The Library Pavillion

I sighed in defeat. Fiona let out a cheerful laugh, brightening the mood immediately. I went over and picked her up.

"Hey, stop teasing daddy. Else, he'll tickle you again."

"Bwahaha, daddy finally suffered a loss! PFFT-- no, Fiona didn't mean it! Stahp it!"

I finally stopped after tears formed in her eyes, as she punched my chest like a cat kneading. "Wuu, daddy's such a big meanie..."

"What did you say about daddy suffering losses, hmm?" I asked, satisfied with my revenge.

"N-nothing," Fiona answered unwillingly and murmured something I couldn't hear. Well, that can't be anything good, so it looks like she's getting punished tonight, hehehe.

"Hey hey hey, stop attacking my chest already, Fiona. It's starting to hurt. Your cultivation is much higher, you know."

"Hmph." She snorted. "How weak. Wait, NO, n-no more tickles, please..."

"Mhm, but what did you say before? I didn't hear it quite clearly."

"N-nothing. Nothing at all, daddy. Come, Fiona will find an excellent cultivation method for you."

Hahaha! It looks like she needs some more tickles till she's obedient. It's so fun teasing her...

__________

"So where are we heading to, Fiona?"

"The Library Pavilion."

"..." Why isn't it just called the library? What's the point in adding pavilions?

"Emm? Lemme guess, does it allow you to borrow books and the sort?"

She turned at me in surprise. "How'd you know, daddy?"

I scratched my head. "Just a lucky guess."

She nodded. "The Library Pavillion is somewhat like a guild. They let you borrow anything related to books of the sorts, including cultivation techniques, methods, and even treasure maps. No one knows their origins or the location of their headquarters, but they have branches in all of the kingdoms. No one dares to offend them either. All businesses must go smoothly and without trouble. They are also rumored to have many Saint God-realm cultivators too, and powers in terms of a small kingdom."

"Oh? So how do they get all of the goods, then?"

"It's not some shady business that you're thinking of, daddy. Some cultivation techniques and methods are either bought from sects or large families or created by themselves. They even send people called 'bookhunters' out to search for inheritances or treasures of that sort."

Hmm... wouldn't that mean that they have a huge monopoly over the market, in terms of cultivation techniques and methods? They can practically lend out family heirlooms, or inside secrets of sects to commoners.

In addition, major kingdoms can try to win their loyalty over, and try to get information on the enemies' cultivation techniques. They always know yourself and know your enemy. It will bring massive advantages to the sphere of influence of powers in this continent.

I'm quite worried about this. Fiona is the princess of Glendora, and she should be at least somewhat familiar with the inside workings of the Pavillion. I really don't want her to get involved with them, being a tipping point in politics and all.

"Are they trustworthy, Fiona?" I asked in a low voice. "No corruption, stealing, anything?"

"Fiona doesn't know... but almost all sects, families, and the common people in Glendora do think they deserve their reputation."

So they either are really good at concealing their movements, or just a legitimate, principled library. But considering their authority, and the human nature of money-grubbers, they could've just suppressed the news.

"What about you, Fiona? What do you think?"

She stared at the signboard of the Pavilion and said with a shaky tone. "Daddy... Daddy had good friends there. B-but when he was injured... no one came to help him, and Fiona thinks they even turned him away..."

"Are you sure?"

"N-no, not at all," Fiona replied, looking lost as if the world had abandoned her. Oh, how much suffering has she been through in these past years? Her mother betrayed her father, even marrying her off... she's a seven-year-old... how could she understand the risks? Withstood the pain? No one to turn to, no one to cry to...

"It's okay. Daddy is here with you now, and he's here to help you face the past."

She nodded, still a little tense. "Then, let's go find a cultivation method for you, daddy."

The Library Pavilion was located in the center of the Capital and was a grand, white Mausoleum that reminded me of the Acropolis from Earth. It was distinct from the other building styles in Malindor, which I found surprising. Large white pillars supported the building as scholars in long, plain white robes stood in front of the entrance.

Fiona reached for her spiritual ring and pulled out a small card with a gold border.

"Welcome, sir." A scholar I presume greeted politely, dipping his head.

"What are you here for today?"

"Browse and borrow a cultivation method."

"Do you have a membership?"

Fiona handed over her card, and the scholar widened his eyes in surprise.

"T-this... the level 4 membership card? Apologies sir, young miss. Come, I'll take you to the highest floors immediately." He ushered us in quickly, acting like a timid mouse in front of a cat.

"Eh? Fiona, is that card scary or something?" I asked, pointing to the flustered scholar.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "The level 4 card is the highest level of membership one can get from the Library Pavilion. There has only been one level 5 card that's known."

"Oh? My Fiona is that powerful?"

"Of course! Fiona is the princess of Glendora!" She said smugly, albeit a little disappointed, clearly at her mother, the Queen.

I was trying to find ways to lighten her mood when the scholar said aloud. "We're here. Up ahead is the highest level of the Pavillion. Seeing you two with a level 4 card, you must be familiar with the workings here already, so I won't explain anything. I'll take my leave then."

Fiona walked into the hallway and then the room filled with bookshelves. Turning her head, she said with a smile, "Now that we're here daddy, Fiona will find the best cultivation method that suits you!