Maya then led the way through the bustling streets until we reached a grand building with tall, arched windows and an ornate sign that read "The Braenor Library." Inside, the library was vast and filled with towering shelves of books and scrolls, the air rich with the scent of parchment and ink.

She gestured to a cozy reading nook by a window. "This is the perfect spot. What would you like to know about the System, Everett?"

“I don't know anything really.” I explained. “Earlier I heard reference to pre-system. What is pre-system?”

Maya settled into a chair across from me, her expression thoughtful. "Pre-system, huh? That's a good place to start," she said, her voice gentle yet enthusiastic. "The term 'pre-system' refers to the time before the current structure of our world was established. It's a bit of a complex topic, but I'll do my best to explain."

She reached for a thick, leather-bound book titled "The Chronicles of Transition," flipping it open to a bookmarked page. "In the pre-system era, the universe was primarily driven by science and technology. Whoever could extract the best resources and wield the most knowledge held the power. It was a time of rapid advancement and fierce competition."

Maya paused, looking up to make sure I was following. "Then, everything changed with the arrival of the dragons. Their appearance marked the beginning of the System era. The dragons brought with them powerful magic and a new way of organizing the universe. Their influence reshaped societies and established a new order."

She pointed to an illustration in the book depicting majestic dragons soaring above a technologically advanced city. "The dragons introduced a set of rules and structures to govern everything, blending their magic with the existing technology. This System was designed to bring order and balance, ensuring that both magic and technology could coexist harmoniously."

Closing the book, Maya leaned back with a smile. "So, in short, the pre-system era was dominated by science and technology, and the System, brought by the dragons, integrated magic into the mix, creating the world as we know it today."

She looked at me, her eyes curious. "Is there anything specific you'd like to know more about? The System covers a lot of ground, from magical laws to transportation methods."

This info she was giving me about dragons was kind of blowing my mind. “Where did the dragons come from?”

Maya's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Where did the dragons come from? That's one of the biggest mysteries of our world," she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "The truth is, no one really knows—not even the dragons themselves."

She flipped through the book to a page filled with ancient, intricate illustrations of dragons in various forms. "When the dragons arrived in our universe, they had lost most of their memories. They don't remember their origin or what their world was like before. What they do know is that they were running from something—something powerful and dangerous enough to force them to flee their home."

Maya leaned closer, her voice filled with intrigue. "Some believe that whatever they were running from might still be out there, somewhere in the cosmos. Others think it might be a story they created to explain their sudden appearance. Either way, their arrival changed everything."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

She closed the book gently, looking at me with a mix of excitement and seriousness. "The dragons' past is shrouded in mystery, but their influence on our world is undeniable. The System they brought with them has shaped our reality in profound ways. Who knows? Maybe one day, we'll uncover more about where they came from and what they were escaping."

“I actually have a dragon egg in my spatial inventory that I know next to nothing about. How rare are these things?” I queried.

Maya's eyes widened in shock and amazement when I mentioned the dragon egg. "You have a dragon egg in your spatial inventory?" she whispered, her voice a mix of awe and concern. "That's incredibly rare and dangerous! You have no idea what you're holding!"

She leaned in, her expression serious. "Dragon eggs are almost mythical at this point. The tensions between sapients in the universe and the dragons eventually boiled over, leading to a massive war that spanned nearly a thousand years. The war was devastating, and in the end, our side emerged victorious, but at a great cost. The dragons are now nearly extinct because of it."

Maya glanced around, making sure no one was listening. "Dragon eggs were hunted to near extinction during the war because of the immense power they represented. To have one is not only incredibly rare but also extremely dangerous. If anyone finds out you have it, it could bring a lot of unwanted attention."

She looked back at me, her eyes filled with a mix of admiration and worry. "You need to be very careful with that egg, Everett. If it actually hatched for you your life would change immensely, for better or worse. Do you know anything about its history or what kind of dragon it might hatch into?"

Her playful demeanor had shifted to one of earnest concern, the gravity of the situation sinking in. "This is something you can't take lightly. If you want, I can help you find more information about it. The library has some ancient texts that might give us clues about its origins and what you should do next."

Curiosity about my own peculiar situation in the System sparked within me, compelling me to voice another burning question. "I'm also curious about how leveling works here," I mentioned, feeling the need to understand the nuances of my unique circumstances better. "Especially since my journey through the levels seems... unconventional."

Maya's eyebrows shot up, intrigued. "What exactly is your situation?" she asked, her voice rich with curiosity.

"Well, I leveled up to 10 but was capped there, and I received an evolved rare class along the way at level 3. Later, I received a second evolution when I won the tournament," I explained, trying to piece together the puzzle myself.

Stopping in her tracks, Maya looked at me with evident surprise. "Two evolutions like that, especially through a tournament? That’s highly unusual," she said thoughtfully. "The essences needed to power such evolutions are exceedingly rare—rare enough that some people indenture themselves to factions or risk their lives in deadly tournaments just for a shot at evolution." She paused, then added, "Your case is definitely extraordinary. We should find some literature on that as well."

As we walked towards another section of the library, carrying the book on dragons, Maya playfully pouted. "With all this reading on our agenda, we'll hardly have time for any fun," she lamented, her tone making her disappointment more charming than genuine.

"Sure, but I really need to understand all this stuff. Right now, I'm basically a caveman trying to catch up," I replied with more seriousness than I wished.

Brightening up, Maya proposed, "I have a great idea! How about I read one book and give you the rundown while you delve into the other in detail?"

I gave her a skeptical look. "How does that help me? I need the information, not just a summary."

Acting aghast, Maya placed a hand over her heart. "I am an excellent summarizer, and I know most of this already. It'll be fast and effective, I promise."

Reluctantly, I agreed, "Alright, I'll take the dragon book. Please take this seriously, though. I still need that leveling information."

With mock seriousness, Maya saluted. "Grinder's honor."