Milo's footsteps echoed through the cavernous halls as he made his way to the library. A mixture of dread and curiosity filled him, as he had never set foot in this part of the academy before.

The library loomed before him like an ancient tower reaching for the heavens – its spiraling structure both awe-inspiring and intimidating. As Milo pushed open the heavy doors, the scent of aged parchment and magical energy swirled around him. Inside, the library was a labyrinth of shelves that seemed to stretch on forever, with countless floors disappearing into the dimly lit heights above.

"Ah, you must be Milo," a voice called out from behind a massive oak desk. A middle-aged woman, clad in simple yet elegant robes, emerged with a knowing smile. "I'm Gwenyth, the librarian."

"Nice to meet you," Milo said cautiously, sizing her up. He sensed something extraordinary about her, despite her unassuming appearance.

"Headmaster Rufus informed me of your situation," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Good job young man... Well, anyway, I suppose we should get started."

"I have a question," Milo whispered.

Gwenyth raised a brow. "Not even a minute and... Alright, ask away, I'll give you one for free, the rest you'll have to pay for." The librarian chuckled.

"Pay for? How?"

The woman rolled her eyes. "That was a joke. Gosh, has humour left the youth already? Come now, ask away."

"How does Headmaster Rufus communicate with you? And how does he seem to be everywhere but I never see him anywhere."

Gwenyth nodded. "Those are indeed good questions, but alas, those are answers I am not privy to reveal. Now, follow me young man, there's work to be done."

As they walked deeper into the library, Milo couldn't help but pepper Gwenyth with questions about the vast troves of knowledge surrounding them. To his surprise, she seemed to have an answer for every inquiry – from the intricate workings of magic and qi to the complex politics of the continent of Michiwitt.

"Tell me about the Alliance of Three," Milo asked, his curiosity piqued by the tales of the Pyros, Wesos, and Hyphos clans banding together against the mysterious Arcana clan.

"Roughly two decades ago," Gwenyth began, her voice taking on a somber tone, "the three clans united to destroy the Arcana, believing they'd acquired a strange power that could threaten the entire continent. Many suspect that the royal family played a hand in it, fearing a loss of their own power."

Milo clenched his fists, feeling the injustice of it all. He knew he'd have to tread carefully if he wanted to uncover more about his own connection to the Arcana and Void Magic.

"Come now," Gwenyth said, breaking into Milo's thoughts, "let me show you what you'll be doing for the next week."

She led him through an impossibly tall aisle lined with books, explaining that he would be responsible for dusting and re-shelving them. "But why can't this be done with magic?" he asked, bemused by the mundane task.

"Ah, it can – but where's the lesson in that?" Gwenyth replied cheekily,

Without nothing else to be said, the librarian left Milo to his devices. The boy huffed at the tall task ahead of him.

"Guess this is my punishment after all."

As Milo began his work, he couldn't help but feel that his time in the library would bring him closer to the answers he sought, even if they were shrouded in darkness and mystery. This library was a trove of knowledge, something he lacked so dearly. As he reached for the first dusty tome, he was filled with an unending curiosity.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

...

Milo's muscles ached as he lifted another heavy volume from the shelf, the dust tickling his nose. He sighed, wiping the cover clean before placing it back on the shelf. The repetitive tasks were monotonous, and he yearned for something more engaging. His eyes wandered to the soaring bookshelves that surrounded him like a labyrinth, each filled with countless volumes of knowledge.

"Can't hurt to take a little break," he muttered to himself, his fingers skimming the spines of the books until one caught his eye – a worn leather-bound tome titled "The Magical Realms of Michiwitt." As he cracked open the book, the parchment crinkled with age, and he delved into the stories of powerful mages, enchanted forests, and mythical creatures.

As intriguing as these tales were, Milo's thoughts kept drifting to Void Magic. He knew that if he could find any information on it, this vast library would be the place. But he was also acutely aware that Gwenyth, with her extraordinary knowledge, could be watching him closely. He couldn't risk exposing his secret, not even to a seemingly friendly librarian.

"Enough," he whispered to himself, closing the book with resolve. It was time to focus on his task at hand.

Milo continued to dust and reshelve the books, all the while scanning the titles for anything related to Void Magic. Time and again, he came up empty-handed, his frustration mounting.

"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, slamming a book back onto the shelf. The secrets of Void Magic seemed as elusive as ever, and he began to doubt whether he'd ever unlock its mysteries.

"Focus, Milo," he told himself sternly. "You didn't come this far to give up now."

Milo threw himself into his work, meticulously cleaning and organizing the library's vast collection. He found solace in the knowledge that the more books he sorted through, the closer he came to uncovering the secrets of Void Magic.

As the sun outside dipped below the horizon, Milo's thoughts were a swirling mix of frustration and determination. He knew that he couldn't rely on others for answers – it was up to him to forge his own path.

"Tomorrow is another day," he muttered as he returned the last book to its rightful place. "I will find what I'm looking for, no matter what it takes."

And with that, Milo stepped out of the library, leaving behind the endless rows of books and the tantalizing mysteries they held.

...

On the last day of his library duty, Milo felt an inexplicable pull towards the upper floors. He hesitated for a moment, glancing around to ensure Gwenyth wasn't nearby. With a sense of unease settling in his stomach, he climbed the seemingly endless spiral staircase. The higher he ascended, the gloomier the atmosphere became. Shadows loomed like specters, and whispers seemed to echo through the air.

"Who's there?" Milo called out, trying to shake off his growing apprehension.

No response came, but the strange gut feeling persisted, urging him onward. Eventually, he arrived at a dusty, unlit section of the library that hadn't been touched in years. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling like lacy curtains, and the air was thick with the scent of ancient parchment and decay.

"Is this where I should be?" he murmured, feeling as if some unseen force had led him here.

As Milo ventured deeper into the seemingly forbidden area, he noticed that the books on these shelves were different. They were bound in black leather and covered in strange glyphs that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. Hesitantly, he reached out and pulled one from the shelf.

"Void Magic," he read aloud, his heart pounding with excitement and fear. This was what he'd been searching for all along. As he opened the book, eager to delve into its secrets, a sharp voice cut through the silence.

"Put that down immediately!"

Gwenyth appeared behind him, her face livid. "What do you think you're doing here, Milo? This area is strictly off-limits!"

Milo stammered, taken aback by her sudden arrival. "I... I'm sorry. I don't know how I got here, honestly."

She eyed him skeptically but seemed to soften slightly. "I've been watching you, Milo. You've proven yourself to be diligent and respectful during your punishment, but this... This is unacceptable." She sighed, rubbing her temples. "I'll let it slide this time, but if I ever catch you in this area again, there will be severe consequences."

"Thank you, Gwenyth," he replied, his voice barely a whisper.

"Go back to your dorm room," she instructed. "Now!"

As Milo descended the staircase, he couldn't shake the feeling that something significant had just happened. The mysteries of Void Magic were still within his grasp, but they remained shrouded in darkness for now.

When he finally returned to his dorm room, Marco looked up from his desk, grinning broadly. "Milo! You're back!"

"Good to see you too, Marco," Milo said, matching his friend's grin. The familiar warmth of friendship washed away the lingering unease from his encounter in the forbidden section.

"Let's get back to training tomorrow," Marco suggested, excitement sparkling in his eyes. "You've got a lot of catching up to do."

"Agreed," Milo replied, his determination renewed. He would find the answers he sought – no matter what it took.