บท 18: Library Troubles
With the remaining time before lunch still quite lengthy, Andrea, Thomas and I decided to visit the library. I was told that the library of the Imperial Academy was very huge which housed countless of books from all over the central continent. There were even a few from other continents. With such an extensive resource, I was planning to research more about mystic arts and if possible any book connected to the legend of the Celestials and their realm.
Aunt Zaira's library back in the Celestine Manor was also quite a collection of books, but she had no books connected to the deities of Afasia, much less the Celestials. I did ask her once and her answer was;
"It's useless. Mortals tend to overpraise beings like them to the point that it's sometimes inaccurate or totally wrong. You don't have to grow up with such beliefs."
I sighed. My aunt was really unusual in many ways.
Buried in my thoughts, I did not notice that we already arrived in the librarian's desk.
"First years?" asked the middle-aged woman with square eyeglasses. She looked stern and strict.
"Yes ma'am." Andrea said. "We would like to acquire library passes."
"Oh? A first year asking for a library pass, that's a first." she said with a smile, her strict expression already melting. "Usually first year students get their passes a week after the school officially started so the library is always swamped with work that time of the school year. How many passes?"
"Three please." Thomas said.
"I guess that's three less students for the library staff to work on."
"Make that four please." said a voice behind us.
I turned around and saw a tall man with light bronze skin. His black hair was glossy and his light brown skin seemed to glow under the light.
"Five please." said another voice and I saw a familiar mop white of hair.
"Kai!" I called.
"You- you're here."
"Yes." I answered.
"Well then. Five library passes. Please wait for a few minutes."
We wrote our information in a slip of paper and a few minutes later, our library passes were already issued.
"These passes will let you borrow books from the library. A few reminders though, if you lose your library pass please inform the library staff immediately so we can find it or issue you a new one." the librarian, whose name was Delia, said. "Another thing, the upper floors are only available for second years and above as well as the professors. Please keep it in mind."
""Yes professor."" we said with a bow.
"Ah, before I forgot. This is a library, a place of learning. Please don't make too much noise." she told us with a threatening smile.
"We'll keep that in mind professor." said Andrea and we bid our goodbye.
The three of us found a vacant table and sat there. I was admiring the huge library which had a total of three levels. Each level was brimming with books.
"At least this way we don't have to get mixed in the crowd of those who want to take library passes next week." Andrea said with a sigh. "By the way, I want to ask something."
"Go on."
"Are people from the Celestine Territory as amazing as you guys?"
"What are you talking about?" asked Thomas.
"I mean, I've heard that there were only a few students from the Celestine Territory that enroll in the academy every year but each one of them were exceptional no matter which department or course they end up in. Did you guys undergo some sort of secret training, or had some secret method or something?"
I looked at Thomas with a confused look. Meanwhile he only sighed and shook his head.
"It's not that we had any sort of secret method or training." Thomas answered. "Maybe it's because we have a lot of experience."
I decided to let Thomas do the explaining to Andrea. I excused myself and started browsing the books in the shelves. As for Andrea's question, the answer was easy.
The Celestine Territory is a monster-infested area. People who chose to live there permanently definitely could not be 'just average'. At a young age, the citizens of the territory had to start their training. And as early as eight or nine, they were already sent to fend off monsters. If the citizens of such an area aren't strong they would only end up as monster meal.
At least that was my understanding. There was also the fact that energy in Celestine Territory is quite denser than most places in the continent, those who grew up there definitely had some sort of advantage whether in physical strength or magical skills. That's what Aunt Zaira told me anyway.
Back to reality… My attention was caught by a book; The Records of the Other World.
The title was unusual, yet familiar. I immediately tried to take it out the shelf, but a hand stopped me. I traced its owner and saw a familiar face;
"Peter?" I called in a low voice. Well, it was the library.
"So casual? Shouldn't you call me your highness since I'm a prince of this empire?" he said and flashed a smile.
"I thought the Imperial Academy promotes equality. That's why it accepted commoners, nobles and imperial family members alike. Why should I call you your highness?"
-I don't even call Seb 'Your Royal Highness' despite being the crown prince.
"You have a point. Anyway, I had my eye on this book first, so I'm taking it."
"Says who? Do you have any evidence?" I retorted. "And if you look closely, my hand is under yours, so that means I was the first one to grab the book."
"Are you defying me?"
"Take a guess. What are you going to do about it?"
I saw his face contort into anger and I could feel energy gather in his hands. He was about to use violence on me. So much for being a prince.
"Peter, I think that's enough." said a voice. I looked at its direction and saw Kai.
"Oh, it's you." I said.
"Peter, why not let her have it. You're not seriously going to fight with a girl, are you? In the library no less."
I nodded my head in agreement at what Kai said.
"She's not a normal girl." the prince sneered. "She's the first rank in the magic arts entrance examination and from the Celestine Territory. Anyone from that place is never normal."
"That's stereotyping. Even for a prince, that's a low blow." I retorted.
"Peter."
"I think ganging up on a girl is too much, don't you think Peter?"
All our heads turned to the direction of the voice and saw the student council president; Leo von Praiji.
""Imperial Uncle!"" exclaimed the two.
"Ssh! This is the library. And we're in school, don't call me that."
"Sorry." said Peter and finally let go of the book. I took this chance to snatch the book from the shelf.
"I'm sorry for the disturbance Senior Leo." I said. "It's just that he kept arguing with me. I thought a member of the imperial family is more than that. Ah, no offense to you."
I could see the forced smile in Senior Leo's face. He was obviously pissed off. I just had to run off my mouth. Why didn't Aunt Zaira teach me proper ways to deal with imperial family members?
"Do not worry Junior Luna. Peter is just used to having his way in things." Senior Leo answered, his expression already returning to being casual. "I believe his experience here in the Imperial Academy will be a great lesson for him. The same thing for Kai."
I just nodded my head.
"Well then, I will be borrowing this book. Once I'm finished and had returned it to the library you can borrow it by then." I said to Peter who still looked like he was fuming.
"Can you even borrow that now? I don't think the library staff had given students passes yet." said Senior Leo with a face full of doubt.
"About that impe- I mean, Senior Leo, Miss Luna and her friends had already asked for a library pass from Professor Delia a while ago." Kai brought out his newly-released library pass. "The same time I did."
"What? You already asked for a library pass?" asked Peter with a very surprised look. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I tried to tell you but you went ahead already."
"Well then, if you'll excuse me."
I excused myself from the imperial family members and headed to the library staff desk to borrow the book. After the process, I returned to where I left Thomas and Andrea. I was quite surprised when I found the other guy who took the pass with us sitting on where I sat.
"You're here!" exclaimed Andrea.
""Sshh!"" but her loud voice attracted the others inside the library. We immediately apologized and headed outside.
Once we were a considerable distance from the library, I asked who the new friend Thomas and Andrea had made was.
"Eh? Do you not remember me?" exclaimed the newcomer. "We're in the same class!"
"Really?"
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