Yuuma's fingers slid across the front of a bookcase revealing the name of the section carved cleanly and well written. His fingertips left a clean trail and dust toppled over onto the already dusty floor. His shoes left tracks onto the wooden floorboards like animal tracks in snow. Unlike the marble corridors which were cleaned to perfection with a pretty glow, the library was like comparing royalty to a slum.
There were a total of forty or so bookshelves in the cramped room with some books spilling out onto the ground with no place to go, no room for them on the shelves. The outside weather was cloudy but a hint of wind picked up every now and then creating mini dust clouds/tornados that last no more than a second. Yuuma was satisfied with the cool air and the smog clearing out being carried along with the wind and out the window.
The first bookshelf Yuuma looked at was about plants and what certain greenery is useful and deadly. Some of the books were diaries and research written by family members of the past who were suitable in the field. Yuuma's eyes shined in interest and decided reading some books on this topic could help in the future or unexpected events which could save his life or someone else's. He went back in forth clearing the bookshelf of all the books and stacking them on the one and only small table.
The butler scrutinized from the side of the door his eyes boring into the side of Yuuma who ignored his gaze blatantly. He watched as Yuuma finally got done with handling the books and sat down on a chair, threw fish jerky into his mouth, and opened his first book.
Plant eating monsters, unimportant weeds, vines that give fatality, flowers that can heal, leaves that can bring the dead to life, herbs that can kill from touch, trickery plants, and deadly bugs that can inhabit the plant. By the end of the first hour, Yuuma closed the last book of the greenery section.
Yuuma took a breath and massaged his temples his head throbbing with the information overload. He hadn't had to do anything really in such a long time so he closed his eyes and the room had gone silent. The butler who watched raised a brow at Yuuma's antics, the boy opened the first book and skimmed through it quickly then picked up the second book putting the other one to the side. After reading the last book of more than fifty books on the plant topic he closed his eyes and didn't open them for ten minutes. The butler shook his head thinking Yuuma just wanted some praise from his parents so he's pretending to act smart for the day.
When Yuuma finally did open his eyes he yawned softly, stretching his limbs, and stood picking up a pile of books and began putting them back in their respective place. He had already stored all the information for later just like he stored the information of old Yuumas life which he watched from a third point of view like a movie.
Yuuma had always had a good memory, he liked to think his brain held filing cabinets storing every single detail and still being able to remember the fine lines of the same object/subject years later. In fact, Yuuma had never forgotten a thing. He remembers every conversation he's had with any random individual whether It be a passing stranger, a teacher from kindergarten, or a random dog barking at him five times before running away, well if you consider that a conversation which Yuuma does. He even remembers his birth. This was one of the reasons he got bored in life, he had learned anything that he had an interest in weather engineering, phycology, or business he learned them all. His job before dying was a gaming business that soured in the industry but the owner was unknown and he made money by practically doing nothing. He was a learning machine but regrettably, that was one of the reasons for his death.
The only thing he could never seem to learn was self-care or at least caring about himself such as his health which he did a flimsy job of. It wasn't like he could just get some meds from the store or he couldn't just put a bandaid on a small cut, he just. . .didnt have the energy. Whatever it was that made him this way he could never escape the black hole of lethargy.
Yuuma patted the dust off his hands after placing the last of the books in the same order he took them out of. He went back to the table and drank a gulp of milk before going down each section to find books that would actually help him. He already knew some things about this world like that there was magic, flying islands, and how the social circle kinda worked.
There were at least seven influential families. They came to power because of their respective category that they excelled in. Most of the time it was the family's magic lineage.
The family yuuma belonged to was close in power to that of a duke which means their family should be powerful but in that regard, Yuuma thinks they were leaching/smooching off of the family's past history. The Oxblood family used to have powerful mages and alchemists throughout history but in the later years their blood seemed to thin out and they were not as powerful. Some have said it's a curse that all powerful families go through where they're there one time in history but gradually they become forgotten. But old Yuumas mother has used her influence to go to the dark side to keep the family running so as to never be forgotten even if they have to use dirty methods.
The seven families from top to bottom; Scarlet, Firebrick, Oxblood, Crimson, Burgundy, Carmine, and Maroon.
All of the seven families have the last name associated with red. The reason? Yuuma blinked, no one seemed to know the reason but some theory suggests a great fire mage/ or god? Gifted the names to the families. Or possibly it was associated with the great massacre that occurred in the golden age when everyone seemed to be powerful and families fought for power.
Yuuma tapped a finger in a comfortable rhythm and he read up on the history of the great kingdom. The kingdom he was currently in that used to be separated but somewhere in time came together to form one big dynasty run by the Scarlet family. Yuuma sees them as the king of the families. Most of the families are technically not all blood related its become common to pick up or adopt children or adults into the family who has potential. But then again, the Oxblood family is old-fashioned thinking they can survive with just their blood.
Yuuma rolled his eyes finishing the history section.
He was starting to get bored after reading a few more rows of books and realized most of them were fiction used for entertainment. Luckily he tripped on some books sprawled out around the floor and found the magic isle in the very corner. If he hadn't tripped then he might have not noticed such a dusty old bookcase. With a frown, he dusted off a large dictionary-like book and read the title 'Magic Theory.' Interested Yuuma placed it on the table and went back for the other books reading their titles.
'Magic History'
'Magic classes'
'How To Use Magic For All'
'Alchemy'
'Magic spells'
'Demonic Monsters & the Constitution Of Demons'
'Enchantments'
'The Great Mage's Life Biography'
'Magic Lore'
'Magic Beasts'
Yuuma hummed thumping his pointer on the table as he began delving into adept knowledge of a new subject that exceeded the laws of physics in his world. An old feeling crossing his path once more making his heart race and he began to feel jittery. The laziness he felt starts to go away as he focuses solely on the words written on the pages his eyes shining with luster. This is something he only felt a few times in his life. It was always the best feeling like his sloth curse lifted and his energy replenished in waves.
The room seemed to stop in time as the thump of a finger against wood echoed in a fast yet steady pattern, not missing a single beat.
The butler whose eyes had closed out of boredom opened almost mechanically and spoke, "young master it's lunchtime. Would you like me to bring your meal here or move to the dining room?"
Silence followed after and only then did butler Kenji glare at Yuuma only to find the boy concentrated on the book in his hands. His focus was not disturbed by his butler and didn't even seem to hear him as he turned the pages creating some wisps of wind knocking leftover dust off the table. Or perhaps the dust was already on the pages and when they turned the specks flew off?
The butler was going to ask again but stopped himself. Kenji sighed and left the library his lack of presence didn't cause Yuuma to even look up, in fact, he probably forgot the butler was even in the room.
Later in the afternoon after munching on some small sandwiches his butler had provided. Yuuma walked around the library sometimes picking up some books and reading them before plopping them back in place. He had already read all the books in the magic section and he had run out of snacks. Now he just idly walked around thinking maybe perhaps he might find something good. This was his last trip around before he would leave and go to sleep because he had wasted too much energy and felt deeply tired. Yuuma doesn't remember the last time he stayed up this long. Or maybe he could only sleep after dinnertime since that seemed to be near already.
Yuuma yawned and hit the side of a bookcase making him fumble in his footsteps and abruptly fall on a few books that were stacked by the plant section. He hissed and rubbed his elbow that got hurt the worst from the fall, he had smacked it on the bookcase.
Groaning audibly he sat on the dusty floor and rolled up his sleeve to check for any scrapes. Favorably it only looked a little red and might only bruise. Clicking his tongue he suppressed another grumble and kicked the books that made him fall like they were now his sworn enemy.
"Ah. . ."
Yuuma blinked in a daze. A wooden plank had slightly broken from under the books, his shoe may have gotten stuck there and pulled it up by accident. Very carefully Yuuma lifted the wooden board and his eyes widened. He scanned his surroundings making sure no one was around before bringing the heavy and wide object out. The cover was a bit distracting so Yuuma swapped it with another cover to make it stand out less and covered the floorboard with the same books leaving the holly space under the floor empty as he carried the treasure he had found.
Hidden under the floor was an oxblood-colored book.
The title read- 'Origins Of The Oxblood'
Who would hide a book so important to the Oxblood family? Clearly, they're trying to hide/cover up something no one should find out. Even the Oxbloods themselves are not allowed to know?
Yuuma walked to the butler tugged on his suit with the book covered by another cover and a small smile curled on his lips.
Their eyes connected and at the same time, both of them said.
""Dinner time""
The butler's eyes narrowed. Yuuma seemed to have a scholarly air now or was it just his imagination? The boy's pleasant smile that seemed to curve with his eyes looked childish but the butler felt something in the pit of his stomach that could only be described as one thing, fear.