***
Mikael stirred awake, feeling warm breaths against his neck. He kept his eyes closed, wondering what it was, still half-asleep, when he heard the soft rustling of the blanket and felt a warm, supple body pressing against his side.
Opening his eyes, he was met with Amelia's emerald gaze. For a moment, he was stunned by her beauty, the love in her eyes captivating him. Regaining his composure, he leaned in and kissed her.
The kiss was brief and chaste, ending as they pulled away.
"Good morning."
"Morning," he replied with a half-asleep yawn.
They remained in each other's embrace for a while, simply enjoying the warmth of the moment, basking in each other's presence.
But all good things must come to an end. Before long, they got out of bed and put on the clothes they had discarded in the heat of passion the night before.
Afterwards, they left Amelia's bedroom and headed to the kitchen, where they ate a simple breakfast of toast with jam.
Once they finished eating, they relaxed in the living room for a while until Lyra finally arrived. Mikael greeted her with a casual wave.
Her reaction, however, surprised him. Instead of greeting him back, she simply looked at the floor, her expression unmistakably shy. Without a word, she hurried past him and disappeared into the kitchen.
He raised an eyebrow at her behavior, puzzled. 'Is she still shy about what happened yesterday at the pool? That doesn't really make sense—she seemed fine during dinner…'
Then, realization struck him, and he facepalmed. 'I forgot to put a soundproof barrier around Amelia's bedroom yesterday… and we were pretty loud…' The thought that Lyra had heard everything made him feel a little embarrassed.
Still, he powered through it. 'I should be more thick-skinned and not let things like this bother me. Shameless people go far in life…'
When Lyra finally sat down to eat her breakfast, he forced himself to act normal, striking up a conversation with her as if nothing had happened.
Once breakfast was finished, they were ready to enter the Records. The excitement in the air was palpable. Amelia maintained a composed facade, but inwardly, she was eager to finally witness what she had always believed to be a legend—the Akashic Records—for herself.
As for Lyra, her usual reserved demeanor was nowhere to be seen. She made no effort to hide her excitement, her eyes sparkling at the thought of finally visiting the Records.
Not making them wait, he mentally spoke, "Records, I want to extract the two women beside me—Amelia Mournsky and Lyra Mystoria!"
[Analyzing the request…]
[Presence of the People Extraction System confirmed.]
[Extraction possible for 400 LP for Amelia Mournsky and 600 LP for Lyra Mystoria. Do you want to pay? Yes/No?
Please note: Their consent is required, or else the LP will be lost.]
He found the "price" for Amelia and Lyra somewhat insulting, as if they were mere commodities, but he forced himself to ignore it, knowing it was pointless to dwell on. He accepted the transaction, losing 1K LP in the process.
The next moment, Amelia's eyes widened while Lyra let out a small "Woah" as they stared at the 'empty' air before them.
Mikael's voice cut through their surprise. "You should see some kind of blue panel in front of you, right?"
Lyra, lost in her own thoughts, didn't respond, but Amelia did. "Eh, yeah, it says that you want to extract me from the Dirarnia world. Should I accept?"
"Probably, but just to be sure, could you show me?"
"Can't you just look? It's right there," she said, pointing at the empty air before her.
Mikael shook his head. "No, I can't. The Records' messages and related things are invisible to everyone except the person they're meant for. If you want me to see it, you just have to will it."
"Will it…" she murmured before trying.
The next moment, Mikael stepped closer as the familiar blue panel of the Records appeared before him. He read:
[Mikael Angelini wants to extract you from the Dirarnia world. Do you accept? Yes/No?]
After finishing his read-through, he nodded. "Yes, it's good. You can accept."
A couple of seconds passed before a new message appeared.
[Extraction successful: Amelia Mournsky and Lyra Mystoria.]
Seeing Lyra's name surprised him. She hadn't responded earlier and had seemed completely absorbed in inspecting the air before her, her hands moving as if tracing something invisible. Yet, it seemed she had been listening after all.
"Okay, all good, but I have some important things to say before we enter the Records!"
He saw the girls turn their full attention to him and continued, "There's a lot to know about the Records, but explaining everything would take too long, and I'd probably forget something. So, when you have time, check out the Tutorial section—it'll explain everything in detail."
"Before that, though, there are some rules you absolutely must remember. All forms of attacks, fighting, killing, and theft are strictly prohibited in the Records. Anyone caught doing these things can receive fines or even be erased entirely, so be careful."
The two girls nodded seriously, understanding the gravity of the warning.
Satisfied with their reactions, Mikael briefly explained the party system before sending them an invitation.
They accepted, and the party status updated.
[Party:
Mikael Angelini (Leader): Tier 2, Level 4
Kiara Dreyfus (Member): Tier 2, Level 1
Amelia Mournsky (Member): Tier 2, Level 1
Lyra Mystoria (Member): Tier 2, Level 1]
With all preparations complete, Mikael asked the Records to extract the party from the Dirarnia world. Five minutes passed before the three of them vanished in a flash of light.
As they reappeared in the bustling Hub, the two girls took uneasy steps, momentarily disoriented by the effects of an extremely long-range teleportation. The sensation of their bodies shifting across dimensions left a lingering dizziness, but after a few seconds, they steadied themselves and finally took in their surroundings.
And the least that could be said was that they were stunned.
Before them stretched an awe-inspiring sight, unlike anything they had ever imagined. The Hub was vast, its architecture defying logic and existing beyond the constraints of any one civilization. A cosmic library—that was the only way to describe it. Rows upon rows of towering bookcases extended endlessly in all directions, some made of dark mahogany, others of crystalline material that shimmered with an internal light. Each bookcase was unique in design, yet together, they formed a breathtaking tapestry of knowledge and history.
Their eyes widened as they noticed the sheer volume of books. It wasn't just the ones neatly arranged on the shelves—countless others floated through the air, pages turning on their own as if guided by an unseen hand. Some books moved leisurely as if browsing their own selections, while others darted through the air with determined speed, vanishing into the shelves as though returning home.
Amelia's gaze was drawn to an enormous spiraling staircase in the distance. The polished wooden steps were wide enough for four people to walk side by side, yet what caught her attention most was that they seemed to ascend endlessly into the unknown. There was no visible top, no final landing—just an infinite ascent stretching beyond sight, disappearing into the celestial expanse above.
And that sky…
Lyra felt her breath hitch as she looked up. It wasn't a ceiling but an open expanse resembling the most pristine night sky imaginable. Stars, nebulae, and swirling galaxies sprawled across the heavens, more vivid and detailed than anything she had ever seen. The closest and most dominant celestial body was a massive blue planet with emerald-green landmasses, its surface rippling with energy as if alive. The view was mesmerizing, evoking an overwhelming sense of insignificance yet also limitless possibility.
And then, there were the people.
The Hub was alive with activity, a melting pot of individuals returning from the exploration of countless worlds. Warriors in gleaming medieval armor strode with purpose, their weapons secured at their sides, while robed mages exuded an aura of mystique, their garments embroidered with intricate arcane symbols. Others wore outfits that neither Amelia nor Lyra could place—flowing, ethereal robes that seemed woven from stardust, resembling those of celestial beings, or sleek, high-tech battle suits that looked as if they belonged to an advanced futuristic civilization. The sheer variety of cultures and styles was overwhelming.
All around them, small stands and recruitment booths lined the walkways, their banners fluttering in an unseen breeze. Guilds were actively seeking new members, their representatives calling out to passersby with enticing offers—promises of adventure, knowledge, wealth, or power. The air buzzed with excitement and ambition, charged with the energy of thousands of individuals gathered in one place, each pursuing their own goals and aspirations.
For Amelia and Lyra, the realization slowly settled in—this was no mere myth, no legend exaggerated by storytellers.
This was the Akashic Records.
And it was more incredible than they could have ever imagined.
Mikael let the girls take in their surroundings before the trio slowly made their way toward the staircase that served as the teleporter.
Unlike usual, Mikael wasn't in a hurry to use the stairs. No, this time, he walked at a leisurely pace alongside the girls, who were still marveling at their surroundings.
And he understood them. Even for him, despite having seen it countless times, the sight remained breathtaking.
"This place really looks surreal," murmured Amelia.
"More like paradise," added Lyra as she scanned the seemingly endless bookshelves and the floating tomes drifting through the air.
"It's certainly not something you see every day," Mikael remarked.
Amelia turned toward him, a small smile playing on her lips. "So, where should we go?" she inquired, considering he was the only one among them familiar with the Records.
At her words, Mikael inwardly sweated, realizing he hadn't planned any specific locations to visit. His idea was simply to show them what the Records was like, nothing more. He quickly thought before blurting out, "Why don't we go to my apartment?"
Amelia's expression turned pensive. "But… won't she be there?"
"Kiara…" Lyra murmured, her attention shifting back to the conversation.
Mikael let out a wry smile at their concern. He understood where their worries stemmed from. After all, when he had told his story, he hadn't hidden Kiara's particular personality or her yandere tendencies…
"It won't be that bad… she isn't a completely crazy yandere. So, it should be fine—maybe?" he reassured them, though even he knew he didn't sound very convincing.
The conversation ended there, and the trio continued their walk, quickly arriving before the enormous wooden staircase that stretched into infinity. Without hesitation, they began their ascent, and after a short climb, the trio was teleported.
The Records responded to Mikael's unspoken command as the party leader, instantly transporting him and the girls to his apartment within the Records.
Author Note:
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