13 Reading 'People' And Books

-1st person-

509 years later,

[How to read people.

This book is essentially a guide to reading people that you would come across in your day-to-day life. And before this book continues, we will remind you that there is no essential and foolproof way to read someone. This will only allow you to have a larger chance than others for noticing what someone is thinking.]

I stared intently at a relatively short book titled [How to read people like a book] as I carefully and slowly scanned the book repeatedly, engraving it's teachings into my cerebral cortex.

This was a book I had found whilst I was looking in the psychology area, which included not only humans, but various other species too. For example, the Dellatipes and the Wyrinkons. And it included a basic guide to their psychology and emotions whilst also telling us how to manipulate them to our will.

Not that I'd do that though...

Right now, I am teaching myself how not to be manipulated because who knows what might happen if I allow myself to be manipulated. I'd essentially turn into a human killing machine or something. However, for the opposite though...

I was on the verge of being able to recite this book by heart without any gaps to think and after that, I'd practice putting it into action because what is information for if you can't use it properly?

Only one more page and I'll be done.

"Done!" I yelled, loud enough for the room to darken considerably and for another voice to emerge.

"What's done, Ray?" A gentle, soft voice reverberated within the room as I stared at nowhere in particular and spoke familiarly.

"I finally finished this book."

"Hmm? I thought you'd already finished it around 36 times?"

"I was memorizing it, and what I meant to say is that I finally finished memorizing it."

"Ah, so that's what you meant."

"Yep. So... I want to try and put this into practical experience!"

"And how would you do that with only 2 people here?"

"I'm going to try to read you! Isn't it obvious at this point?"

If I get experience by reading Eris, then I would basically be set in the future. Excluding the fact that I'd be getting used to Eris' habits and would eventually think that it's the patterns of everyone around me... I might have to ask Eris to bring people in here or try to [Create Figures] with different body language. I wonder how it'll work...

Eris spoke, "We could try that but I guess you'd also know the disadvantages of that."

"Well, you could just [Create Figures] or bring people in here."

"If I do the former, then it would be even more time-consuming and frustrating than the latter, which would take time to even convince said person. However, we could bring someone without them knowing and just leave them here. All they would think is that they teleported in someone's house."

"Ah... I guess so."

---

600 years later,

I guess a lot of time has passed. I've even lost track of how many years it's been and what's even stranger is the fact that I don't care about it. It's like going somewhere for something but getting sidetracked and spending way longer than intended.

I did finish the practise but it was too difficult to make a habit so I just left it at that.

I looked at Eris, then at a book. It was a day when focusing was particularly difficult.

However, I forced myself to focus on a book. I read it carefully and also read other books too. There were books on fishing, knots, computers, and so on. What the hell are Plardaines anyway? This book says that they were obliterated and then recreated later on and that's it.

A book on making tents. So that's how you make them...

A book on using an... Urumi? Huh. What's that? I carefully looked through the book and then went to the garden, asking Eris for an Urumi.

A whip-like blade appeared in my hand and I stared at it closely. Then, I slashed with it and my right arm was cut off.

"Ugh."

It didn't hurt much since it was cut off in an instant but the pain came shortly after. It hurt a lot.

However, soon Eris came and She healed my arm. Then I kept trying to use an urumi, constantly slashing the same slash and modifying it until I wasn't cut. I also read the book and followed its advice.

And within 9 months, I could use it properly. Then, within 3 years after that, I could use it proficiently. Then within 12 months after that, I could use it as if it was a part of my body.

Slashing differently came easy after that and soon the urumi became a part of me. It was a nice weapon but I can't say I like it too much. Then, I picked up a catalyst and used that till it became a part of my body. And I kept using it after that.

Then, I had Eris create a bunch of different types of catalysts for me to use and it took a few years for me to get used to all of them.

It was a fun practise but I soon had to go back and carry on with my reading.

There was also a book on dragons.

[Dragons are superior creatures on all planets. They rule the sky and the land and sometimes, also the life forms.

Dragons are blessed by mana and have no need to actually try to use it since mana moves according to their thoughts. The situation is slightly different for halflings. Halflings need a little more concentration to use their power and are also less connected with their dragon side. Mainly, their mana control depends highly on their luck and bloodline purity. And usually they take on the characteristics of the other species they were born of. There will be one telltale sign though, the pupils.

If a human on Earth has vertical pupils, then they are a half-dragon, or a dragon that has polymorphed to their human form. That can be told from their proficiency in mana and also how they act.

Other species will automatically bow down and defend an actual dragon in any situation whilst if it was a halfling, the other species will simply listen to their will if told clearly or they just can't hurt the halfling in most situations.

These situations do not apply to constellations or higher existences, however, the most powerful dragon is said to be able to make at least weaker constellations bow down.]

"Huh... How interesting. It also says that dragons and halflings have a certain presence that makes it impossible not to notice them unless they don't want to be noticed... If I find a good dragon or halfling, I could turn them into bait..." I mumbled in a regular voice.

"Yeah, you could. I once used a dragon as bait and it worked swimmingly. The enemy was too focused on catching the dragon that they didn't even notice me behind them, this was when I had to kill a constellation but I didn't want to finish it easily." Eris replied.

Oh wow... Amazing.