Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the tall library windows. Casting warm golden patches across the wooden study tables.

Dust motes floated lazily in the light, and the quiet hum of turning pages and soft footsteps filled the air.

In a tucked-away corner near the back of the library. Where the shelves of thick, ancient spellbooks acted like soundproof walls.

Kyle, Luna, Reo, and Mira had taken their spot.

Kyle sat with his elbows on the table. Tapping the screen of his mana band.

A soft chime echoed as a small swarm of Nexus bots zipped out from their docking station nearby.

The tiny drones hovered midair, glowing blue at their cores. Looking almost like fireflies as they flitted around the study group.

Kyle typed a quick command. Requesting a list of books on mana convergence theory.

In under a minute. The bots returned in perfect formation, each carrying heavy, leather-bound tomes in their mechanical claws.

They dropped the books gently onto the table in a neat stack.

"Thanks," Kyle muttered. Flipping one open.

Luna snatched the top book with the speed of someone in full study mode.

She opened it with practiced ease and adjusted her glasses, already scanning the pages.

"Alright, idiots," she said, not looking up. "Focus. Midterms are in two days. I'm not letting either of you fail."

Reo groaned loudly and flopped forward. His head landing on the table with a thud.

"Luna, please. If I have to read one more word about mana circuit stability. My brain is gonna turn into mana jelly."

Mira, sitting beside Kyle, covered her mouth to hide a quiet laugh.

She still felt a little out of place. But the way these three argued like siblings made her feel less nervous.

She had never studied with nobles before. Especially not ones who acted so... normal.

Kyle leaned over and nudged her with his elbow.

"Don't mind Luna. She's scary, but honestly? She's the reason Reo and I haven't dropped out yet."

Luna finally glanced up from her book just to glare at him. "And whose fault is that?"

Before Kyle could answer. The quiet study atmosphere shifted. The library doors opened, and a familiar group strolled in...

Cedric, Cassian, Lyra, and Sylvie.

Cassian was the first to spot them. He grinned and raised a hand.

"Hey! Looks like we're not the only ones cramming last minute!!"

Luna narrowed her eyes and immediately pointed a sharp finger toward the librarian.

Who had already started glaring at them from behind her desk.

Cassian winced and lowered his voice. "Right, right. Sorry. Whisper mode."

Cedric chuckled as they approached the table. "Seems like the whole class had the same idea.."

Without asking. Cassian pulled up a chair beside Reo and dropped his books onto the table.

Lyra and Sylvie slid into the seats across from Kyle and Mira, already flipping through their own notes.

Cedric sat beside Luna, who didn't say anything but silently handed him a book with a look that said. "You're behind, start reading."

Then came the quiet sound of soft footsteps. Eleanora and Serena entered the library together.

Eleanora walked with her usual calm grace. Her gaze scanning the room.

When she spotted Kyle. She made her way toward him and took the empty seat on his other side without a word.

Her posture was perfect, as always, back straight and hands folded neatly on the table.

Serena stood behind her, arms crossed and silent, eyes calmly watching everyone.

Reo leaned back in his chair, stretching. "Wow. The whole gang's here. Should we throw a party?"

Luna didn't look up as she kicked him under the table.

"Study. Now."

And somehow. They listened.

For the next hour. The big study group actually worked.

Luna, Eleanora, and Serena led most of the teaching.

Luna's explanations were quick and sharp, like bullets.

Eleanora's were more detailed. Calmly walking through each part.

Serena barely spoke. But when she did. She had a way of making even the hardest ideas seem simple.

Kyle. For once, felt like he was really getting it. All the stuff that used to blur together in class finally made sense.

He looked over at Mira and saw her scribbling down notes faster than anyone else at the table.

Then she paused. Her brow furrowed as she stared down at her textbook.

"Wait," she said, softly but clearly.

"This formula doesn't make sense. If you invert the mana flow here. Wouldn't it destabilize the whole circuit?"

Luna blinked. She leaned over to look at the page.

"…Huh. You are right."

Reo let out a low whistle. "Damn. New girl's sharp."

Mira's face turned pink. She looked down quickly. Brushing a stray lock of red hair behind her ear. "I just… read a lot."

Cassian. Who had been doodling dragons in the margins of his notebook, suddenly sat up straight.

He elbowed Reo and leaned over.

"Hey," he whispered. "Who's the redhead sitting next to Kyle?"

Reo smirked. He didn't even try to keep his voice down.

"Oh, that's Mira. Kyle's new girlfriend."

Silence.

For a full second, nobody moved. Then, chaos.

Mira's face turned bright red, almost the same color as her hair.

She shrank into her seat, pulling her notes up to hide behind them.

Her hands trembled slightly as she tried to look anywhere but at the group.

Lyra, the half-elf sitting across from them, burst out laughing.

Her green hair bouncing with each chuckle. "Oh, this is gold! I can't wait to see the faces of all those noble girls who have been throwing themselves at him!"

Cassian smacked his forehead dramatically. "How did you get a girlfriend before me, man? This world is unfair!"

Cedric. Always the one trying to keep things calm, cleared his throat and gave Kyle a small, awkward nod. "Uh… congrats? I guess?"

Even Sylvie. Usually quiet and hard to notice, peeked out from behind her book. "C-Congrats…" she mumbled, her cheeks a soft pink.

Kyle's eyes went wide. He looked like someone had just dropped a bucket of cold water on his head.

"WHAT?! No! Reo's joking!" Kyle said, waving his arms. "Mira and I are just study partners! That's it!"

Mira looked like she wanted to sink into the floor and disappear.

She held her notes like a shield and stammered. "W-We're just… just studying! That's all!"

But the damage was done.

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