The Library of St. Sophia

Meanwhile, in Kyiv, the incredible speed of the young prince's recovery became the subject of much discussion. The healers and herbalists were in shock. Just recently, the prince had been lying covered in blood, and now half of his wounds had already healed, and he was awake and even able to walk.

- This is simply unthinkable, - said the chief healer Myroslav, astonished as he observed how the prince's serious wounds were nearly closed

- In all my years, I've never seen anything like this

- The young prince is truly chosen by God, - added the senior herbalist Sviatomyr, equally shocked and delighted. - No one else has visited him except us. The strength and endurance of the prince's body are extraordinary. I heard that he loved training intensely, but to have a body like this… it's truly astounding

After the healer and herbalist had left, Oleksandr once again immersed himself in his thoughts. While the council was being held in the next room, he used the time to delve deeper into the memories of the previous owner of this body.

Oleksandr, the sixth son of Yaroslav the Wise, had been a military genius. By the age of twenty, he had mastered numerous sword techniques and demonstrated incredible skill in archery.

He trained relentlessly, hardening his body through hours of practice, but he didn't neglect his studies either. He had knowledge of various sciences, crafts, and even a couple of languages. However, despite his versatility, political intrigue and diplomacy had never interested him.

With each passing hour, Alexander felt more and more like the true owner of this body and a part of this era. The initial shock and uncertainty caused by his arrival in this time were gradually giving way to resilience and determination.

If at first he had been confused and unsure of how to proceed, now, after fully merging with the consciousness of the body's previous owner, Alexander had gained confidence and a firm will to act.

These changes were so natural that it seemed as though he had always been this way. Alexander was somewhat frightened by such sudden transformations, but after reflecting on them, he concluded that perhaps it was for the best.

Now, instead of the indecisive man from the future, he had become a confident and unwavering prince, combining nobility, strength, and intellect.

He no longer needed to adapt to the conditions, customs, and everything else in this era, as it had already become part of the natural order for him. He knew this time, its laws and traditions, as though he had lived in it his entire life.

He even began to think that perhaps all of this was truly God's will. Though he had never been deeply religious, the miracles surrounding him made it impossible to deny the existence of divine intervention.

He lay on a wooden bed in his room, listening to the sounds coming from beyond the walls. What he had once thought of as history had now become his reality.

On the table beside him lay the book - the very same one he had held before his transition. It looked exactly as it had when he first read it. But now, the book filled him with a strange sense of unease. Slowly, he flipped through its pages, trying to find anything that might explain why and how he had ended up here.

- If I'm here because of this book, - he thought, - then it must contain the answer. Or at least a clue

He read chapters about culture, governance, and warfare in the medieval era. Everything he had once considered theory could now become his only weapon. In the end, he found no direct clue but came across information he could use to form his plans.

Immediately, he began drafting a plan, step by step, carefully considering how to act. He remembered that this was the Golden Age of Kievan Rus', giving him, one might say, the perfect starting point - aside from cunning boyars, treacherous Cumans and Pechenegs, and other threats yet to be discovered.

The first and foremost goal in his plan was a single word: survive.

Next came strengthening the army and defenses, developing trade and the economy, and then, once all of this was firmly established, focusing on diplomacy and conquest.

Alexander was confident that with a professional army, powerful siege engines, and reliable fortifications, no boyar would be able to challenge him. And neighboring states, seeing his strength, would think twice before attacking.

The army and economy would develop together, each supporting the other. A robust trade and economy would not only sustain the army but also improve the lives of ordinary people.

Alexander could hardly imagine how common folk lived in these medieval conditions - in dampness, cold, with barely glowing fires in their hearths, and with modest, often meager food. Even in the prince's chambers, he felt uncomfortable as a modern man: the dim lighting, lack of cleanliness, and uncomfortable bed.

- How do the peasants manage? But they've lived like this for centuries, - he thought

This thought filled him with a strange mix of pity and determination.

- Let's start small and change not only my life but theirs as well

With every point added to his plan, Alexander felt his confidence grow. He knew that changes would not come quickly, but step by step, he would build a Kievan Rus' capable not just of surviving but thriving.

By the second day, he already felt significantly better. His body still ached, but he could walk normally. Sitting in his chambers all day was both boring and unproductive - he could use this time for something more valuable.

He remembered that the St. Sophia Cathedral housed a great library full of useful knowledge. While he had inherited the memories of the body's previous owner, they were clearly insufficient.

Most of the knowledge pertained to military matters rather than governance or other sciences. This was why he needed to fill these gaps by reading the works of this era, ensuring that his innovations would not be too far ahead of their time, as such knowledge would surely confuse people.

Exiting his room, Alexander immediately noticed that the prince's palace was bustling with activity. Everyone was hurrying about, preparing for the coronation. At the doors stood Stanislav's loyal guards Mstyslav and Myrnomyr. Seeing the prince, they bowed briefly and greeted him.

- Good morning, Your Grace! - said Mstyslav, straightening his shoulders.

- Good morning to you as well, - Alexander nodded to them and looked around.

Servants scurried down the corridors, carrying fabrics, goblets, and scrolls. Heralds loudly issued commands, passing them from one to another. Alexander noticed a familiar face in the crowd.

Stanislav was energetically discussing something with another man and several senior guards. That man, Alexander realized, was Oleg, the head of his father Yaroslav's administration - if his memory served him right.

A little farther down, he saw Metropolitan Illarion surrounded by priests, leaving the palace and heading toward St. Sophia Cathedral.

Everyone was absorbed in the preparations for the ceremony, and this worked to Alexander's advantage. He quickly realized that now was the perfect moment to slip away to the library. Waving to his guards, he signaled them to follow, and headed toward the cathedral, relying on the memories of the library's location.

Along the way, he passed servants and guards busy with their tasks. Many bowed upon seeing the prince but quickly returned to their duties, not pausing to linger.

Before long, they reached the cathedral and entered. The dim stone walls, illuminated by torches, seemed alive and almost speaking, their echoes filling the space with the soft sound of footsteps.

Alexander confidently made his way toward the library, and soon the doors appeared before him. Two guards were stationed outside, assigned to protect the valuable knowledge within. One of them, recognizing Alexander, smiled and nodded respectfully.

- Glad to see you on your feet, Your Grace, - the guard greeted him.

- Thank you. I'll be in the library, - Alexander replied briefly, gesturing for his guards to remain outside.

- Very well, Your Grace, - said Mstyslav, exchanging a glance with Myrnomyr. They remained at the doors with the other guards, not entering.

Alexander wasted no time and stepped through the threshold of the library.

When he entered, he was struck with a sense of reverence. The walls were lined with shelves filled with birch-bark manuscripts, parchment scrolls, and richly decorated books.

The air was filled with the scent of old paper, wax, and incense. This place, he realized, was a true treasure trove - the legacy of Yaroslav's wisdom.

- Beautiful. Now I need to find useful books, - Alexander said with a hint of admiration as he looked around.

He carefully walked between the shelves, quickly skimming the titles. Monks copying books only briefly glanced at him but didn't ask any questions. His goal was clear: to study everything he could, starting with the laws, culture, military affairs, and diplomacy of this time.

- Archaeology didn't preserve much for us, - he thought as he flipped through ancient texts. - So much fascinating knowledge

Alexander sat down at one of the wooden tables, illuminated by the faint light of an oil lamp. The soft glow of the flame created a cozy twilight around him, making each page come alive.

Immersed in reading, he completely forgot about what was happening around him. Every line, every word revealed new ideas that could form the foundation of his plans.

He was surprised to realize that he could understand nearly all the texts. Thanks to the memories of the body's previous owner, he knew Old Slavic, Greek, Latin, and even some Arabic.

Additionally, his own modern knowledge included English, German, and French. Such linguistic skills allowed him to fully dive into the ancient texts.

However, he soon realized that time was critically short, and the amount of information he needed to study was overwhelming. Every scroll, every book or document could contain key data that would significantly ease the implementation of his plans.

The day flew by unnoticed. Soon, it was lunchtime, and then evening. Mstyslav and Myrnomyr, his loyal guards, had twice reminded the prince that he was skipping meals. But Alexander didn't care; he didn't feel hungry, so he asked only for a light dinner to be prepared and left in his chambers.

When he finally finished reading one of the scrolls, evening had already turned into night. Alexander realized that he had done enough for the day. Sighing heavily, he turned to the senior librarian nearby.

- I'll take a few books and scrolls to my chambers. Is that possible? - Alexander's voice was calm but firm.

- Of course, Your Grace. But please, return them as soon as you're done reading, - the librarian replied respectfully, bowing slightly.

- Certainly. That's not up for debate, - Alexander assured him and then called to his guards. - Mstyslav, Myrnomyr, help me

The guards immediately responded, quickly approaching the prince. They had thought something had happened, but upon seeing that he was fine, they relaxed.

- Yes, Your Grace? - Mstyslav asked, glancing around as if expecting danger.

- Don't worry, everything is fine. I called you to help me carry these books. These stacks will go with me, - Alexander pointed to several books and scrolls.

- Handle this book carefully; it's already fragile. And this, - he gestured to a pile of birch-bark manuscripts, - don't lose them. They contain important records about land management.

Mstyslav and Myrnomyr exchanged glances and, without further questions, got to work. One carefully took the old folio, while the other gently stacked the scrolls. Alexander picked up a box of writing supplies and led the way to the exit.

Before long, all the books and scrolls were in his chambers. Wasting no time, Alexander began to eat his dinner while reading one of the scrolls. Looking at his meal, he decided he would definitely work on improving both the variety and quantity of food.

The table and floor of the room soon became covered with scrolls and scattered pages. Some books he flipped through quickly, searching for important details, while others he read slowly and thoroughly.

Meanwhile, Stanislav decided to check on the young prince. He had been informed that Alexander's recovery was progressing remarkably fast. He had even visited the library and spent the entire day immersed in books.

Despite the bustle of preparations for the coronation, Stanislav found time to visit Alexander. As the head of the retinue and a loyal advisor, he considered it his duty not only to protect the prince but also to monitor his health. This was not just an obligation but part of his oath.

When Stanislav approached the prince's doors in the evening, he was met by the guards on duty - Sviatomyr and Volodymyr, who had replaced Mstyslav and Myrnomyr for the night shift. They immediately saluted him.

- Commander Stanislav, we salute you

- How is the prince? - Stanislav asked with interest.

- Prince Oleksandr still hasn't rested, - Sviatomyr replied, then added, - He's too engrossed in books, not tearing himself away for a moment

- Yes, he's reading as if trying to comprehend in one evening everything that the great prince Yaroslav gathered over years, - Volodymyr added with a slight smile.

- I see, - Stanislav nodded and decided not to disturb the prince.

He paused for a moment, reflecting. He was surprised that Alexander, previously known only for his interest in military affairs and constant training, had suddenly taken to studying books and scrolls.

Perhaps the attack and the death of his brothers had changed him? Or had becoming the Grand Prince made him reevaluate his priorities? If so, Alexander might follow in the footsteps of his father, Yaroslav the Wise.

- But why does he need this knowledge? For action or for appearances? - the thought crossed Stanislav's mind. In any case, he knew he would find out soon enough.

He simply nodded to the guards, gave Volodymyr an approving pat on the shoulder, and walked away. He knew that all hidden truths would eventually come to light - it was only a matter of time.

Deep down, however, he held onto the hope that the young prince could become not only a strong ruler but also the wise leader Kyiv Rus' so desperately needed.