The sound of Arthur's boots echoed faintly as he descended the long, spiraling staircase. The stair seemed endless, carved from smooth white stone that gleamed faintly under the dim, ethereal light emanating from the walls. The air grew heavier with every step he took, dense with mana.
When he finally reached the bottom, the space opened up into a vast underground chamber.
Stretching before him was a grand hall, a library of sorts. But not just any library, it was easily the largest one he had ever seen. The ceiling rose impossibly high, and thousands upon thousands of shelves filled the space, arranged in perfect order like a labyrinth of knowledge. Each shelf was made of dark, polished wood that reflected light like it was made just yesterday and as if dust and decay dared not touch it.
And yet, the thing that stood out the most was the shimmering energy barrier covering the arched entrance. It looked fragile, like a thin sheet of golden light as its surface rippled like the surface of water, but Arthur could feel the dense mana woven through it. He raised an eyebrow. 'A magical library…I guess.'
He extended a hand cautiously, brushing his fingers against it.
To his surprise, his hand passed through the barrier smoothly without restricting his movement.
Arthur blinked in confusion, momentarily thrown off. "Alright then… guess I'm invited."
He stepped through the barrier, his body tingling as it passed over him. It felt like walking through a veil of warm mist.
Inside, the air was… different. Arthur felt this was a place with the highest density of mana he had ever visited in his life. Anyone cultivating here would be able to improve their mana circle multiple times faster.
He then looked towards the bookshelves stretched in all directions, disappearing into the distance. Each was filled to the brim with books of varying sizes, some looked ancient and brittle, others bound in strange metals or sealed by glowing runes. The faint scent of parchment and mana filled the air, an oddly comforting mixture of age and mystery.
Arthur started walking between the rows, his gaze trailing near the spines of the books reading their names. His curiosity was tingling. Every book here radiated power, knowledge that could uplift civilizations was resting silently in this place.
Suddenly from somewhere deeper inside, he heard the soft sound of pages turning. 'Someone else is here.'
He followed the sound cautiously, his steps soundless against the stone floor.
When he turned the corner, he saw her.
Behind a long counter made of marble, wood and gold sat a woman, absorbed in a thick book. Her hair was golden, long enough to cascade past her shoulders like strands of silk, and her figure was both graceful and alluring, too perfect to be ordinary. But what caught his attention the most were her eyes, one was golden, and the other was blue. They gleamed faintly even as she read, the reflection of the runes on the pages dancing across them.
Arthur tilted his head slightly, as he approached the counter slowly. "Uh, hello?"
But he didn't get any response from her. She didn't even glance at him, and the only sound at this place was the flipping of pages, and their breathing.
He waited a few moments, but when it became clear she wasn't acknowledging him, he exhaled and rubbed the back of his neck.
Deciding not to disturb her, Arthur turned toward the shelves again. He walked over to one of the nearest aisles, his curiosity winning out. The books emanated mana, some of them strong enough to make his skin prickle. "Let's see what the Oracle was keeping down here…"
Just as his hand reached for a thick tome bound in black leather, a calm voice cut through the silence, but with a sharp undertone in it.
"Otherworlder," the woman said without looking up at first, "you should refrain from touching the books if you want to live." And then she slowly looked at Arthur.
Arthur froze mid-motion. Slowly, he turned his head toward her.
Her heterochromatic and piercing eyes were on him now, and she had an intrigued and curious look in her eyes. For a moment, he had the strange sensation that she wasn't just looking at him, but through him.
He raised an eyebrow. "You could've started with that instead."
She ignored the jab, closing her book with a soft thud. "Curious creatures. Always touching things they shouldn't."
Arthur smirked faintly. "You said 'Otherworlder.' So, you can tell I'm not from this world?"
Her lips curved slightly, though it wasn't quite a smile. "Your soul carries the scent of another realm, subtle, but distinct. It's been a long time since one like you entered the Oracle's domain."
He took a step closer. "And you are…?"
The woman tilted her head slightly looking at Arthur as if he was stupid, her golden hair falling over one shoulder. "I am the Librarian of the Vault of Oracle. The keeper of its records, guardian of its secrets, and the last of its attendants."
Arthur looked at her as he deadpanned. "That's a long title for a person."
This time, a faint smile ghosted across her lips. "You're still alive, so perhaps you should thank me instead of testing your luck."
Arthur chuckled quietly and gave a small shrug. "Fair enough."
He leaned against the counter. "So, what's the point of this place? If I can't touch the books, why bring me here?"
Her gaze softened slightly. "You've passed the final trial of the Oracle. It has been…" she paused, her tone thoughtful, "…over five thousand years since anyone accomplished that."
Arthur was unimpressed, and nodded nonchalantly as he felt it was no big deal.. "Huh. Must've been a long time."
Her eyebrow twitched. She studied him for a moment longer, as though trying to decide whether he was joking or simply detached. "You are… unusual. Most who reach this place tremble or kneel in awe. You, on the other hand, act like it's a morning stroll." It was not every day you get to see a genius who was also not arrogant.
Arthur shrugged again, a half-smile tugging at his lips. "If you've seen the things I've seen, you stop being impressed by light shows and ancient libraries."
Her expression shifted, just a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes. "Confidence or foolishness, I'm not sure which yet. But whatever…"
With a wave of her hand, light gathered above her palm, swirling until it solidified into the shape of a book. The air vibrated around it; even from where Arthur stood, he could feel the sheer density of mana contained within.
"This," she said softly, "is your reward."
The book drifted toward him, floating gently until it stopped right in front of his chest.
Arthur caught it carefully. It was ancient, bound in white leather with golden runes etched into its spine. The cover was warm to the touch, and the book pulsed beneath his fingers like a heartbeat as if it was alive.
The librarian's voice broke the silence. "You have one hour to read and remember its contents. After that, it will have to return it. And if you try to keep it…" She looked up, her tone sweet but her eyes sharp as daggers. "Well, let's just say you won't enjoy the consequences."
Arthur met her gaze and grinned faintly. "I'll take your word for it."
Satisfied, she turned back to her own book and began reading again, as if his presence had already irritated her enough.
Arthur stared at her for a moment, muttered under his breath, "You've got quite the customer service," and then walked over to one of the long wooden tables nearby.
He pulled out a chair, and sat down. The book in his hands seemed to pulse softly, resonating with his mana.
"Alright, let's see what was worth fighting with my doppelgangers," he murmured, opening the first page.
The symbols inside weren't normal writing, they pulsed with a glow, and it appeared as if there was an intent behind the words as they moved and rearranged themselves. Each line rearranged itself as he read, adapting to his comprehension speed. The letters appeared alive, weaving together images, spells, and memories of a long-forgotten era.
As his eyes scanned the pages, a flood of information poured into his mind, runes, formation theories, lost cultivation methods, and forbidden Chi techniques that transcended the usual limits of power.
The sword spirit whispered in awe inside his mind, "These are the Codices of the First Era. Anyone would kill for even a glimpse of these texts…"
Arthur didn't respond, as he was too deep in the comprehension of the texts. His expression was calm but focused, his eyes reflected the moving symbols as his mind absorbed every line, and every rune in the book. He forgot the flow of time as he sank deeper into the ocean of knowledge.
Far behind him, the librarian looked up from her book for just a second.
Her heterochromatic eyes studied him quietly, her expression unreadable. "What an interesting fellow."
Then, with a small, knowing smile, she whispered softly to herself, words that vanished into the silence of the library.
"Perhaps… this era still has hope."
And then she continued to read the book in front of her.
***
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