'Oh, no... Oh, no, no, no..' My thoughts rush along with my physical body while I'm trying to understand where to go
Turns out that this place is not only amazingly big but also an amazing labyrinth. Just few minutes ago I got out of my room and took way towards library, yet somehow I'm already lost
Currently surrounding me is one of identical hallways on the thirty-something floor, except this one's carpet was red instead of green (as if it helps me somehow). Especially useful is the fact that there is seemingly no one in any direction, not even a single sound from a far to suggest otherwise
'Hmmm, let's think reasonably. I want to go to the library, which is located on floor 41. I am currently somewhere below it. All I need to do is find a star case that leads upwards, which is still quite a task. Staircases here seem to hide better than I when playing Hide and Seek' I sign before continuing further 'How do people usually find staircases? Are there any secret techniques that can help me with that? Is there somewhere a reincarnate that ca-'
"Excuse me, do you need help? You seem quite lost" Asks a sudden calm male voice from behind
"AAAAAHHH!!" Immediately I respond with a scream
"Oh, I didn't mean to scare you, I'm sorry" Now he responds, while I turn around to find a guy a few inches shorter than me behind. He has a child-like face with circle glasses that cover his big violet eyes, and short black hair. On him is student uniform of gray color with vine-like white patterns, same as the ones that I have found in cupboard of my room
"No.. No, no. Everything is fine, I was just wondering in my thoughts and didn't notice you" I exclaim once control of my body returns
"That is good to know, so were you lost?"
"Yeah, kinda, something like that" Inside I don't really want to admit that I got beaten on my first day "Do you know the way to the library, by any chance?"
He smirks before responding "To your luck, I was also heading there!"
"Do you mean that you are also lost or that you actually know the way?"
"I do know the way" he explains in the same calm manner as before and starts walking in the direction where I went before "Let's go, you were on the right path. The staircase is nearby"
His words turned out to be true as we go further and after first turn to the right find a staircase
"Nice!" I shout while walking towards stairs that lead upwards
"No-no, I didn't mean these stairs, these will not lead us to library... or at least it will be longer path" he stops me before I split my path with his "Ones that I talked about are in one turn to the left and one to the right from here"
"How long have you been in here to know it?" I voice first question that got to my mind
"...One day" He says looking confused himself
"WHAT??" I couldn't believe my ears "What kind of memory do you need to have for that?"
"...My memory is just like any other. Before you paid attention to it I didn't notice myself, but my ability to navigate here does seem exceptionally great for one day..." he tells me while we continue walking by his directions and quickly get to the right staircase "...Let's change subject, why are you going to the library? The year didn't begin yet, not many come there right now"
"I..." I stumble for a bit thinking how much I should tell him before giving my answer "... I just wanted to find out more about my reincarnation"
"That is also what I was doing, I think I am getting close. Did you also have visions?"
"Yes... I did"
"What did you see, I might help you if I know, or is it too personal for you?" He asks understanding that I might not want to tell
"It is sort of personal..."
"I see, I'm not gonna press on you if you don't want to tell me" he then switches direction he is looking from me to somewhere in front "And I still don't exactly comprehend what was it that I saw, or even what it ment. I don't know about you, but mine felt like a cryptogram more than anything else"
"I see, wish you luck"
"Thanks, you too" He cheers me back "And here is the royal library"
We turn around the corner for me to see a large room full of tall shelves that are filled to the brim with different papers and books, lighted by the warm lights of many candles. The shelves go all the way to the sealing, which is approximately 10 feet up. They are made of light wood that even from a distance gives off its old age through cracks and scratches that they have here and there. In the middle of the room is a clearing with a librarian's desk where a lady in glasses is sitting, flipping through something. Surrounding her are a bunch of long tables with chairs where a few other strangers sit and read something of their own. Behind them the jungle of paperwork goes on and on indefinitely
"Uhhh" I mourn knowing that it will probably take quite a lot of work to find what I need "Where is the history section around here?"
He quietly steps inside and points his finger "It is to the right after five flights over there, but things get messy quickly around here, other books might be around in different sections. I found one that I am currently reading in section about magic" then went away to take said book
As we split, I go according to his directions and thankfully don't get lost this time, soon finding shelf with "History" label on it
"Always and Forever, Full History of Aencrown Kingdom, Four Great Wars" I walk around and read random titles of the books "Long Gone Past, All heroes of Second Great War, 300 Awesome Cake Recip- What is this doing here?"
In the end I grab few books that seem to have at least some relevance and go back to the tables where that guy is already reading, which reminds me
"So what's your name?" I ask while dropping pile of books on table and taking a seat
"You are right, I didn't introduce myself. My names Is Reno Detachi" He apologies "And you are...?"
"I am Hideki Izuru" and we jokingly shake our hands as if we just meet
Finally I start going through the books, but after two or three hours that does not hand me anything useful. I made several trips to the history section and went through a dozen books, but none of them had any information about famous alchemists or genocides related to that. Yet I must say "300 Awesome Cake Recipes" turned out be a really fun read (I have no idea how I accidentally took it with other books)
Now I decided to look in other sections and right now just go around randomly, hoping to find something interesting
I go around the corner with "Medicine" title and quickly look around at the books before noticing a quite intriguing find. On one of the shelfs there are big platform-like wide gray mushrooms growing with white sprouts clinging to their tips. Those mushrooms had dark blue auras! After going through the Herbal Guide I easily identified them as "Oldsage Mushrooms", they sometimes grow around places with knowledge, like libraries or wizard laboratories. As I get near I inspect the auras and see "Knowledge" aspect in them
As much as I would like to take it right now, I won't be able to cut it off without my knife, so it will need to wait. This encounter also reminds me that I need to find some bottles, otherwise no more potions for me. I spend a bit more time inspecting the shroom and decide to call it a day here, thinking that this is best find that I could make today
I walk back to the the reading tables where Reno was still reading, now alone as everyone except librarian left
"Could I ask you for another favor?" Say I while approaching
"Huh? Sure, what is it?"
"Could you help me get back to my room?" I reply with puppy eyes