Chapter 16 - A Week of Learning

The following week passed by in a blur for Seraphina. Each day was a repetition of the last, and nothing new happened, yet she embraced that mundane routine because it gave her security and time.

Time was something she needed the most in this world; the assurance that her safety was ensured gave her a sense of calmness to keep pursuing the knowledge available to her.

Her mornings began early, much like the first day she discovered her newfound abilities, and her nights were spent within the infinite darkness of her mental space.

The routine was simple; wake up, summon Cella, and spend the day in the library. With Cella's assistance, she was able to move around much easier and methodically touch as many books as she could manage without overexerting her mind.

The pain came a few times, but every time she felt the ache returning, she would use it as a signal to take a break for the day.

Cella, her ever-dutiful maid, continued to support her with whatever she needed. While she was curious about Seraphina's sudden change, she never questioned her— she never doubted her.

At night, after returning to her room, Seraphina would enter the mental space. Slowly, the space was being changed from darkness to a vibrant library of light— countless bookshelves were now laid out before her.

She would read through the books she had stored during the day, absorbing their knowledge and imprinting it into her mind with clarity— ensuring that they would not be forgotten.

The first few days were the hardest. Seraphina had a difficult time pacing herself to avoid overstraining her mind, as she wasn't able to tell when the pain would suddenly erupt and when it wouldn't.

The throbbing pain that had once overwhelmed her had become a constant companion within those first few days, a constant reminder of her limits.

Yet after those initial days, she slowly found the rhythm needed to manage it. She spent her mornings touching the books and took frequent breaks to avoid the debilitating pain from coming.

Her afternoons were spent casually eating, drinking tea, and reading one of the books. This not only gave her a cover but also allowed her mind to rest from the strain throughout the day.

As the days passed, she didn't only focus on reading but also noticed subtle changes in herself. Her body, though still weak, had begun to show signs of improvement at a rapid pace.

Due to her eyes no longer constantly absorbing energy from her body to sustain itself, her body was able to heal gradually over time— and as she was provided with the best care, that process was hastened.

The fatigue she felt throughout the day and at night had completely vanished within the first few days, replaced with a newfound energy that even kept her awake at times.

She could now walk longer each day, and on the fifth day, she no longer needed Cella's help at all to get to the library. Her movement was much less labored as well— she didn't stumble anymore.

Even her maid noticed the changes in her. Her concern for the girl's health was replaced by a hint of quiet pride, a sense of marvel at the girl's rapid progress.

Though she still harbored doubts about the intensity of Seraphina's studies and the strain she kept putting on herself, she respected her Yound Miss's wishes and did everything she could to support her.

By midweek, Seraphina's mental library had grown significantly, and all the books from the library had been stored in it, except for a few books she hadn't finished.

The bookshelves had sorted themselves out to match the various subjects stored in them, causing the place to be filled with rows upon rows of different shelves— each filled with a different variety of books.

History, geography, politics, theories, maths, knights, tales, and even the scant information available on magic and cultivation she was able to find. The place had everything you would expect to find in a library.

The mental space itself seemed to respond to her growing knowledge, as over time, she noticed the dark and empty void was slowly changing. With the bookshelves stretching into the distance, the space had slowly begun to glow with an ethereal hue that illuminated the pathways and creations.

Couches, walls, tables, and even a roof had begun to appear, making the once-empty space look like a vibrant library.

On the sixth day, as she sat in the library skimming through another book, she paused and reflected on her progress so far. She had touched hundreds of books and read almost every single one in her mental space.

Her mind was like a databank, with a thought she could bring up information she needed at any given moment— and her understanding of them would only deepen with time.

Eventually, she would need to gather more books and more information. This small library would no longer work for her— she had already finished everything here.

If she wanted more information, she would need to expand her search range; she would need to visit the main house to explore its library. That meant she would need to cross paths with members of her family.

Throughout the week, her father, Duke Davian, did not visit her again. In fact, no other member of her family visited her after his original visit.

She was both relieved and slightly disappointed at this fact. She appreciated the space to grow and learn on her own, as she didn't know how she would act around them.

But she also craved that familial connection brought about by her faint memories of them and blood— their guidance and support was something any family would want.

But she knew that he was a busy man, and her other family members probably had their own matters to deal with. Seraphina understood that she would only meet them if she were to leave the house.

On the seventh day, she had officially finished reading every single book in the library. All the books were stored in her mental space and had been completely absorbed into her mind.

The week had been exhausting, but she found it incredibly rewarding. She had learned more in these seven days of hard work than she had in her entire life— lives.

Now, she sat in the library looking back at the week with her thoughts moving.

"Cella."

She called out, her voice steady and confident— no longer was she the weak girl from before.

The maid, who had been quietly tidying up the library, stopped her work and returned to the girl.

"Yes, Miss Seraphina?"

"Thank you for your help this week. You've been more helpful than you could possibly imagine."

Cella's smiled at the words and bowed slightly.

"It is my duty and my pleasure, Miss. I am glad to see you working so hard."

Seraphina nodded, and a small smile graced her lips as well, her eyes shifting for a second as she thought. 

'This library is no longer useful to me. There's only one choice.'

She made her decision quickly as she didn't want to hesitate and waste time. Once her mind was made, she spoke.

"Cella, prepare everything; I wish to visit the main house today."