They passed more windows.

The rain had intensified, creating sheets of water that obscured the Academy grounds beyond.

Lightning flashed distantly, followed seconds later by thunder that rumbled through the buildings.

Students moved through the corridors around them, heading to the dining hall, returning to dormitories, and rushing between classes.

Countless conversations rang out and mixed with each other, with crowds of students moving and standing around.

Irene navigated through them with ease. She dodged around slower groups, slipped through gaps in crowds, never once releasing Reinhard's wrist. Her twin tails bounced with each movement.

They turned another corner.

The corridor opened into a grand staircase rising upward in graceful curves ahead. Crystal chandeliers hung at regular intervals, their light shining off surfaces and creating patterns across the floor.

But Irene turned left instead.

Away from the staircase, toward a quieter section of the Academy. The corridors here had fewer students, making it easier to move and allowing them to pick up the pace.

"Is the library this way as well?" Reinhard asked in surprise, as this wasn't the path he and Rosaria took to the library during the study sessions.

"Side entrance." Irene cheerfully said, despite the increased pace. "It's less crowded. And also the place where the Dream Writer Club has a permanent table on the third floor."

"Permanent table?" Reinhard blinked.

Alger supplied from behind. "Irene negotiated it with the head librarian last semester. We have exclusive use during lunch hours."

"How'd you manage that?" Reinhard found himself impressed despite everything.

Irene's laugh carried pride. "I helped her catalogue the entire historical fiction section. Took three months, but it was worth it."

"She did indeed. Didn't even ask for our help, and well the head librarian was moved by the dedication and so she allowed it." Alger says, leading Reinhard to slowly nod his head.

They reached a plain door, and then Irene finally released Reinhard's wrist, her hand moving to the handle instead.

She pushed it open, and it revealed a narrow stairwell. The stone steps climbed upwards and were illuminated by the lamps on the side that were placed at regular intervals.

The air was cooler here as the temperature dropped noticeably as they entered.

Irene took the lead, her boot heels echoing against the stone steps. Reinhard fell in behind her with Alger following last as they ascended.

The staircase spiraled upward, occasionally broken by narrow window slits that framed glimpses of the Academy grounds being hit by the heavy rain outside.

Thunder crashed closer than before and illuminated the clouds in white and blue colors.

As they ascended beyond the first landing, then the second, the sound of conversations outside faded to whispers.

When they reached the third floor, they faced a door marked with a simple brass plate that read 'History Section'.

Irene strode through the door without pausing.

Beyond lay a shelf of knowledge which was filled with volumes of books, grimoires, and notebooks.

Lamps illuminated the area as Irene moved with familiarity, her twin tails swinging in rhythm as she navigated the labyrinth.

Reinhard trailed behind, his eye catching the names of some of the books. Chronicles of fallen empires, records of vanished peoples, creation stories told and retold until truth and myth had become inseparable.

The shelves eventually parted to reveal a clearing of study tables, meticulously arranged but largely abandoned.

Near the rain-streaked window in the far corner, however, were three other students waiting.

It was two boys and one girl, all wearing the standard black-white uniform.

They looked up as Irene approached, their expressions shifting from mild interest to obvious curiosity when they saw who she'd brought with her.

"Everyone!" Irene's voice carried triumph. "Meet our new project source—Reinhard, the Herald of our year!"

The three students' eyes widened simultaneously. One of the boys stood so quickly that his chair scraped backward loudly. The girl's mouth fell open. The other boy simply stared, his expression cycling through disbelief and excitement.

Alger's laugh echoed softly behind them. "This is going to be interesting."

Reinhard chuckled as he moved toward the empty seat at the table, pulling it out with a soft scrape against the library floor. "What are your names?"

The red-haired boy shifted in his seat, shoulders hunching slightly. A nervous chuckle escaped his lips as his hand rose to rub the back of his neck. "My name is Jake Flu... Nice to meet you, Reinhard."

The other boy, who had blond hair tipped with blue, practically bounced in his chair. His eyes shone with barely contained excitement. "My name is Kite Keys, nice to meet you!" The words tumbled out rapid-fire in excitement, making his voice pitch higher.

The girl leaned forward, her long red hair sliding across her shoulders. Green eyes fixed on Reinhard with intensity that suggested she'd been waiting for this moment. "My name is Resa... I have so many questions to ask." Her fingers drummed against the table surface.

Reinhard's smile softened as his hand moved to his bag, unfastening the leather strap. "I can answer those later. For now, you can all look over what I've written from the beginning." His fingers found the Grimoire's familiar spine, pulling it free. "But I can talk about the things I haven't written yet."

Irene's eyes shone as she grabbed the Grimoire with care that bordered on reverence. Her fingers traced the leather cover with a grin, feeling the texture before opening it.

Alger's voice filled the brief silence, explaining the arrangement to the other three. His words came calmly as he laid out terms while Resa, Kite, and Jake listened with increasing excitement.

Resa's eyes lit up as she clasped her hands together at her chest. "That's amazing! So our Herald really has been doing missions!"

Kite's grin spread wide across his face while he leaned forward eagerly. "And we can learn about them as well?"

Jake sighed, but he had a smile on his face. "Just taking notes and doing the semester work is a light requirement for what we can learn and know about." His voice carried disbelief mixed with gratitude.

Alger laughed while Irene turned toward them, her cyan eyes gleaming as she winked. "We've won big this time, guys! So we need to really do a good job, and Reinhard may recommend more people to us!"

Cheers erupted, but it was quiet enough to not disturb the library's atmosphere. Reinhard's lips twitched at the hands raised, fists pumping, and grins spreading.

Reinhard said softly. "I guess I can if this really works out well."

Irene opened the Grimoire with her eyes and scanned the first page briefly before her fingers began flipping.

She turned the pages fast, moving past earlier entries until reaching a section near the most recent writing. Then she placed it flat on the table, positioning it where everyone could see.

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