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Chapter 20 - Library

The next day he woke up brushed his teeth took his bath and wore his favorite clothing— his uniform. The uniform featured a black pants with black boots and a plain white shirt with an high collared oversized coat which drifted down to his calves with the school insignia, the school insignia was simple, a orange colored feather.

Matching to the cafeteria with confidence he settled for something called pancake and syrup, if he was to describe how he felt at the moment, it would be sweet and fulfilling but also sweet. After the breakfast that left him reeling in joy he went to class. On his way he saw people who wore the same clothes as him moving to and fro, they were also some teacher who wore the same clothes as the students but theirs was longer.

His hand was in the door knob then he got a cold feeling, he shrugged it off then opened the door, upon entering the first person he saw was his nemesis and also his Archenemy, staring back at him in shock.

Time seems to freeze for both of them with the same thought flowing through their minds.

'How is he still alive'

But Eclipse was even more bizarre, he directly laid out his thought. 

"How the hell are you still alive". Elara's mouth twitched as she heard his words, this boy was getting more and more bizarre.

"Hmm, it would be great if you introduced and go take a seat, I was in the middle of something".

Eclipse turned and saw the teacher responsible for this class and with a quick nod scuirred on to the last available seat, Ryder had briefed him on the teacher before, Mr. Orion.

"So let's put our lesson on a hold it was getting boring away, new student care to tell us a thing or two about your self". Orion has a look of relief on his face, he was probably using this as a means to escape teaching for the day.

Eclipse was in shock as being called out, he hurriedly composed himself before speaking out.

"My name is Eclipse".

They was an awkward silence as everyone Waited for him to continue, but after sometime he still didn't continue causing half of the class to steal glance at him.

"Hmm, that's that, so I am guessing you already know to order of ranking, what am I saying of course you do". But Mr. Orion was quick to catch the look of uncertainty on the face of Eclipse and blurted out. "You don't know the order of ranking".

"No". Then came a collective gasp. Hearing the gasps around him he knew he had screwed up. This time everyone turned to look at him, he crink into his seat. It wasn't his fault back at his shelter, it wasn't his concern about the levels of power at least until he survived the trials.

"It okay not everyone is exposed to basic information". Mr.Orion awkwardly took his chalk and wrote on the board, after writing he turned around.

" That's it fellas".

Eclipse looked to the board and saw the ranking list divided human and Stain, Human— Rank: Marked/Aurora, Awaken, Enlightened, Honoured. Stain— Rank: Nether-borne, Veiled, Shackled, Disgraced. But there was an additional something under Stain, Class: Beast, Evil, Fallen, Terror. 

Eclipse hesitantly raised a question. "Why is they class under the Stain".

"Stain are fundamental different from humans, so when they gain more heart they advance in rank, so the more heart the Stain have the more advance in rank they are".

'If I recall properly the Stain back in the trial had two heart and a shard that means it's a Nether-borne Evil, I think I understand'. 

"No that's that back to our lesson".

Eclipse absorbed all the information Mr. Orion was giving at at the end of the lesson, all of them left disatified at the long lecture, even Mr. Orion himself was tired.

"Eclipse I reckon you visit the library and get atune with reality, right now you are out of touch".

"I would love to do that but I barely know my way around here".

"That's okay, give me you map".

Without further ado he took the map out of his inner coat and gave it to Mr. Orion who marked the library and passed the map back to him.

"Thank you". With that Eclipse left the class and headed straight to the library, after navigating his way to the library he arrived as a large double door.

Eclipse pushed open the heavy oak doors of the library, the familiar scent of aged paper and polished wood enveloping him like a warm embrace. The grand room stretched out before him, a sanctuary of knowledge and quiet contemplation. Sunlight streamed through the tall, arched windows, casting intricate patterns on the polished wooden floor. Dust motes danced in the beams of light, giving the space an ethereal quality. The library was mostly empty, save for a few scattered students hunched over their studies and a librarian quietly reshelving books."Wow it's like a different world itself". 

Eclipse marvelled at the intricate structure of the library. As he wandered through the towering shelves, his fingers brushed against the spines of countless volumes, each one a portal to a different world. It was in this moment of exploration that he stumbled upon a section that piqued his curiosity: the esoteric and philosophical texts. The titles were intriguing, but one in particular caught his eye—a book titled "The Soul's Diary: Reflections on Existence." Eclipse carefully pulled the book from the shelf, its cover worn but inviting. The title was embossed in gold, and as he opened it, the pages whispered secrets of the universe. The first few pages were filled with elegant script, discussing the concept of the soul as a diary of experiences, emotions, and memories. He found himself captivated by the idea that each person's soul was a unique narrative, a collection of moments that defined their existence. Settling into a cozy nook near the window, he began to read. The author spoke of the soul's journey through life, likening it to a traveler collecting stories along the way. Each experience, whether joyful or painful, was a page in this diary, contributing to the richness of one's being. As he turned the pages, he encountered various anecdotes and reflections from the author's life. One story detailed a moment of heartbreak that ultimately led to personal growth and understanding. 

The book also delved into the idea of self-discovery, encouraging readers to engage with their inner selves. It posed questions like: What stories did his soul tell? What memories would he cherish forever? What moments had left indelible marks on his heart? Each question felt like a gentle nudge, urging one to explore the depths of one's own existence. He continued reading. Hours slipped by as Eclipse immersed himself in the text. He lost track of time, the outside world fading into a blur. The library, once a mere backdrop, transformed into a sacred space of introspection. As he read on, he encountered passages that spoke of the interconnectedness of all souls. The author illustrated how each person's diary was intertwined with others, creating a vast tapestry of shared experiences. The sun began to set, casting a warm golden glow through the library windows. The atmosphere shifted, and the library felt even more intimate, as if it were cocooning him in its embrace. He turned to the final chapters, where the author encouraged readers to embrace their soul's journey fully. Life was not just about the destination but the myriad of experiences that shaped each individual. Eclipse closed the book, a sense of fulfillment washing over him. He felt as though he had embarked on a journey of his own, one that had deepened his understanding of himself and the world around him. The library, once just a place to study, had become a refuge for introspection and growth. As he stood up to leave, he glanced back and he eyes caught sight of shelves that were bound in black leather, adorned with intricate silver filigree that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. Eclipse's heart quickened as he reached out to touch the spine of one of the books. 

Eclipse suddenly heard a loud blood-curdling scream. "GET AWAY FROM ME!" The voice echoing off the walls of the library. Eclipse's eyes widened as he turned to take in the sight of a boy, the boy stumble backwards, his arms flailing wildly as he screamed. The boy's eyes were fixed on something in front of him, but there was nothing there. He was screaming at empty air. The boy's face was contorted in a mixture of fear and rage, and his body was tense and rigid, a palatable energy began to flow out of him yellow in color, as he prepared to use his exousia against the unseen force. Eclipse could see the fear and panic in his eyes, and he felt a surge of adrenaline as he realized what was going on. The boy's screams grew louder and more intense, just then the boy started backing up to the wall then a man appeared behind him. The man was tall and gaunt, with short black hair that his eyes were like two back holes, and they seemed to be able to bore into the soul of anyone who looked in to them.The man's appearance was so sudden and unexpected his movement difficult to follow, the boy suddenly stopped screaming as his throat arched forward then he together with the man disappeared. 

Eclipse seems to have an idea of what had happened. "I bet he was screaming against the Soul Diary, but how did that man move so fast, I could barely see his face". Due to how fast the incident happened he couldn't make sense of it. The library settled down as if it was a normal incident. Eclipse pondered on his way to the cafeteria for his dinner thinking about what had happened.

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