19 Sarah

"Welcome, Sir..." Sarah quickly rose from her chair and greeted Andrew.

[Eh? How is he so weak?] she looked at Andrew weirdly.

[He seems like a first or second year, how could he have the necessary qualifications to enter this place? Maybe there was a mistake?] she thought.

"Sir, may I inspect your badge for a second?" she asked politely.

"Eh? S-sure." her question snapped Andrew from his confusion as he handed his badge to Sarah. She took it and pitch black patterns started appearing on her hand.

[Full access? No, this can't be right. Only the highest echelons of our city can have this kind of access. Ah shit...] she hurriedly handed the badge back to Andrew as she bowed.

"I am very sorry, sir. I though there might have been a problem with the detection formation outside. I meant no offense." she apologized quickly as she handed the badge back to Andrew.

"Yeah..." Andrew was still a bit dazed. "I mean, it's fine, no offense taken." he said as he took the badge back.

"Why do you call me sir?" he asked without thinking.

"Eh? I am not sure I understand the question. Sir must have a very high status in order to have this kind of access. It is only natural for someone like me to address you with respect." she responded quickly as a trace of doubt flashed through her eyes.

"I understand...May I know your name?" he asked, forgetting he even had a skill called Inspect.

"I am Sarah Harris, sir." she responded politely.

"Nice to meet you. You can call me Andrew, forget about the sir thing." he smiled.

"Just Andrew..?" she asked before shutting her mouth.

[Ah, how could I ask that? He might not want to disclose his true name. And here I am questioning him. I hope he doesn't put it to heart.] she thought as she looked at Andrew.

"Just Andrew...Where I am from, we don't really have family names." he said slowly.

"I understand, sorry for my inappropriate question."

"Haha, no need to apologize." Andrew replied.

[This guy seems pretty nice. If only all those geezers who take offense in every small thing would be like him...] she thought.

"Ok so, how does this work?" Andrew looked at the platform in the middle and asked.

"Eh, is this your first time here?" Sarah asked surprised.

"Yeah. It would be greatly appreciated if you could guide me through the process." Andrew smiled at her as he said.

"Ah.." she was dazed for a moment as she looked at Andrew's pure smile.

[He seems really nice..]

"Erm, please?" Andrew asked her again as he she wasn't moving at all.

"Oh, I'm very sorry. Yeah, I can show you how this works." she shook her head as if to snap out from her thoughts.

[What am I thinking now? Haha, I'm just like a small girl, blushing at a boy's action. It seems I haven't had some fun in a while. I wonder if Silviu is free tonight. I should pay him a visit.] she thought as she turned towards the small platform in the room.

"You just need to put your hand on the platform and think about what you would like to know. The platform would present the best books you could read about the thing you want. Once you choose one, the book would appear on the platform. After you are finished, you just need to put the book on the platform and ask for another one. The finished one will be taken back while a new one will appear. Also, the chair might look simple, but it has quite a few formations hidden on it such as meditation formations, comfort enhancement, emotion dispersing formations etc. You can also activate or deactivate them from the platform." Sarah explained.

"Alright, thanks a lot." Andrew thanked her as he walked to the chair.

"Wait a moment! One more thing, in order to ensure privacy, once the chair is touched, an illusion formation would be activate. Anyone outside of the formation would not be able to see what is happening on the inside, but you will be able to see everything on the outside just fine." she quickly explained.

"I understand, thanks." he said as he sat down in the chair. As soon as he touched the chair, light seemed to distort as a bubble appeared around him. Sarah couldn't see him anymore, but he could see her.

"Hmm, ah right!" Andrew suddenly remember something.

[Inspect]

[Name: Sarah Harris

Age: 21

Level: 37

Occupation: Musician

Elemental Affinity: Darkness(Extraordinary), Space(Low+), Fire(Negligible)

Mana Root Grade: 9

Mana control Level: 39

Ability: Spatial Mark (Able to leave nine marks to which she can teleport at will. Currently marked target: Vice-Headmaster Rodran)

An orphan who was taken in by one of the Vice-Headmasters of the Academy. She graduated last year and is now working as a librarian. She is using this as a way to read books way above her access level.]

[Wow I can see the advantages of having a level 3 inspect skill rather than level 1.]

[She's a Musician huh, I really wonder how she looks like when singing.] He asked himself in a daze before shaking his head.

[What am I thinking... Anyway, let's see how this thing works.] He thought as he placed his palm on the platform.

A light burst out from the platform as a holographic screen containing the names all kinds of books appeared in front of him.

"Ok so, I should start with...arrays. Um, do you have any books on arrays?" he asked. He was then surprised to see the screen change and new information appeared on it.

"I'll start with the first one, Array Theory for Beginners." he said as the screen distorted and a book appeared in the air above Andrew.

[Wow, this is actually really cool.] he thought as he grabbed the book.

[Ok System, it's your turn now.] he said in his mind.

[Affirmative, host. Information processing initiated...]

[Translation initiated...]

[Congratulation, host! You have learned Array Theory for Beginners.] After a bit more than a minute the System said to Andrew. Andrew's eyes flickered with all kinds of information.

[Yes...I see now, I understand. So, in essence, arrays are just smart applications of mana in order to produce a result with higher efficiency. This is just...amazing.] He almost laughed.

"Let's continue..." his eyes shined as he switched the book.

By the tenth book, he asked the System if the process to ask for another book could be automatized and the answer startled Andrew.

[Affirmative. Host can grant the System permission to control host's body. In that way host can spend all the time understanding the new information.] the System replied.

[Do that.] Andrew replied without hesitation. He was already annoyed that he had to stop his train of thought to get another book.

[Also, stop at 500 books. Otherwise, someone might believe that I died in here.] he added.

[Understood. Switching to autopilot.] And so, Andrew became engrossed in all the new information his brain was receiving. It was a wonderful feeling, not like the first time he tried something like this and fainted. The information he was receiving right now seemed to be going along a rapid stream, not like the first time, when he felt like an ocean of information has been dumped on him. It seems he found a loophole in the System. Or was it because his Intelligence increased? Or because he leveled up? He didn't care at this point as the feeling was too marvelous.

By the 12th book, the System sent him a message but he didn't pay it any attention as he was sorting the information in his mind.

[Intelligence+1]

By the 26th book, the same message was received.

[Intelligence+1]

By the 51st book, another message accompanied the already usual one.

[Intelligence+1]

[Congratulations, host! You have achieved the Adept proficiency as an Array Master!]

[Wisdom+1]

...

[Intelligence+1]

[Congratulations, host! You have achieved the Veteran proficiency as an Array Master!]

[Wisdom+1]

...

By the 463rd book, the message changed once more.

[Intelligence+1]

[Mana Control+1]

[Congratulations, host! You have achieved the Peak proficiency as an Array Master! Further improvement can only be achieved after host breaks through Core Formation.]

[Wisdom+2]

...

[Switching off autopilot.]

As Andrew regained control of his body, he was snapped out of that amazing state.

[Eh? What's with all of this messages? System?] he asked, still in a daze.

[During the infusion of information, host has gained 9 points in the Intelligence stat along with 4 points in the Wisdom stat. Mana Control level has been increased by 1.Host has also reached the Peak proficiency as an Array Master. Further improvement can only be achieved after host breaks through Core Formation.]

[Ah, I see. Better leave that to later, I still need time to digest all these new things.] Andrew said as he massaged his aching temples. He looked up only to see Sarah sleeping with her head on her desk, her hair a bit messy.

[Cute...] she looked at her before frowning and shaking his head.

[What are these thoughts...Anyway.]

"Ahem!" he coughed loudly.

"Eh...what? What?" she jumped from her seat confused.

"Oh I am sorry, I must have dozed off. Are you finished?" she asked still half-asleep.

"Yeah, I'll probably come tomorrow as well though." Andrew replied.

"Tomorrow? One moment please." she waved her hand and a holographic screen appeared in front of her.

"Unfortunately, you can't come tomorrow. The heir of the Aminian Family has booked this place for the whole day." she looked at Andrew apologetically.

"Oh? I didn't know you needed to book in advance." Andrew replied surprised.

"Usually not many people have the necessary access to reach this place so you don't really need to book. But tomorrow is already taken, do you want to come at a later date?" she asked checking the screen in front of her.

"Are there any other bookings in the next days?"

"Hmmm, there is a booking after a week made by Vice-Headmaster Vaugh."

"Ok then, can I book the whole week until then?" Andrew asked expectantly.

"Of course, I'll...eh? The whole week?" she looked at Andrew surprised.

"Yeah, is that a problem?"

"No no, not at all. It's just that people usually go to the lower floors if it's something that requires more time..."

"Do the other floors have a platform like this one?" Andrew asked thoughtfully. In truth, the platform was his only requirement.

"No, they don't. The other floors are just like normal libraries."

"Then a week it is." he replied without hesitation. It would be pretty weird if people saw him mechanically getting books for hours and then putting them back after a few minutes.

"S-sure. I am booking it now for you." she replied.

"Thanks a lot, Sarah. Nice shirt by the way." Andrew smiled as he walked out of the room.

"Y-you too!" she said quickly.

[You too...what is wrong with me? Am I dumb? That was really embarrassing.] she thought as she looked at her shirt which now had a big saliva stain on it.

[Ah...I get it.] she stayed there for a second.

[That makes it even more embarrassing!!] she screamed in her mind.

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