Looking around Yuki noticed something at the far end of the room, an elderly schor sat hunched over a desk, his quill scratching softly against parchment.

  Her boots made little sound on the stone floor as she approached, her sharp gaze taking in the room's details. The schor gnced up as she neared, his eyes shrewd behind thick spectacles. His long robes, faded but clean, gave him an air of quiet authority.

  "Seeking knowledge, are you?" he asked, his voice gravelly but steady.

  “I’m looking for information about the system,” Yuki replied, her tone direct. “And anything about the world—its kingdoms, gods, or artifacts.”

  The schor straightened, his gaze appraising. “The system, you say? A rare subject for inquiry. Few seek such answers.” He said with a smile before gesturing toward the main shelves with a bony hand. “The general collection is avaible to all. However, the restricted section houses the texts you likely seek.”

  Yuki’s expression remained unreadable, though her interest sharpened. “What’s the price?”

  The schor’s lips twitched in a faint smile. “Access to the restricted section requires a fee—five gold coins. Knowledge of that caliber does not come freely.”

  Without hesitation, Yuki reached into her satchel and withdrew the required amount, pcing the coins on the desk with a soft clink. The schor scooped them up, inspecting each briefly before pocketing them. He rose from his chair, the movement slow but deliberate, and gestured for her to follow.

  They walked through the maze of shelves until they reached a heavy wooden door reinforced with iron bands. The schor produced a key from his robes and unlocked it with a satisfying click. Inside, the restricted section was smaller but densely packed. Shelves groaned under the weight of ancient tomes, their spines cracked and faded with age. Enchanted orbs floated overhead, casting a soft, steady light that banished the shadows.

  “These texts are rare,” the schor said as he stepped aside to let her enter. “Treat them with care.”

  Yuki moved toward the nearest shelf, her fingers brushing the spines of the books. The titles were written in nguages she didn’t recognize—flowing scripts and angur runes that seemed to hum faintly with tent power. She frowned, realizing the barrier before her.

  The schor watched her from the doorway, his expression thoughtful. “Can you read these?”

  “Not the local nguage,” Yuki admitted, her tone neutral.

  The old man chuckled softly and reached into his robes, producing a pair of gsses with intricate golden frames. He held them out to her. “Here. These should help.”

  Yuki took the gsses, inspecting them closely. “What are these for?”

  “They are enchanted,” he expined. “A rare artifact imbued with the [Transte Language] skill. They will allow you to read any written text, regardless of its origin. In a Language you are familiar with.”

  Yuki nodded, slipping the gsses onto her face. The lenses immediately shimmered, and the once-incomprehensible symbols on the spines of the books shifted into legible words. She tilted her head slightly, testing their effect, before returning her attention to the shelves.

  “Useful,” she murmured.

  The schor smiled faintly. “Take your time. Knowledge is a treasure worth guarding—and worth pursuing.”

  Yuki began her search with a mix of hope and skepticism, scanning the bookshelves for anything that might offer fresh insight into the system and the world beyond what she already understood. The first book she opened was about the mechanics of the system. It discussed how titles, traits, and abilities worked, but there was nothing in it that she hadn’t already encountered in her own experience. The text was dense and dry, offering few revetions. Frustrated, she set it aside and reached for another one titled Current World Powers. It seemed promising—she had a map of the local area from the monster vilge, but it was limited, mostly just showing the forest. She hoped this book would provide more.

  The map inside showed a vast continent, divided into various regions. She read the descriptions, and attempted to commit the information to memory.

  The Holy Kingdom of Lumina: Dedicated to the Goddess of Light and Healing, Lumina. Its capital, Radaspire, was a city of shining white marble and golden domes. The kingdom was known for its devout citizens and powerful clerics.

  The Empire of Drazan: A militaristic nation ruled by Emperor Kael Drazan, known for conquest and a feared army. Its capital, Ironhold, was a fortress city surrounded by high walls.

  The Sylvaran Dominion: A collection of elven encves in ancient forests, governed by a council of elder druids. Its capital, Everreach, was hidden within the rgest forest.

  The Ashen Wastes: A desote nd ravaged by volcanic activity, home to nomads and tribes. The God of Fme and Fury, Ignaros, was said to watch over this harsh region.

  The Free Cities of Orath: Independent city-states known for trade, innovation, and intrigue, each with its own culture and government.

  The Highnds of Kaelor: A rugged nd of proud cns and warrior societies. The people revered the Stormlord, a deity of strength, and held tournaments in his honor.

  The Sunken Isles: A mist-shrouded archipego, said to belong to the Sea Goddess Thassa. Few ventured there, and even fewer returned.

  As she read through the descriptions, Yuki realized there wasn’t much to learn. It was mostly what she had already guessed or heard from the adventurers. Her curiosity about the gods prompted her to pick up another book that detailed their domains and legends. The Goddess Lumina, she saw again, was revered across many nds. And the other gods—Ignaros, Thassa, and the Stormlord—were unfamiliar figures who she had not heard of before. And so the knowledge while useful was hardly groundbreaking.

  Hours passed as she worked through more texts, hoping for something that would reveal a new piece of the puzzle. But every book seemed to rehash information she already knew, offering little in the way of fresh perspective. Each text only raised more questions, making her feel more like she was going around in circles. What role did the gods actually py in the system? Why did anomalies occur—were they truly random, or was there some hidden order to them?

  The pendant in her satchel grew heavier, its presence like an unspoken weight. She kept it close, hoping it might offer answers, but it felt just as enigmatic as ever. The more she read, the more she realized that the library wasn’t providing the answers she’d hoped for.

  As the light in the library began to dim, signaling the approach of evening, she closed the final book and looked up. The schor appeared in the doorway, his expression patient. “Find what you were looking for?” he asked, his voice carrying a note of quiet satisfaction.

  “Pieces of it,” Yuki replied, her voice ft. “Wish there was more, though.”

  The schor nodded wisely. “There always is. Knowledge is a journey, not a destination.”

  Yuki stood up, returning the enchanted gsses to him. “Keep the fee. I may come back.”

  “Do so,” he said, tucking the gsses into his robes. “The doors of the library are always open to those who seek the truth.”

  With a final gnce at the shelves, Yuki turned and walked out of the library. The cool evening air greeted her as she stepped into the street, but her thoughts were far from clear. What an odd man, she thought to herself as she walked. The library had been disappointing. She hadn’t found anything new, just some minor details that expanded on things she already knew and information on some of the countries she might never even go to. The pendant at her side felt warm against her skin, almost as if urging her onward, Yuki hummed to herself as she thought about where else she could possibility find some more information. Yuki expected the Library of all pces to have some info but that didn't appear to be true maybe i should go to some magic reted shops? she thought to herself before her thoughts drifted back to her travel towards the city I could check the adventures guild? In most stories i've seen the adventurers guild is usually one of the best sources of information however Yuki wasn't to sure how an organization of monster killers and protectors could be get sources of information. But it wasn't like she had a better idea. I'll check that tomorrow its getting rather te.