Kael left the training grounds after finishing his sword practice. His steps were slow and aimless. The clash of blades still echoed faintly in his ears, but his mind was elsewhere. Lia was busy with her course, and Zaros was probably still fighting for his life in the bathroom. So, what was he supposed to do?

  He wandered through the courtyard, considering possibilities, until he realized where his feet had taken him.

  Before him rose a massive building crowned by a sweeping dome of silver glass. "The library,” he murmured to himself.

  He stood there for a moment, uncertain. Should I investigate those memories from the labyrinth? He hesitated. I didn't think it was worth it before, but maybe now's the right time. Even if they lead nowhere, at least I’ll have tried.

  With a quiet sigh, he pushed open the heavy doors and stepped inside.

  The library’s interior took his breath away. Golden carpets led the way through endless rows of ceiling-high shelves. Framed paintings in ornate silver lined the walls, and crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over the silence.

  Kael walked toward the reception desk, his eyes drifting upward as he took in the beauty of the place.

  “It’s quite a sight, isn’t it?”

  A soft voice pulled him back to the present. The girl behind the desk smiled faintly and followed his gaze to one of the ceiling murals.

  "I work here," she said, "but even after all this time, I still stop to look every morning. It never loses its charm.”

  Kael looked at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Yeah," he said softly. "It really is. I can’t imagine a more beautiful place.”

  She returned the smile. "Thank you. Can I help you find something in particular?"

  "Hmmm..." Kael rubbed the back of his neck and gave her a sheepish look. "To be honest, I’m not even sure what kind of book I’m looking for."

  The girl chuckled, her tone light. "That's not unusual. Most people come here out of curiosity, not direction.” She tilted her head slightly. "Can you at least tell me the topic or maybe a word to go by?”

  Kael hesitated. Do I even have one? His gaze drifted back to the mural above, to the soft colors and flowers painted within its frame. There was something...a scent. That memory had a smell.

  He turned back to her. "This might sound strange, but could you show me books that describe the scents of flowers?”

  She blinked in surprise, then smiled again, the professional warmth returning to her face. "Books about flower scents?” she echoed. "That’s unusual, but sure. Follow me.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  She led him through a narrow corridor lined with tall shelves. After a few turns, she stopped, reached up, and pulled out a slim, elegantly bound volume.

  “This is one of our best references,” she said, handing it to him. "The Language of Flowers." She offered a polite bow. "I hope you find the scent you’re looking for.”

  Kael nodded gratefully and watched her leave before turning the book over in his hands. “The Language of Flowers...” he read aloud quietly. It's a fitting title, he thought, for something that might hold the key to a forgotten scent. He walked deeper into the library until he found a quiet corner.

  The faint smell of paper and dust surrounded him as he sat down and opened the book. He was ready to chase the echo of a memory that refused to fade.

  Minutes blurred into hours as Kael flipped through page after page. The scent descriptions tangled together in his mind until they were meaningless. Finally, he leaned back in his chair and sighed.

  This won’t work. There are thousands—no, millions—of flowers, each with its own scent. How am I supposed to find the right one?

  He closed his eyes, letting the faint hum of the library fill the silence.

  "The Language of Flowers," a quiet, amused voice said to his right. "I never thought I'd see a boy so deeply immersed in flowers."

  "Wha—?" Kael almost fell off his chair, catching himself on the table’s edge just in time. His heart was still racing when he turned to face the speaker.

  "Wait... Cassandra? You’re in my class, right?”

  Cassandra smiled and a delicate chuckle escaped her lips as she brought a finger to her lips thoughtfully. "Indeed, that’s my name. I didn’t think you remembered.” Her tone was playful yet poised, her words flowing with practical grace. “You seem to have an interesting taste in reading material, Kael.”

  Kael straightened in his chair, still a bit flustered. He had seen her before during lectures, always surrounded by others. She was always confident, elegant, and admired. Where Astra’s beauty was sharp, distant, and cold as midnight, Cassandra’s was radiant and warm, like sunlight breaking through morning mist. Both were impossible to ignore, but in entirely different ways.

  Kael turned his gaze back to the open book. "Yeah,” he said quietly. "I’m trying to find a particular scent.”

  "Oh?" Cassandra's voice was light and graceful, almost teasing. "Then perhaps I can help. I know quite a bit about flowers.”

  Kael raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

  “Really,” she replied with a confident smile.

  He hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Then I'll take you up on that offer."

  Cassandra moved to the seat opposite him. She folded her arms and rested her chin on them. Her eyes were bright with curiosity. “Then tell me,” she said softly. "What kind of scent are you looking for?"

  Kael leaned back slightly, letting his thoughts wander. "It was sweet, but not in a simple way. There was something stronger underneath, something that made you want to breathe it in forever. It smelled like a memory you could lose yourself in.”

  Cassandra didn’t answer right away. She watched him, taking in his distant eyes and the softness in his voice. Then she whispered, "That scent must mean something special to you, doesn't it?"

  "Yes," he said, almost to himself. His voice was barely more than a breath, heavy with emotions he couldn’t name.

  "I see," she said quietly after a pause. "Nothing comes to mind right now, but I’ll look into it when I’m home.” Her tone was gentle and unexpectedly sincere.

  Kael blinked, surprised by her offer. “Thank you,” he said, then hesitated. "But why are you helping me?"

  Cassandra smiled. It wasn't her usual poised smile, but something softer, almost sad. "You just looked lonely," she said. "I wanted to ease that, even if only a little."

  Before he could respond, she turned and walked away, her golden hair catching the faint light between the bookshelves.

  Kael sat there for a long moment, her words echoing in his head. Then, with a quiet sigh, he closed the book, returned it to the shelf, and stepped outside. The lingering fragrance of paper and old wood followed him into the cold evening