Chapter 3: The Quiet Library (And No Knights Either!!!)

Hearing the commotion from afar, Estelle rushed over, only to find her daughter, Wendini, sitting on top of Eros, shaking his head violently. 

Her gentle face instantly turned icy with anger.

"Wendini! Get up this instant! How could you bully your little brother like this?"

At the sound of her mother's voice, Wendini's anger vanished, replaced by fear and panic. She scrambled to her feet, ready to bolt.

"Wendini, stop right there!" Estelle shouted, her voice sharp and commanding.

Wendini froze in place, her head hanging low like a defeated hen.

Estelle hurried over, her expression a mix of frustration and disappointment as she looked at her daughter, whose temperament seemed to come from nowhere.

"Why did you skip your lessons today?" Estelle demanded, her tone stern.

Wendini mumbled, her voice barely audible, "Mr. Boroka's lessons are so boring..."

"Boring? So you just skip them? Look at your brother! He's two years younger than you, and he's already finished his etiquette lessons. Does he complain about them being boring? You're the older sister. You should be setting an example for him!"

Estelle's voice was filled with exasperation as she glared at her daughter. 

 Wendini glanced at Eros, who was making faces at her, clearly enjoying her predicament.

Her anger flared again, and she lunged toward him, only to be stopped by Estelle's sharp rebuke.

"Wendini! Are you trying to hurt your brother? What if he gets injured because of your recklessness?"

Wendini immediately backed off, her hands dropping to her sides as she hung her head in shame. 

Estelle turned to Eros, her voice softening with concern. "Are you okay, sweetheart? Did she hurt you?"

Eros shook his head, putting on his most innocent expression. "I'm fine, Mom. Wendini was just playing with me."

Estelle sighed, looking at her well-behaved son and then at her unruly daughter. The contrast was stark, and it only fueled her frustration.

"Look at your brother, Wendini. Look at how mature he is. And then look at yourself!"

Wendini turned her head away, pretending not to hear, but Eros caught her muttering under her breath,

"You little snitch. Just wait. I'll get you back for this."

Before long, Estelle grabbed Wendini by the back of her collar and marched her away. Eros watched in amazement.

Wendini wasn't heavy, but she wasn't exactly light either, yet Estelle lifted her effortlessly with one slender arm. How was that possible?

Despite the distractions, Eros hadn't forgotten his original goal.

With a mix of curiosity and determination, he continued toward the library, hoping to uncover more about the mystical side of this world.

The thought of it made him giddy with excitement.

...

This was Eros's first time visiting the family library, and he was awestruck by the sheer size and grandeur of the building.

It was hard to imagine how such a massive and intricate structure could have been built in this technologically backward society.

But then again, he thought with a grin, This is all mine now. All mine!

Pushing open the heavy doors, he was surprised by how easily they swung open.

What puzzled him, though, was the absence of the librarian. He had heard there was always someone on duty, but the place seemed deserted. No one at the front desk, no one in sight. 

He had hoped to ask for directions to the history section, but it looked like he was on his own.

With a sigh, he began his search, his short legs carrying him from one bookshelf to another. As he scanned the titles, he couldn't help but notice some rather... peculiar books. How to Attract a Noblewoman's Attention, How to Get Along with Noblewomen, How to Win a Noblewoman's Heart... 

What on earth were these? Who even wrote these? And why were they in the family library?

After what felt like an eternity of searching, he still hadn't found the history section.

Instead, he stumbled upon a collection of novels, most of which were about knights.

Curious, he pulled out a few and skimmed through them. The stories were all the same: a knight saves a princess, only for her to marry a prince, and yet the knight remains loyal, guarding her forever.

Eros rolled his eyes. What kind of simp knights were these? He shoved the books back in disgust. Reading any more might give him a stroke.

But then he found something interesting: The Treasure of Pirate King Sally.

The book began with an introduction to the seas surrounding the Croatia Continent, something Eros had never known before.

His family's territory was deep inland, far from the ocean, so no one had ever bothered to tell him about the sea. Why would they? He was just a child, and there was plenty to learn about the local geography first.

As he read about the surrounding seas, one name stood out: the Misty Sea. 

According to the book, all the seas around the continent eventually connected to this mysterious body of water, which was perpetually shrouded in fog.

Ships that ventured into the Misty Sea rarely returned, and those that did spoke of being lost for days, weeks, or even months.

Over the centuries, countless explorers had tried to conquer the Misty Sea, but all had failed. It was known as the Sea of the Forsaken, a place abandoned by the gods.

Eros was fascinated. If the book was accurate, then humanity only controlled the waters within 500 kilometers of the coast. 

Beyond that lay the Misty Sea, an impenetrable barrier.

How could fog persist so consistently and so precisely? It didn't seem like a natural phenomenon.

Could this be evidence of the mystical side of this world? The thought sent a thrill through him.

But as exciting as the discovery was, Eros wasn't foolish enough to rush off and explore the Misty Sea. 

The book made it clear that survival was rare for those who ventured into its depths. The world was vast, and staying alive was far more appealing than chasing after mysteries.

After finishing the geographical introduction, Eros lost interest in the rest of the book and returned it to its shelf.

 He continued his search, now expanding his scope to include any books that mentioned the Misty Sea. 

 He continued his search, now expanding his scope to include any books that mentioned the Misty Sea. 

The vast library was eerily quiet, with only the sound of his footsteps echoing through the empty halls.