Professor Gemstone the bookworm? part 2 (16)

History, economics, geography, medieval level of sciences, literature, etiquette... Ezera had his work cut out for him, he thought miserably. All of those sounded quite a lot like all-nighters, really.

Well, nothing that actually discouraged him. He had a very, very good memory of which he was proud of, and it wasn't for nothing that he'd gotten a job as titular teacher immediately after getting his teaching certificate : he was a genius.

In other words, apart from the loss of his future beauty sleep, there would be no difficulty with absorbing an entire world of knowledge in a couple nights.

As soon as he entered the library, he became aware of another heavy presence in the room – at least to him. He ignored the Count who played the part of the very focused reader on the left and made his way directly up to the shelves that interested him. History first.

He took the first book he saw and started reading. What should first become apparent about a nation was its birth, whether it be through the alliance of barbaric peoples or mythology and legends. With little to no surprise, what he found first was a good old legend about the blessing of a god who protected unfertile lands from being overtaken by war and monsters, whatever 'discord' was supposed to mean in this context, and then gave them the power to make things grow, the appearance of Graces.

But didn't the Graces come from the three suns? What was it about god handgiving gifts of the sky like God who gave Adam and Eve their tears?

This made no sense. He picked the second book. This one explained how Luversten became Luversten instead of whatever it had been before. The third was the same. Much of the contents were linked as though... As though...

Isn't it just a big attempt at propaganda?

He closed the books, sighing. He should probably ask the Queen herself at this point. He went through a few other shelves like this, but there seemed either to have very few literary texts, or they all burned somehow.

Did no researcher actually publish books? This all seemed to have been written by people from the Church. No wonder Ezera had disliked this Hortensius at first glance!

But why did he need so much propaganda? Who, in the palace, needed to be fed that? Not the servants, they were adults and they didn't need it, he heard. Royalty probably learnt from personal tutors as well.

...Ezera decided to hold his thoughts for later.

The only maps he could find were that of Luversten. It was saddening.

"Do other kingdoms even exist or did they all get wiped out somehow?" he swore under his breath.

It was a possibility, but even so their past history should be accurately recorded at the very least.

"They are others."

Ezera did not flinch. Contrary to what one might expect, he had not forgotten about the other's presence in the library. He had simply been adequately focused on his own reading. Which was admittedly next to uninteresting.

"What? Other countries?"

"...Yes."

"And where do I find information on these other countries?"

He turned, meeting Count Iliya's profond irises full of northern lights, intense.

"You won't find any. However, some of your friends might be agreeable to teaching you about it."

That was actually a great idea. He should ask Dereck.

"What about you? Would you tell me as well, if I asked questions?"

A surprised glint lit up between blue and purple in Iliya's eyes.

"Ask away."

Ezera smirked.

"Do you know where Graces come from?"

What is the name of this continent?

When did magic as a language appear?

How were the civilizations formed?

What battles were the most memorable in history?

Why are there gods if the sources of all are the suns?

When did the Church appear in History?

Were they ever any war vehiculed by a conflict of religion?

... ...

...What is the Apocalypse?

By the time an hour had passed, Ilya had not beel able to answer all those questions. Instead, he was frowning heavily.

"Perhaps you should write these down," he advised.

Ezera laughed.

"I guess it is a lot. Will you prepare a lesson plan for me or simply write the answers?"

The glance Ilya sent him made his thoughts clear: "aren't you the teacher?" He turned away, ready to retire.

"I will write."

"Then I look forward to it."

To his light tone, Ilya tensed for a second, before his shoulders dropped slowly and he disappeared by the library's entrance.

By the time he was gone, Ezera was made aware that he had become overly familiar, perhaps. Had he let his guard down?

He smiled behind his palm. No. He wouldn't have. That person seemed most singular indeed. And the narrowing of the blue-purple eyes had lessened the more they had spoken.

Perhaps the both of them were more amenable to each other's presence than they had thought. Perhaps it was because they had slain a beast together, who would know?

Only time would tell.

"Professor?"

Ezera turned and smiled at Dereck, who was standing where Ilya had just disappeared. He was looking at him strangely.

"Yes, what is it?"

"Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

Ezera frowned, confused. Then, agitatedly, he took a look at his pocket watch. Oh. It was late.

"My apologies, let me just..."

Ezera fumbled through all the books he had opened to put them back in their stead. He did so fairly quickly, but before he left to join the knight, he caught the sight of an old book that he hadn't noticed adorned the undershelves of the arrayal section.

He only hesitated for a second before he slipped the book under his jacket and half walked half ran to get to his friend.

"What were you still doing in there? The suns have been gone for quite some time."

"I was researching and lost track of time. Thank you for checking on me."

They walked in silence for a moment. Curious, Ezera raised his gaze to glance at the other, only he found Dereck contemplating him, thoughtful.

"What is it?"

"Nothing. I was simply thinking that you really were a dedicated teacher."

Ah. Ezera smiled.

"Of course," he said, turning to look at the decreasing moon in the night sky. "It's what I owe them. They are the light of my life."

It was Dereck's turn to be curious. Ezera could feel his questioning gaze upon him. He ignored it. Thankfully, Dereck did not ask. Ezera was grateful.

"Say," he changed the subject. "Do you have any History book from your childhood?"

He still wanted to understand how this obscurantism came to be. Perhaps Dereck could help him?