Chapter 158

Chapter 158

Evan pushed open the heavy wooden door of the library, and a cool breeze mixed with the scent of old book ink and wooden shelves washed in, instantly dispelling the afternoon heat. The first-floor hall was busier than usual; several long tables were filled with students in uniforms, most of them trainees who had just accepted missions, gathered around spread-out maps and historical texts in low discussion—some marking the terrain of their mission locations, others researching past events in the target area. The scratch of pens on paper and occasional bursts of debate wove together a scene of bustling activity.

Evan didn’t linger. He hurried up the spiral staircase to the second floor. Unlike the lively first floor, the atmosphere here was noticeably quieter. This floor mainly held basic supernatural theory books, with only a few people sitting on chairs by the shelves, either reading silently or jotting notes in their notebooks, turning pages extra carefully to avoid breaking the stillness. Evan instinctively quieted his footsteps, his gaze quickly scanning the labels on the shelves. Confirming that the materials he needed weren’t here, he continued toward the third floor.

As he stepped onto the third-floor landing, Evan paused briefly—just as on his previous visits, the layout here had changed again. As the most unique floor of the academy library, its arrangement and furnishings were often altered. But Evan had grown accustomed to this, and after a short pause, he headed toward the center.

Soon, a bright area came into view. The ceiling at the center of the third floor was designed as a circular glass dome. At this moment, the afternoon sunlight streamed through the glass without obstruction, forming a circular patch of light about two meters in diameter on the floor, like a warm golden halo on the floor. In the center of the light patch sat a wicker recliner, its cushion topped with a soft cream wool blanket. A black-haired man lay on it, his eyes lightly closed, as if resting.

The man had soft, curly black hair, a few strands falling across his forehead, swaying gently with his even breaths. He wore a well-fitted dark gray sweater, its sleeves casually rolled up to his forearms, showing off his smooth wrists. The sunlight fell on his face, outlining a defined jawline and a high nose bridge. His long eyelashes cast faint shadows under his eyes, and he gave off a warm, relaxed vibe that blended perfectly with the quiet shelves and rich scent of books, like a carefully painted oil portrait.

Evan’s steps unconsciously slowed. The urgency he had felt earlier instantly calmed, and even his breathing softened. He stood by a nearby bookshelf, his gaze fixed on the figure in the recliner, his eyes gradually growing tender.

Evan stared at the figure on the recliner, his gaze so soft it could melt. He stepped lightly, trying not to make a sound, and slowly approached the chair. The sunlight fell on his profile, filling his eyes with warmth.

"Sara," Evan whispered softly, his voice carrying a faint trace of dependence.

The black-haired man on the chair slowly opened his eyes. His deep, starry eyes, as captivating as the night sky, instantly softened with a gentle smile when they met Evan’s gaze. It was Sara Adams, without his usual cool demeanor, his features now full of tenderness. "You’re here?" Sara’s voice was low and melodious, like the gentle strum of a cello.

Without hesitation, Evan leaned down and gently hugged Sara, pressing his cheek against his warm chest like a child seeking comfort. "Yeah, I just took on a mission. I wanted to come to the library first to look up some information, but I didn’t expect to find you here." His voice was muffled, carrying a hint of laziness, completely dropping the composed front he kept up around Louis and Ista.

Though they both saw right through that excuse.

Sara reached out and gently stroked Evan’s hair, his fingertips carrying just the right warmth to soothe Evan’s emotions. "What information are you looking for? What tricky mission did you take on?" Sara asked with a smile, his tone full of concern.

Evan lifted his head, his eyes sparkling, holding nothing back from Sara. "The three of us took on a mission to clear out bandits in the Black Market. There are four Sequence 9 Supernaturals or Formal Knights among them. I wanted to look up some terrain data on the Black Market and techniques for dealing with Sequence 9 Supernaturals, so we can be better prepared when we act."

Sara’s brow furrowed slightly at the words, then relaxed. He knew Evan needed to gain experience, but he couldn’t help worrying. "The Black Market is a shady place. Those bandits have been entrenched there for so long—they’re definitely not simple. You all need to be careful when you act."

With that, Sara raised his right hand and lightly curled his fingers. A black crow flew in from the window, flapping its wings, and landed precisely on Sara’s fingertip. The crow cawed twice, its eyes lively as it looked at Evan.

Sara gazed at the crow and murmured a strange incantation. In an instant, the crow turned into a wisp of black smoke, drifting slowly toward Evan as if alive, and burrowed into his body.

Evan felt a surge of warm energy flow through him, as if an invisible layer of protection had been added. He looked at Sara in confusion. "What’s this?"

"This crow is my bonded supernatural creature. This one is a clone," Sara explained, his expression serious. "Once it enters your body, it will remain dormant. If you ever face life-threatening danger, it will immediately emerge to block the attack and send me a message. With it there, I can feel a bit more at ease."

A wave of emotion washed over Evan, and he tightly grasped Sara’s hand. "Thank you, Sara." He could clearly sense that faint energy within him—a real sign of Sara’s care and protection.

Sara ruffled Evan’s hair, his eyes full of affection. "Silly, you don’t need to thank me for this. Go look up your information, and then head back early to plan with your teammates. After the mission, I’ll wait for you here and take you to that dessert shop you love for cherry cake."

"Alright!" Evan’s eyes lit up, instantly filled with motivation. He gently kissed Sara on the cheek, then straightened up. "I’ll go check the materials now. Wait for my good news!"

Sara watched Evan stride toward the bookshelves, a smile lingering on his lips. He knew Evan was slowly growing, and all he could do was offer his steadfast support and protection when Evan needed it. The sunlight streamed through the glass dome, casting a warm, beautiful glow over them both, as if freezing this tender moment in time forever.

Evan reached the bookshelf, his gaze landing on books about the Black Market’s terrain.

He could clearly feel the crow’s presence within him, that warm energy filling him with confidence. He quickly flipped through the books, diligently recording useful information, telling himself: he would complete the mission smoothly and return early to enjoy cherry cake with Sara.