The weight of whatever had happened still hung heavy on Elias, a suffocating cloak of "Ignorance" constricting his chest. He forced a smile as he turned to Elara and Adrian.

"Thanks, Adrian" he mumbled, his voice thick with a mix of gratitude and confusion. "For… you know… your advise at the podium."

Adrian, his usual arrogant facade slightly cracked, offered a curt nod. "Wouldn't want the first day to leave a bad taste in your mouth, commoner."

Elias didn't ask why it would have left a bad taste if he had shown his ability( although he doubted he had one). He was pretty much sure that Adrian had helped him with the advice since some students including Elara, Adrian, and Fiona had also refused to reveal their abilities and it was clear from Adrian's tone that he didn't want to continue the subject.

Elias chuckled nervously, the tension easing slightly. "Actually, I was wondering…" he began, then hesitated.

"Spit it out, Elias," Elara prompted gently.

"Well, I wouldn't mind exploring the library a bit," he admitted. "There must be some fascinating books about abilities and their origins."

Elara's smile widened. "Brilliant idea! The Everbright Library is a treasure trove of knowledge. Though, it can be a bit labyrinthine if you're new."

Elias shook his head. "I don't mind getting lost. Maybe I'll stumble upon some hidden gems along the way."

Elara considered this for a moment. "Do you know where the library is?"

He grimaced, realizing his lack of direction. "Not really. But hey, half the fun is in the journey, right?" He tried for a lighthearted tone. "I'll explore while I search. Think of it as sightseeing the academy."

Seeing the flicker of concern in Elara's eyes, he added quickly, "Don't worry, I'll be careful. Maybe I'll ask someone for directions if I get completely turned around."

Elara bit her lip, then nodded reluctantly. "Alright, but make sure to be back before dinner. We don't want the dorms swallowing you whole on your first night."

A sense of relief washed over Elias. "Wouldn't dream of it," he promised.

With a final wave, he peeled away from them, heading towards a path that seemed to lead deeper into the sprawling campus. As Elias walked, the weight of the afternoon's events threatened to overwhelm him again.

Watching Elias go, Elara and Adrian continued their walk in silence will they reached the crossroads between the male and female dorms. Elara suddenly asked

"Elias is an interesting guy, isn't he? He seems as ignorant as a forsaken. I mean, he didn't even know about variants of all things. What if he is from some newly awakened bloodline? Although the chances are low since he made it to the Everbright."

"Shut up Elara."

"Aww. Did I hit the mark? Is that the reason you took such a risk to help him?"

"Whatever the reason is, it's got nothing to do with you. And you better leave him alone."

Elara kept smiling, not offended by Adrian's attitude. She mumbled

" This is why you're just as interesting Adrian."

Saying that she went off.

* * * * * *

The path Elias chose wound through a maze of manicured gardens and ancient stone buildings. The setting sun cast long shadows, painting the campus in a warm, ethereal glow. Despite the lingering anxiety over his circumstances, Elias couldn't help but be captivated by his surroundings. A group of students whizzed past him on levitating skateboards, their laughter echoing through the air. A towering oak tree, with leaves that shimmered like emeralds, seemed to whisper secrets in the breeze. Elias felt a pang of curiosity. Could the tree be something like a magical species?

After all, if people with abilities exist, there is nothing wrong with plants with abilities to exist as well.

He continued his walk, his eyes scanning every corner for a sign that might point him toward the library. Every now and then, he encountered other students, their clothes a kaleidoscope of colors and styles reflecting their diverse backgrounds. Some wore flowing robes that hinted at an affinity for the arcane, while others sported sleek, metallic armor, a symbol of the kinetic warriors. There were even those who looked too different to be called humans!

Everything looked straight out of a novel!

He tried to ignore the subtle whispers and curious glances that followed him. After all, he was quite poorly dressed (even if the clothes he was wearing were now of the best he could afford), and the revelation seemed to have painted him with an invisible mark.

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Just then, a booming voice startled him. "Lost, freshman?"

Elias looked up to see a towering figure blocking his path. The man, easily twice his height with muscles that bulged beneath his worn leather jerkin, wore a gruff expression and a beard that seemed to hold its own ecosystem.

"Uh, n-no sir" Elias stammered, feeling intimidated. "Just exploring. And looking for the Library on the way."

The man snorted. "Lost, I said. The library's on the other side of campus, greenhorn. You'll be wandering around till nightfall if you keep going this way."

Elias felt a surge of gratitude. "Thank you, sir. I appreciate the help."

The man grunted again, then pointed a massive finger towards a pathway hidden behind a cluster of towering pines. "Follow that path until you reach the fountain of the whispering spirits. Then, take a left and you can't miss it."

Before Elias could thank him again, the man lumbered off, his presence leaving a faint tremor in the ground. Elias chuckled, surprised by the gruff kindness of the stranger. He adjusted his backpack and set off on the new path, the prospect of the library reinvigorating him.

Elias had already made his choice. Whatever happens, he wanted to know about the world of abilities. And the library might help him immensely with that.

The walk to the fountain was a pleasant one. The air was filled with the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. As he reached the clearing, he found himself facing a magnificent fountain sculpted from white marble. Water cascaded down three tiers, each adorned with a different mythical creature – a griffin, a mermaid, and a phoenix. But what truly captivated Elias were the whispers that seemed to emanate from the water. They were soft, almost inaudible, but to Elias, they carried a sense of ancient wisdom and forgotten secrets.

He lingered by the fountain for a moment, his fingers brushing the cool surface. The whispers became more pronounced, swirling around him like a soft breeze.

'So I'm not hallucinating then. If this fountain is named after spirits, there might really be spirits here.'

At least he didn't feel any danger here.

He closed his eyes, trying to decipher them, but just as he felt like he was connecting to something-

Suddenly, a sharp voice pierced the peaceful atmosphere. "Enjoying the company of spirits, freshman?"

Elias whirled around to find a girl with fiery red hair and piercing green eyes standing behind him. He recognized her from the group at the ceremony – Fiona, the one who had mocked him for being a commoner.

"I wouldn't know," he replied cautiously. "I can't hear anything."

Fiona snorted. "Of course, you can't. Commoners like you can never be Whisperers. You probably wouldn't understand even if you could hear them."

Elias clenched his fists, anger flickering within him. He didn't want to cause trouble, but something about her mocking tone triggered an involuntary surge. A faint warmth spread through him, and he found himself blurting out,

"Actually, I think the whispers are talking about your insecurities. They seem to be worried about something…"

Fiona's eyes narrowed, her face flushing crimson. "What did you say?" she hissed, taking a menacing step closer.

Elias realized his mistake. He hadn't meant to say that.

"I… I don't know," he stammered "I didn't mean…"

Before he could finish, a figure jumped in between them.

"Fighting already, juniors?"

It was a lean, tall guy. He had skin the color of polished obsidian and eyes that shimmered with an inner silver light. He wore a simple black tunic and trousers. Just as Elias wondered where the new guy literally dropped from, he heard Fiona's shout

"AAAHHH, S-Senior Kai! *Ahem* I mean, Senior Kai nice to meet you again. D-do you remember me...?"

'What kind of bullshit...'

Elias was dumbfounded. One moment this girl was drowning in arrogance, and now, she looked so awkward and nervous that even he was cringing at her words.

"Now, now." Kai exclaimed, "Of course, I remember you, junior Fiona, we met at your Father's birthday party last time I suppose."

Kai looked at him then and signaled with his face. Elias gave a slight bow as thanks and hurriedly entered the Library.

* * * *

Elias found himself in a vast hall lined with towering bookshelves that stretched as far as the eye could see. The air was filled with the faint scent of old paper and leather, a comforting fragrance that spoke of ancient wisdom waiting to be discovered.

He ignored the librarian and wandered through the labyrinthine aisles, his fingers trailing across the spines of countless books. Each title seemed to whisper promises of forgotten knowledge – "The Art of Soothsaying," "A History of Abilities" and so on.

Just then, a soft voice startled him. "Looking for something specific?"

Elias looked up to see a young woman with hair the color of burnished copper and eyes that sparkled with intelligence. She wore a simple scholar's robe and held a stack of worn books in her arms.

"Uh, yeah," Elias stammered, feeling a flicker of hope. "I'm actually new here, and I was hoping to find some information about abilities and bloodlines. Their origins maybe?"

The woman's smile widened. "Origins, huh? Fascinating topic. Might seem simple but the origin of abilities has been a topic of debate since long. Though not many choose to research them these days. But come with me, I might have just what you're looking for."

Elias hesitated " Um, I just want to start with the basics actually."

As they walked, the woman introduced herself as Anya, a second-year student with a passion for forgotten lore.

Anya led him to a secluded corner of the library, where ancient scrolls and dusty tomes lined the shelves. She pulled out a book with a faded inscription: "The Codex of Prophetic Whispers."

"This should be a good starting point," Anya said, handing him the book. "It details the history of bloodlines, their different schools of thought, the most common ones of course, and some techniques for controlling their abilities."

Elias cradled the book in his hands, his heart pounding with excitement. This was exactly what he needed. Hopefully, he could find out how to check for or awaken bloodlines here.

Anya, sensing his excitement, smiled and said

"Hey junior, now, since I helped you, you don't mind doing me a favor right? I can even guide you later, just do something for me alright."

Elias bit his lip in thought, to which Anya reassured

"All you need to do is find out a bit about the history and culture of the place you'll be going to in your advancement ceremony. And convey them to me. Nothing more. I just have an interest in these topics you see. Is that fine?"

'I don't know what an advancement ceremony is, but I've got no choice at this point. I can't afford to make a senior displeased right now.'

Elias nodded and Anya, after saying "Alright then, Elias, I remember your face now, so if you need anything, you can come to me.", wandered off.

Then,

Taking a deep breath, Elias found himself a secluded seat and finally opened the 'Codex of Prophetic Whispers'.

He started reading.