I walked past the nurses, easing the door open and stepping into the hallway. The second floor stretched before me, and I paused, confused. I had no memory of climbing up here from the first floor. Everything from earlier felt like a blur, as if my mind had been in survival mode, blocking out unnecessary details.

A low murmur drew my attention to a cluster of students gathered by the windows, their eyes fixed on something outside. Curiosity tugged at me, and I moved closer, peering out alongside them. Below, guards were dragging the surviving elves into chains, forcing them to their feet. The captured were shoved toward a carriage, their legs bound together.

I winced as one guard struck an elf across the head, sending him staggering. Another guard grabbed a captive by the collar, slamming his face into the carriage door with enough force to break his nose. Blood splattered on the dark wood, but the elf didn’t resist, his body limp.

“I hope the Queen’s okay,” a boy near me muttered, his voice tense.

“Same,” his friend replied. “Still can’t believe it… they attacked her here. At Redwood of all places.”

“And a student too. Bastards,” the first added bitterly.

The second boy crossed his arms, his tone hardening. “You know, I used to think the elves weren’t so different from us. That they could be reasoned with. But after this? Nah. Kill them all. End it.”

“Exactly,” his friend agreed. “It’s the only way to deal with monsters like them.”

I pulled away from the window, their conversation leaving a sour taste in my mouth. Down the hall, the library doors stood open, students streaming in and out, oblivious to the scene outside. My gaze lingered on the massive double doors. That library might be my only shot at answers—at understanding why I was here and, more importantly, how to get back.

My legs felt heavy, but I forced myself to move toward the library. The murmur of the students behind me faded, replaced by the echo of my footsteps. None of them seemed to care about the elves’ suffering. If anything, they seemed to revel in the guards’ brutality.

“Hey!” a voice called out from behind me.

I slowed, turning to see a familiar figure leaning casually against the wall. It was that Noxivera girl—the one whose name had already slipped my mind.

“It’s you again,” she said, her tone light but teasing.

“Uh… hey,” I replied, scratching the back of my neck.

“Please don’t tell me you’ve forgotten my name already.” She tilted her head, crossing her arms as her dark and scaly wings gave a subtle twitch.

“It’s, uh… It’s…” I stammered, wracking my brain.

“Mox,” she said, shaking her head with a mock sigh. “Unbelievable. Anyway, I saw how you fought to protect the Queen. Nice job.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, avoiding her gaze. “Didn’t have much of a choice. I figured if I ran, people might think I was in on it with the attack. Staying felt safer.”

Her lips quirked into a smirk. “So noble. And here I thought you liked playing the hero.”

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“No one likes being a hero,” I said flatly. “Trust me on that.”

Her almost-pink skin shimmered faintly in the light streaming through the windows. The black horns on her head gleamed, and her dark red wings shifted slightly, as if she moved them unconsciously. My gaze lingered a moment too long, and she must have noticed.

Her expression tightened, and she turned to the side, her wings flaring out. One of them smacked me straight in the face, the force knocking me back a step.

I stumbled, clutching my nose as I looked at her, embarrassed. “I wasn’t—I didn’t mean—Sorry. It’s my first time seeing a Noxivera.”

“You already said that,” she remarked, brushing a strand of dark hair from her face.

I hesitated, then asked, “Can you… fly?”

She smiled, her wings giving a quick flutter. “A little. A few meters, maybe. What about you? Got wings hidden somewhere?”

“Uh, no,” I replied, deadpan.

“Shocking,” she said with mock surprise, pushing off the wall and standing upright. “So, where were you rushing off to?”

“The library,” I answered, glancing toward the open doors in the distance. “I’m looking for a book called Void 101.”

“Why?”

“Got recommended to me.” I shifted on my feet. “Sorry, I’m in a hurry. See you around.”

“Huh. Right. Sure,” she said, stepping aside with a casual wave. “Good luck.”

I nodded, turning and resuming my walk toward the double doors.

Entering the library, I paused, taking in its impressive size. The space was vast, with towering bookshelves covering every wall and lining the middle of the room like silent sentinels. The library had two stories, with staircases at either end on the right and left. Looking up, I could see the second floor forming an upside-down 'U,' the balcony lined with more shelves and railings.

The wooden floor beneath my feet creaked softly as I stepped further in. Much of it was covered by an ornate red rug, its strange patterns almost glowing under the dim light. The windows, one near each staircase, weren’t enough to illuminate the room fully. Instead, several candles were mounted on the walls, their flickering flames casting shadows that danced across the shelves. The room felt warm… relaxing almost.

A few students were scattered around, occupying the comfortable furniture placed throughout the library. Thick, padded couches sat in cozy corners, some with small side tables stacked with extra books. A couple of polished wooden desks, each accompanied by a chair with a cushioned seat, were spaced out near the shelves for individual study. It all seemed inviting, a quiet haven for anyone seeking peace or answers… or weirdos like me searching for an eye in the sky.

To my left, a lone desk sat near the entrance. Behind it was a woman with sharp eyes and a faintly amused expression, deeply absorbed in the book she was reading. She barely glanced up as I approached.

“Hello,” I said, stepping closer to her desk. “I’m looking for a book named Void 101. Can you tell me where to find it?”

She turned a page calmly, not bothering to meet my gaze. “Interested in the Void, huh?” Her voice had a teasing lilt. “Good taste.”

“Yeah… something like that,” I replied, unsure if she was being sincere or sarcastic. “Do you know where it is?”

“It’s levitating behind you,” she said nonchalantly, as if that was the most normal thing in the world.

I blinked, turning slowly. Sure enough, a book hovered behind me, bobbing gently at shoulder level. Its movement was almost hypnotic, as though carried by an invisible tide.

Hesitating, I reached out and grabbed the book from the air. It was unnervingly cool to the touch, its black leather cover smooth under my fingers. I glanced back at the woman, who gave me the faintest nod before returning to her own reading.

Swallowing hard, I found the nearest empty desk and sat down. My chest tightened as I placed the book before me. This was it—the moment I had been waiting for. If this book didn’t have answers about the strange eye that threw me into this world, I didn’t know where else to turn.

“Alright,” I muttered to myself, flipping open the cover. My fingers trembled slightly as I smoothed the first page. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”