Novels2Search

Ch 1 [Standing Up]

AN: So, I'm sorry for my disappearance. My reasons are all just excuses. I don't ever plan on abandoning this story though.

I've started proofreading, and putting chapters together that can fit well. We'll see how it goes.

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Some say that I should feel lucky, because a relative took pity in me and let me stay in their home, but growing up I realized it was anything but luck.

I was used like a servant. Before I was even given the chance to learn how to read, I was already a master at chores. Cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, even taking care of the animals. My aunt and uncle would make me do everything. I never hated them, but I guess I never loved them either.

It wasn't until the age of twelve that I was finally given a chance to learn, and books became my salvation. The school that I was entered into wasn't that great, but the library was my sanctuary. Other students wouldn't be able to make fun of me because we all had to be quiet. Teachers wouldn't be able to scorn nor get mad at me, because I was simply reading. And my endless curiosity was being sated, step by step.

I should probably also mention that school, while available for kids below the age of ten, was required for kids starting at the age of twelve until eighteen. So no, it wasn't my relative's good will. If this wasn't in the law, I was a hundred percent sure I would have never been able to get into school.

It was during my eighteenth year that I was finally kicked out, and I became homeless. I lived on the street, living off the kindness of random people who threw a copper or two every so often. It was during this time that I really put some thought into my life.

I never learned much about my parents. I was never able to picture them, but, I did remember one thing. My mother's warmth. I do miss them, and in my younger years I would always look at other kids who were holding the hands of their parents with jealousy, but I never hated anyone for it, and soon grew up. I 'matured' as my aunt used to call it.

My childhood, was anything but nice, and now here I am. Starving on the streets.

I don't really know what I did wrong.

It made me wonder if Fate just liked to toy around with me.

I always followed the instruction of other people.

I never complained.

I never got mad.

I put myself down , for the convenience of others.

And no, I was never rewarded. Not one single miracle happened.

It took a little over four years before I finally gave up on myself.

I gave up on the part of me that was continuously trampled on. The part that was made fun of. 

I was kind, but I am not stupid. I steeled myself to shed my personality and create a new one. A personality that would achieve what I want. A personality that would put myself before others. One that would give me happiness. One that would give me strength.

Also one, that hungered for knowledge.

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The library was a grand place. It had over 40 shelves, all lined up. Most of them, towering over the height of ten feet. The doorway was made of metal, and had multiple enchantments on it that increased its sturdiness and durability. It was there to keep burglars out, and the books in. The books also had similar enchantments, although this wasn't public knowledge. These enchantments let the library track each and every book. It also made a silent alarm in case a book was taken out of the library.

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Books in this era as you might have guessed were very well protected. Due to the dependency on Magic, the technological side of the world wasn't that well developed. Mass production of books wasn't available, and each one was hand written by authors, or re-written by scribes.

The library was the City of Wissen's pride. It showed wealth, knowledge, and wisdom. And to finalize the publicity that the library offered, any citizen can enter the library and read for free. Borrowing the book, and letting it leave the library's premises is a whole other story though. Only the truly wealthy citizens have that option, since it required an astronomical amount of money to be deposited into the library beforehand.

It was in this particular, pristine library, that something that has never been seen before, happened. A man, who seems to have swam in trash, and wore tattered, beat up clothes, entered. This particular man caught the attention of almost everyone who was nearby the entrance. After all, looks can be very misleading. They immediately saw him as someone who probably came here to steal.

It was against the library's motto though to make someone, who hasn't caused any disturbances yet, to leave, so one of the female librarian, seeing that no one else dared to, bit the inside of her cheeks as she approached the... man. She couldn't leave him alone after all, what if he did steal something?

"Welcome to the Wissen Library, how may I help you?" Said the female. Her face, blank. She's obviously a professional at her job.

"I would like the inquire about the possibility of self-studying in this library. How much would it cost?" The man had never been to the City's famous library. This wasn't without reason though, he was forbidden before by his relatives to go here. They firmly believed that with knowledge, came rebellion, so they did their best to keep him ignorant. He should have come here earlier, but... To be honest, he forgot about it.

Earlier, once he finally resolved himself to change, he stood up. Then, froze. He had no idea what to do next. He was homeless, without money, a job, or connection, how could he do anything? He thought about it for a couple minutes, and came to the conclusion that to get any of those, he first needed information. And to get that, he would probably need to ask people... That was finally when the library surfaced from his memories.

"Our library can be freely used by the Citizens of Wissen. We only have a couple of simple rules. No stealing, no noise, and no disturbances." The librarian said. Not before the people around them started to silently snicker at the 'trash' though.

"I would like to say that you'd be free to use the library yourself but..." She paused, and her eyes went from the man's head, slowly down, until it reaches his toes, and finally went back to meet his eyes.

"I'm sorry sir, but your current attire might cause a disturbance amongst the scholars who are here." This caused the man to nod. He knew how bad he looked. The things happening around him, were quite obvious to his eyes. He saw almost everything, and paid attention to every detail.

'What a vicious cycle. To get money, I need a job. To get a job, I need either connections or knowledge, but to get knowledge, I need money to fix myself up.'

After his nod, the librarian bowed slightly and excused herself. He had nothing else left to do here until he finished his next goal, since the librarian made it clear he wasn't currently welcome here.

The man finally left, and the other people in the library let out a sigh of relief. A male librarian even brought out a scented, enchanted item that refreshed the air, and once more, the quiet, majestic aura of the library returned.

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