Chapter 8 : At the Library

Hot! Why is it so hot!

I internally shouted as I drag my body to the next house. It was just around 10 am however I feel like I was in the middle of the dessert.

Well, maybe I was the only one feeling like this. The temperature is actually not that very hot but in my current state, even this temperature, it was enough to make me feel hot and irritated.

Hot, irritated and tired. This is my current state.

Why am I in this state? Well, let’s go back three hours before.

 0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

I walked down the road towards my destination all the while taking in the morning sight of the city. I could not help but smile as I looked at the people come and go, busy to get their day started.

The sight became more precious as the impending danger approached the city. Thought it will be announced sooner or latter I just internally wish that it will not really affect the village severely.

 As I continued to walk I arrived at the residential area which was currently devoid of any person. Well, that was what I assumed until someone suddenly bumped into me knocking me down.

“Aw!” I moaned.

I looked at the person who was now lying on the ground. The person was wearing a dark cloak that prevented me from seeing who the person was.

The still body beside me made me look around to see where he came from since I have not even noticed him while I was walking. With this deserted wide street I should have notice him when he approached me. It was as if the person appeared out of thin air.

A soft moan and a stir from the body made me jump from my sitting position and I automatically went near the body of the stranger.

“Hey are you alright?”

“Urghh… Yes…” He answered as I helped him sit comfortably on the ground.

Soon after helping the person I saw a pair of eyes that seemed so familiar however I can’t put my hands where I have seen them. Aside from the eyes I can not see his face since he was wearing a mask covering the lower part of his face.

I was unable to look at him clearly since his face was also shadowed by the hood he was wearing that effectively hid his hair.

As I was studying him, the man seems to also study me. While I was looking at him with curiosity, he was on the other hand seems to look at me with shock and recognition.

“Um… sorry, I did not see you walking.” I started to say at the man who seemed to be still in the state of shock. “Err… do I know you? It seems like you know me…”

“Uaa… No…” The man seemed to hesitate before slowly standing on his feet. “I uh… I should be the one to say sorry… I knocked you down…”

“No it’s ok…” I hurriedly said. “Do you know me?”

 “No, it’s the first time we met.” He answered.

“I see…” I said. The silence settled between us, neither not knowing of what to say next.

It was then when I heard another voice that seemed to come from inside the cloak of the man. I thought it was my imagination until I saw something move under the man’s clock. 

The movement was coming from the left waist of the man.

“Haaa!” I nearly jumped when I heard a shout coming from the area.

“Hey! Let go of me!!! Let me out of the bag!!!” I heard the voice once again.

“Eh?” I unconsciously said as I looked at the man who seemed to have been troubled.

“Ahahah… Sorry… It’s my pet…”

“Pet?”

“Er, yeah… I stuffed him up inside my bag…” He said as he lifted his clock and showed a small bag like item attached at his waist.

As he lifted his cloak I saw the bag move more insistent as the ‘pet’ inside seemed to struggle to come out.

“You d***! How can you be so heartless to put me in here! Did you forget I am I am the almighty –.” The ‘pet’ was unable to finish speaking as the man suddenly squished the bag making the one inside scream in agitation and started to curse the man.

“Sorry about that… I put him inside to prevent him from making trouble. He always does when I let him out.” He said with a sigh.

“That’s cool…” I can’t help but say as I heard he had a pet. Usually in games pet are useful to players since they can assist in many different ways.

“…. Er…. Can I ask you something?” The man said after being silent for a while.

“What is it?”

“Um, may I know where we are?”

“Where? Do you not know?”

“Um…”

Seeing he seemed hesitant I decided to cut some slack on the man. “We are at the City of Thanatos…”

“City of Thanatos… has the battle with the monster of sleeping forest started?” He asked after learning where he was.

“How did you know about that?”

“Ah? Oh… The news travels fast…” He just said simply.

“Eh? We just had a meeting about what to do regarding the situation a while ago…”

“Ah! Yes… Er… I heard it from General Crofton…”

“Oh… I though he said not to tell it to anyone until the announcement was given.”

 “I… er… I’m not just anyone… I am a close friend of the General and I am part of the operation.”

“Hmnn… really?” I said as I can’t help but feel something off from the other.

I was about to ask him another question when I heard someone call my name. Looking behind me I saw Tager.

“Hey man, what are you doing there?”

“Oh I bump with someone and I was just asking him –.” I said and looked back at the man but I stop mid sentence when the man I was talking to awhile back was nowhere to be seen.

“What was that?” Tager asked as he stopped besides me.

Looking back and forth on the street I can’t find the mysterious man anymore. Somehow he disappeared so fast. With a shake of my head I looked at Tager and smiled. “No it’s nothing.”

“So where are you headed?” He asked as we started to walk together.

“Well…”

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Wow! So this is the library… I thought as I looked at the huge 5 story building standing in front of me. Though it looks good and amazing you can also notice that the building was old. However its appearance was not the one I am really thinking but the idea of how many books there are in such a big place.

Thinking about it I can’t help but swallow. Though I am excited about the idea of reading book and gathering information, I dread the thought that I have to search specific books in this large place if they have no records of it. Unlike the modern library where you can even search in a computer provided if they have the book and even tell the location if you want to read the hard copy of it.

Since I have to do it anyway, I gathered my thoughts and went to the big and heavy looking door. Though it was still early, I wanted to see if the library was already open. If they are not then I’ll have a detour and go to the settlement to find Kite. She might have some tips regarding the class change and help answer some questions I have.

As I pushed the large door it gave off a soft creaking sound. With a peek I looked inside and so how big the place was. Entering, I went directly inside as I curiously looked around. It was a treasure trove, for this place to be so big and full of many books I wonder if I can just stay here and read all of what this library can offer.

Shaking my head I tried to get my mind back on track. I was here do research about my race and possible path I will take in order become stronger.

“Welcome!” A voice reached my ears. Looking at the direction of it I found that just few feet away from me was a long table that looked like the reception area but the table was full of books.

I was unsure where I heard the voice from the place when I heard the voice once again.

“Here! I’m here!” Looking more closely I found a hand moving above one of the piles of the book.

“Ofp…” A muffled voice came as a head popped out later. “Sorry ‘bout that… I was kind a buried under… For a while I thought I was going to die.”

I stared at her for a while before I realized that I was staring without answering back. 

“Uh… yah… I um…”

“Hahaha…” A melodic laugh escaped from her lips as she saw my reaction. Slithering towards me and Mirth dancing in her eyes she watched as I tried got my mind together. 

“Is it your first time meeting an Eylopyil?”

“Eylopyil?”

“Yup… that is the race I came from. Thought it is true that we are not that many here in this city we are not a rare race to see slithering around.” She continued as she came nearer. “Well, seeing your reaction I have a feeling I am the first of my kind that you have met then.”

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“Er… yes… sorry for staring at you.” I said with an apologetic smile. Since arriving in this world I knew that one day I will meet different kind of races aside from the humans.

Though I have a rough idea of the four races that you can choose during the start of the game I have imagined that there are more races than those races we players can choose from.

I have seen many different races that can be included like elfs, dwarfs and many more mythical creatures that we are all familiar with. However meeting another person coming from a different race than the humans I have been with is really unbelievable.

“That’s fine… Our race has been mingling with the humans for a long time so it is not really that rare for us to be seen with your kind but from your reaction I bet I am the first of my kind that you have seen. Thought I am average looking I hope I did not really destroyed your first impression of the race of Eylopyil.”

“No… Of course not…” I hurriedly said. For her to say that she looked average I tried to imagine how beautiful their race can be. I looked at her again and processed how she looked and I can definitely say that her beauty is different from the beauty that humans have.

Looking at her she seems to come from a race which is half human and half snake.  Aside from her cute blue top you can see that from her waist down was snake shape with scales. From her neck downwards, you can see white translucent scales and when the scales reached her waist the translucent color darkens to white. Her marble like complexion paired with her translucent scales makes her quite beautiful and mystical. She also has bright sky blue eyes and silver hair giving more emphasis to her beauty.

“I… it’s just that it is my first time… to actually meet someone who is different from humans…”

“Different from humans?” She said as she tilted her head to the side.

“Oh! No… it’s just that from where I came from there is no other race aside from humans…”

“Eh? Really? No other races aside from humans?” She said with astonishment. Wait… where you came from? Where did you exactly came from?” She went from being astonished to being confused in an instant when she digested what I have just said.

“I came from Framiz…”

“Framiz…” She said slowly as if trying to play the foreign words on her tongue. As seconds passed her eyes suddenly lit up and looked at me with excitement. “Could it be you are one of the Shir Dythr which everyone as been talking about recently?”

“Eh… I guess so…”

“Amazing!” She said she suddenly slithered towoards me so fast I nearly fell down my back with shock.

Holding my hands she looked at me with eyes shining so brightly. “I have never thought I will meet a Shir Dythr personally!”

I held my breath as I look at her closely. From a distance she was beautiful but having her close was a different matter. If I was really a guy I might have fallen in love with her in an instant. ‘Thank god I’m still a woman by heart thought I’m using a guy’s body.’ I can’t help but think.

Seeing my awkward expression she laughed again and released my hands. “Sorry about that…” She said, “Forgive me for becoming too excited that I even forgot to introduce myself. I am Xajil Efira… and my I know your name Mr. Dythr?”

“Zeift… My name is Zeift.”

“After learning you are a Dythr I feel very embarrassed and honored that I am the first race that you have encountered here.”

“No… for me to meet Miss Xajil I am the one who should be grateful.”

“Hohoho… Aren’t you a sweet talker, but for someone like you to come here I believe you are gathering information?”

“Yes… I thought that the library is the best place to gather information.”

“Well that’s true but I have been a librarian for a long time however you are the first Dythr that came in this city who actually thought to come here.”

“The first? So there have been no other Dythr who thought of coming here?” I was shocked of hearing this information. Usually the first step to do when you are in a different place whether it be a game or not was to look for information, and the easiest place to get the necessary information without any money used will be the public library.

How could the other not come here? This is a big mystery that started to puzzle me. Even if not everyone will come here at least a few should have arrived here before me. 

“Yes…” She answered simply.

“That can’t be… Maybe there were some who came but you might have not notice.” Not really believing her I tried to explain.

Shaking her head, “I don’t think so… I tend to remember every single people who came in here but I have never seen anyone with the same feel as you.”

Unable to answer anything back I feel silent.

“Anyway… since I believe that you are the first Dythr to come here I will help you personally!” She declared proudly with a smile that made me also smile.

“So what are you here for anyway?” She said as she led me towards the table she was a while ago. Removing some of the books quickly a chair appeared from the piles and she offered me the seat as she also took another seat for her own.

“Actually I am here to find more information about my race…”

“Your race… Aren’t you a human?”

“Well… actually my race is Azarin… do you know anything about it?”

“Azarin? Hmmm…” She went silent for a while as she seemed to try to think if she heard that name before. After a while she looked at me and gave an apologetic look. “Sorry I have not heard of that race before but maybe we have a book here that might help you on that.”

“Really?”

“Yup… Let me check if I can find a book that gives more information about races.” After saying this, she made a hand gesture and a window appeared in front of me.

I was shocked at first seeing her do it. What astonished me further was the window that appeared was quite visible thought it has a transparent black in color.

Humming to her self as she seemed to be so occupied looking at the screen in front of her she did not notice that I was shocked.

“Aha!” She excitedly said as she seemed to find something and looked at me. I was unable to quickly change my expression when she saw me.

“Why?” She said as she saw my expression.

“I… what is that…” I said as I pointed at the window floating in front of her.

“Oh… this? This is called Library Card.”

“Library Card?”

“Yep… Oh I see… This is the first time you see a Library Card.”

“Yes…”

“Well… Library Card is an artifact that Librarian usually uses. It copies books and other documents and saves it to your library card. Having this is quite useful especially when you travel around.

Having an artifact like this would indeed be useful to store books that might help during travels. I suddenly was drawn in my own mind as I think the advantages of having a Library Card.

Seeing this Xajil smiled and coughed twice that caught my attention.

“Oh sorry…” I said embarrassed for suddenly falling in my own world.

“Oh… it’s ok… But having a Library Card is really helpful especially to travelers. It has many advantage…You agree right”

“Yes, that’s true…”

“Especially to someone like you who I believe wants to travel around.”

“Err… yes…”

“Well… I can give you a Library Card…”

“Yes…” I said but when I processed what she said I looked at her with open mouth and shocked expression. “Eh?”

“Hehehe… Yup I can definitely give you a Library Card, thought it is only a level 1 Library Card.”

“Level 1?”

“Well, Library Card has different Levels. A Level 1 card has less number of books and documents it can copy and store. It also can only add books that have no real special magic imbue on it.”

“I see…” So for library cards there are also levels and each level has different limitations. Even thought the library card is only a low level card the advantage of having it is still there.

“Are you still interested?”

“Yes I am…” I directly answered, having a chance to get an item that I have no idea if I can buy it or not is a chance I can not pass.

“Hehehe… great! But…”

“But?”

“I can’t give it to you for free…”

“Eh? I don’t have much money but…”

“No!” Xajil interrupted me before I can even finish. “I don’t need money… What I want is for you to do an errand for me…”

“Errand?”

“Yup…”

Going towards another pile of books near her she seemed to be looking for something and after a while she seemed to finally find it and happily came back.

Whipping a scroll that unrolled in front of me, she gave me a smile and said, “Well… I want you to collect the books that these people in the list had borrowed. I have really no time to go around collecting them and I believe these people also even forgot that they borrowed books. So… can you do it?”

I looked at the long scroll and back at the smiling face of Xajil. With a deep sigh I nodded which made her smile more brightly.

Well it is better to do an errand than paying for the item. This was what I was thinking at that time… I never thought that this will be a scene that I will look back on and will wish I should have not agreed to do it.