The air in the secret room was cold and still. Ancient symbols carved across the walls shimmered faintly in the dim glow of the magic lamp. On the stone platform, Keefree had stripped off the clothes from his upper body. He sat with his back facing Orugio. The air against his skin was cold. But more than that, feeling Orugio's gaze on his back made something deep in his chest burn with a slow, prickling heat. (*Tonight, I'll get my answer.*) He told himself that, silently. "[gentle]It's a little cold." A voice came from behind him. The faint sound of water — a brush dipped into ink. But tonight, the ink was different. The liquid swaying inside the small black bottle was heavier than before, thicker. The permanent ink Orugio's ancestors had left behind. Once inscribed, it would never fade, for a lifetime. Keefree swallowed. "[whispers]……Yeah." His voice trembled. Orugio's fingers touched his back. His left hand, the one holding the brush. The fingertips traced the space between his shoulder blades. Last night, that alone had been enough to make his heart pound wildly, but tonight was different. Something pulsed deeper within him. (*If I carve this, I can become a mage.*) Something he'd dreamed of for twenty-eight years. Something he'd wanted ever since that night he first felt magic at his fingertips. But — At the edge of his mind, the words from the notice he'd seen last night flickered. Spring, Year 1824 of the Seven-Pointed Calendar. Council Order No. 77. Strengthened Enforcement Against Possession and Use of Prohibited Art-Related Items. If they were found out, it was over. His position as a teacher at the Great Library, Orugio's standing as a researcher — all of it would vanish. "[gentle]I'm placing the brush now." The tip touched the area just above his spine. — Hot. Keefree held his breath without thinking. A sensation spread through him — the ink seeping into his skin. It was completely different from ordinary magic ink. It felt as if a heated liquid was penetrating beneath his skin. (*So this is permanent ink.*) Every time the brush moved, Orugio's fingers traced his back. Ticklish, and hot, and then — something else entirely raced up his spine. "[whispers]……Ngh." He clenched his teeth. His breathing grew shallow. Each time Orugio's breath brushed against his back, his shoulders trembled faintly. "[gentle]Relax. The symbol will distort." It was a gentle voice. But beneath that gentleness, there was a hint more tension than usual. The brush stopped. His fingers still rested against Keefree's back. "[whispers]……We can still stop. If you're afraid, let's end it here tonight." A whisper, close to his ear. Keefree's chest tightened sharply. (*You're always like this.*) He prioritized Keefree's feelings over his own. He would gently say they could stop if Keefree was scared. That was Orugio. But — "[whispers]Keep going." A clear voice came out, surprising even himself. He sensed Orugio draw a small breath. "[gentle]……Alright." The brush began to move again. At that moment — *Clack.* A faint noise came from the hallway. Both of them stopped moving at once. Keefree kept his back rigid, straining his ears. Orugio's fingers quietly pulled away from his back. Silence. The symbols carved into the walls emitted a golden light. Only the sound of their breathing echoed within the room. Was someone there? Keefree started to turn around — "[serious]Don't move." A low, suppressed voice. Keefree froze. Orugio quietly placed the brush on the stone platform and walked toward the hidden door. Killing his footsteps, he gently pressed his ear against it. A long silence passed. Finally, Orugio turned back. "[gentle]……It's alright now. Someone might have just passed by." His voice was as calm as ever. But his eyes weren't smiling. Keefree let out a deep breath. Then, he looked at his own hands. His fingers were trembling. (*Am I scared?*) But the words he'd spoken earlier were his true feelings. Keep going. Give me the magic. Keefree turned his back again. "[whispers]……Let's finish this." Orugio nodded quietly and picked up the brush once more. --- Mirael walked alone through the dim hallway. (*Why did I have to come get reference materials at this hour?*) First thing tomorrow morning was her practical skills class. It was an advanced application of elemental magic, and she'd wanted to consult an old text. She'd remembered there was an archive on the second basement floor of the Great Library, with just the right materials there. But now that she thought about it, tomorrow morning would have been fine. With every step down the stairs leading underground, the light from the magic lamps grew weaker. The stone walls held moisture, and a chill air clung to her. (*This is a little scary.*) Mirael rubbed her own arms. Her long red hair swayed over her shoulders. The flame-shaped earring on her left ear reflected the light faintly. Suddenly, she spotted a light further down the hallway. (*Huh?*) She stopped. A single section of a wall — normally blank — was emitting a faint golden glow. Light was leaking out, like a thin line. (*That should be a wall there…*) Mirael timidly approached. Up close, the line of light formed the shape of a door. A hidden door. She'd heard that the Great Library's underground had old laboratories and secret rooms. But she never imagined one was actually here, in a place like this. She pressed her ear against it. Voices came from inside. "[gentle]Relax. The symbol will distort." (*That voice…*) Mirael's eyes widened. She knew that voice. A researcher from the Starspire Tower, someone who occasionally came to the Great Library. She'd heard he was an old friend of Professor Keefree's. Then, another voice. "[whispers]……We can still stop. If you're afraid, let's end it here tonight." That was Professor Keefree's voice. Mirael's heart thumped hard. (*Why is the professor in a place like this?*) Unable to contain her curiosity, she peered inside through the gap in the door. — She saw something she shouldn't have. On the stone platform, Keefree sat bare-chested. On his back, Orugio was drawing something with a thin brush. A black liquid glistened ominously on his skin. At the edge of the stone platform, a small black bottle and an old wooden box. Mirael was a student of magic. She knew immediately what that black liquid was. (*Permanent ink…*) And that brush, too. It wasn't an ordinary brush for magic ink. The tip was made from the hair of a magical creature, and the handle was embedded with a gemstone for amplifying magic. (*An inscription brush.*) Inscription magic. A forbidden art. But faster than that understanding, a far more violent emotion pierced Mirael's chest. Orugio's fingers were touching Keefree's back. That distance was too close. (*Why him?*) Mirael bit her lip. Professor Keefree was a special teacher. He couldn't use magic, yet he taught knowledge with such dedication, always kind, but somehow seeming lonely — Before she knew it, she'd been watching him. (*I… about the professor…*) And yet. The one touching the professor's back wasn't her. Mirael sank down on the spot. Before tears could come, something hot surged up from the pit of her stomach. (*Not fair. It's not fair, that man.*) On the cold stone of the hallway floor, Mirael couldn't move for a while. She closed her eyes. But the scene she'd just witnessed was seared into her mind, refusing to leave. (*I don't care about forbidden arts.*) That's what she thought. (*But — I can't forgive him for touching the professor.*) Mirael stood up. Her golden eyes glinted sharply in the dark hallway. In her mind, the words from one of Professor Keefree's lectures resurfaced. "Councilor Drasven of the Seven-Pointed Council is a strict enforcer against forbidden arts. He shows no mercy whatsoever to violators." Mirael rushed out of the Great Library. --- At night, the royal capital of Grasphilia was a city reliant only on starlight. Mirael ran. She kicked off the cobblestones, turned down streets, heading for the upscale residential district where the council members lived. The location of Councilor Drasven's mansion had been on a map in the materials distributed during a previous class. She spoke to the gatekeeper and, despite the late hour, was ushered into the study. Councilor Drasven was an aging, heavyset man. His cold, gleaming eyes stared intently at Mirael. "[cold]What business does a student have at this late hour?" Mirael swallowed. "[serious]……In the basement of the Great Library, a forbidden art is being used." Her voice trembled. But it didn't stop. "[serious]A researcher from the Seven-Pointed Council is attempting to apply inscription magic to a non-mage teacher, using an inscription brush and permanent ink. I witnessed the scene myself." Councilor Drasven stared at Mirael in silence for a moment. Then, his mouth twisted quietly. "[cold]……You've done well to come." Mirael felt her stomach clench tight. But there was no turning back now. (*Because I can't forgive him for touching the professor.*) --- The next morning. Just before the bell signaling the start of classes rang, the Council's knights stormed the Great Library. Knights in silver armor sealed off the main gate and the back gate. From the hallway, she could see the head teacher hurrying down the stairs to the basement in a fluster. Keefree noticed the commotion while preparing for class in the faculty room. He stepped into the hallway. Right in front of the stairs to the second basement floor, he saw Orugio surrounded by knights. His silver hair swayed. From the inner pocket of Orugio's coat, a knight pulled something out — an old wooden box. When he opened the lid, inside was the inscription brush. From his bag, a small black bottle. "[serious]Caught in possession of forbidden art-related items. In the name of the Seven-Pointed Council, you are under arrest." Keefree tried to rush over. "Stop!" But another knight grabbed his arm, holding him back. "[serious]Don't move! You're an accomplice too!" Orugio turned around. His deep blue eyes looked straight at Keefree. Then — Orugio smiled quietly. As if to say, *It's alright.* As if to say, *Don't worry.* That smile tore Keefree's chest apart. "Orugio — !" He shouted his name. But Orugio was already facing forward again, led up the stairs by the knights. His back disappeared beyond the hallway. --- Summoned to the head teacher's office, Keefree had a single document placed on the desk before him. "Immediate revocation of your teaching position. Any objections?" Keefree couldn't say anything. He placed his Great Library faculty ID on the desk. With only his personal belongings in hand, he left the head teacher's office. Out in the hallway, students who had heard the uproar were buzzing. Among them stood Mirael. The red-haired girl was watching Keefree from the edge of the hallway. But her face was pale, and her lips trembled as if she wanted to say something. (*So that's how it is.*) Keefree understood immediately. The noise in the hallway last night had been Mirael. And she must have told someone — probably the Council. He couldn't meet her eyes. Keefree walked straight to the main gate. He pushed open the heavy doors of the Great Library. Outside, it was clear. Morning light streamed into the streets of the royal capital, Grasphilia. The bustle of the marketplace could be heard in the distance. Keefree stood alone on the cobblestones. (*Everything… is gone.*) The place he'd finally found at twenty-eight. The title of Great Library teacher. The joy of teaching magical knowledge. And — his secret lover. All of it had vanished in just a few hours that morning. He looked at his right hand. The hand where the inscription should have been completed, just a little more, last night. But now, there wa