Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece
Chapter 119: The Hidden Archive [1]

The restaurant was quiet. Too quiet.

Golden light from the crystal chandeliers spilled over polished tables.

Casting soft shadows that flickered gently across the marble floors. The silverware gleamed.

The wine glasses sparkled. Everything looked perfect, too perfect. Like a painting waiting to be disturbed.

The only sound was the faint clink of forks against porcelain.

Anastasia D'Argent sat across from her younger sister at the center table.

A half-full glass of red wine in hand. She twirled it lazily, watching the liquid swirl.

The restaurant was empty. She had rented the entire place for the night. No guards. No attendants. Just the two of them.

"It's been a long time since we ate together," she said casually. Slicing into her steak.

The knife cut through the meat like butter. The scent of herbs and seared flesh rose in the air.

Across from her. Eleanora moved in silence. She didn't look up from her plate.

"It has," she replied quietly. Her voice calm but distant.

Even back in the royal palace, their schedules rarely aligned.

Anastasia was always buried in crown heir duties. Meetings. Diplomacy. Training. Eleanora had her studies, her own path.

Anastasia took a sip of wine. Letting the silence settle between them for a moment. "So," she said at last. "How's the academy treating you?"

Eleanora paused. Her knife hovered over her food.

Then she looked up. Meeting Anastasia's eyes.

"What are you really doing here?"

The question cut through the air like a blade.

Anastasia let out a long breath and set her fork down. "What are you talking about?"

"You don't leave the capital, your position. Just to teach at an academy," Eleanora said.

Her tone was flat. But her gaze was sharp. "You're the Crown Princess."

Anastasia didn't answer right away. She studied her sister.

The playful expression she wore in class, the lighthearted teasing. That was gone now.

This was the real her. Cool. Composed. Sharp as ever.

Finally, she spoke. "Father was worried."

Eleanora's fingers tightened around her knife. "Because of the train attack."

Anastasia nodded. "Because of you. You almost died."

"I handled it."

"You did," Anastasia agreed, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Better than I expected."

She picked up her wine glass again, swirled the contents thoughtfully.

"That boy helped, didn't he?" she said after a moment. "Kyle Valemont."

There it was. The smallest twitch in Eleanora's fingers. Most people wouldn't notice.

Anastasia did.

"Professor Aurelia's little brother," Anastasia added lightly. "He's… interesting."

Eleanora didn't say anything.

Her fork hovered in the air. Her expression unreadable.

Anastasia leaned back slightly, voice still calm. "You know him well? Friends?"

"We have spoken," Eleanora said after a pause. Lifting her glass and taking a small sip of water.

Anastasia chuckled. "He's cute."

The water glass hit the table harder than necessary. A small splash spilled over the edge.

Eleanora quickly reached for her napkin and dabbed at the water. Her movements neat and controlled.

Anastasia raised a brow, clearly amused. "Is that why you think I'm here? To gossip about boys?"

Eleanora didn't look up. "If it is, I'm leaving."

Anastasia laughed softly. "Relax, Ellie. I'm just making conversation."

She leaned forward, resting her chin in her hand. The same way she used to when they were younger and sharing secrets by candlelight.

"But seriously," she said, tone softening. "He's good. He held his own against me. That's rare for someone in their first year."

Eleanora didn't reply. She just went back to cutting her food.

Anastasia watched her for a moment before speaking again.

"You've gotten stronger too."

Eleanora met her gaze. Her voice was quiet but firm. "I had to."

A beat passed. No words. Just the quiet hum of the chandeliers and the soft clinking of metal on china.

Anastasia sighed. "I'm not here to spy on you. But after what happened on that train… Father wanted someone close. Someone he trusts."

"I don't need a babysitter," Eleanora said, her voice suddenly colder.

"I know." Anastasia smiled gently. "That's not why I came. Honestly, I needed a break from all the royal garbage. And I thought… maybe I'd get to spend a little time with my favorite sibling."

Eleanora rolled her eyes. "I'm your only sibling."

"Exactly," Anastasia grinned. She reached across the table and snatched a piece of bread from Eleanora's plate.

Eleanora looked at her, unamused.

"So you're automatically my favorite," Anastasia said with a shrug, chewing the stolen bite like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Eleanora's lips twitched.

Just a little.

Almost a smile.

Almost.

———

Kyle stood outside Professor Seraphina's office. His fingers tapping nervously against his thigh.

The hallway was quiet, lined with tall windows that let in the afternoon light.

Mana lamps flickered softly above him, giving off a faint hum.

The academy always seemed calm during this hour. But Kyle's heart was racing.

He had spent the last hour thinking over every word he planned to say. Rehearsing his lines.

Running through different outcomes. But now, standing here. All of it felt clumsy and uncertain.

Just stick to the story. Don't overthink it.

He took a deep breath. Trying to calm his nerves, and knocked twice on the wooden door.

A moment later. A familiar voice called out from inside. "Yes, enter."

Kyle opened the door slowly and stepped in.

The office was warm and lived-in. Bookshelves lined the walls. Filled to the brim with old tomes and scrolls.

Papers were stacked in uneven piles on her desk. Along with a few ink-stained mugs and a plate that still held crumbs from something sweet.

The faint smell of vanilla and parchment filled the air.

Professor Seraphina sat behind her desk. A pen in hand. Her pink hair tied up in a messy bun.

Her eyes were focused on a page in front of her. Scanning it with that sharp, calculating look she always wore when reading.

When she looked up and saw him. Her brows lifted in surprise.

"Kyle?" she said, setting the paper aside. "What are you doing here?"

Kyle stepped forward, trying to sound calm. "I wanted to talk to you about something."

Seraphina leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Alright. I'm listening. What is it?"

Kyle took a breath. "I need permission to enter the library's restricted section."

Her eyebrows shot up.

"The restricted section?" she repeated.

"That's not a small request." She narrowed her eyes slightly. "Why?"

Kyle looked down briefly, then back at her. He had practiced this part.

"I want to do research. About… corruption. Like what happened on the train. How people turned into those things."

Her expression shifted. The sharpness in her eyes softening just a bit.

"Kyle," she said gently. "You don't need to do that. The people are already investigating."

"I know," he said quickly.

"But I was there. I saw it up close. I just… I need to understand what happened. For myself."

Seraphina didn't respond right away. She studied his face, as if trying to read what he wasn't saying.

After a moment, she sighed. "Why didn't you ask Aurelia?"

Kyle froze for a split second. That was the one question he didn't want her to ask.

He didn't answer.

The truth was. He couldn't ask Aurelia. She'd see right through him. She always did.

Seraphina noticed. She leaned back again. Rubbing her temples.

"Alright," she said at last.

"I'll see what I can do. Normal students don't get access to restricted materials, so I'll have to file it under something else. Let's say… you're assisting me with research."

Relief flooded through him.

"Thank you," he said. The words almost tumbling out.

Then he remembered the small box in his storage ring. With a thought.

He pulled it out and placed it gently on her desk.

"What's this?" she asked.

"A gift," he said simply. "For you."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow, then opened the lid.

Inside was a slice of shortcake. The whipped cream still looked fresh, and the strawberries glistened as if just picked.

She blinked. "You… brought me cake?"

Kyle shrugged. "As thanks. I remembered you like sweets."

A slow smile spread across her face.

"You're lucky I have a sweet tooth," she said with a quiet laugh.

She pointed to the chair across from her. "Sit. Let's share it."

Kyle hesitated. Then pulled the chair back and sat down.

Seraphina cut the cake neatly in two. Pushing half of it toward him with a fork.

"You know," she said as she took a bite.

"If you really wanted access to something. You could've just told me the truth."

Kyle froze. The fork halfway to his mouth.

She smirked. "Relax. I'm not prying. But next time? Just ask."

Kyle let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

"Yeah," he said quietly. "Next time."

They ate the cake in silence. The soft clinks of silverware the only sound between them.

Outside. The light from the hallway dimmed as the sun began to set.

———

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