The Library

Blaze returned Dusty to the stable, and the next morning he went to speak to Leus

"Leus, we're going outside today"

Leus became a bit excited when he heard that

'I've never seen what the outside world looks like'

"Where?"

"You'll see. We need to ask about something and I'll get you the Atlas too"

Leus nodded excitedly

"Sounds cool, Dad!"

Viorica took out one casual attire from Merlin's wardrobe and gave it to Leus, and the two were ready to leave.

At the door, Viorica got a little emotional; she gave Leus a hug and said

"You're leaving the house on your own two feet already! My little genius is growing up all too fast"

Leus felt a bit embarrassed

"Mom, we'll be home soon ..."

But his words made no difference ...

With watery eyes, Viorica kept hugging Leus.

Leus couldn't help but faintly smile

'Mom is ... so cute'

Eventually, Blaze pulled Leus toward him

"Don't pamper him too much, Viro, Leus is very strong"

Viorica nodded

"You're right, just like The Oracle said"

Leus didn't know what that meant, but regardless, Blaze was able to finally take him from Viorica and they left the house.

As soon as the two stepped out of the yard, Leus began exploring his surroundings

'It seems that our house is in a rich neighborhood ... or maybe a rich compound'

Around him, Leus could see many similar villas

' ... But it feels a bit empty'

Strangely, Leus didn't see people living in them ...

'Maybe because we're at the very end of the neighborhood? I guess things are more lively in the middle of it or something ...'

But anyway, Leus didn't care much about that.

After a couple of minutes of walking, the two exited the neighborhood and entered a more lively area ...

There were many big buildings and shops around, and also many people going and coming.

Leus took note of how the people around him looked

'Most people here have red hair and red eyes ...'

'Just like Dad said, Fire Affinity is the common'

Something came to his mind, so Leus suddenly asked

"Dad, is Mom not from here?"

Blaze raised an eyebrow

"What made you think that?"

"Because she has a Water Affinity, unlike most people here"

Blaze shook his head

"No, there are all kinds of affinities here, it's just less common"

"Oh ... I see"

Blaze murmured under his breath

"Except for Air, of course ..."

Occasionally, people would stare at Leus for a few seconds then quickly avert their gaze, as if there was something strange about him

At first, Leus didn't pay it much attention, but as more and more people looked at him, he felt intrigued

"Dad, why do people look at me a lot?"

"That's because you have a unique affinity. It's one of the reasons I brought you with me today"

Leus nodded

'Ahh ... Interesting. So I'm kinda special hehehe'

Regardless, Leus didn't really mind people looking at him

'As long as they don't get in the way, it's alright'

After walking for a bit, the two reached their destination ...

They stood in front of an old-looking, grand building.

It was so big, imposing, and prestigious. And compared to all the buildings and shops around it, it seemed so out of place.

Blaze looked at Leus and explained

"This is the Crimson Library. There's one in every major city.

It has books about everything, from Magic to Beasts to history. And most importantly, it has The Archivist's public books"

Leus inspected the building and he quickly noticed something interesting ...

In front of the Library's door, there were two fully armored knights, each of them wearing a water-blue armor.

Leus found it amusing

'Why would a Library be heavily guarded like this?'

So he asked Blaze

"Why are there knights in front of the Library? Do people steal books?"

Blaze snickered when he heard that

"The books are indeed expensive, but people don't steal them"

He pointed at the knight and continued

"First of all, these are not Knights, they're Elite Knights.

Second, they're not here to protect the Library, but for other, more complicated reasons"

Then he looked at Leus and spoke in a serious tone

"Anyway, I brought you here to meet The Librarian. He's an Elite Mage. I want you to introduce yourself in front of him"

Blaze's line of thought was like this

'No one knows about Magic and Affinities better than the Librarian'

' ... Well, there's the Duke of course, but I can't meet him. The Librarian is the second best'

Naturally, Leus didn't fully understand the situation, but regardless

'I'll just do what he says, Dad knows better'

"Sure Dad, no problem"

Blaze and Leus approached the Library's doors and stood in front of the Elite Knights ...

Unlike regular citizens, Blaze didn't need to introduce himself; he only showed them a military badge that he was keeping in his pocket and the guards let them inside.

As they walked inside, Leus could hear the knights mumbling something that he didn't fully understand, but he heard something along the lines of

"What do you think that is?"

"I have no idea, I've never seen a purple before."

But Leus didn't pay them any mind; he was very impressed by what was in front of him ...

The Library was phenomenal, to say the least.

'It's so huge ...'

Unlike the weather outside, the atmosphere in the Library was perfect. The temperature inside is warm, not cold or hot.

'There's surely a ventilation system somewhere'

The entire Library was painted crimson, and countless bookshelves were everywhere with wide corridors between them.

The corridors were dimly lit and looked almost shadowy, and the shelves around them were lined with hundreds of books and tomes ...

'There are probably thousands of books here'

'Such an immense library ...'

Blaze gestured for Leus to follow him, and the two entered one of the shadowy corridors and walked toward a desk on one end of the Library ...

While they were walking, Leus looked at the bookshelves surrounding him and felt like a dwarf

'Either I'm too small or the bookshelves are too tall'

'It's really a bewitching place ...'

Interestingly, the Library was extremely silent ...

'That and the lack of strong light gives this place an eerie atmosphere'

Occasionally, the silence would be broken by the whispers of unseen readers or scholars here and there, or by the sound of pages turning, But Leus heard nothing other than that ...

That's when he noticed something

'Even our steps don't make any sound ... '

'Spooky'

When Blaze and Leus got closer to the desk, Leus was able to clearly see the features of the man sitting behind it ...

He was an elderly man wearing a majestic blue robe. His hair and eyes were of bright blue color, and he was reading a book ...

First, the man glanced at Blaze but quickly averted his gaze in disinterest, but as soon as his eyes met Leus' the entire atmosphere changed.

He started intently staring at Leus with narrowed eyes, making Leus sense a slight pressure coming at him

' ... It's as if his gaze is piercing my soul'

It made Leus feel uncomfortable, but he didn't show it.

Blaze noticed the man's interest and smirked

'Looks like the plan worked ...'