Bab 12: The Royal Library
Limon gazed down at the pages of the atlas, noticing the marked destination of his journey—the "Royal Library."
Though the name suggested a place of grandeur, the Royal Library was, in truth, an establishment funded by the royal family, yet it wasn't reserved for the elite alone. It welcomed people from all walks of life. Its primary purpose was to educate the public about the history of the Taklamakan Kingdom and collect renowned works from various nations, spanning across many fields of knowledge.
For Limon, eager to understand this strange new world, the library seemed like the perfect place to start his journey of discovery.
Within its vast collection of books and boundless information, he could delve deeper into the complexities of this world.
The Royal Library was located in the northeastern sector of the Second Ring Road, about an hour's journey from where Limon started. The structure itself was designed like a tower, with a square base and a circular dome that topped it off, complete with a pointed lightning rod.
Outside the library was a designated area for the Dudu birds, a thoughtful touch that addressed the practical concerns of visitors traveling long distances.
After handing over his Dudu bird to the stable keeper, Limon hurried into the library, his excitement palpable.
The moment he stepped inside, the library's sheer scale overwhelmed him. The grand hall stretched endlessly before him, its bookshelves meticulously organized and weighed down with countless volumes.
"Five silver coins, no time limit. Closing before dusk," a voice called out from near the entrance.
A short walk led Limon to a counter, where a male elf stood, his eyes scanning a book with focused intent. Limon readily retrieved five silver coins from his pouch, offering them in exchange for entry.
The librarian, after accepting the payment, handed Limon an album. Without another word, the elf returned to his reading, barely acknowledging Limon's presence.
Despite the librarian's unassuming demeanor, Limon knew better than to underestimate him. The elf was a high-level magician, with powers reaching level 35.
With the album in hand, Limon wandered the hall, eager to explore the vast collection. The library was still quiet at this early hour, with only a few visitors in the reading area to the left.
Limon paused near a bookshelf and opened the album to study its contents. The pages were filled with a detailed map of the library, highlighting different genres and sections.
"Ah, this must be it."
Following the directions provided in the album, he located a row of bookshelves and began his search. After scanning the titles, he picked out thirteen books, each one thick and heavy with information. His face lit up with satisfaction as he carefully gathered the books and headed for a nearby table.
Settling into a seat, Limon began his reading without delay. The books in front of him seemed to draw the curiosity of the few other readers in the area, who glanced at the stack of books piled high on the table.
Each one looked dense, and Limon's fervor to finish them all stirred a few raised eyebrows.
But Limon paid no mind to the curious gazes. He was lost in his reading.
Books such as The History of the Avenir Continent, The Race Record of the Avenir Continent, The Monster Record of the Avenir Continent, The History of the True Gods, The Origin Record of the Evil Gods of Alien Races, and The Official History of the Dragon Race all found their way into his hands.
Perhaps due to his increased intelligence, Limon found that his memory was sharper than usual. Each page seemed to etch itself into his mind, vivid and clear, allowing him to recall the smallest details with stunning accuracy. The sensation was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
It took over six hours for Limon to finish the stack of books. By now, the reading area had grown crowded, mostly with adventurers who were deeply immersed in research, their faces intense as they sought out specific information.
Limon leaned back in his chair, letting out a long breath as he closed the last book. His mind was swirling with the knowledge he had absorbed.
This world, he thought, was an incredible place—full of wonder, but equally fraught with danger.
Aliens, evil gods, magic dragons—these threats loomed over the human race constantly.
Limon had learned much about the various races inhabiting the Elven Continent. The humans, of course, were the most populous, but they weren't the only ones.
There were elves, of course, but also elves of the Lulufil tribe, the towering Soga giants, raccoons, and dragon people. Long ago, these races coexisted on the continent, each with its own territory and domain.
It wasn't until the first magic tide that the righteous god emerged. Under his guidance, the five major races began to interact more, eventually leading to an era of grand integration. But it was during the second magic tide that the true struggles began.
The second magic tide marked a time of both human ascendancy and devastation. The righteous gods fell into an eternal slumber, while the evil gods rose to power, plunging the world into chaos. Darkness spread, and it seemed that all life was threatened.
But in the midst of this turmoil, the different societies of humans began to unite, fighting the evil gods in various corners of the continent. The societies blended, creating the current social structure, where multiple races coexisted in the kingdoms of the Elven Continent.
As Limon absorbed this information, he realized that despite the troubles, this world was uniquely dynamic. It was a realm where cooperation, though challenging, had allowed humanity to continue thriving.
The history of the world was more complicated than he had initially thought, and the journey ahead seemed both thrilling and fraught with peril.
"Fascinating," Limon muttered to himself as he closed the last book.
A soft voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.
"You've finally finished reading," the voice said, smooth and gentle, as though the words were wrapped in velvet.
Limon looked up, surprised. A maiden sat across from him, her silver-white hair shimmering in the dim light. Her pointed ears and golden eyes gave her away as a civet cat, and her beauty was striking, almost ethereal.
She smiled warmly at Limon's confused expression, her gaze soft but perceptive.
"Although many of the books here have copies, The Origin of the Evil Gods of Alien Races is unique. There's only one in the entire library," she said gently.
Limon glanced down at the table, his eyes landing on the book she referred to. He had indeed kept it to himself, not realizing its rarity.
"My apologies," Limon said, his voice sincere. "I didn't notice your arrival."
There was no need for an apology, the maiden reassured him, her voice calm and understanding.
"When one is absorbed in the sea of knowledge, it's a sign of respect for the books. I couldn't have interrupted your study," she explained, accepting the book from him with a graceful gesture.
Limon nodded in appreciation. Her understanding was just what he had hoped for.
With the book returned to her, Limon began to gather the scattered books, preparing to leave as dusk approached. The library was beginning to fill with more visitors, and the day was drawing to a close.
Hadiah
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