Chapter 30 Quiet Time at the Library
Kane's POV
Evelyn was so close to me that I could even see the fine hair on her face in the sunlight.
She called my name again, "Kane."
"Ah, the keywords." I said quickly, looking at the words written there: [self-healing, tingling sensation, mammals...]
I added another one: healing power has a silvery starlight quality.
I explained, my tone carrying a hint of certainty from finally catching a clue, "Evelyn, don't worry, the clues are piecing together bit by bit. One day, I'll solve this puzzle completely."
Evelyn looked at me with trust, which made me want to hold her in my arms again and keep her away from everyone's sight.
The cafeteria was crowded. I frowned. I didn't want Evelyn to go buy the little cake by herself, so I stuck close to her, then had her come with me to get a burger combo.
I figured she'd be hungry, so I got some snacks with the combo for her.
Watching her happily scoop up a bite of cake and put it in her mouth, her eyes immediately curved into crescents, like a cat that caught a fish, looking so satisfied it made me want to smile.
She even lifted a spoonful of cake and held it up to my lips. I watched her lips open and close as she said, "Kane, you should try this cake, it's really good."
Warmth flooded my chest . Looking at that spoonful of cake, then at her expectant eyes, I opened my mouth and ate it.
Evelyn asked me, "How is it?"
I answered honestly, "Very sweet."
She said proudly, "Of course, sweets can really improve your mood."
I thought to myself that if I ever made her unhappy in the future, I'd just buy her lots of little cakes, and then she probably wouldn't be mad at me anymore.
I really enjoyed the time we spent eating together every day. Although many people around us would look at us and talk about us, neither Evelyn nor I really minded.
But I really hated them putting their eyes on Evelyn.
After the meal, I suggested going to the library with Evelyn. On one hand, I wanted to return the books I borrowed yesterday and look for some other books. But most importantly, I wanted to spend more time with her.
Thornwick Academy's library, though old, was surprisingly huge and very well designed.
Besides the traditional long tables and hard benches, there was a special "casual reading area" deep in the library. It had thick carpets, lots of soft bean bags and velvet sofas, and even a few hanging basket chairs like bird nests.
Of course, there were also separate rooms for group discussions and study.
The lighting in the "casual reading area" was adjusted to warm yellow, and the air was filled with a faint lavender scent, making you want to relax as soon as you walked in.
Evelyn seemed to really like it here. She leaned back on the sofa, her eyelids already starting to droop, her grip on the book getting looser and looser—that's what it looked like after truly channeling her inner magic for the first time. Watching her, some of the gloom in my heart lifted.
I grabbed a book about the Ancient Magical Creature Compendium and sat down on a soft velvet sofa. She also casually picked up a book and lay down next to me holding it, even covering herself with a small blanket.
She rolled over, burying her face in a cushion that appeared out of nowhere, the book quietly sliding from her hand and falling onto the carpet. I moved a little closer—she must have been dreaming, her body gradually shifting toward me. By the time I realized it, she had completely curled up in my arms. I didn't even have time to move away.
This surprise really caught me off guard. I seemed to hear my own heartbeat. Noticing her body was a bit cold, my hand naturally landed on her back, continuously transferring warmth through the blanket.
Although the library had a temperature-regulating magic array, the sofa was in a corner, a bit close to the window. A draft blew through, and it was indeed a bit chilly.
I looked down at the defenseless girl in my arms, feeling her soft hair brush against my chin, and her warm breath tickling my neck.
"You must be really tired! How can you have no guard up around me at all?" I said in a low voice. It sounded like a complaint, but actually I really hoped she would always depend on me and trust me like this. But she should only be like this with me alone.
I adjusted my position to let her sleep more comfortably in my arms. She seemed a bit disturbed, so I patted her back with one hand and stroked her long hair with the other.
The library was very quiet, with only the occasional sound of turning pages and the ticking of a distant clock.
Sunlight streamed in through the tall windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor. This scene was something I never dared to imagine before.
The light and shadows slowly moved, crawling from one end of the bookshelf to the other, finally landing on us on the sofa.
I maintained the same position, letting Evelyn keep sleeping like this. The book I had taken remained unopened, my gaze never leaving the girl in my arms.
I don't know how long passed before she stirred. I saw her groggily open her eyes and freeze when she saw me.
Her voice was hoarse from just waking up, "Kane?"
I figured she definitely hadn't noticed my actions, so I casually withdrew my hand and pretended to flip through the book.
I was actually panicking inside, but I couldn't show it, "Awake?"
She seemed to have fully woken up and asked me a bit embarrassedly, "How come I fell asleep holding onto you?"
"Well, maybe you were too cold." I closed the book I hadn't actually read at all, my eyes deliberately calm as I spoke.
"But I remember the library has a temperature-regulating magic array. Oh... so we're by the window!"
I saw Evelyn point at the window, but there was still some redness on her face.
"I heard there's roast chicken in the cafeteria tonight. Let's go eat!" She seemed a bit embarrassed and quickly tried to change the subject, wanting to stand up and head out.
"Wait, let me check out a few books to take with me." I stood up with her.
"You haven't finished these books yet?" Evelyn asked me curiously.
Afraid of being caught that I'd only been sneaking glances at her sleeping and hadn't read a single page, I quickly explained, "They're a bit complicated."
I walked ahead first, and Evelyn jogged to catch up with me.
"Wait for me! We need to check out quickly, or all the roast chicken in the cafeteria will be gone," she said happily.
"Okay."
I carried the books and walked out of the library with her, the evening sun stretching our shadows long.
We quickly reached the dining hall and sat down to eat. The cafeteria was full of people and Evelyn pulled me over to look at the notice board up front.