Capítulo 15: THE ROYAL LIBRARY

{DERYL'S POV}

"That boy is truly something else," I thought to myself, still impressed by Jay's resourcefulness and magic prowess.

Just as I was lost in thought, my attention was called elsewhere. I excused myself from the training field and headed towards the source of the summons. We arrived in a room where the two men responsible for attacking the Aydens family were being held.

Their presence weighed heavily in my mind; they were not of the Basilisk Bloodline, as I had initially suspected.

I asked them to explain in detail. One of the men, brought forth to provide insight, greeted me with a bow before he began to explain. These individuals were not connected to the Basilisk Bloodline or its legacy. Instead, they were pirates and merchants who conducted raids at sea, stealing goods to sell on the demon continent for profit.

The realization hit me hard. Missing goods, declining revenues, and the rampant piracy all tied together into a disheartening narrative. These men, with pure human blood running through their veins, were responsible for sowing chaos and turmoil.

I pondered the implications. "So this means Jay was able to defeat them because they lacked the mystical lineage," I mused aloud.

Yet, the mystery of Basilisks persisted. The Aether Arts, their origin, and whether they were real or mere fabrication still haunted me. The tales from our childhood remained as enigmatic as ever.

My adviser presented an illustration, attempting to shed light on the vague image of a Basilisk. The figure bore a human resemblance but was adorned with curving horns protruding from its hair.

"In ancient times, Basilisks were considered the Supreme Bloodline," the man added, further fueling my intrigue.

If this account held true, the ramifications for the land of man and even the Fiend Continent were grave. My thoughts raced as I considered the implications.

"What about their land of origin?" I asked, the urgency clear in my voice.

"As we know, there are currently two continents: the Sentient Landmass, where humans reside, and the Abyssal Landmass, the realm of demons and fiends.

However, there exists a third, hidden continent that defies classification by being neither on land nor in the waters," the royal adviser explained.

The revelation stunned me. "If it's not on land or in the waters, then where is it?"

{JAY'S POV}

I joined the royal family for breakfast, a cheerful atmosphere filling the dining hall. It was incredible how seamlessly our families had bonded over such a short time. As I took a seat at the lavish table, I noticed King Deryl lifting a glass of wine in his hand, his eyes gleaming with warmth.

"Allow me to make a toast," he announced, his voice carrying across the room.

"To the union of our two families, a new chapter in the history of our land." The clinking of glasses echoed as everyone raised their cups in unison. The maids, butlers, and even some guards joined in the celebration, their applause filling the air.

After enjoying the delicious breakfast and engaging in light conversation, I finished my meal and excused myself. The prospect of studying in the royal library was too enticing to resist.

Queen Eleanor turns to Crystal with a warm smile, and I catch a hint of their conversation as they exchange knowing glances.

"Your son really enjoys his studies," Queen Eleanor remarks, her eyes twinkling.

Crystal chuckled softly and replied, "Oh, yes, he's had a keen interest in learning from a very young age."

My father, Michael, chimed in with a touch of pride in his voice.

"I remember when he was just two years old, he would flip through books and seem to understand every word. It's like he's an old soul trapped in a child's body." His laughter joins the chorus of amusement, and I manage a sheepish smile in response.

As the conversation shifts and the attention moves away from me, I take a step back, my fingers absently toying with the hem of my shirt. I mutter to myself under my breath, "Well, they aren't wrong."

After all, I'm not really five years old. Physically, yes, but my consciousness, my memories, they belong to someone older, someone who lived in a different world.

I made my way to the library, my heart racing with anticipation. The library was a sight to behold. Its circular design was breathtaking, with towering shelves stretching up to five floors. The white walls and long, flowing curtains from the vertical windows gave the room an ethereal ambiance. My goal was clear: to find books on swordsmanship.

I ventured to the first floor, where I hoped to discover more about the Terragon sword style. As I perused the shelves, I realized there were several other impressive sword styles as well.

They had unique names like the Onyx Shadowblade Form, Dragonsoul Clansmanship, Phoenix Ember Flow, and Froststeel Frostbite Stance. These styles seemed to be influenced by different bloodlines, each with their own distinct characteristics.

However, none of them matched the Celestial Seraph Technique I was looking for. This particular style was said to be the origin of all others, passed down by a bloodline with a connection to celestial beings. Despite not finding the exact information I sought, I decided to take the Celestial style book and examine it more closely.

The illustrations depicted graceful movements, precise strikes, and fluid transitions between stances. It was a breathtaking form, seemingly rooted in both art and combat. As I studied, I felt a sense of excitement and determination building within me.

Feeling a sense of weariness from my intense study of the sword style, I decided to shift my focus to language learning. The Demon language intrigued me, especially considering my previous experiences and the book I had purchased in Aldevia that was now ashes due to the merchant thieves' attack. With determination, I settled in to continue my linguistic endeavors.

"They can't possibly lack a book on Demon language here," I mumbled to myself, my optimism keeping me motivated.

I embarked on my search on the library's first floor, scanning the shelves for any trace of the book I needed. However, despite my confidence, I found no sign of it.

Frustration began to bubble up within me as I gazed up at the towering shelves, wondering how many more floors I would need to search. "I really don't want to go through all these floors," I sighed, my impatience growing.

Just then, Aria entered the library and found me kneeling on the floor, holding my head in my hands.

"What are you doing?"

She inquired about my state, and I explained my predicament - my search for a book on the Fiend/Demon language.

Aria, with her characteristic confidence, guided me to a desk near the library's entrance. On the desk was an embedded rectangular screen, and Aria activated it with a tap. Placing her hand on the screen, she uttered the words, "Book Volumes on the Demon language."

The screen illuminated with text, revealing a promising lead. It read:

"Abyssal Chronicles: The Fiend Language"

"Second Floor, Shelve 13"

As the screen went dark again, I couldn't help but draw parallels between the display and the character profiles in the games of my previous life. Aria led me to the designated location, and I marveled at the efficiency of this advanced system.

"Looks like they don't need librarians," I joked as Aria pulled the book from the shelf and handed it to me. She then directed me to the "Ethereal Pageant of Knowledge," a display window at the front desk that would likely provide even more information.

The library's hushed atmosphere enveloped us as Aria and I each immersed ourselves in our chosen pursuits. Amidst the quiet, Aria approached me, curiosity in her eyes. She questioned my interest in studying the Demon language, and I shared my thoughts about its potential usefulness, especially on the Demon Continent.

Our conversation flowed naturally, transitioning to the sparring match with her father. Aria complimented my Pyrokinesis skills, and I felt a sense of pride hearing her words. She then revealed her own affinities - Hydrokinesis and Aerokinesis. I recalled King Deryl mentioning these affinities earlier. Aria hesitated before making an unexpected proposition - she asked if I would tutor her in Pyrokinesis.

I took a moment to consider her request, weighing the benefits and challenges. After a brief pause, I agreed, but with a condition. I asked Aria to teach me Hydrokinesis in return. With a smile, we sealed the deal.

In the midst of the library's tranquil environment, a sudden and piercing scream echoed through the air, shattering the calm like a fragile glass. My heart raced, and instinct took over as I tightly grabbed Aria's hand, our eyes locking in shared alarm. Without a word, we bolted down the stairs, our footsteps echoing off the walls as the urgency of the situation gripped us.

As we reached the scene, a chilling tableau lay before us. The once serene atmosphere was replaced with a tense hush, punctuated only by the anguished cries of a maid kneeling on the floor. Her hands were stained crimson, her once-pristine white gown now a canvas of horror. In a pool of deep red, a lifeless body sprawled out - a guard who had sworn to protect this palace and its occupants.

The sight was nothing short of gruesome. The air was heavy with the metallic scent of blood, and a hushed gasp rippled through the gathered crowd. Every pair of eyes was wide with shock, disbelief etched into their expressions, including the faces of my own parents and the imposing King Deryl himself.

My feet carried me forward, drawn to the scene as if by an invisible force. A mixture of dread and morbid curiosity seized me, compelling me to see the truth for myself. My heart pounded, the sound echoing in my ears as I approached the guard's lifeless form.

What I saw next nearly wrenched the contents of my stomach. My cheeks grew clammy with sweat, and my eyes widened in sheer horror. The guard's body, once a symbol of strength and protection, now bore the grotesque marks of an unimaginable ordeal. Black spikes erupted from his skin, their sinister hue contrasting starkly with the crimson blood dripping down.

The spikes were a grotesque hue of black, tainted with a sickly purple that seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy. A network of ominous cracks traversed the surface of these unnatural appendages, revealing an unsettling fragility beneath their malevolent appearance.

However, what truly unnerved me was the fact that the spikes weren't protruding from the ground around him, as one might expect. Instead, they emerged directly from the guard's own body, as if his very flesh had been transmuted into this nightmarish tableau. The implications were horrifying and incomprehensible, challenging the very laws of nature itself.

Time seemed to slow as I absorbed the ghastly scene, my mind struggling to grasp the impossible reality before me. Panic and disbelief rippled through the crowd, murmurs of confusion intertwining with whispers of fear. Amid the chaos of emotions, one unsettling truth remained - something sinister and unknown had invaded our sanctuary, shattering the peace we had known and plunging us into a realm of darkness and uncertainty.

//// NEXT CHAPTER: UNFORESEEN ENCOUNTER ////

Edited by: JJ