Kerren spent a considerable amount of time in the library. Sadly, however, he didn't find any useful books.
Yeah, he did find some that were of use for other people, mostly it was just basic magic theory and some crappy theories regarding spellcraft and other magical stuff.
It was of no interest to Kerren himself as he already knew more than those books told about.
However, he still copied more than 20 of them. He needed to pretend that he didn't find any but those, and that those were useful to him!
Thus, he walked around the library and looked for other things that could be useful. His gaze fell of books related to "Sword-Aura" which was a thing mostly used by knights and swordmasters.
People thought that it was a manifestation of their will and passion, some even added talent to this formula. It was not baseless as only those with such characteristics could even dream of learning it, but reaity was much more cruel.
In reality that "sword-aura" was just a buff spell that people could use. It didn't matter who it was, what talent he had, the only thing that did matter is knowledge about it. Of course, different people had different auras because they all used their own methods to get it, but the spell itself had one use.
Kerren wasn't interested in it. He didn't even need to buff any of his weapons or anything like that, he could use it to protect himself but... he had better option. The reason behind his interest in those was obviously so he could sell those books later on.
Of course, he wont reveal that using that aura was not a problem for anybody and that it was just a buff spell. As practice he even made his own aura while he thought about it, it wasn't anything hard as this was a basic spell that sharpened the sword or added some properties to it.
Even the visual part of the spell could be changed according to one's will, thus Kerren's "aura" was black & white, resembling what he looked like while he was in the purgatory.
Why would he choose those colors? Because white aura with dripping black particles looked badass! That's the only reason, it didn't serve any practical use as a completely different part of the spell sharpened & protected the sword.
If he wished to he could even make it completely invisible, making his enemies wonder why he's not using any aura, but why would he? It wasn't badass and it's not like he would use any aura in the first place, he was a mage!
After a day or so Kerren finally looked through all of the books in the library. To his utter dissapointment he didn't find anything useful at all! Every book that he copied was of basic level and wasn't anything special.
Thus, he decided to simply complete the mission and hope that he would get something great for doing so, it was an "S" rank dungeon after all.
However, as he walked back to the mansion the "maid" suddenly appeared out of nowhere and immediately bowed.
- Young Master, the patriarch noticed your change and told me to ask you what was the purpose of your visit to the library.
Kerren, of course, knew that he was being watched. It was due to his new spell that he completed with the help of two books that Yusaya gave him last time, which were "Insight" and "Inspect" books.
He didn't get those skills to his status panel, he decided that doing so was foolish! He simply read those in his free time and modified his own spell with their help.
It wasn't anything great and, at best, was a combination of "Insight" and "Inspect" that were at level 2 or so, however, it did have an amazing bonus...
He didn't need to activate it! Usually, one would need to focus to use those skills, Kerren, however, could see things that couldn't be seen normaly as it provided him passive help. Due to that he named it "Modified Vision".
Of course, it had it's own downsides as it consumed a total of 15% of his total mana at all times, meaning that he could only use 85% of it, but still, it was a great trade for such an amazing ability.
- I wanted to get more knowledge about magic and aura in particular. But, i'm greatly dissapointed that our library doesn't have any books that i find interesting.
He answered in a somewhat dignified manner, pretending that he is a real noble. Of course, he didn't know how Julien himself talked, so using a dignified manner of speech was a safe bet for him.
He could just say that he suddenly understood that he is a noble and must act like one, who would question that?
- Oh, i see. Then, the patriarch would like you to prove that you need those books to improve yourself. After all, you've seen all the ones family's knights used to get sword aura and didn't find them of any use. Does that mean that u're already on a level of a knight or above?
Her answer made Kerren feel strange. Was she the one questioning him, or was it the patriarch? If that's the latter - how did he do that? Of course, he knew that communication spells existed, but he didn't see any disturbanced in natural mana-flow...
Unless... the maid could conceal such things... That didn't surprise him, he felt that it was possible, thus he stopped thinking about it.
He, however, didn't know what to say next, thus decided to play along...
- I see... How can i prove myself, then? I wonder if you have any advice?
Why not? If she told him that he needs to prove himself she must have a way for him to do so. After all she too should be interested in him climbing to a higher position as her guard.
- Hm... -- she thought for a while -- I think beating up the 3rd Young Master will improve your position in the family. After all, he bullied you for such a long time, now, if you start bullying him you will get his position in the hierarchy and gain respect from your father.
Her idea was somewhat grand. How could a waste like Julien beat his brother, who was a knight already? That boy didn't even know how to use aura, unlike his 3rd brother! What the hell did she even offer him?..
However, since Kerren wasn't Julien, who was, in his eyes, a complete and utter dissapointment and simply a waste that should be thanking gods for being born in a rich family, he would accept such proposal!
- Fine, arrange the duel for me. I think it's time for me to get what's mine! -- Kerren said as if he was preparing for it his whole life...
...
Soon after Kerren and his older brother were on the arena. There weren't many spectators and that little number mostly was of maids and butlers who had nothing better to do.
As Kerren stood there silently, his older brother constantly talked, trying to anger Kerren for some reason.
Kerren himself, of course, didn't bother answering back as it was not the time for that.
Soon, the "maid" announced the start of the duel and they started "fighting".
Why "fighting"? Because the whole duel was a joke from the very beginning. When Kerren was offered a sword he told the maid that he would beat his brother with a branch, but she didn't allow it.
Then, he said that he'll use a wooden sword to assert his dominance and superior talent. She wanted to refuse that as well,but suddenly changed her mind. As Kerren understood it was the partiarch who instructed her to do that.
About the fight itself... Well... Kerren didn't even bother attacking, he simply dodged every single attack of his opponent, making him insanely agitated. To top it off he even mocked him for being talentless!
It angered him even more and his attacks became more fierce, he even used his sword-aura that wasn't present in the beginning, it looked like he was ready to kill "Julien"!
However, even after 5 or so minutes he couldn't hit him even once. Beads of sweat already formed on his forehead and he himself breathed loudly. It was clear that he already lost, as "Julien" was as calm as he could be.
- He's not even tired! He wasn't even breathing as if he did something!
- It was as if he just rested! What stamina he had!?
Some of the spectators couldn't help but comment on what they saw.
Of course, it was all due to his body, he couldn't get tired even if he wanted to. That, however, did expend some of his mana, but it was far from being noticeable.
Kerren got bored with that "duel" of his and decided to end it there...
- So, brother, dont you think that it's time to end this?
Kerren announced as he smiled. Then, he immediately appeared right front on the guy and simply bashed his head with a sword. It didn't kill him, doing so woult anger the patriarch, he simply showed how superior he was!
He didn't use aura, he didn't attack, he simply dodged! One could even say that he won this duel without fighting since it was the 3rd young master who got tired on his own! If he didn't attack that much he'd still be fine!
...
Some servants cheered, some were gloomy and some even shocked by the outcome! Some even made money from betting on the winner! Some madman won a large sum of coins by betting all he had on "Julien"!
As the duel concluded the "maid" approached Kerren...
- The patriarch wants to see you, Young Master.
- Gladly.
That was all they said to each other before they started walking.
After 2 or 3 minutes they arrived to a big door somewhere in the mansion. Kerren felt that even if he walked the same path again he would end up in a different place.
- Please
The "maid" said as she pointed both of her hands at the door while bowing.
Kerren didn't think too much about the grandiose door or anything around him as he entered the room...
What he saw was... Shocking, to say the least!
This guy before him... the patriarch... Was at least A rank! He was insanely strong!