Leaving the classroom behind, Ivan and Olivia stepped out into the teaching district grounds.
Ahead of them—The towering structure Ivan had noticed before stood silently in the distance.
The library.
Without needing to say a word, the two of them naturally walked toward it.
The paths of the teaching district were lively.
Wizard apprentices could be seen everywhere.
Some sat alone beneath the shade of trees, books open in their hands, brows slightly furrowed as they studied complex spell models.
Some gathered in small circles on the grass, quietly discussing magic theories, occasionally sketching rune structures in the air with their fingers.
Others leaned against stone benches, flipping through pages, muttering fragments of incantations under their breath.
The atmosphere—
Quiet, yet filled with a subtle, restless energy.
For a brief moment, Ivan's steps slowed.
This scene…
It felt strangely familiar.
Like returning to his university days.
Beside him, Olivia looked around with clear curiosity, her gaze lingering on different groups of apprentices. For someone who had grown up in a small, ordinary town, this kind of environment—where knowledge was freely pursued and discussed—was something entirely new.
Neither of them spoke.
But the silence between them felt natural.
As they walked further, nearing the edge of the teaching district—
Something caught Olivia's attention.
Not far away, beneath a lone tree, two wizard apprentices sat close together.
A young man and a young woman.
The girl leaned lightly against the boy's shoulder, her voice soft as she spoke.
The boy responded with a faint smile, his expression relaxed.
At a glance—
It was obvious what they....
A couple.
Olivia slowed slightly.
Her gaze lingered on them for a brief moment.
Then—
Almost unconsciously—
She turned her head and looked toward Ivan.
Ivan had already noticed them.
And when he saw Olivia looking at him—
His gaze shifted.
Their eyes met.
In Olivia's clear emerald eyes—
There was a quiet question.
A faint, unspoken uncertainty.
Ivan understood.
He always did.
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
Then—
Ivan gave a small, gentle smile.
He reached out—
And took her hand softly.
"It's not time yet."
His voice was low and Gentle.
Olivia froze for a moment.
Then she lowered her head slightly.
She said nothing.
But her ears—
Had already turned red.
They continued walking.
Hand in hand.
Ivan's gaze remained forward.
But his thoughts shifted.
Olivia's feelings—
He had known for a long time.
Though he had never been in a relationship in his previous life, he was not so dull as to miss something so obvious.
From the way she stayed close.
From the quiet glances she thought he didn't notice.
From the small, almost unintentional gestures.
It had all been clear.
At first—
He ignored it.
Deliberately.
To him, such things were not important.
Not then.
But That day—on the transport ship it changed.
When the marfolk attacked—
And Olivia stepped forward without hesitation.
Choosing to stand in front of him.
Protect him.
In that moment—
Something within Ivan's heart had stirred.
Even so—
He remained clear-headed.
Now… was not the time.
He was still a wizard seed.
He had yet to even step into the ranks of a true wizard apprentice.
His foundation—
Was not yet solid.
And the wizarding path—
Was never easy.
It demanded everything.
Time.
Resources.
Focus.
Especially at the beginning.
The early stages determined everything that followed.
If his foundation was unstable—
Then no matter how far he went later—
His path would be filled with difficult and obstacles.
If he allowed himself to be distracted now—
The cost would be far greater than he was willing to pay.
Still—
He did not pull his hand away.
And he did not reject her.
In his heart, he had already made a decision.
When he stepped into the ranks of a true wizard—
When his foundation was stable—
He would give her an answer.
Until then—
Some things would remain unspoken.
Yet understood.
After leaving the teaching district, the surroundings gradually grew quieter.
The crowds thinned.
And soon—
They arrived.
Before them stood a towering, circular structure.
The academy library.
From the outside, it looked… ordinary.
Rough stone walls.
A simple structure.
No excessive decoration.
At a glance, it resembled nothing more than an old tower built from stone and mortar.
Unremarkable.
But—
Above the entrance—
A symbol glowed faintly.
A book, held up by two outstretched hands.
Beneath it—
Simple words were inscribed.
The Library.
Ivan's eyes lingered on the symbol for a brief moment.
Then—
Without hesitation—
He stepped forward together with Olivia.
The two entered side by side.
The moment they crossed the threshold—
Ivan's eyes narrowed slightly.
The space inside—
Was vastly different.
Far larger than the exterior suggested.
Rows upon rows of bookshelves stretched endlessly into the distance.
The ceiling arched high above, almost out of sight.
Soft light illuminated the entire hall evenly, without any visible source.
There was no doubt.
Spatial expansion magic.
Ivan was not surprised.
After all, even the transport ships that carried people and cargo across the distant edges of the wizard plane utilized such methods.
For a place like the White Ring Saint Academy—
Not using such magic would have been stranger.
Near the entrance—
A desk stood quietly.
Behind it—
Sat an old figure.
From his attire, he was clearly a wizard apprentice.
His appearance was aged.
Wrinkled skin.
Dull eyes.
A frail body that looked as though it could collapse at any moment.
Yet—
Ivan's gaze shifted.
On the man's chest—
Beneath the academy emblem—
Three bronze stars were embedded.
A high-level wizard apprentice.
Ivan's eyes sharpened slightly.
Hearing their footsteps, the old apprentice slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze fell on them—
Then moved to their badges.
No stars.
Newcomers.
A trace of understanding passed through his eyes.
Ivan and Olivia stepped forward, stopping before the desk.
The old apprentice straightened slightly and spoke, his voice dry but steady.
"There are ten levels in this library."
"The first three floors are open to wizard apprentices."
"The upper levels… are restricted to official wizards."
His gaze drifted briefly toward the deeper interior before returning to them.
"As new wizard seeds, you may freely access all books on the first floor."
"No fee is required."
A slight pause.
"But the second and third floors—"
"You must first step into the rank of a lower-level wizard apprentice."
"And you must pay."
His eyes rested on them.
"Knowledge… is not free."
"It must be exchanged."
He then pointed toward the desk.
"Your badges."
Ivan and Olivia stepped forward.
On the desk lay a circular platform, faint blue light flickering across its surface.
They placed their badges onto it.
Instantly—
The platform responded.
A soft glow rose.
The badges lifted slightly into the air.
Lines of light traced across their surfaces—
Then faded.
The badges slowly descended.
A mechanical, emotionless voice echoed from the platform—
"Identity verified."
"Welcome, new wizard seeds, to the academy library."
The old apprentice spoke again.
"This device is used for identity verification… and transactions."
"For now—you may enter freely."
Ivan picked up his badge.
Olivia did the same.
The two exchanged a brief glance—
Then stepped deeper into the library.
The first floor of the library—
Was vast.
Endlessly so.
Shelves stretched in every direction, each one filled to the brim with books. Countless volumes, layered upon layers, extending so far that the end could not be seen at a glance.
Standing there—
It felt like facing a boundless sea of knowledge.
Without saying anything, Ivan and Olivia separated.
Each moved toward a different section.
Ivan's goal was clear.
History.
The wizarding world.
Its origins.
Its development.
Its limits… and its potential.
Only by understanding the foundation—
Could he truly plan for the future.
As he walked between the towering shelves, categories revealed themselves one after another.
Alchemy.
Potionology.
Basic Materials.
Transmutation.
Bloodline Studies.
Necromancy.
Basic Soul Studies.
Dark Creature Research.
And many more.
Every section—
Vast.
Dense.
Filled with layers of knowledge that went far beyond a simple glance.
Time passed.
Ten minutes.
Twenty.
Nearly half an hour.
Yet Ivan still hadn't found what he was looking for.
His brows furrowed slightly.
"With this many categories and books…"
"How do they even find anything?"
Just as that thought surfaced—
A faint sound came from behind him.
Ivan turned instantly.
A floating metallic sphere hovered nearby.
Its surface was smooth, cold.
At its center—
A single eye-like structure glowed faintly.
Fixed on him.
Ivan's gaze sharpened and curiosity rose within his eyes.
He observed it carefully.
Then—
It spoke.
"I am a Magic Eye construct assigned to the academy library."
"If you require assistance, please state the category or title."
Its voice was neutral.
No different from the Other alchemy puppets.
Ivan raised an eyebrow slightly.
Then he stepped around it slowly, examining it from different angles.
Up close—
It looked even more peculiar.
A floating metallic eye, suspended in midair.
For most, it might have felt unsettling.
But to Ivan—
It was intriguing.
Very much so.
The Magic Eye remained still for a moment.
Then repeated,
"Please state your request."
Ivan stopped and Thought briefly.
Then spoke.
"History."
"I want records of the wizarding plane's development."
The eye flickered faintly.
"Request acknowledged."
"Please follow."
It turned—
And began to move.
Ivan followed behind.
They passed through multiple sections, moving deeper into the library.
The surroundings gradually grew quieter.
Fewer people.
Less movement.
Until finally—
They reached the far end.
A secluded area.
Judging by the condition of the shelves and the lack of presence—
It was rarely visited.
At the top of a row of shelves—
Words were inscribed.
History and Development.
The books here looked older.
Their covers worn by time.
Yet each one was neatly arranged, untouched by dust, preserved perfectly under the effects of enchantments.
Even after years—
They remained intact.
Ivan glanced around.
Then spoke casually,
"Does no one read these?"
"They look untouched."
It was merely a passing thought.
Yet—
The Magic Eye responded.
"Historical knowledge is typically provided to wizard seeds from core regions prior to academy admission."
"Most do not revisit these records."
"A minority—such as individuals from peripheral regions—may require them."
Ivan nodded slightly.
"Understood."
The Magic Eye hovered in place for a brief moment—
Then silently drifted away.
Leaving him alone.
Ivan turned back to the shelves.
His gaze moved across the titles, one by one.
Until—
One book caught his attention.
The General History of the Wizarding Plane.
He reached out—
And pulled it free.
The book was thick.
Heavy in his hands.
Its cover was deep blue, faint golden lines shimmering across its surface. Though it carried the marks of age, the enchantments placed upon it ensured that it would not decay even after long years.
Ivan did not move elsewhere.
Right there—
Beside the shelf—
He sat down.
Opened the book.
And began to read.
Around him—
The library remained quiet.