The Black Book of the Library (2)

The courtyard buzzed with the laughter and chatter of children, a world Jacob longed to be a part of but hesitated to step into. He watched from the edge of the gathering, his presence blending into the background, unnoticed—perhaps ignored.

A step forward. A brief moment of courage.

But then, the whispers.

"Look at him, acting all high and mighty." Aiden's voice slithered through the air.

A soft laugh, laced with scorn.

"Hah, as if someone like him belongs here." Seraphina's words stung more than she knew.

Jacob's breath hitched. His hands, balled into fists at his sides, trembled. The weight of countless stares—imagined or real—pressed down on him. He could feel the unspoken words hanging between them all.

The demon child. The murderer.

His heartbeat pounded in his ears. He turned away, steps quickening until he broke into a run. The laughter behind him faded, replaced by the rhythm of his own breath and the soft crunch of gravel beneath his feet.

His path led him somewhere familiar. Somewhere both comforting and cruel.

The isolated mansion stood untouched by time, yet changed forever. Just months ago, this was where his mother had played with him, where her laughter had filled the air like music. Where, on that fateful night, her lifeless body was found—beside him, drenched in blood.

He stepped past the threshold, the silence of the abandoned halls wrapping around him like a fragile cocoon.

Here, at last, no one whispered. No one stared.

But the ghosts of the past never truly left.

A breath of silence.

Then—

A sound. Muffled, distant, yet unmistakably real.

Jacob's head snapped up. His fingers, which had unconsciously curled into his sleeves, twitched at the sudden disturbance. It wasn't the wind, nor the creak of the old mansion settling. It was a voice—low, whispering, yet beckoning.

He swallowed hard, his feet hesitating for only a moment before he moved.

Through the empty corridors, past dust-laden doorways and faded memories, he followed it. The voice weaved through the air, neither urgent nor rushed, merely calling. Each step took him further from the isolation of the abandoned mansion, guiding him back into the heart of the estate.

The whispers did not falter.

He crossed the stone pathways, his small frame slipping past the watchful eyes of the guards, unnoticed. Whether it was luck or something else, he did not know. The voice led him with a steady pull, until—

He stood before the Bibliotheca Draconis Abyss, the Grand Library of the Vermont Family.

A place forbidden to all but the House Head and the Sole Heir of the House.

The entrance loomed before him, a towering structure steeped in authority and history. Its massive obsidian doors, polished to a mirror sheen, bore intricate carvings of dragons—silent sentinels with gleaming eyes that seemed to watch, to judge. The walls, built from enchanted stone, carried an imperceptible weight, as though holding the wisdom of countless generations.

To Jacob, it felt unwelcoming. A place meant for others—never for someone like him.

For a moment, doubt flickered.

Should I be here?

But the voice—closer than ever—left no room for hesitation.

With a quiet breath, Jacob stepped inside.

The door groaned open, a slow, weighted sound that echoed through the vast chamber.

Silence greeted him.

Beyond the library walls, the murmurs of noble heirs—scheming, whispering—faded into irrelevance. Here, in this sacred hall of knowledge, only stillness remained.

But then—a voice.

Soft, yet firm. Close, yet distant.

"You're late."

Jacob froze. His fingers clenched against the worn wood of a nearby shelf. His breath caught in his throat.

"Who's there?" he whispered, barely above the hush of the library air.

No reply. Only the weight of silence pressing in.

Then, once more, the voice—calm, patient, expectant.

"The 51st book beneath the topmost shelf. Fourth row, right of the entrance."

His eyes darted across the towering shelves. The books stood in their silent ranks, untouched, undisturbed. He was alone—wasn't he?

Swallowing, he turned toward the designated shelf. Nestled between dust-laden tomes, an unfamiliar book awaited.

The Lost Arts of the Heaven Soaring Buddha.

His fingers hovered over its spine. He hesitated.

"...Why?"

A pause. Then, the voice—knowing, distant.

"You'll understand soon enough."

And then—nothing. The air was still. The voice was gone.

As Jacob drifted through the depths of his memories—fragments of a past he had somehow lost—Zhao Yun's voice pulled him back to the present.

"Hey, Jake. Come here."

The warmth of recollection faded as reality settled in. Jacob found himself once more in the vast, endless white—a space untouched by time, a place he had only encountered once before: the Hall of Blessing.

Jacob moved toward Zhao Yun, who stood waiting with an air of quiet authority. In his hands, Zhao Yun held the book The Lost Arts of the Heavenly Soaring Buddha.

"Before we begin your training," Zhao Yun said, his tone measured and calm, "there are a few things you should understand about this place."

He paused, letting the silence emphasize his words before continuing, "Firstly, the Hall of Blessing is not just a sanctuary; it draws your entire existence here. Your very essence is intertwined with its energy."

"Secondly, time flows differently here than in your world," Zhao Yun added.

Jacob's eyes widened with a hint of panic. "How does time flow here?" he asked, his voice trembling as memories of Remvar—the threat of being discovered—rushed back.

Zhao Yun placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry. Here, space and time are twisted by Chronos himself. According to him, the flow of time can be adjusted to suit our needs."

A subtle smile played on Zhao Yun's lips as he continued, "For every hour that passes in your world, 500 years will flow here."

The gravity of Zhao Yun's words hung in the air, a promise of power and the extraordinary cost of such magic. Jacob listened, heart pounding, as the mysteries of the Hall of Blessing began to unfold before him.

"Now, let's start our training. First, you have to manifest your aura—and for that, you need an appropriate physique," Zhao Yun declared.

At his words, a translucent screen materialized in front of Jacob, its gentle glow illuminating his uncertain face. The screen displayed:

[Tutorial Quest - 01]

Quest Title: "Awaken Your Aura"

Quest Description: Zhao Yun wishes for you to awaken your Aura. Listen to his explanation and try to manifest your aura.

Quest Reward: Access to 'System', 500 p

[Accept/Decline]

Jacob stared at the screen; confusion written all over his face. Noticing his hesitation, Zhao Yun spoke softly, "That is a System Screen—created by Hephaestus with the help of Lythera and myself. It's designed to accelerate your growth speed."

Jacob's heart pounded as he took Zhao Yun's words, the promise of transformation mingling with the weight of his destiny.

"Let's start. First step is to feel your Life Energy inside you," Zhao Yun explained, his tone both gentle and authoritative.

"Sit in the lotus position and imagine yourself slowly losing your senses. Use your sixth sense to notice any changes," he continued.

Jacob followed the instructions, though he quickly discovered that letting go of his senses was harder than he had imagined. Days turned into weeks in the vast, timeless Hall.

Three weeks later, Zhao Yun approached him. "How is it?" he asked.

Jacob closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before replying, "It's dark, nimble, and firm, yet it flows swiftly. It feels—comfortable, as if it were a familiar place."

A small smile tugged at Zhao Yun's lips. "Well done. That is your Aura."

"My Aura," Jacob repeated, his voice filled with excitement and newfound pride.

Zhao Yun nodded, "Yes, now your next step is Aura Release. As the name suggests, you must bring forth your aura from within."

"Okay, it should be quite easy, now that I think," Jacob said, a hint of overconfidence in his tone.

But as another week passed, Jacob found that releasing his aura was not as simple as he'd hoped. Finally, with determination etched on his face, he spoke clearly, "Aura Release."

At his command, a surge of blackish-grey energy erupted, overwhelming him as it enveloped his body completely.

Zhao Yun's eyes shone with satisfaction. "You did great, Jacob. This is your first step toward achieving Demonic Qi."

[Congrats! Quest Completed]

[Achieved Aura Release]

[New Stat: Traits (Unlocked)]

[New Trait Acquired: Black Aura]

[Rewarded: Access to 'System', 500p]

The screen reappeared before Jacob, its translucent interface glowing softly with new information.

"You should familiarize yourself with the System before we proceed any further," Zhao Yun instructed, his tone measured and reassuring.

Jacob tilted his head, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "How do I do that?" he asked.

"Simply say or think 'Status Open'," Zhao Yun replied.

"Okay," Jacob murmured. He closed his eyes briefly, focusing on his thoughts. "Status Open," he thought.

Instantly, a new screen materialized, displaying a detailed status report:

[Status Screen]

Name: Jacob Amor de Vermont

Titles (1): Cursed Child (Currently Active)

Rank (Level): C (18)

HP: 10,000 / 10,000

MP: 0 [???]

STR: D- (35)  AGI: E+ (26)  INT: E+ (22)

Blessings:

[???] Rank: [??]  [Pure Mind] Rank: [??]  [??? Art of Absorption] Rank: [SSS+]

Skills [▼]  Traits [▼] (New)   Available Points (New): 500

[Status Report]  [Message (3)]  [Help? / Tutorial]

Jacob's eyes widened as he scanned the symbols and figures on the screen. "What do these symbols mean?" he asked in a hushed tone. "And look—there's even a Help area!"

The digital display pulsed softly, inviting him to explore. Amidst the cryptic numbers and ranks, a new world of possibilities was unfolding before him—a roadmap to his hidden potential and the journey ahead.

Zhao Yun watched with a slight nod of approval. "Take your time, Jacob. Understanding the System is the key to unlocking your true strength."

Jacob's heart raced with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty as he contemplated the path laid out before him. This was no longer just training—it was the beginning of a transformation that would redefine his destiny.

"Shall we start this?" Jacob asked excitedly. With renewed determination, he reached for the Help Section on the screen.

A prompt appeared:

Do You Want a System Tutorial?

[Yes] [No]

Without hesitation, Jacob clicked the Yes button.

Almost instantly, another screen unfolded before him:

[System Tutorial]

Quest Title: "Familiarize Yourself with the System"

Sections:

[Stats] [Blessings] [Skills] [Traits] [Points]  [Ranks]

Try touching any of the above sections to get a quick tour of the System Components.

Jacob's heart raced as he scanned the options, ready to dive deeper into the mysteries of the System and the path that lay ahead.