The sweet, juicy, meaty, and leafy aroma of the dishes he had already devoured lingered around his nose as if taunting him for having missed such delicacies until that very moment.
"Should I bring out the dessert too, sir?" inquired Atticus, piling the empty porcelain containers on a single hand.
Looking out at the calm ocean, Nox stretched his arms before slowly getting up and saying, "I don't think I'll be able to eat anymore. Thank you for the food."
Being served such delicacies in such a home-like environment forced him to take a trip down memory lane; to the days where his master and the master's daughter would set the table while he honed his body and mind, at least once in a blue moon.
The other days, his master would chase him around the house, making him prepare the table while wearing bracelets and anklets weighing tens of kilogrammes.
And then there was Lloyd too, who was able to somehow conjure delicacies from all around the world, even though he was just a few years older than him.
Those days were the most pleasant...
Shaking his head, he brought his focus back to the large hall where he was currently seated. The next few moments, he stared blankly at the beach's shore, where the ocean waves crashed, then receded, before crashing again and receding again.
They were never able to move past a certain line, but they still kept on crashing against the sand.
During his younger days, he had imagined such an act of the ocean to have some metaphorical meaning, but as the years passed, he had come to accept that some things happen just because… they happen, leaving behind no deeper meaning.
Taking a deep, long breath, he tied his long hair—a part of which had found its way over his eyes—into a neat bun.
"I'll head to bed now," he said. "Where will you be?"
"Right here, sir," replied Atticus from across the hall, washing the utensils and kitchenware, "I will be ready to serve you as soon as you even mumble my name."
Nodding once, Nox made his way into his bedroom but stopped when Butler suddenly called out for him.
"Ah, sir!" he exclaimed, rushing towards him. "My apologies. I forgot to hand this over to you."
Bowing down, he extended his palm towards Nox, holding out a black card with the name "Menace" written on it in beautiful golden lettering.
"As long as you are in possession of this card, you'll be able to open a direct portal to this room, no matter which floor you are on," he informed, with his head still facing the ground.
"Thank you," Menace replied, sliding the card into his inventory before heading into his room and closing the door behind him.
Removing his red cloak, he hung it on the wooden coat rack kept in the corner before removing his shoes and jumping on the bed—literally, jumping on the bed with his belly facing it.
His face and chest crashed against the soft and bouncy bed, which somehow absorbed all the tiredness he had carried around for the past few days.
Not bothering to lift his body off the bed, he crawled towards the cushions, placing his head atop them, before realising that he would have to get up to cover himself with the white blanket at the edge of the bed.
"Kenichi," he mumbled.
Out of his shadow emerged the assassin, who slowly picked up the edge of the blanket before gracefully pulling it over his master. He did everything in an excruciatingly slow and calm manner, so as not to disturb his master in any way. Respectfully bowing down, he sank back into the shadows.
Soon thereafter, Nox succumbed to the profound and formidable grasp of somnolence, relinquishing itself to the depths of a slumberous abyss.
{Author's note: It means he slept…}
.
.
.
When he opened his eyes, he stood in a large, dark space, the ends of which were not visible. A single orb shone brightly in its dazzling white brilliance high in the air, making the few inches of water on the ground lightly reflect the man's image.
A huge double door with a semicircular top stood tens of metres away from him. It was made of nothing other than normal, dark brown wood, with engravings running all around it.
He had been to this place—the Eternal Library's doorstep—a few times, but this was his first experience seeing an object other than the glowing orb in the sky.
Slowly, with a loud creak, the doors opened, revealing darkness on the other side. It was as if only the door frame was present, leading to... nothing.
He straightened his back, readying himself for anything that could happen at any moment.
But…
Nothing happened.
Silence enveloped the room in all its glory. Not even the occasional ripples created in the water by the man's shifting around made any noise.
After a few minutes passed with nothing but nothingness accompanying him, he finally decided to take slow steps towards the door, darting his eyes around for any sudden movement.
Nonetheless, zilch changed around him. Neither Caligo nor Yinghuo, who usually greet him, had yet appeared.
Nox stopped a single step away from the towering door before him. Straightening his back and taking a deep, long breath, he stepped forward.
[You have entered the First Hall of the Eternal Library]
[All your skills have been sealed temporarily.]
[Your inventory has been sealed temporarily.]