Ethan's eyes were narrowed, and his knees were slightly bent as his hand rested on the handle of a knife hidden in his overcoat. He eyed the woman before him, seeking any indication of malice, fully intent on responding in kind should she further act on it.

  “Aster! What are you doing? Why won’t you listen to me?”

  The woman began to panic, trying to restrain the immaterial spirit in her hair. The earring dangling from her ear began to shine, forming chains of light out of thin air that sought to wrap themselves around her red-spotted green hair. Yet, they soon collapsed, unable to fully encase the spirit within the cage.

  Ethan saw the blood-red petals sway as if a breeze blew. Without wasting a moment, he spun his body, barely avoiding the projectiles he knew were incoming. However, an unexpected event stopped him dead in his tracks just as he was about to unleash his hidden blade.

  He heard the creak of ancient hinges slowly rotating and the sound of two massive doors being opened. His eyes widened as he looked back, only to see a crack between the two doors. He just now realized he stood between the doors and the angered spirit. His expression twisted slightly, yet he was already committed; he could only get out of the way.

  The doors opened, revealing a young man of no more than sixteen. Judging by his dark uniform and his blue tie, Ethan knew the man to be a sophomore, meaning it was probably his first time setting foot within the Endless Library. Ethan could see his excitement as he pushed the two massive doors, revealing a completely different world beyond the threshold.

  Did he gain entrance through the male dormitory? If so, where the hell is the doorman? Shouldn’t he do something about this?

  A look of pity flashed onto Ethan's face, only for the blood-red petals to be reflected into the young man's eyes, swiftly closing on him. The countless petals cut through the air like arrows mid-flight, unobstructed and deadly.

  “NO!”

  The woman extended her hand forward, panic twisting her features. The consequences of it all quickly flashed in her mind. She felt her world crumble regardless of her will, all that she had built collapsing almost instantly.

  The young man didn't even suspect his predicament, too overjoyed at being granted access for the first time. A big grin and a look of expectation were plastered on his face, oblivious to his impending fate. However, his ochre-coloured earring began to shine heedless of his own will.

  A mass of yellow-brown dirt materialized from thin air, compacting as if through increased gravity, forming a large shield of hardened stone before him. The petals impacted the dirt, seeking to burrow their way through the soil, yet the resistance was such that they couldn't push their way more than an inch within.

  The delicate petals soon collapsed before scattering in all directions, filling the area with the sweet scent of flowers but also a slight hint of blood. And yet, the struggle wasn't over. As if reacting to the threat, sharp stone spears began to form upon the floating shield of dirt, ready to be unleashed upon its assailant. Being the recipient of this threat, the woman's eyes couldn't help but widen, her fear evident. Still, she could do nothing about it. It took all she had to restrain her own spirit from further escalation.

  “Enough!”

  The word echoed throughout the Endless Library, carried by the wind itself. It was forceful and imperative, prompting all spiritual manifestations to crumble almost immediately. The blood-red petals faded back to a light pink as the woman's dark green earring became inert again. The shield of dirt collapsed onto the floor, forming a small mound of rock and soil, only to be further compacted into a small golem, reaching up to Ethan's knees, before it ran back to the young man, tightly hugging his legs. The young man was startled, unable to comprehend what had just happened. He only shook unconsciously; the threat of death still lingered in the recesses of his mind.

  “Explain yourselves!”

  The words shook the woman to her core. Ethan could even see the spirit in her hair tremble as if it had met its natural predator. However, Ethan knew better. He knew that spirit possessed their own hierarchy. This plant-based spirit was no weak one to be intimidated so easily. Therefore, the owner of that voice must possess a high-grade spirit. Still, he knew who this voice belonged to.

  He raised his head to the sky, only to see a microscopic green outline in the distance. As the Endless Library had no ceiling, Ethan couldn't judge the distance, yet to be able to transmit this voice through such a long distance while it retained so much power, he knew this spirit was leagues above others.

  “Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

  This time, the voice didn't come from everywhere around them but from behind Ethan. He turned, only to see the head Librarian walk toward them, accompanied by the green outline that always followed him without fail.

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  Upon the sight, Ethan's eyes narrowed. He had long been acquainted with this spirit, yet this was the first time he ever laid eyes upon it. This wasn't what he expected. From the accounts he had read about Sylph, it should have resembled a young fairy in a green dress and not this mass of green colour of undefined boundary. It looked like the wind itself, ready to turn into a storm at any moment.

  Somehow, Ethan couldn't help but feel a shiver down his spine as the spirit seemed to turn its gaze upon him. He felt the rage swirling in the wind as if about to explode, aimed at him. The only reason it didn't do so was the green earring on the man's left ear, shining bright like a star in the midnight sky.

  “Head Librarian, I..." the woman stammered incomprehensibly, her gaze trembling as tears began to swell in her eyes.

  She looked weak and helpless, readily fostering a man's protective instinct, yet the Head Librarian remained utterly impassive, untouched by worldly desires. Noticing this, the woman's expression couldn’t help but switch almost instantly. She looked at Ethan scornfully, pointing an accusing finger toward him.

  “It’s his fault! He must have done something to Aster. Otherwise, how could she not obey me and break the contract!”

  Ethan's eyes narrowed further. A slight hint of murderous intent arose deep within, yet he hid it well. His face showed a look of surprise, complete bewilderment, and outrage at this unjust accusation.

  "I'm the victim here! Just because I was late doesn't give you the right to try and kill me!"

  Inside, Ethan felt smug, using this opportunity to get back at this vile woman, and yet, his mind couldn't help but spin, wondering what had just happened. While there was some bad blood between them, he never would have believed she would go so far as to try and take his life. Not when the crime would be plain for all to see. This wasn't this woman's style at all.

  The Head Librarian's gaze was harsh as he looked upon the both of them. Ethan felt an overbearing pressure on him, almost like the sky had fallen on his head. It took all he had to remain standing, his tense muscles barely supporting the weight of his own body.

  The woman didn't fare any better. Her earring glowed stronger, desperately seeking to resist, yet she collapsed, only for the green in her hair to fade back to auburn and for a strange plant life to appear at her side.

  It seemed made of countless green vines entangled into a large blob with a large pink flower on top. The vines spun themselves into what looked like a large bed, only to support the woman's weight and prevent her collapse. Yet the pressure remained, restricting its movement.

  Only the unfortunate victim and his golem of stone and dirt remained unscathed under the pressure, watching the scene incredulously. His mind only now registered how close it had all been.

  “I’m not interested in your wild speculations,” the man said as he stepped before the two of them, his tone grave and imperative. “You know the rules: any spirit usage within the Endless Library may be met with capital punishment, or are you telling me you were unaware of it?”

  The woman's eyes widened as fear struck her mind. She began to tremble, looking toward the strange plant with a mix of apprehension and dread but also sorrow. She hugged the spirit tightly, unwilling to let go, casting Ethan a fleeting look filled with hatred and reproach before facing the Head Librarian.

  “Please, have mercy,” she pleaded, trying to look as frail as possible, even letting a single tear fall down her cheeks. “We know the rules. Aster isn’t the type to break the rules without just cause!”

  Ethan couldn't help but sneer in his mind, but also applaud her for her superb acting. However, such thinly veiled malice couldn't be hidden from him. He knew all too well the depths this woman would go to have her way. Still, he did his best to look innocent, even ignoring the rose petal that seemed to look in his direction as if guarding against him. He couldn't let it be known that he was now able to see spirits—at least not now, not when so many questions remained unanswered.

  “What about you?” the man said, turning toward Ethan. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

  Ethan may call this man his brother-in-law, but the only thing they had in common was his sister. Without her existence, this man would have never even considered his opinions. Still, Ethan hid it all in the depths of his heart, putting on the facade of a grateful and harmless younger brother.

  “I have no idea,” Ethan said while everything about him screamed ignorance and obliviousness. “She was already pissed off when I arrived late for my shift, but I didn’t expect to be suddenly attacked for it.”

  "Bullshit!" the woman screamed, almost in hysterics. "You must have done something to Aster! Look at her! Don't you see how terrified she looks?"

  “Look at what?” Ethan jabbed back. “Don’t you know I have never even seen what a spirit looks like? You know full well what I am. How do you expect me to be able to influence spirits in any way?"

  The woman was at a loss for words. She knew he was right, yet couldn't help but feel he was somehow the cause. After all, she was connected to her contracted spirit through their contract. She could feel exactly how it felt, and it told her of the dread it had felt when Ethan's gaze rested upon it. Still, she knew this feeling alone wouldn't be enough for the Head Librarian to act upon, not with the bonds they shared through Ethan's sister. She could only grit her teeth and bear with it this time.

  “Aster acted only to protect me; of this, I am certain," she finally said calmly, yet her tone remained accusatory. "I ask for leniency on this matter. There are extenuating circumstances to consider."

  The man finally sighed, raising his gaze upward, feeling the weight of his position, before glancing at the unfortunate student, still looking taken aback by the speed at which the situation occurred. Even now, the full scope of it eluded him. Finally, the man sighed, his gaze resting upon the distraught woman.

  "So be it," he finally said, exasperated. "You're on probation while this situation is thoroughly investigated. Awaiting further instructions, your spirit will be confined to its contract stone. Failure to comply will lead to its eradication. Do you understand?"

  The woman's countenance grew heavy, yet Ethan felt a hint of relief wash over her, as well as the vine spirit supporting her. She touched her earring with her index finger, only for the stone to glow a bright green. The spirit now scattered into a mass of immaterial light before being absorbed by the stone's glow. Its existence completely disappeared from the world, yet Ethan felt as if he could see something swirl within the stone as the light receded—something he had never seen before. A slight hint of light pink. Still, he showed no indication of being aware of the change, remaining completely obvious.

  "As for you," the man said, turning toward Ethan with a complicated look. "Your sister will hear about this. You better ready yourself. Also, it's not like you to be late."

  At the mention of his sister, Ethan’s expression twisted into one of fear, but also helplessness. No matter how old he became, he had no way to resist her. Still, he couldn’t help but hope his newfound grasp of mana could help him in this endeavour.

  A few moments later, after apologizing to the unfortunate student who had entered the library at the worst possible moment, Ethan's brother-in-law finally left with the woman in tow, leaving Ethan and the student alone in uneasy silence.

  The golem of stone and dirt still stood before his master, shielding him from harm as if to separate him from Ethan. Ethan couldn’t help but furtively glance at the clump of dirt, trying his best not to let it be known that he could see it, only to see it flinch each time he glanced at it.

  What’s happening with these spirits? Am I so scary?