Cleaning the academy in the after-hours was the best option left out of the least desirable ones. Since both Maya and Elena got their spot there, they have partnered up for the job. It was the chance to get to know parts of the academy she wouldn’t be obliged to visit otherwise.

While students cleaned classrooms and club rooms after themselves, the cleaning crew — also consisting mostly of part-timer students — was responsible for cleaning hallways, bathrooms and all the other spaces students and teachers share.

They started with sweeping the entrance courtyard which gave Elena a chance to fish out a fistful of squared coins that filled the bottom of the fountain. Tetradym was the name of currency here — Tetra for short. Its characteristic was squared coins. So what Elena was doing right now was stealing tribute to other people’s wishes.

At first, Maya thought it was part of their agenda for the day. After all, someone has to clean up the coins otherwise they would clog the entire fountain, right? But seeing Elena quickly hide the ones she already gathered when someone from the cleaning staff came to direct them to clean the library, she realized it was plain out stealing.

Good thing she didn’t join in, in her foolish belief.

As they entered the library, the musty, comforting scent of old paper and well-worn bindings filled the air, a smell as familiar and inviting as an old friend’s embrace. Towering bookshelves, arranged in rows upon rows, stretched out over each level, each one teeming with volumes of all shapes and sizes. Their colourful bindings held promises of the unique worlds concealed within their pages.

The library was one of the most visited locations during school hours, but now there were just the two of them in there. Located in the main building, taking up enormous space, with a vast study area and peaceful atmosphere, its silent heartbeat echoed through the three expansive floors.

The soft, warm glow of the lamps bathed the extensive space, casting playful shadows that danced upon the polished wooden furniture across the three decks. Rows of mahogany desks, each with a traditional brass and green glass table lamp, stood empty. Maya guessed soon enough, as they progressed further into the semester, this place would start being occupied at this time as well.

After some gawking at the impressive space and the lofty book collection that swept Maya off her feet, it started to feel very quiet and lonesome.

‘The Headmistress was right. It truly is something to marvel at.’

However, Maya had no time to admire books right now. There was a lot to clean and she did not want to be yelled at. It seems silence bothered Maya a lot more than it did Elena, so Maya decided to initiate some small talk.

“So… The first benders today. Pretty cool, right?”

“Sure…” Elena was uninterested.

“I’m surprised you didn’t do it today, as well.”

“Why?”

“I’ve seen you use magic before anyone else. Since it doesn’t seem like anyone’s aware you can do it already, I thought you were going to do it the first day.”

“…Like I’m not already hated enough,” Elena scoffed.

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‘Is that something that would facilitate hate rather than awe?’

“Okay… Maybe not the first day. But today. You already did it. Why not show it?”

“It took me weeks to figure it out on my own. I’m not just going to pretend that I’m natural at it for useless brownie points. Sometimes it’s better to lower people’s expectations.”

“You’re talking about people’s expectations, and I’m worried if I’m even going to be able to do it before Initiation…”

“Do you always have such high expectations of yourself?”

“They’re not high. I don’t want to end up in the Slums.”

“It’s the second day of school…” Elena rolled her eyes at Maya already stressing about it. It seemed Maya’s worrywart personality wasn’t resonating well with annoyed Elena.

Making a step backwards to soak her mop again, Maya accidentally tripped over her bucket with water, spilling it.

“Crap… If we hadn’t been late for job picking, we wouldn’t be stuck with this crappy job,” her frustration escaped her.

“What does it matter? We’re free labour anyway…”

“We could’ve gotten a job in the greenhouse or stables.”

“They’re probably just shovelling shit or doing the same thing as we are. If you like dealing with shit, don’t worry, we have to clean bathrooms, too. You can start from men’s.”

“Eww. You’re taking the men’s room.”

Elena stopped in front of the doors belonging to the restricted area of the library.

“So, you’re okay with cleaning shit, but not shit and cum?” Elena chuckled to herself as Maya made a disgusted face.

‘What does she think goes around in the bathrooms… On second thought, it better to not think too deeply into it.’

Fortunately, Elena didn’t give her a chance to think further as she had just pulled out a set of pins resembling a makeshift lock-picking tool.

“What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?”

“Breaking into the restricted area…?” Maya stated exactly what she was doing.

Elena continued picking the lock without answering.

“Stop that! We are not allowed in there.”

“Aren’t you curious as to why?”

“There must be a good reason,” Maya was trying to rationalize.

“Yeah. Secrets…”

“Why do you insist on breaking every rule there is? We get it—you’re a rambunctious rebel. Now stop it. You proved your point,” Maya was trying to talk her out of this, knowing they would both get in trouble if caught.

“I’m not trying to prove anything. I simply want to reveal what’s behind door number one.”

There was no reasoning with this girl.

“You feel awfully confident doing all of this in front of me. What makes you trust that I won’t tell on you?”

Elena stopped. She didn’t like feeling threatened. Her oddly calm reaction sent chills down Maya’s spine.

Elena looked her dead in the eye. “I trust you’re smart enough to see how unwise that would be.”

Maya may not have intended for her statement to be a threat, but Elena’s sure was.

“I won’t tell on you. But someone could walk by at any moment,” Maya still tried to talk her out of it.

Elena continued picking the lock. “That’s why you’re keeping guard.”

“I’m not. What am I supposed to do if someone shows up?”

“Whatever you want. Just don’t act suspicious.”

There was a click sound, and by Elena’s grin, Maya concluded that she succeeded in picking the lock. Then, Elena pushed the door, which didn’t budge an inch.

“Well, you tried. Let’s just go.”

Elena rolled her eyes as if it was a useless endeavour to doubt her lock-picking abilities. Using more force, she pushed the door with her shoulder. And… the door opened.