The trio wandered deeper into the main building, their steps echoing softly against polished wooden floors.
On the first floor, long corridors stretched ahead, lined with sliding doors of dark cedar. Inside each classroom, rows of low desks and woven mats filled the space. Incense burners sat at the corners, and on the walls hung scrolls painted with flowing calligraphy—sayings of wisdom and discipline.
Through one door left ajar, Shaun caught a glimpse of disciples practicing hand seals, sparks of fire and lightning flickering above their palms.
"This doesn't feel like a classroom," Natasha whispered, brushing her fingers against a hanging scroll. "It feels like… a temple."
The second floor carried a hushed energy. Classrooms here were larger, their air heavy with discipline. Windows framed with latticed wood let in muted light, casting patterns on the floor.
Within, older disciples sat in silence, their postures straight, their eyes sharp. The weight of their aura made Shaun instinctively straighten his own back.
"They're so focused…" Sabastian murmured. He lowered his voice further. "I guess this is where the real training begins."
By the time they climbed to the third floor, the atmosphere changed entirely. The air smelled faintly of sandalwood and ink.
Here, the chambers of the teachers lined the hall, each marked with engraved wooden plaques. Some doors were half open, revealing shelves stacked with ancient tomes, others closed tight, guarded by an almost sacred silence.
They passed the grand assembly room, its carved pillars rising like silent guardians, and further down, Natasha pointed at a pair of doors framed with lion and flame motifs in silver.
"That's Lady Maya's chamber," she whispered. Even closed, the doors seemed to exude an untamed authority, like a beast waiting within.
Not far from it, a plaque bearing the sigil of crossed swords marked the Disciplinary Knights' chamber. A pair of armoured apprentices stood guard, their presence stiff and unyielding. Shaun lingered for a moment, watching them, before Natasha tugged his sleeve.
"Come on," she said softly. "We'll be back here again."
Finally, the trio descended to the ground floor, where the air turned warm and fragrant. The academy's eatery opened before them, a broad hall with long rows of wooden tables and benches polished smooth with use.
Behind the counters, cooks worked over great steaming pots, the scent of dumplings and roasted meat filling the air. Shaun's stomach growled audibly. Natasha giggled.
"Not yet. Food after the tour," she teased, tugging him toward the exit.
The three of them stepped out into the courtyard, sunlight washing over them once more. The main building loomed behind, its tiled roofs gleaming like dragon scales, while before them stretched the vast campus of Silver Heaven Academy—waiting to be discovered.
**********
As they stepped out of the main hall and turned left, a tall building came into view. Its walls were adorned with intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes, and its sweeping roof curved upward like the wings of a crane.
In front of the grand doorway stood a circular stone sundial, mounted upon a carved pedestal of white marble. The sundial's polished surface caught the afternoon sunlight, its shadow falling across engraved markings that shimmered faintly with elemental runes.
Beside it, a rectangular marble plaque rose from the ground, its black calligraphy bold and commanding: "Silver Heaven Library – A Temple of Knowledge." The trio paused, their eyes drawn to the sundial as if it were silently measuring not just the time of day, but the fleeting hours of a disciple's youth.
Shaun's gaze lingered on the plaque. A quiet resolve sparked within him. If knowledge is power, then this temple must be its heart. With that thought, they stepped through the doorway into the library's hushed embrace.
Inside, the air was cool and heavy with the scent of aged parchment and polished wood. Shafts of sunlight filtered through latticed windows, casting patterned shadows on the floor.
The first floor opened into a vast reading hall, supported by thick wooden pillars carved with cloud and lotus motifs. Rows of round wooden tables, their surfaces lacquered to a soft shine, stood neatly arranged.
Each was surrounded by chairs cushioned with crimson silk, inviting disciples to sit and lose themselves in study. Hanging from the beams above were paper lanterns, their warm glow blending with the sunlight, giving the hall a timeless stillness.
At the centre stood the librarian's desk—a sturdy, dark-wood table polished by years of service. Behind it rested a small bookshelf filled with essential scrolls and registers. Above the shelf hung a wooden sign, the calligraphy bold and elegant:
"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
Natasha leaned toward Shaun and whispered, "I feel like if we speak too loudly, the books themselves will scold us."
Shaun gave a quiet chuckle. "Feels more like a temple than a library."
Sabastian nodded. "A temple of knowledge… fitting."
Two staircases on either side curved upward like twin dragon tails, leading to the second floor. The trio ascended, their footsteps soft against the polished wood.
Here, towering shelves stretched almost to the ceiling, their red-lacquered frames filled with books and scrolls bound in silk, leather, and parchment. Golden tassels marked some of the more ancient tomes. The faint smell of ink and dust mingled with a subtle hum—Shaun swore he could feel the presence of enchantments woven into the shelves to preserve the texts.
Shaun traced his hand lightly along a shelf, his eyes widening at the titles: History of the Elemental Wars, The Tales of Heavenstar, The Records of the Silver Heaven Region, Principles of Lightning Flow. Each title seemed to whisper of a world yet to be discovered.
Natasha's eyes sparkled as she tilted her head back, looking at the endless wall of books. "We could spend years here and still not finish half of it."
Sabastian gave a half-smile, though his tone was wistful. "That's because wisdom takes a lifetime to gather. And even then… it's never enough."
Shaun paused, his gaze settling on a section marked with the emblem of a flame and a sword. His heart quickened. One day… I'll need the knowledge in these pages to stand against the Supreme Mages.
For a long moment, none of them spoke. The library's silence wasn't empty—it was alive, filled with the voices of countless generations waiting to be heard.
**********
As the trio stepped out of the library, the warm sun kissed their faces—only for a familiar, deep voice to rumble behind them.
"Enjoying your trip, kids?"
They turned to see Teacher Edward Hamilton, tall and broad-shouldered, his muscular frame unmistakable. His hands were crossed over his chest, but the faintest smile tugged at his lips. Several apprentices, their robes neatly arranged, stood around him. Among them, Shaun and Natasha spotted familiar faces from their own class.
"If you're free," Edward continued, "you're welcome to join us. A tour is better in company, after all."
Shaun exchanged a glance with Natasha, who nodded eagerly. "We'd be honoured, Teacher Edward."
Sabastian gave a small shrug, and the three slipped into line with the others.
After a short walk along a stone path lined with blossoming plum trees, they arrived at a circular building unlike any other on the campus. While most of Silver Heaven Academy's structures were built of stone and carved wood, this one gleamed strangely in the sunlight—its walls framed with carved redwood but filled with translucent emerald-green panels that shimmered faintly, as though alive.
"It looks like it's glowing…" Natasha whispered.
"This," Edward announced with a gesture, "is the Emerald Conservatory."
Inside, a rush of warm, fragrant air greeted them. Lush greenery sprawled everywhere—rows of medicinal herbs with silver-veined leaves, climbing vines dotted with bright blossoms, and beds of vegetables carefully tended in ordered plots. The faint sound of running water came from a carved fountain at the centre, feeding channels that nourished the plants.
Disciples in light robes moved quietly between the rows, carrying woven baskets or watering with enchanted gourds. At the far side of the hall, a woman in emerald robes stood waiting, her long auburn hair pinned with a rose-shaped ornament. Her serene smile was as warm as spring itself.
"Welcome," said Sakura Rosered, bowing gracefully. "This hall is my domain. Here we nurture not only plants, but life itself. Some of these herbs ease pain, some heal wounds, others mend the spirit. With them, we craft medicine. And to those who wish to walk the path of healing—we teach the way of the Medical Magus."
The apprentices leaned closer, listening intently.
"In times of war, when swords clash and spells rend the earth, it is not only warriors who decide the fate of battle. When the fallen lie wounded, when commanders are struck down, who do you think saves them?" Sakura's eyes swept the room, her voice soft yet unyielding. "The Medical Magus. Without us, even the greatest army collapses."
Her words carried weight, sinking into the hearts of the young disciples. Several exchanged looks, a spark of admiration in their eyes.
Sakura's expression softened again. "If any of you feel drawn to this path, you may join this Sanctum of Restoration. But know this—it demands more than talent. It demands patience, humility, and compassion. Without those, no spell, no herb, will ever save a life."
**********