Chapter 73. A Hidden Diary

ARDEN

The library was quiet except for the occasional rustle from the front desk. Elara was busy as usual, and she couldn’t even fully acknowledge our presence when we arrived.

The first round of the Academy Eliminations was tomorrow, and Elias and I had been going over everything from strategy manuals to history textbooks, trying to prepare for whatever was coming.

My eyes ached from reading. My brain buzzed with so much information, I was sure I’d start dreaming in battle formations.

“I’m going to look for more books,” I mumbled, rising from my seat.

Elias nodded, still focused. “Try the far left wing. The archives have some older stuff. Could be useful.”

I wandered deeper into the library, my fingers skimming along leather-bound spines and gold-lettered titles. The smell of paper and time was thicker here, comforting and strange all at once. Most of the books hadn’t been touched in decades.

Something called to me.

I don’t know how e