I didn’t have much to do since I was still free till next week. No wait, I can always just catch up. I had no idea what my fellow students learned these past few weeks so I’d be a little lost but I could always just read the first portion of every book that was on the curriculum.

Oh wait, I didn’t get the books yet, did I? I searched my table and found last night’s stamped paper easily enough. Come to think of it, I didn’t read that book about spirits despite having time yesterday. Guess I was too damn entranced by the whole moving thing.

I stayed put in my room for a few hours and then eventually head to the library after confirming no one was coming to see me. I half expected Den to show up stating he was just worried or something, but he didn’t. Shia didn’t either. And Gerar was still sleeping so that was that.

Oh well, I wore some good clothes and headed out; half pants and an embroidered shirt. Nothing fancy but Mom made them so all good. Surely, I don’t look like a bumpkin, right?

There were plenty of students in uniform. They were presumably heading off to class. One of them looked like a hotshot who was walking in the middle with a group of sorts so I stood aside.

“What’s that look for freshman?” He asked, looking down.

Fairly young. Maybe ten. Or maybe six. At this point I wasn’t even sure how age worked anymore…. He did have fancy clothes though, like the actual fancy ones with lots of colors and embroidery.

“Nothing,” I said, keeping a minimal eye contact.

“Hmph!” A rather quirky snort, almost like a pig. “Do you even know who I am?”

Was he that desperate for people to get to know him? Really? “I don’t.”

I didn’t even get in his way. He was getting in my way. Like intentionally.

“Nonsense! I’m Darious! Son of Viscount Alindious!”

What was up with the Ious? And he was pronouncing it like ass. Anyway. “Incidentally, I’m Soler A. Barack. Son of Sharmon Barack who also happens to be a Viscount,” I said, politely offering a nod. So technically, we’re the same rank… probably not.

He gulped. “Shi-Shia’s brother!” he shrieked and hurriedly left. “Sorry to bother you sir.” Some of his lackeys offered apologies in his stead.

Peering my eyes away from them I noticed a bunch of other curious stares too. How infamous is she? Well, I was going to find out one of these days anyway.

The library was quiet in the morning. It was quiet in the evening as well. Why? Because the librarian had clearly emphasized it was evident you must stay quiet in the library. Common sense to me, but I suppose it wasn’t to some because a boy and a girl were quarreling.

“No, you stepped in first!”

“I was just looking for a book!”

“There should be a copy in your section as well!” The girl screamed.

“It’s already taken!” The boy retorted back.

They kept on going. No one stopped them. No one till the librarian came about. Old lady, saggy skin, barely standing without shaking. Yet, when she arrived everyone went deathly quiet. They were afraid of her, clearly. Better not get on her nerves.

The two fighting quickly bowed, apologized profusely and disappeared. Huh.

Anyway, it was good I found her because I slowly made my way to her. “Good morning, Mam.”

As long as I respected the library rules and didn’t offend her, I wasn’t going to get in trouble. So I made extra effort to watch my language and tone.

This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

“M-mo-mo-morning YOUNG MAN!” She started with a few stutters but screamed nevertheless.

I hadn’t spoken that loud but at least her ears worked… somewhat.

“I have this stamped paper and would like to borrow some books,” I said. “You would mind helping me out?”

“SURELY!” For someone who liked having a quiet atmosphere, she sure wasn’t quiet in the least.

We went down a couple of floors and on the second floor, she gave me my four books. “T-t-t-t-t-Two GOLD SON!”

I quickly fumbled the two gold coins and gave it to her. Den had given it to me before he left. He told me I wouldn’t really need money for anything else for the rest of year as the academy would cover everything. But I suppose he’d failed to mention meals cost money. Or maybe things had changed since he went here, or was he expecting me to grow money? Either way, apart from what Mom had given me, I had no other- no wait… didn’t Mack give me a silver? Oh yeah, he did.

That said, I thanked the lady again and went back up to the fourth floor where I spent a few hours trying to make head from tails.

First of all, the books were worn as hell. The pages were barely hanging so I had to be delicate. Second, they were written like IKEA manuals, worthless. History was boring and not chronological at all! Spirit Taming book was basically unusable thanks to half of the pages being ripped out! The Literature book had literal stories missing and the few that were there were boring! Only the etiquette book was somewhat in shape but I guess that was because no one bothered taking this thing seriously.

I’d gone to the second floor and taken a look myself and found that the other books in even more hideous condition. Which was why I located the librarian and pleaded she give my money back. I gave the books back of course. She sighed once but gave the money back. Yah!

“So-so-so What Will You Do- now? B-b-buy new!” She wasn’t screaming like usual but still spoke loud.

“No, actually,” I said. “I will probably suck up to a friend and just pay extra attention in class. The books weren’t that complicated to begin with.” I just spoke my honest feelings on the matter. They were boring, sure. But they weren’t anything I wasn’t familiar with. Okay, maybe the spirit thing was new but most of the stories in history and literature, I already knew. Etiquette wasn’t that important. No wait, you’re a noble now. And I could always just consult my other book about spirits anyway. In fact, that even had crude drawings this thing lacked.

“I see…” she said. “Come back later, I might have better books available.”

“Understood. Thank you, Mam!” I thanked her and then left.

Wait a minute… didn’t she speak totally normally now?

Hmmm….

***

Instead of leaving the library outright, I kept an eye out for good books. I could only access one half of the library but there should have been the same books on both sides, so I was fine. I found some good books on history, literature and a bunch of other stuff. But there was a problem. They didn’t have the concept of taking your book out with you unless you were renting out text books. And you couldn’t just read here either… unless you had a membership. And yes, memberships cost a lot. 10 gold to be exact.

Argh…

Didn’t the guard say they were looking for helpers?

Hmm… I went around looking for the old lady. She was furiously shaking and restacking some books. “Mam, I heard you were looking for helpers?”

She gave me stare. Almost examining me for a second. “Do you like books?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have one?”

“I have one, yes.”

“Bring it here.”

She wasn’t going to take my book hostage or anything, right?”

Also, what the fuck! You can talk normally! ~

Ah, no. wrong old lady. This one wasn’t as old as the last one. I was off by ten or so years.

I came back a few minutes later with my book that I hadn’t really read. She took one look and gave it back to me. Phew!

“Where’d you get it?”

“I bought it off of my father’s friend.”

Obviously Den wasn’t my father but this lady didn’t need to know that.

“For how much if I might inquire.”

“Two gold.”

“Really,” she smirked. “Did that man really own the book?” She took it again and flipped through some pages.

“Yes. Though it was more like the book belonged to his sister.”

Her eyes paused, on a particular page. “I see.” She slammed it shut and gave me the book back. “It’s a precious book. And has been kept with great care. I will entrust you with the books here and expect you to care about them just like this one. In exchange you will be paid 1 gold a month.”

Wait, really? Holy shit!

I’d be paid!

“C-can I get to read a few books too?”

“As long as you do your job, I don’t see why you couldn’t read a few books a month; though if I see you slacking, I’ll be deducting the library fee from your pay, so do be careful.”

Good enough. “Thank you very much!”

“I’d like for you to start today but since you’re still pretty new, explore the library a bit more and then start stacking books according to their letter and this catalogue,” she handed me down a rough looking wooden book that had information on how the library was organized. Fairly typical stuff. Doesn’t this mean I can now access the girls’ side of the library too? But that also meant, I’d be working a lot. “You don’t have to put the books away until you’re certain they’re in the right place. I’ll teach you for the first week. But if you appear to be unfocused, I’ll kick you out.”

I nodded. She smirked and that was the end of that.

Tracing my feet back to the fourth floor, I finally sat down and opened my damn book. Let’s give this a read.