The rest of the day was a blur of classes. Alex, now known as Kaelen, kept to himself. His white hair and height made him stand out, but his quiet act kept most students from bothering him.
During a break, he found his way to the library. It was a massive room with shelves that reached the ceiling. He could feel the magic here, old and powerful. He needed information. He needed to understand the Fulcrum and the Unwritten Titan.
He was searching for a book on ancient history when a voice spoke beside him.
"Looking for something specific?"
It was Lyra. She smiled, her eyes curious.
"Just... reading," Alex said, keeping his voice soft.
"Most first-years don't come to the restricted history section," she said, nodding to the shelves he was browsing. "Those books are for advanced students."
"I was curious," he said.
"About what?" she pressed. "The Founding Laws? The Titans?"
Alex stayed silent. He couldn't tell her the truth.
Lyra leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You're different, Kaelen. I saw it in class. You don't just follow the rules. You see around them."
She pulled a small, old book from a high shelf. "Here. This one is good. It talks about the time before the Laws."
Alex took the book. It was heavy. "Why are you helping me?"
"Because this place is full of people who just obey," she said. "I like people who ask questions."
She turned to leave, then looked back. "Be careful. The Proctors don't like questions about the old times."
Alex watched her go. She was clever, and she was watching him. He didn't know if she was a friend or a danger. Maybe both.
He found a quiet corner and opened the book. The pages were old and fragile. He read about the Chaos War, about the Titans of Potential, and about the Fulcrum that rose to impose Order.
But the book was vague. It called the Titans "mindless forces of destruction." It called the Fulcrum "the savior of reality." It was clearly written by the winners.
He needed more. He needed the real story.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over him. He looked up.
The Lexicon stood there, his face unreadable.
"An interesting choice of reading material, Kaelen," he said softly. "The Chaos War is a complex subject for a first-year."
"I was just curious," Alex said, closing the book.
"Curiosity is good," the Lexicon said. "But some paths of inquiry are... dangerous. I would hate for you to get lost."
He picked up the book. "I think this is too advanced for you. Let me find you something more suitable."
He walked away with the book, leaving Alex alone with his thoughts.
The message was clear: I am watching you. Every step you take.
Alex leaned back in his chair. He was in the lion's den, surrounded by enemies. A clever girl was asking questions he couldn't answer. And the man who wanted to dissect him was controlling what he could learn.
He had to be smarter. He had to be more careful.
The mission had just gotten much harder.