<h4>Chapter 510: Summoned By Alpha Grey (I)</h4>
<strong>Evaline:</strong>
I finished thest sip of my tea, letting the warmth settle in my chest before pushing myself off the stool.
Stepping out into the empty corridor, I made my way back to the elevator for fifth floor. Merely momentster, I was pushing open the tall double doors of the archive hall.
The familiar scent of parchment and wooden shelves washed over me instantly - warm, earthy, and oddlyforting. The archive hall stretched across the entire fifth floor, vast enough that even after weeks of working here, the sight continued to make me pause.
It was magnificent.
Columns carved with runic vines supported high ceilings,nterns glowing with warm light floatedzily above each section. Rows upon rows of shelves ran endlessly in every direction, housing everything from ancient scrolls brittle enough to crumble at touch, to modern records neatly stacked inbeled folders.
And at the center stood the old tree... my favorite part of the entire ce.
It was a towering, silver-barked elderwood that grew straight through the heart of the hall, its branches spreading across the ceiling like veins of light. Around its massive trunk spiraled a narrow stone staircase that led to the upper level - the restricted area. The ce I was absolutely forbidden to enter. Naturally, the ce that fascinated me the most.
Every time I walked past it, I felt the faintest tug in my chest... curiosity, intrigue, something else I couldn’t name. But I had long learned the wisdom of ignoring urges that tried to drag me toward trouble.
Instead, I turned right... toward the disaster zone.
The final, unorganized ten percent of the archive hall.
It looked like a war between books and dust storms had taken ce there. And the dust storms had won.
When I first arrived weeks ago, this area was deceptively innocent - just rows of empty shelves, desks, couches, and hundreds of sealed archive boxes. Now, with the boxes opened, contents spread, and each team member taking on a stack of work... well.
Chaos was the only fitting word.
Parchmentsy half-sorted on tables. Ancient scrolls rested open beside scanning machines. Volumes bound in cracked leather or embroidered silk were piled on desks. And amid it all was the one area that gave me pride... the west wall.
Those shelves were clean, organized, full. Every scroll, every file, every book sat perfectly aligned... their digital versions already archived.
It was the result of our one month’s hard work and dedication.
And now that I only had four days left before returning to Silver Moon Academy, I wanted to finish onest piece. Something meaningful.
I headed straight to the newest opened carton, barely touched as it was still heavily covered in dust. I brushed the particles off the top and looked inside.
Scrolls. Loose papers. Folders. A few old journals.
And then...
"Oh," I breathed.
My fingersnded on something heavy. Solid. Bound in thick, darkened leather, the cover etched with faded symbols I recognized instantly - healing crests.
Carefully, I lifted it out. The book felt ancient, its weight sinking into my palms with a sort of reverence, as though it carried centuries’ worth of knowledge and stories.
Turning it over, I read the handwritten script on the title page:
<strong>A Complete Comption of Herbs, Elixirs, and Healing Concoctions - by High Healer Morrigan Varell</strong>
Three hundred and seventy-three years old.
A smile bloomed across my face before I could stop it.
A herb and potion book. As myst assignment here.
Perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
I dusted off the cover tenderly, making sure not to disturb the delicate leather more than necessary. Then I turned toward the far corner of the area where my favorite desk sat - tucked between two tall shelves that created a cozy little nook. Quiet. Private.
My feet moved lightly, almost excitedly, across the room. I ced the book gently on the wooden table, my fingers trailing over the cover once again.
I still couldn’t believe I only had three days of work left.
Soon, I would return to the Academy for my third semester - second year already. The thought filled me with a conflicting mix of joy and a sharp ache.
I loved learning. Loved the library, the professors, the lessons, the constant discoveries, being with my friends. But this time... this time I wasn’t returning as the same girl who joined the Academy a year ago.
This time I had a family.
A son.
Lioren was barely five months old, still small enough that his entire hand wrapped around just one of my fingers. Still soft and warm and smelling like baby oil and wolf pup. Still wanting to be held every chance he got.
I blinked rapidly as the ache settled heavier in my chest.
I would have to spend weekdays away from him. Away from River and Draven too.
Five days a week without hearing River’s calm voice. Without Draven’s quiet, steady presence. Without the warmth of my little boy’s tiny body curled against me.
But it was necessary.
So I would endure it.
Pushing the emotion aside gently, I pulled my chair closer and settled down, ready to open the old records and dive into its secrets.
The moment my fingertips reached for the leather cover.
"Miss Evaline?"
I blinked.
Turning slightly, I saw one of the junior archivists standing hesitantly a few steps away, shifting nervously from foot to foot.
"Yes?" I asked softly.
She swallowed. "You are being summoned."
"Summoned?" My brows dipped. "By whom?"
"Alpha Elion Grey," she replied quickly. "His beta left the message for you to stop by Alpha Grey’s office."
It took me a moment to process the name.
Why was Alpha Grey summoning me?
I exhaled slowly, my eyes drifting once more to the ancient book waiting on my desk... the one I had been so excited to open.
Of course the universe wouldn’t let me have nice things without interruption.
"All right," I murmured, standing up and moothing the front of my skirt. "I’ll go now."