Chapter 8 - Knowledge

Seraphina's breaths were labored as she finally reached the library, her body aching from how many steps she had taken. It wasn't something her body was used to— and even though she had grown slightly better, her body was still very fragile.

If it wasn't for the dutiful aid and support of Cella, who carefully ensured she didn't fall, getting this far on her own would be an adventure of its own.

But finally, she had arrived before the library— the maid opened the grand wooden doors for her, and they both stepped inside the dimly lit room.

Bookshelves lined the walls of the large room— a coat of red and black paint and cloth covered the walls. The room was easily multiple times the size of her room, and it was as large as some public libraries she had visited in her previous life.

All this was for one person— a person who was never going to use it.

Her eyes glanced around the dimly lit room— one closed window provided sunlight for the books, while the rest of the place was kept bright by burning candles.

The place was clean even though she had never visited it before, a testament to the hard work of the maids who kept the mansion in top shape even though she never saw it.

The bookshelves were filled with books of various sizes and colors; some looked ancient with their worn-out spines, and others appeared brand new. The smell of old parchment and ink filled the air, a damp scent that was almost comforting to Sera.

"This is where I need to stay for the next few days."

She whispered to herself, her voice barely audible as she felt the spark of excitement and determination ignite within her heart. 

Cella guided her to a comfortable chair near a small table, a soft couch that she could rest on without the hardwood bothering her.

"I'll bring you some books, Young Miss. Is there any particular subject you're interested in?"

Sera thought for a second at the question posed by the maid before finally deciding on a starting point.

"Start with history, general knowledge of the Empire and the continent. Also, any books explaining Knights, Wizards, and even the Cultivators would be useful."

Sera decided that starting with the basics would aid her when she decided to branch into more in-depth subjects. She currently lacks even the most foundation of knowledge of this world, and the things she did know may be lacking.

Thankfully, she didn't need to learn how to read or write thanks to her noble position— even if she couldn't study, it was common practice to learn how to read and write at a very young age.

Such knowledge will stay with you throughout your life, even if you don't use it often.

The maid nodded and quickly set about gathering a selection of books that matched her requirements. As Seraphina waited, she looked around the library and hummed to herself.

This would be her new home for the next few days— a place where she could escape the limitations of her body and expand her mind. She would need to make the most of it before news spread to her family and they visited her.

A few minutes later, Cella returned with a stack of books and placed them gently on the table before her— pulling her out of her thoughts.

"I've chosen a variety of topics for you, Miss. These are all in the common tongue of the Empire; if you need anything else, please let me know."

Sera nodded, appreciating Cella's efficiency and work ethic despite knowing her true role as an informant.

"Thank you, Cella. Can you please fetch me some tea to help me focus?"

She didn't really want tea; she just didn't want the maid standing there and watching her as she read in silence. So, she gave her a simple task to send her away for the time being.

As the maid nodded and left to prepare the tea, Seraphina picked up the first book on the history of the Asterion Empire.

The cover was leather-bound, and the pages were aged yellow with the scent of dust thick on them. She opened it carefully and gently flowed her fingers through the pages as she began to read.

The words on the page seemingly transported her to another world. They were filled with tales of the great rulers of the past, legendary wars fought for the Empire, and the political landscape that shaped the Empire.

The Asterion Empire— it was an Empire that spanned over two-sixths of the Lostorat continent and was quite the powerhouse among the existing powers on the land.

The Lostorat continent was the land on which they lived; other continents are believed to exist; however, traveling to them is largely impossible through normal means.

On this land are three main powerhouses; the Asterion Empire, a land ruled by knights and aura— and the Empire she belonged to.

The Efuru Alliance— a collection of multiple large Kingdoms that together take up another two-sixths of the continent. Working together, they keep the Asterion Empire at bay.

The Sabuta Tribes that live within the dark forest— control the forest and use its natural landscape and resources. Thanks to this, they have since been left as the dominant force within those lands.

Lastly, although it is not considered a powerhouse and holds a fraction of the land that the others hold— the Magus Tower is a group that is never touched or interacted with.

Little information about the Magus Tower existed in the books Sera had access to.

Hours passed, and Seraphina found herself lost in the books. She learned about the founding of the Asterion Empire, its rise to power, and the significant events that shaped its current state.

She dived into the five Kingdoms under the Empire, each with its unique culture and history— even her family's Dukedom was listed within the books.

Her eyes began to burn from the prolonged reading, and her body started to grow wary— but she refused to stop until she couldn't go on anymore. 

Occasionally, Cella would bring her refreshments, which Seraphina accepted gratefully. The maid's presence was a constant reminder of her family's watchful eyes, but for now, she chose to ignore it.

As the day turned to evening, the light in the library grew dimmer, and Cella lit a few candles to keep the place bright. Their flickering flames cast a dancing shadow on the walls of the room.

Sera paid no attention to any of this— she had finished a few of the history books, and she was looking through books that mentioned 'God's Eyes' as she wished to learn more of them.

Mentions of them were few and far between. Most of the texts that did exist on them were vague tales or recounts of what people thought they were— blessings or curses.

No one truly knew anything about them, and the books offered nothing of use to her, but they confirmed something she had already known. Her eyes were unique and deadly; weaponizing it could be of great power, but failing could end her.

One passage in particular within the books she read caught her attention, and she couldn't help but ponder it for a few seconds.

"Power and tragedy— eyes that bring both. Neither a curse nor a blessing— it is destiny personified."

She didn't know what it meant or why she found herself interested in the words, but she couldn't help but remember them even when she kept reading other things.

However, the time grew late, and she could no longer stay awake— she closed the book, her mind swirling with thoughts as she did.

The information she had gathered in just one day was of great use to her; she now had a much clearer image of the place she had found herself in and a better idea of the path she needed to take.

But she was too tired now to do anything.

'Tomorrow, I'll continue my search.'

She thought to herself as she stood up and motioned for Cella to aid her.

Her body was screaming for rest, but her mind was satisfied. She was in pain, but she had never felt better in her life— now it was finally time to take some rest.

With Cella's help, she made her way back to her room, settled into better clothing to sleep in, and finally she lay down in bed.

She settled into bed with a sense of accomplishment. Today had been a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. Tomorrow, she will only keep pushing those goals further.

As she drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but smile— for the first time in years, Seraphina Augustina Willows felt a glimmer of control over her destiny.

Her eyes shutting, her mind faded from consciousness— but she did not enter the land of sleep like she thought.

Instead, she found herself once more in a land of infinite darkness— a place with which she was very familiar.

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I forgot to clarify this in any of the previous chapters, so I feel the need to do so here.

This novel will be free. It will not be contracted and it will not cost you money to read.

Enjoy it.