Northern Continent Year 12209
After lunch, Ryu along with his parents, a few guards, and a couple maids, walked into town. Ryu's house was located near the western part of the town. It was only a 10 minute walk to the shopping district. As they walked, Ryu was staring at all the things he had never seen before. His eyes were sparkling so much it seemed like they might become miniature lasers. Along the way many people payed their respects to Ryu's mom and dad. After so many of these encounters, Ryu payed attention and afterwards he had a question, "Mom, why does it seem like everyone is scared of you?"
Everyone suddenly froze. The guards and the maids had pale faces. Ryu's dad looked like he was about to burst into laughter. Ryu was puzzled at their reactions. He didn't understand why they were so scared. Ryu's mom turned around ignoring the other's reactions. Selina said to Ryu, "They're not scared of me."
Ryu asked in a doubtful tone, "Really?"
Selina assured Ryu, "Really. They are just intimidated because I am from a super noble family. They probably have bad experiences with other nobles. After all not all nobles are as nice as me or your father. They're just not used to it."
Ryu responded, "Oh is that so. That makes sense. Hey look why are so many people wearing jewelry? isn't it uncomfortable?"
Selina explained to Ryu, "Oh no Ryu that is because ......."
As Ryu and his mom talked about things that were new to Ryu, everyone else felt their faces cramping. Zaenor was thinking that he was indeed nice. He was thinking about what gift to buy his wife for the compliment. However, the maids and the guards were screaming in their hearts, "INTIMIDATED?? THEY'RE TERRIFIED. IF YOU ARE NICE THEN THERE ARE NO EVIL NOBLES" They were struggling to keep their true feelings hidden. After all they didn't want to get on the bad side of her Ladyship.
A few minutes later they arrived at the bazaar. There were merchants selling their wares and farmers selling their produce. There was shouting as the merchants advertised their wares and customers tried haggling. Ryu's eyes were almost falling out as he tried to take everything in at once. Meanwhile the maids left to buy the groceries and some of the guards went with them. Zaenor and Selina looked around as they were deciding where to go. Suddenly Ryu let out a gasp.and pointed at a tall building. It was shaped like a spire and was the tallest building around.
Ryu gaped, "Is...Is..Is that a LIBRARY?!!!! Can we GO!! PLEASE Dad? PLEASE MOM??"
Zaenor laughed as he saw Ryu's reaction, "HAHA of course we can. Lets go right now."
Selina also agreed, "Alright let's go then Ryu. Do you want to borrow some books?"
Ryu chanted excitedly, "Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes!!!"
Selina tried to calm him down, "Alright young man calm down. you can check out some books. How about we even get you your own library card?
Ryu stood there his mind almost exploding from excitement, "Th... Tha... THAT WOULD BE AWESOME!!!!!!!! Let's go, let's go, let's gooooooooo!"
And so the group approached the library. Zaenor, Selina, and Ryu went inside while the guards waited outside. As they went inside, Ryu saw hundreds of shelves packed with books. Just the the thought of thousands or even tens of thousands of books in front of him almost drove him crazy. At home the personal library only consisted of about 800 to 900 books. As he looked around in amazement, he saw a spiral staircase leading upwards. His eyes shone at the thought of even more books.
Ryu asked while looking at the staircase, "Dad, how many floors does this library have?"
Zaenor pondered a while before responding, "Uhhhh..... Let's see. Last time I was here there was 6 floors. Although the tower seems taller so they probably added a floor or two. No that I think about it. I gave the library some funds to buy more books. So they probably have around 8, maybe 9 floors?"
Ryu just opened his mouth and left it hanging. Just on this floor alone there were maybe close to ten thousand books or more! And his dad had just told him that there was EIGHT FLOORS at LEAST. that meant almost ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND BOOKS!!!! Ryu's eyes began to swim, his excitement threatened to overcome him.
Selina giggled, "Fufufu. What do you think Ryu? Isn't it impressive. Although some of the basement floors and upper floors are reserved for ummm other uses, the 1st to 3rd floor is open to the public for reading. There is about maybe forty thousand books, I think? It's pretty good for a small town library but our family's main building has more books that this on a single floor. So this isn't that impressive."
Ryu couldn't process this piece as he tried to imagine how that library would look like, "O....ON....ONLY F..FO...FORTY THOUSAND BOOKS!!!! "
Ryu held his head as a headache threatened to burst open his head. Forty thousand BOOKS!!!! That's enough to last him 1, 2, 3, no it was enough to last him a LIFETIME!!! And his Mom said it wasn't that impressive??? So what was impressive?? Then he remembered something his mom had said. Their family's main building had more books than this ENTIRE LIBRARY on ONE FLOOR!!!! Ryu turned around and faced his Mom.
Ryu drooled as he asked, "Mom, can..can we go to the family's main building? PLEAAASE???? Huhuhu Uncountable number of books, that.. that.. that is HEAVEN!!!!!"
Selina laughed as she saw his reaction, "Hahaha, you can go in the future when you grow up. But for now if you can't even finish these books, then how are you going to read all of those books there? For no read what you wan to here. I can guarantee that there is probably all the books you want here."
Ryu mumbled in a low voice, "Fufufu, Mom said I can go in the future. Hahaha, those books are mine, mine."
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As Ryu began mumbling there was a little dark aura present around him. It wasn't to the point of other people being scared of him, but people began to subconsciously avoid him. Zaenor's eyes widened a bit as he saw this and he mumbled, "Not good. He is slowly gaining Selina's personality. Must change it somehow. Can't let another person like her exist. By herself, she managed to corner a kingdom. If she joins forces with him...... I can't even begin to imagine what will happen. Must do something."
Meanwhile at the same time, Selina also mumbled, "Fufufu, my son is beginning to grow up. Good if he continues to mature like this, forget this kingdom we can rule the WORLD!!!! Huhuhuhu........"
As each person began to dwell in their own thoughts the Librarian was beginning to wonder if they'd ever move away from the entrance. After all they were scaring away the townsfolk from the library.
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After what seemed like an eternity, the family moved to the librarians desk. As they approached, Ryu saw the librarian and began to observe him. The Librarian was a dark skinned, think coffee color, man who was about 6 feet in height. He seemed more like a mercenary with his bulging muscles and dark tattoos. His hair was black and his eyes were a deep red color. He appeared to be about 30 years of age, older than Ryu's parents. Ryu was surprised at his appearance because it was the first time he had seen someone with such dark skin or red eyes. Some of the townsfolk were tanned but not this dark skinned. Zaenor walked up to the Librarian.
Zaenor waved his hand as he greeted the Librarian, "Yo Syra what's going on? No matter how many times I see you, you don't look like a librarian at all. "
Syra responded, "Hmm. What does that have to do with anything? Look at you. Just from outward appearance people might think that you are a young smart noble. Instead your an IDIOT, but we can't tell from your appearance can we?"
Zaenor flared up as he shouted, "You!!! Alright fine lets take this outside punk. "
Syra just sighed at Zaenor's behaviour, "Ha, say that once you've beat me little brat."
Selina tried to mediate between the two, "Alright gentlemen, calm yourselves. Honestly, you guys are like children, fighting whenever you meet."
Syra just responded, "Isn't it the same with you and her?"
Selina asked in a chilly tone, "Hmmm, I'm sorry. It seems I didn't hear what you said. Could you REPEAT that?"
Syra just snorted, Humph, Talk like that when you can beat me little girl. Go show your scary side to someone else. Anyway what do you need? This is the first time you lot have come here in a while.
Selina ignored the rebuttal to her attempt to frighten him and responded, "My darling little boy would like to get a library card. So issue one please."
Syra looked at Ryu and then scanned him as if evaluating him. Syra asked, "Hmm brat don't you want to play with the other kids? Why spend your time reading all these useless books?"
Ryu shook his head and said honestly, "No I like reading. And these books are not useless Mister. They teach me a lot. Like what kind of magical bests there are and how to tame a beast and all the different kinds of dungeons and more!!!"
Syra smiled at this response, "Looks like you didn't inherit your father's idiocy. Good job."
Zaenor bristled at the insult, "Hey!! Alright I'm going to kick your ass today. Get outside."
Syra ignores Zaenor and starts shuffling around the shelves of his desk. Papers go flying and ink spills. Syra finds what he is looking for and pulls out a card. The card is blank and completely white. Syra gestures towards Ryu, "Alright kid, give me your hand."
Syra takes Ryu's hand and suddenly using a needle breaks the king of his thumb. Ryu flinches from the sudden pain and starts to suck on his thumb. He starts glaring at Syra thinking about how to get him back. Syra looks at him and then sighs, "Kid that wasn't out of evil intentions. It's procedure for getting you a library card."
Ryu just tilts his head and asks, "Huh??"
As he stares all evil ideas fly out of his head. As he stares at Syra, Syra puts ryu's blood on the white card. There was a small flash aa the card suddenly levitates. The card drops back into Syra's hand. It's now a dark gold color with swirls of azure and weird violet designs embroidering the sides of the card. In the middle is his name, Rykor "Ryu" Zenith. There was a weird symbol underneath his name that seems like the number 4.
Syra explained what the card can do, "Kid here is your library card. This will grant you access to almost all libraries in the Northern Continent and to some even on other Continents. This symbol represents that you have tier 4 access. It's the highest I can give you for now. The tiers start at the bottom with tier 7 and go up to tier 1 being the highest. I myself am a tier 3 so if you prove yourself in the future I'll give you tier 3 access. Also this card is bound to you by blood so no one other than you can use it now. Alright??"
Ryu's eyes sparkled and he started hearing all this new information. His mind swirled as he realized he could borrow books now. Ryu just vanished as he looked for new books, "Huhuhu, Hahaha Book getting time!!!"
He sprinted towards the shelves to get some books.
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Here is your chapter for today. I might release another one today, but probably will release it tomorrow. Please do note that there will be some exposition/ information next chapter. It had to happen sometime and I prefer sooner rather than later.