The massive library in the capital's academic district felt like another world—quiet, cold, and filled with the dry scent of ancient paper. Sunlight streamed through tall arched windows, scattering across endless rows of shelves stacked high with books whose spines had long since faded. The only sounds were the soft scrape of chairs, the faint rustle of pages turning, and the slow footsteps of scholars drifting through the aisles with their arms full of scrolls.
We had buried ourselves here all morning, digging through anything that even whispered the name "Zelva Kingdom" or "Valley of Seals." My eyes stung from staring too long at cramped script. A small fortress of dusty tomes loomed in front of me.
"…Even with all this, we still can't find anything that hits the core," I muttered, rubbing my forehead. My voice sounded way too loud in the hush.
"Guess that's what happens when you go looking for stuff tied to taboos," Caina said. She didn't look up from the map she was sketching lines across, his tone as level as always. Lilis had slouched so far down her chair she was practically sliding off, her boots tapping idly against the leg.
Cecilia's eyes stayed locked on her book, but her brows were knit, and she'd been turning the same page for five minutes.
That was when Elsa lifted her head, eyes flicking toward the doors. "Right on time," she murmured.
And right then—clack, clack, clack—the sound of firm heels cut through the library's stillness. The footsteps echoed sharp on the marble floor as an elderly woman approached, small and straight-backed, wrapped in deep green robes that whispered at her ankles. Long white hair spilled down her back like thin silk, and her amber eyes were sharp enough to cut stone as they swept over us.
"You lot… for just adventurers, you seem awfully devoted," she said.
I turned. Her presence was like cold iron—small, but somehow heavier than anyone else in the room.
"Mariona-san. We've been waiting for you," Elsa said, stepping forward. At her words, the woman's eyes narrowed, just a little.
"Hmph… So you came as promised, girl."
"Wait, you know her?" Lilis asked, straightening. Suspicion sharpened her voice.
"I told you about her," Elsa said. "She's the one who spoke with me before. Mariona Revelle. She studies the history of the Zelva Kingdom… and the Valley of Seals."
"Once, they called me the 'Flame Witch,'" Mariona said, giving a small shrug like it meant nothing.
Then her gaze slid to the pile of books on our table, and her mouth twisted faintly. "Hmph. Picking at the wrong scraps, are you? You think you can walk into the Valley of Seals with knowledge that thin?"
Lilis puffed out her cheeks. "What's with this old hag, showing up out of nowhere acting all high and mighty…"
"Hag? You cheeky little brat," Mariona said, brows knitting. But I caught the tiniest twitch at the corner of her lips, like she was hiding a smile.
"Well? What do you want from me? Don't tell me you actually hope to learn the truth about the Zelva Kingdom."
"That's exactly it," I said. My voice came out steadier than I expected. "We think the anomalies in the app might be tied to the Zelva Kingdom's relics. We need information."
Mariona's eyes narrowed, glinting. "…I see. So this isn't just curiosity. But knowing history is not easy. Many who stepped into the Valley of Seals never came back. And yet you still intend to go?"
"Of course," I said without even thinking. The words felt like they were pulled from somewhere deep in my chest.
Mariona stared at me for a long, quiet moment.
"…Hmph."
She finally made a small sound, then pulled a tiny pouch from her robe. From it, she took a single candy and popped it into her mouth with a click.
"Very well. I'll test you."
"Test…?" Caina asked, raising an eyebrow.
"If you can answer my questions, I'll consider helping you," she said. And then she started firing them at us.
"The name of the final king of the Zelva Kingdom?"
"Uh—Zelva the Fourth…?"
"Wrong. The Fourth was never officially crowned."
"The name of the incident that triggered the kingdom's downfall?"
"'Crimson Sunset'… I think…?"
"…Hoh. Not terrible."
We scrambled to answer, throwing everything we'd read onto the table, but half her questions slipped right through us. Some of her words sounded more like traps than tests.
At last, Mariona sighed, a sharp little sound like cracking wood. "…As expected. That's about your level."
But even as she said it, her sharp gaze softened, just slightly. "Still… your eyes say you mean it. Fine. I'll tell you what I know. But steel yourselves."
With that, she tossed another candy into her mouth and started walking, her robes whispering across the marble.
"…What even is with that old hag," Lilis muttered under her breath, still sulking.
Mariona stopped, just long enough to pluck another candy from her pouch and silently hold it out. Lilis blinked, hesitated, then took it, frowning.
"…?"
Mariona's mouth curved, the tiniest flicker of a smile.
"Come along, girls," she said, and started toward the doors.
And just like that, we were being pulled into the start of our journey to the Valley of Seals.
Notes:
• Lilis - Agile rogue/thief — Leon's close friend and playful teaser. Strikes fast with twin daggers and vanishes into stealth. Petite, light-blonde hair, mischievous green eyes. Reminder: Playful trickster hiding sharp instincts.
• Caina - Calm, brilliant mage — the group's strategist and analyst. Uses lightning magic with precise, logical focus. Slender, silver hair, calm blue eyes. Reminder: Stoic thinker and precision spellcaster.
• Cecilia - Gentle yet firm healer (v1c11) — Leon's emotional support and moral anchor. Wields holy healing and purification magic. Graceful, golden hair, violet eyes. Reminder: Kind priestess with hidden resolve.
• Elsa - Proud red-haired warrior — once a frontline fighter, deeply trusts (and loves) Leon. Masters raw strength and combat. Tall, long crimson hair, fierce golden eyes. Reminder: Fierce protector, sharper after her return.
• Mariona - 'Flame Witch' scholar (v2c1) — Lilis's strict but warm mentor, holds deep Zelva lore and fire magic. Small, long white hair, keen amber eyes. Reminder: Stern teacher, secretly cares deeply.