(A/N Big thanks to everyone for the Power stones and Golden tickets, they mean a lot. As usual, please don't hesitate to comment or drop a review. ENJOY)

Power stones people, Gimme it.

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He read without stopping—page after page, note after note, cross-referencing events, comparing timelines, absorbing every detail. The library was the perfect environment for someone like him: quiet, structured, endless.

By the time he reached the final page of his second book, the platform had changed occupants several times. Students came and left. The lighting shifted slightly as the day progressed.

Orion remained unmoved.

He reached for the third book—

A small sound drew his attention.

Footsteps.

Soft, measured.

A figure approached the table.

A senior.

She had long pale-silver hair hung loosely over one shoulder, an air of calm confidence, and eyes sharp enough to belong in the upper years. Her uniform bore subtle silver embroidery—marks of someone ranked well above standard students.

Orion didn't recognize her.

Not even slightly.

But she recognized him.

Her eyes lingered one second too long.

Then, without a word, she pulled out the chair directly across from him and sat down.

He blinked once.

A quiet moment stretched.

He didn't look up again.

But he felt her presence settle across from him—composed, observant, intentional.

He turned the page.

The library remained silent.

She didn't speak for a long while.

She simply read.

Orion continued his work as if she wasn't there, though he did occasionally catch the subtle shifts of her posture—the way she glanced up at him whenever he turned a page, the slight tilt of her head whenever he paused to absorb information. Her presence wasn't intrusive. It was measured, almost studious in its own way. By the time he finished the final section of his third book, the library's ambient glow had softened, signaling the late afternoon cycle.

He closed the book slowly.

Only then did she finally lower hers.

"You're as focused as she said you'd be," she said lightly.

Orion looked up, expression neutral but polite. "Pardon?"

She closed her book with one hand and leaned back slightly in her seat—not casual, not arrogant, just someone comfortable in her own space.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Elysia," she said. "Fourth year."

Her voice was calm, even-toned, and carried a quiet confidence. The silver embroidery on her uniform gleamed faintly in the lamplight.

Orion offered a small nod. "Orion."

"I know," she replied with a faint, amused smile. "I came to see you."

That made him pause. "Why?"

"Curiosity," she answered without hesitation. "More specifically, curiosity related to Lyrielle."

His brows rose a fraction.

This again.

First had been Zinnia and then Jessica. Lyrielle's shadow in this academy was beginning to take a very particular shape—one far larger than he had expected.

"What about my sister?" Orion asked.

Elysia's expression softened in a way that suggested familiarity and respect. "Your sister was my senior. A brilliant one. She was… different from the rest of us. Driven, composed, terrifyingly talented when she wanted to be." She tapped the spine of her book lightly. "So when I heard her younger brother enrolled this year, I wanted to see what kind of person you were."

Orion digested that quietly.

"What exactly did she do here?" he asked. "This is the second time I'm hearing someone talk about her like that."

Elysia gave a short breath that wasn't quite a laugh. "Asking that would turn into an hour-long lecture. I'll give you the short version: she left a mark here."

He didn't react outright, but the weight of her words landed. Lyrielle had always been talented, but the way people in this academy referred to her was different. It lacked the familial affection he knew—this was professional recognition, the kind earned through overwhelming capability.

Hearing about his sister was nice but something else was on his mind.

"How did you find me?"

Elysia leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on the table.

"Your sister told us years ago that you loved books. That even from a young age, you spent more time with books than with people." She gestured vaguely at the shelves. "So I guessed the library."

Great his sister was sharing his history.

Orion raised his brow. "You guessed the library," he repeated. "A structure the size of a district. With entire wings, and dozens of divisions." His tone stayed even. "You expect me to believe you just walked in and picked a direction?"

Her smile widened, almost impressed. "Sharp."

"Not at all," Orion countered lightly. "Unless your luck is frighteningly good—or you already knew where I'd be."

Elysia didn't deny it. Instead, she crossed one leg over the other and rested her chin on her hand.

"Fine," she said. "Half a gamble. Half information."

Orion waited.

She didn't make him wait long.

"My informants saw you on the seventh floor. Then they told me when you entered the History section." She lifted a finger. "And before you ask—the informants are part of them."

He blinked.

"Them?" he echoed.

She nodded.

"An internal circle," she said. "A network, if you want to phrase it cleanly. Students who share information, connections, research, and resources. We have members across multiple departments. When I said I was curious about you, I meant it. And they were curious too."

Orion didn't react outwardly, but internally, he adjusted his perception of the girl in front of him. A fourth year with coordinated informants, access across departments, and enough influence that students quietly fed her information?

She wasn't just another senior.

She was someone established.

Someone his sister had influenced—or someone Lyrielle herself had deemed worth her time.

Elysia observed him as though she could see the calculations shifting behind his eyes.

"You're wondering how far it reaches," she said.

"A little," Orion admitted.

"You'll find out eventually." She straightened again, composure resetting. "But before that, I need to ask you something."

His gaze sharpened. "Go on."

She tilted her head, almost studying him.

"I'm sure you're curious about a lot of things," she said. "This academy. The people watching you already. Your sister's reputation. The seven floors. Everything."

He said nothing.

She let the silence sit for a heartbeat before continuing.

"I doubt you've been informed during orientation but have you heard about Enclaves."

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