexis had given me that library pass, he had transformed into a silent statue within the classroom.

He no longer attempted to initiate conversations, nor did he gaze at me with that aggressive glint in his eyes.

Instead, he simply sat in the front row, a thick history book in hand, occasionally turning to cast a profound, complex glance my way, as if deconstructing some intricate puzzle.

It wasn’t a gaze I found particularly offensive, but…

It was simply too heavy.

It felt akin to being watched by a wolf, one that hadn’t yet learned to hunt but was meticulously observing its prey’s habits from the shadows.

To escape the sensation of being treated as a research subject, the moment the dismissal bell rang, I swiftly gathered my belongings and made a direct dash for my sanctuary…

The library.

Yet, today’s sanctuary seemed a little…

Too lively.

“Lady Lilliana, please have some tea.”

I had barely settled into my usual spot on the third floor.

Ella Smith, as if by magic, produced a delicate white porcelain tea set from her picnic basket, poured a steaming cup of black tea, and presented it to me with both hands.

“These are chamomile flowers I freshly picked from the conservatory, with just a touch of soothing honey added.”

She knelt on the carpet to my left, a gentle, virtuous smile gracing her face.

“Reading can be tiring; please moisten your throat.”

“…That was thoughtful of you.”

I took the teacup and took a small sip.

The temperature was perfect, and the sweetness just right.

“The surrounding area has been secured.”

To my right, Beatrix Eisen sat cross-legged.

Her knight’s sword lay across her lap; though still sheathed, her entire being exuded an aura of grim deterrence, warning others to keep their distance.

“There are currently no other unnecessary individuals on the third floor. You may read in peace.”

She resembled a diligent guardian deity, her back blocking the sole aisle leading to our corner.

Holding my teacup, I observed these two formidable protectors, one on each side, my heart a complex mix of emotions.

‘Honestly, I truly just wanted to read in peace for a while.’

Before, when I was alone, I could simply lie on the floor and read however I pleased.

Now, with these two present, I had to constantly maintain the elegant posture of a duke’s daughter, feeling self-conscious even about stretching.

Moreover, the air here…

Ella emanated a faint, warm light-attribute energy and a delicate floral scent.

Beatrix carried the crisp scent of metal and soap.

Compounding this was my own chaotic aura, which permeated the small area.

In this tiny corner,

Three vastly different auras intertwined, forming a subtle yet viscous vortex.

“…As long as you two aren’t bored.”

I sighed, set down my teacup, and retrieved the ‘Book of the Nameless’ from within my robes.

The instant I drew out the book,

Its black cover, which typically only emitted a faint glow, suddenly trembled violently.

Immediately afterward, a distinct sense of hunger, unlike anything I had ever felt from it before, surged from the book to my fingertips.

‘…Hm?’

I was somewhat taken aback.

While the book had resonated with me before, it typically conveyed feelings of loneliness or sorrow.

This kind of ravenous appetite, akin to a puppy spotting a bone, was an entirely new sensation.

I attempted to turn a page.

On the pages, which were usually utterly black and resembled a chaotic mist, today there surprisingly…

Appeared faint, silvery-white patterns.

The markings were subtle and intermittent, yet undeniably present.

Upon closer inspection, I realized they weren’t characters but rather resembled…

The trails of energy flow.

‘This is… light?’

I suddenly recalled what had happened yesterday in the auditorium.

I had devoured the Holy Appraisal Stone.

The immense light element contained within that stone had been digested and absorbed by my chaotic magic.

And this book, as the relic of the First Child of Chaos, seemed to have received a share through its connection with me?

‘It… consumed light?’

Instinctively, I extended a finger and touched the silvery-white patterns.

“Om…!”

The moment my fingertip made contact, a warm current coursed up my arm and into my mind.

My consciousness was once again drawn into that void.

This time, however, the void was no longer utterly black.

In the unseen depths of the distant darkness, a single…

Tiny speck of light, like stardust, had appeared.

It was incredibly faint, as if it might extinguish at any moment.

Yet, in this expanse of dead silence and nothingness, it was the sole existence.

“…Light…”

That ancient, lonely voice resonated in my mind once more.

But this time, it was no longer a mere murmur.

Instead, it carried a note of astonishment, like a sigh from one who had traversed millennia to finally witness the dawn…

A sigh.

“…You… did not devour it…”

“…You… embraced it…”

The scene flashed.

I saw a blurry silhouette…

It was the First Child of Chaos.

He extended a hand, attempting to grasp a ray of sunlight, but the light dissipated in his palm.

Now, the images overlapped.

It became my hand.

In my hand, I held the Holy Appraisal Stone.

Although the stone had shattered, the light within it had not vanished…

Instead, it had melted into my darkness, transforming into the first star in this desolate, empty sky.

‘Embraced it, then?’

I withdrew from the realm of consciousness.

Gazing at the faint silver mark on the page, I fell into contemplation.

Chaos was not merely destruction.

Chaos was also inclusion.

‘Was it because it could encompass all colors that it became black?’

“Lady Lilliana?”

A soft call broke through my thoughts.

Ella was looking at me with concern.

“Your expression… changed. Is there something unpleasant in the book?”

She leaned in close, her emerald eyes reflecting my image.

As I looked at her, I suddenly felt…

The light-attribute magic emanating from her no longer felt dazzling or repulsive as it had before.

On the contrary, there was a…

An impulse to draw her into it as well.

“…No.”

I closed the book, my fingers unconsciously tracing the spot where the silver mark had been.

“I merely… discovered an interesting secret.”

I looked at Ella, then glanced at Beatrix, who still had her back to us.

“Miss Smith.”

“Yes!”

“Your light magic… can it be condensed into a more delicate form? For instance… like a strand of thread?”

Ella paused, momentarily bewildered, but nodded instantly. “I can try!”

She extended her index finger, meticulously controlling the magic within her.

A single, exceptionally fine strand of golden light shakily formed at her fingertip.

“Excellent.”

I extended my left hand…

The one adorned with the Eye of the Abyss.

“Try to… wrap this thread around my finger.”

“Eh?!”

Ella’s face instantly flushed crimson.

“Th-th-this…”

“This is an experiment.”

I bluffed, my expression unchanging.

“I wish to verify if there exists a possibility of weaving between chaos and light.”

It was indeed an experiment.

I wanted to see if real-world light could also be embraced by my chaos, much like the energy of the Holy Appraisal Stone.

Ella swallowed hard.

Her hand was trembling.

‘Transforming her own magic into a thread and wrapping it around Lady Lilliana’s finger?’

‘This…’

‘This was… practically like…’

Though she felt so mortified she was on the verge of fainting, she obediently complied.

The golden thread of light cautiously brushed against my pale finger.

It was neither consumed nor did it dissipate.

Amplified by the ring and guided by my deliberate control, the strand of light slowly wound around the base of my finger, circle after circle.

Warm…

Tingling…

The sensation was as if Ella’s body heat had transformed into a tangible ring, binding itself to me.

“…It worked.”

I gazed at the ring of light formed on my finger; though it only lasted a few seconds before dissipating, it had undeniably existed.

I looked up, only to find Ella covering her mouth, her face flushed crimson, her eyes unfocused and shimmering like melted water.

Meanwhile, Beatrix, who had been facing away from us, had turned around at some point.

She stared at the dissipating speck of light on my finger, her expression clearly conveying ‘I want that too,’ as the hilt of her sword creaked under her tight grip.

“…Lady Lilliana.”

The knight’s voice was low, laced with a distinct sourness.

“If you require an experiment in magic entanglement… my sword qi can also achieve extremely precise control.”

“While it may not be as warm as light… it is certainly, far more tenacious!”

Watching these two inexplicably begin to compete, I suddenly felt…

The secrets within this ‘Book of the Nameless’ seemed… a little more perilous than I had imagined…

Because the first lesson it taught me was, astonishingly…

‘How to turn the people around me into my personal collection?!’