After the lunch, the three parted and went about on their separate ways. Lilith and Helen headed back to class while Charles went to prepare the necessary items and equipment he'll use to train Lilith.
But first, he needed to make a detour to the library. Not the one in Headmaster Medea's that's practically a labyrinth of forbidden and dark knowledge. Rather, the public library of Babylonia Academy that can be accessed by the public.
"What do you mean I'm not allowed inside!? Surely you've seen the recent match of me duelling Prince G-Albert?"
Or at least it was supposed to be open to the public.
The librarian, a comically stout and buck-toothed green turtle, wearing a red bow-tie and thick-rimmed glasses, spoke with an annoying, nasally and disinterested voice from behind a wooden desk that was far too large for him.
"Sir, I'm afraid it is against Academy policy to allow people into the library without a Babylon Orb."
Irritated, Charles asked.
"Well, how do I get a Babylon Orb?"
The turtle took a bite of his fly sandwich, taking a nice long while to chew on it before gulping it down and replying.
"Staff members and students can get their orbs at the front desk of the school, if an Orb is lost or destroyed, staff and students can apply and get a new one in between one to two weeks.
In the case of visitors and guests such as yourselves, it may take up to a month for you to receive a Guest Orb that gives you access to the most basic facilities such as the library. However, it may take longer than that given the recent security protocols that have taken place."
Charles' brow twitched, annoyed, before taking a deep breath and calmly asking the turtle.
"Is there a way I can gain access to the library within today? It's very important."
The turtle, responded while shuffling some papers.
"The fastest way you could possibly gain access is through the permission of one of the High Table members or from the Headmaster herself."
Charles POV:
"You can't be serious."
The blasted turtle reconfirmed his words.
I let out a sigh.
I really hoped it didn't have to come to this but it seems I have no other choice. I already owed her several favours for allowing me to have access to the school's forge and some of its crafting materials.
It is extremely disgraceful for a noble and knight such as myself to owe so many favours.
As I was about to bid the annoying turtle a good day (manners are important after all) and leave the library, a familiar voice full of maturity and cheerfulness rang in my ears.
"Why hello, Sir Charles! Fancy meeting you here!"
I spun around and saw a tall, well-proportioned pink-haired girl enter the library.
Before I could return the greeting, the asthmatic turtle beat me to it with a stutter.
"M-M-Miss I-Isabella! W-W-Welcome to the l-l-library! I-Is there anything I can d-d-do for y-y-you!?"
Ah, men! No matter how great the man, they'll always be reduced to nothing more than slobbering puppies begging for attention before a beautiful woman.
Miss Isabella took notice of the turtle librarian and greeted him as well, albeit her greeting to him was more stiff and formal compared to mine. Take that you lousy asthmatic paper-pushing reptile!
After greeting the librarian. Isabella asked what I was doing in the library, I told her what my purpose here was.
"You need to gain access to the library? No problem! I can just bring you with me using my Orb. I happened to be sent by my professor to collect some textbooks that have just been ordered and dropped off here in the library."
"Ah! Perfect! You have done me a great service. I must pay you back sometime for this favour."
Isabella giggled.
"No need to be so dramatic, it's not like you owe me your life or anything, treating me to a simple luncheon on the weekend will suffice."
I returned a smile.
"Nonsense! I might not owe you my life but you'll help certainly be owed the life of someone else! If you insist on me repaying this favour with a meal, then I must treat you to a renowned and reputable restaurant! It is the least I should do, and you can't change my mind about that."
"Oh, alright! I-"
Before the pink-haired beauty could respond. The annoying asthmatic reptile librarian cut in.
"H-hold on just a minute! Y-you can't do that M-miss Isabella! You can't go to a res- go into the library with this man! I-it's against the policy!"
Oi, fly breath, everyone can see you're infatuated with her. You aren't fooling anyone here with your clumsy act.
As I felt the itch to strangle the turtle librarian grew greater and my patience wearing thin. Isabella timely stepped in to convince the little bug-eyed b*stard.
"Aww, can you overlook it just once? He's a special guest of the Headmaster and you wouldn't want the Headmaster to be mad if she found out a certain staff member refused her honoured guest entry to one of the most basic and harmless facilities in the school, right?"
The turtle's green skin turned paler than milk.
"YEEEK! I Understand, I'll grant him entry at once!"
The poor pasty fellow quickly grabbed a record book from a drawer behind his desk and handed it to us for it to be signed.
We used the feather and ink on his desk to write our signatures then made our way into the library.
I must say, I feel awfully sorry for the poor fella. Although he left a poor impression on me, being threatened by the girl you like isn't a nice experience. Especially if they threaten to snitch you to their big-shot connections, but if I hadn't relied on such tactics, I wouldn't able to access the information I need to help train and prepare Miss Lilith for her upcoming duel.
Pushing aside my pointless thoughts, I scoured the library for the information I need.
If you thought it the scale and grandeur of the library would be on par with Miss Medea's personal connection, you'd be wrong.
Certainly it's large, with massive bookcases filled with hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of books, which required fifteen-feet tall ladders to reach the top-most books but it is nowhere comparable to the endless maze that was Miss Medea's private collection of forbidden tomes and grimoires.
If it weren't for Miss Isabella's timely arrival, I would have surely gotten lost.
On the topic of Miss Isabella, what exactly is her relationship with Miss Medea? Clearly it isn't just a simple student and principal relationship.
For a student to be able to use the name of the highest authority figure of the school, they must have a close relationship.
Just what sort of relationship do they have?
"What are you thinking about?"
My head turned to look at Miss Isabella, who had a smile on her face.
I entertained the idea of asking what her relationship with Miss Medea was, but I decided to hold in my curiosity and respect her privacy.
"Oh, nothing much, I was just wondering where the books and maps of the local geography of the Academy is."
The smiling pink-haired beauty answered.
"Oh, if that's what you're looking for, then I suggest going twenty-one bookshelves down and thirteen to the right. I'll take you there in case you get lost."
I followed her to the bookshelf she stated. Then, Miss Isabella took a few books and a folder off the shelf and handed them to me.
"These are the materials you're probably looking for, do you need anything else?"
I gave a nod.
"Can you also get me a book of all the local monsters, wildlife and fauna?"
Miss Isabella smiled and nodded.
She took me to another shelf where she gave me a thick red book that had what I wanted.
"I'm not entirely sure what you intend to do with these books but I wish you the best of in what you're trying to achieve."
I smiled, grateful for her support.
"Thanks, the next time we meet, I'll be sure to treat you to a meal."
"You're welcome, I honestly haven't done much besides giving a tour and the books you need but I'll still gladly accept your invitation. I best get going now, my teacher and classmates must still be waiting for those textbooks."
We bid each other farewell and parted ways, for now. Before she left, she asked me if I could find my way back. I gave a positive reply and then she actually left.
I looked down at the bundle of knowledge in my hands. This will be the key for Miss Lilith to win her duel.
"Alright, let's find a place to sit and read."
An hour or two passed by as I found a place to sit and learned all the information in the books and documents given to me. Thank the goddess for your greater brain/mental-processing blessing. Without it, I would surely have had to struggle a lot more in the tests and subjects taught back in my student years.
After finishing the materials and closing the last book with a resounding thump, I asked a nearby student what the time was.
It was roughly a quarter until three. By my world's standards, that means class should be dismissed in fifteen minutes.
Shoot!
Speaking of class, I haven't told Miss Helen where to meet for our afternoon practice sessions! Ah, well, I guess I'll just go to her homeroom and pick her up there.
I left the library under the jealous gaze of the turtle library and headed off to Miss Emily's classroom.
Lilith POV:
Damn! I know I should have expected this but isn't it a little too soon!?
As for what I was expecting, it is of course, the gazes of hatred and constant actions of harassment from just about everyone in the classroom, except for Helen and that weird girl named Shelly who had a pink cotton ball for a Familiar. I have to admit though, it does look a little bit cute.
What the hell am I thinking right now!?
Snap out of it, Lilith! You're currently surrounded by a horde of demons who won't hesitate to tear you apart if you show an opening!
I'm not exaggerating, if you look behind and around me, almost everyone in the class looked as if they've been possessed by a demon of slaughter and were out for my blood.
Just what exactly have either I or my family done to deserve such animosity?
The only thing keeping me alive and not bleeding on the floor, bruised and half-dead is Helen's presence.
You'd not believe how many times I was targeted within the last few hours.
Ever since lunch ended, the times I've been harassed have reached past the double digits. It was only thanks to Helen secretly thwarting their attempts and sticking close to me did they decide to finally quit and switched over to intimidation instead.
I might still not have forgiven her for what she did several years ago but I'm grateful for the favour she's doing me.
Perhaps I should...
No, I shouldn't associate with her anymore than this, even if our relationship is fixed. Her associating herself with me will cause her reputation to fall, jeopardising her chances of ascending the throne. I'd much rather have her be the ruler than Albert or her other siblings, she's the most tolerant one out of them.
Speaking of Helen, I glanced to my right where Helen sat. The beautiful first princess of Beland quietly wrote notes on the lecture Miss Emily was giving in her notebook.
I'm impressed she could silently take notes in the middle of such a volatile situation/environment. Part of the reason might be all the hostility was directed toward me. Honestly, I wonder why she doesn't detest me or anyone from my family?
If it were any of her other siblings, they'd make life even more hellish, especially that b*stard Albert. Once, I've gained enough strength and power, I'll be sure to pay him back ten-fold for all the bullying done to me in the past by his hands.
Crap! I forgot to ask my Familiar when and where we're supposed to meet for my training!
These worries were soon dispelled as the dismissal bell rang and a familiar black-suited and white-cloaked old man walked through the classroom doors.
Everyone in the class, including me, Helen and Miss Emily, had no time to react before the old man walked up to me and conjured a Teleportation Circle, whisking me away to unfamiliar grassy plains and fields.
As we reappeared in this location, I suddenly had a bout of nausea, feeling my head being split open and the contents of my stomach rising up.
I tried with all my might to force my lunch back down, I can't let the Golden Fruits leave my body. But I was struggling against the inevitable.
*Barfing and Hurling SFX*
The tea, cheesecake and precious Golden Fruits spewed out of my mouth and onto the grassy grounds, forming a puddle of vomit-yellow gruel.
"NOOO!!! My precious Golden Fruits!!!"
It should be known that aside from giving one vitality and youth. It can significantly increase one's mana capacity after the body has fully digested the fruit. The increase varied depending on the individual.
Even if I couldn't use magic, it still hurts to see such valuable and precious treasure/food wasted.
My knees became weak and I fell onto all fours as I silently wept.
Not understanding my sorrows, that insensitive old man cheerfully spoke.
"Come now! Up on your feet Miss Lilith! There is no time to waste! Every second counts! We have only one week, so let's give it everything we got! By we, I mean you, you're the one that's training after all."
I told him off.
"Keep quiet for a few moments will you!? My stomach feels like it was wrung out by a muscular wrestler, my head feels like someone tried to hammer a chisel through it and, oh! The fruits! My precious fruits! They've gone to waste!"
The old knight looked at me with pity that disgusted me, I'm not some mentally-challenged child who needs special care, g*oddamnit!
The next thing that happened made me completely forget my annoyance and ungratefulness toward him was...
"Geez, I didn't know those gold apples were so valuable. Here, it's a good thing I pocketed a few."
In front of me in the palm of his gloved left hand was a Golden Fruit, in all it's splendour and glory. It somehow seemed to radiate more holiness, magic and power than the ones I ate in the cafeteria.
I grabbed the apple and immediately began eating it.
Did I say Sir Charles was insensitive? Nonsense! He's a saint!