The building stood before them with all its grace. It was an impressive neoclassical structure with three floors, each adorned with large arched windows. Columns flanked the entrance doors, welcoming visitors, while gates on either side allowed carriages to enter. The building exuded an aura of sophistication and intellectual aspiration, serving as a refined venue for scholarly pursuits.

“Do you come here often, William?” Yuu asked, turning to face him.

“Actually, it’s my first time here,” William replied, also taking in the building.

“Then it will be a first for both of us,” Yuu said with a soft smile.

William, appreciating Yuu’s light-heartedness, smiled back. They all proceeded inside.

As they entered, Yuu’s eyes began to work tirelessly again as she took in the surroundings once more.

The hall was adorned with statues standing gracefully on either side of the stairs, which were covered in a velvet carpet leading to the next floor. The floor featured tiles arranged like a chessboard, and an enormous chandelier hung from the ceiling.

Behind the stairs was the entrance to the reception area and the ground floor of the library. This floor featured tables and chairs for reading, while the upper two floors were lined exclusively with bookshelves. The hall was filled with the soft whispers of people and the gentle rustling of pages being turned.

As they entered the ground floor, Yuu closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled the scent of the ancient tomes. She loved books - their feel, their stories, and the way they allowed her to get lost in their worlds. She preferred immersing herself in the realm of words and tales over engaging with people.

Victor and William noticed the change in Yuu's demeanor and smiled softly. “She’s always like that when she encounters something she loves,” Victor whispered to William. “She gets lost in her own world and doesn’t pay much attention to anything else.”

“I see. Well, that’s a good thing,” William said with a smile, his gaze softening as he watched Yuu. “She’s a very unique young lady with a strong mind and distinct character.” His eyes lingered on her silhouette for a few moments, observing Yuu as she gazed around at the sea of books, wondering where to start.

“So, where should we start?” Victor broke the silence, looking around. “There are so many books! I already feel lost.”

Yuu turned to William and Victor. “It’s probably best to ask the receptionist where the history or mythology section is. What do you think, William?”

“I agree. I’ll ask the receptionist where we can find those sections,” William said, nodding in acknowledgment before heading directly to the desk.

At the reception stood a young man in his mid-twenties, with short brown hair and a slightly pale yet handsome face. His tired blue eyes contrasted with his simple attire: black pants, a white shirt, a black vest, and a brown tie.

William approached the receptionist and politely removed his top hat. “Good day, sir. We’re looking for the mythology and history sections of the library. Could you tell us which floor they are on?”

The young man, who had been silently reading behind the desk, looked up and nodded politely. “Good day, sir. You’ll find those sections on the third floor.”

William thanked the young man, and they all proceeded to the third floor.

“So, I guess we should all spread out and search for the book?” Yuu suggested, contemplating which aisle to start with.

“That seems like the right approach,” Victor agreed. “I’m just trying to imagine what the book might look like.”

“Well, my best guess is to start from the very first aisle and move forward,” William said, looking at the twins.

“Then I’ll start with the very first aisle,” Yuu declared. Without waiting for a response, she headed toward it. Both men followed her, but each chose a different aisle.

The sun was now high in the sky, and sunlight streaming through the large, arched windows illuminated the bookshelves, casting a mystical glow around them.

Yuu walked down the aisle, her fingers gently brushing against the spines of the ancient tomes. “Well, I’d better get started,” she murmured to herself. Handling each book with utmost care, she scanned the passages and contents with her keen blue eyes.

Lost in the world of books, she felt like a child again, with everything else fading away. In her time, her family and acquaintances had often teased her by calling her ‘the library princess’ because she always lost track of time in her world of tales.

Hours had passed since their search began. After checking the books on the lower shelves, Yuu struggled to reach those on the highest shelf. She tiptoed, her fingers barely grazing the books.

She sighed, her brows furrowing in frustration as she considered how to reach them, but she didn’t let it discourage her. She tried again to stretch and grasp the books on the top shelf, but they remained just out of reach.

Unbeknownst to Yuu, William had been silently observing her struggle from between the bookshelves on the other side of the aisle. With an amused smile, he approached her. “Let me help you,” he said softly, reaching for the book she was trying to grasp.

His fingers gently brushed against Yuu's hand. Startled by William's sudden presence, Yuu gasped. The book slipped from her grasp, landing on her head before tumbling to the floor.

Yuu's face flushed with embarrassment. She took a step back and tripped over her own foot. Before she could fall, William's strong hands reached her slender waist, pulling her close. She was cradled in his arms, her hands landing on his broad shoulders as their bodies pressed together.

Yuu's eyes widened as she blinked, frozen in William’s arms. Their gazes met, both stunned by the sudden closeness. Her heart skipped a beat, and she felt her cheeks flush even more. Their faces were inches apart, their breaths mingling.

William's demeanor showed a moment of surprise, and he appeared momentarily flustered. Gently releasing her from his embrace, he helped her steady herself. “I’m sorry,” he stammered.

Yuu looked at him, her cheeks still flushed, and replied, “no harm done.”

They both glanced at the book lying on the floor, waiting to be picked up. Without a word, they knelt at the same time to retrieve it, their fingers brushing against each other. The touch sent a warmth through Yuu that she had never felt before. They paused, locking eyes once again.

Just then, Victor’s voice broke the moment. “I think I found it.” Yuu and William quickly stood up, Yuu now holding the book in her hands. Silence fell between them as Victor entered the aisle, flipping through the pages of the book he had discovered.

“What happened? You both look like you’ve seen a ghost. Yuu, are you okay? You’re red. Do you have a fever or something?” Victor asked, observing them both with curiosity.

Yuu shook her head and cleared her throat. “I’m fine, dear brother. Just a bit tired. You mentioned you found something?” She stepped closer, looking over Victor’s shoulder at the book in question.

“Yes, but it doesn’t make much sense. For example, look - here’s a drawing of the artifact we have, but the text in this book is just scattered,” Victor replied, looking confused as he skimmed through the pages.

Yuu glanced at the page Victor pointed to. “Oh, it does seem like our artifact,” she sighed, noting the resemblance.

“Can I see the book?” William asked, stepping closer to examine it. Victor handed it over.

The book was old and worn, with some pages missing, but it contained drawings of various artifacts. Its leather cover was decorated with the title ‘Mysteries of the World’.

After a brief inspection, William commented, “Well, it does seem like this is the book we’re searching for, but...” He paused thoughtfully. “It might be one of those books that don’t provide straightforward answers. There could be other possibilities, such as the book being written in code or the existence of another volume that helps decipher this one.”