Since that day an entire month has gone by, Ryuu was currently doing pushups while Celestia was sitting under a tree counting," 496, 497, 498, and 500, ok Ryuu it is enough for today."
Ryuu collapsed on the spot with his arms and legs sprawled.
Celestia stood up walked towards Ryuu," Stand up Ryuu, there is no time to be lazing around."
Ryuu grumbled as he stood up, all of his teachers were running him to the ground all those running, jumping, squats, pushups, he was tired he just wanted to go home and sleep, 'why oh do I have so many demonic teachers', as tears seemed to come out from his eyes no not tears manly sweat poured out.
Celestia sweat dropped at that, the kid has some issues.
She cleared her throat bringing Ryuu's attention on her," Ryuu you have made immense progress this past few weeks, so we decided it is time for you to learn some new skills.", Ryuu was extremely happy he would have jumped up in joy but he was still sore from the workout.
Celestia put a hand on his head and teleported both of them in front of huge building, bigger than anything Ryuu has ever seen, there many creepy looking stone statues and Ryuu suddenly felt as if all their eyes on him, he scooted near Celestia out of fear.
Celestia put a hand on Ryuu's head calming him down, "Do not worry child they are just guards. They protect the library from unwanted people, like those who do not have permission." she then took him towards a pedestal, made Ryuu cut his figure and drop few drops of blood on it and then she inserted a strand of ki inside the pedestal which shone a white light before vanishing, "There it is done now you are free to enter the library anytime you would like."
She then took Ryuu inside the library, humongous shelves were arranged in rows filled with books, in front of each row there was tag written indicating the contents of each aisle.
Celestia: "Ryuu in Ayindril each of your masters has specific jobs, I take care of library, your second mistress take care of array's which protect Ayindril, Your first mistress runs hospital as well as takes care of medicinal herbs and ingredients, where as your master takes care of anything and everything related to blacksmithing. This library is my pride and joy, my library has some so rare and precious techniques people will sale their soul for a single glimpse, empire's will wage wars, family will betray each other, so Ryuu do you understand why it is heavily guarded.", Ryuu gulped at hearing such thing."Since you are our disciple you get access to my library, but there are some rules you have to follow."
Suddenly a huge pressure fell on Ryuu he was forced on his knees the air became difficult to breath, tears came out from his eyes, he just wanted to crawl himself inside a hole and hide. Celestia held his chin and forced him to look at her face, gone was the kind and caring smile the face resembled that of a demon."Ryuu the rules I will only say it once if you break them I will kill you destroy your soul and erase your existence completely to the point even your mother will never remember you any longer, got it child.", but Ryuu was too scared to answer, which made Celestia snarl in anger before she shouted him,"RYUU DID YOUR THICK SKULL GET WHAT PUNISHMENT WILL BE DEALT TO RULE BREAKER.", Ryuu squeaked out,"y—y-y-yes mi-mistress", only to get shouted out again with so much fierceness that his body started trembling and he felt his soul rattled," LOUDER OR DID YOUR MOTHER NOT FEED YOU ENOUGH THAT YOU SOUND LIKE A MOUSE , NOW SPEAK UP LIKE A HUMAN CHILD."
Ryuu: "YES SECOND MISTRESS!!!"
Celestia: "Good for I hate mouse they destroy books, hence I kill them", before she helped him up, before dusting his clothes clean and rubbing the tears off his cheeks, before she continued with a kind motherly smile on her face," Child as a man you should not shed tears except when you are extremely happy otherwise people will think you weak."
Ryuu completely shaken the whole thing look like a nightmare he would not want to relieve again, he decided then and there as long as he lives he will never ever violate any rule of the library, hell after today he will never appear with in a thousand yards of this place. Celestia narrowed her eyes she already had a rough idea how Ryuu's brain works she will have to amend such travesty soon.
She took Ryuu, in front of a huge stone stele. Lots of rules were written on it, she snapped her fingers and most of the rules vanished, "Listen of the rules here are meant for our servants, but you being our disciple are exempted from them, but you have to follow all this
1) Never teach anyone what you learn from this library, only those things we give you permission may you teach to others.
2) If you have problem in understanding the thing you are learning from library, you can only consult your teachers or your big sisters no one else not even your mother.
3) If you want a book or manual you will have to work for it, you have to get enough merit to read the book by doing different tasks, like sweeping a part of Ayindril, to collecting exotic herbs, to hunting a very dangerous beast. The task will vary according to the type of skill.
4) Even if can fulfill the third rule many book or manuals need specific conditions before it is available to you, such as skill which require immortal level cultivation will never be available to you until you become immortal, except if we fill that you should learn it then we will bring you here to learn it.
5) Never and by never I mean NEVER should you damage my books, if you do I will spank you so hard that lava will feel like ice when you sit on it.
6) The most important rule, from now on you will come to this place every time we are having lesson I will be waiting for you here, and you will borrow and return books on regular basis even if it is not related to cultivation you will come here to read them like a good disciple I will not tolerate an illiterate."
Celestia: "I hope you remember this rules Ryuu, you may suffer amnesia and even forget your own name but YOU.SHALL.NEVER.FORGET.THE .RULES.OF.MY.LIBRARY. IS THAT CLEAR"
"YES THIRD MISTRESS", shouted Ryuu while his legs shook in fear.
Celestia: "Ryuu swear on the Dao of Heavens that you will follow the rules I stated, until stated otherwise."
Ryuu: "I Ryuu swear on the Dao of Heavens that I will abide by the rules of library as stated by Third Mistress until my teachers change them."
A loud booming of thunder was heard indicated heaven's accepting Ryuu's oath, but Ryuu looked confused at the sound.
Celestia:"That sound indicated the acceptance of the oath, if you violate it you do not have to worry about me punishing you heaven's will do it on my behalf.", she finished with a scary tone sending shivers down Ryuu's spine.
Celestia then spoke again with a kind smile," Ryuu do you know how techniques are classified. If so how?"
Ryuu nodded before he began," Techniques are classified from weakest Rank 0 to highest rank 9 techniques, the higher the level a technique is stronger it is to comprehend, and more difficult it is to practice and execute. But they make it up with their strength"
Celestai looked pleased, "Good child, now there are other types which you will learn when you grow older but for now it is enough. Your fellow teachers and I will impart some skills on you, and even recommend some texts for you to read, we expect you to listen and follow our instruction properly. You will find everything you need in this library, now I impart some skills to you."
Ryuu looked pleased; the moment has finally arrived for the most awesome, the most marvelous, the most amazing, the most unparallel, genius Ryuu's moment to shine. An image of mini Ryuu popped in his mind, who went and learned the most difficult of Rank 9 books at a glance, defeated devils and evil people, and ate everything nice the king had ordered to be made in the banquet in his honor, he always thought those heroes as foolish why would want some princess he could just ask to be fed delicious food and why would one want to be king where one could go on in an adventure, plus king seemed to be someone lame according to him who couldn't even defend his own people, no he would never be one, he gave a smug nod and mental pat on his back as I am also super intelligent, the thought of those delicious food came into his mind which his mini me fed on, he started drooling.
Meanwhile looked on at the weird kid, before face palming herself muttering idiot over and over again, at the same time taking pity on Xiao Xiao who had to put up with the red head's antics.
She cleared her throat bringing Ryuu's attention back to reality, before giving him a martial arts manuals and a book. Ryuu took the book and the manual with trembling hands as his mind conjured a special golden halo across the book. Then he froze in shock at the title 'An idiot's guide to Soul', and 'Basic Sword Foundation Skills for Dummies (Rank 0)'. His imaginary world shattered as he was brought into reality. "Why?" was the only sound which came from his mouth, he had a devastated look like a person who lost his entire world and everything precious.
'The kind is one of a kind comedian. ', thought Celestia, although she looked stern but her eyes was full of mirth. She cleared her throat bringing Ryuu's undivided attention and eyes, which portrayed a defeated man, on her, "Child, remember the Soul and Will power are the most important aspect of oneself, without which a person cannot survive let alone become a cultivator, this will help you to understand and learn more about the soul. It will help you in the future when you will learn more powerful and important skills from me."
Ryuu looked somewhat placated at that, but he was fiddling with the book on sword, Celestia produced four blocks of metal from her space rings and then curved a number on each of them. "Ryuu, arrange them where the lowest number is at the bottom and highest at the top."
Ryuu quickly arranged then accordingly, "Now child remove the lowest one but do not touch any of the above metal blocks." Ryuu nodded but as soon as he removed them the blocks on top of it fell.
Celestia smiled kindly as she tousled Ryuu's hair, "Childdo you see now, the block at the very bottom is the foundation block, and just as you removed it the blocks on top of it fell, similarly if you do not master the 'Basic Sword Foundation Skills' you too will suffer the same your skills on swordsmanship will fall apart."
Ryuu nodded happily, "Thank you Third Mistress", he replied with a bright smile on his face.
Celestia seeing the bright smile on Ryuu's face she beamed back at him, "Now Ryuu since you doubted your teacher, for your punishment I want you to fully memorize the book by next week."
Ryuu's smile morphed into one of horror, as a single thought ran through his mind, 'Aunt Zhu Zhu was right demons are scary, and I think I just met one.'