The afternoon sun began to dip lower, casting a warm light through the tall windows of the Velk family library. Seraphina moved slowly along the shelves, opening each of the books as she flipped through them— to Lorian, it looked as if she was just skimming them, while in truth she was storing them for later.
Lorian's incessant chatter had provided more insight than he realized. as occasionally he would chime in with information about his family or the city— which Seraphina found very useful.
His pride in his family and his eagerness to impress her made him careless— speaking freely about many things that normal people would have no access to.
The Tier-2 method intrigued her the most.
Though it was inferior to her own Shinster Method, it would be perfect for the group she was forming in the undercity— not to mention it could be useful to fuse with the incomplete method.
Its limitations would ensure they didn't grow beyond their usefulness while still providing them with enough power to serve her purposes.
She didn't ignore the various rudimentary methods Lorian had collected— it was much more than the public library had, and she made sure to memorize each of them. They would be useful for finishing her own incomplete method.
Lorian hovered nearby, his expression eager as if waiting for her approval or admiration.
"You have quite the collection."
Seraphina said, turning toward him. Her voice carried a touch of genuine curiosity, though she masked her true intentions.
"Have you studied any of these methods yourself?"
"Of course!"
Lorian said, puffing out his chest.
"I've started practicing the Tier-2 method of my family. My goal is to become a knight worthy of leading our family's forces one day. Though..."
His tone grew sheepish as he hesitated slightly.
"I haven't progressed as quickly as I'd hoped. It's a demanding method, as you can imagine."
"Indeed."
Seraphina said, suppressing a smirk. It was clear he lacked both the discipline and talent to fully master the method.
"Have you ever considered why the methods are so limited? Why does their effectiveness decrease as one approaches their upper tier?"
Lorian blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question.
"Well, that's just how it is, isn't it? The closer you get to the pinnacle of a method, the more challenging it becomes to advance. Only the most gifted can surpass the method's limits."
"Gifted— or desperate."
Seraphina murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly. Her tone was light, but her mind was already working through the possibilities— she needed to see this Tier-2 method firsthand.
Perhaps Lorian could be manipulated into letting her see it— or at least revealing its location to her.
"Do you keep a copy of the Tier-2 method here?"
She asked casually, her gaze scanning the shelves.
Lorian hesitated, his expression shifting.
"Ah, no. That one is kept in the vault. My father insists on it— says it's too valuable to leave out. Only the head of the family and a select few have access to it."
"Understandable."
Seraphina said smoothly.
"A method like that is a treasure. Your father must be very careful with who he trusts."
"Exactly."
Lorian said, nodding vigorously— however, when he noticed the disappointed look on her face, he hesitated for a second before speaking again.
"But if you'd like, I could show you the training manual for our soldiers. It's not as advanced, but it's still an excellent foundation."
Seraphina pretended to consider the offer, though inwardly she knew that it would do for now.
"If that's ok with you, I would be glad to see it."
Lorian beamed at her response, his pride swelling once again as he motioned for her to follow.
"Of course, of course! It's always a pleasure to share my family's efforts with someone who truly appreciates the art of knighthood."
He led her out of the library and towards the training area of the knights, or at least an area that looked like one— the only oddity was the lack of people.
Inside the training ground were a few shelves that held simpler tomes, the spines marked with more practical titles such as Foundational Aura Techniques and Training Manuals of the Eastern Guard.
"This is where we keep the soldier's manuals and supplementary texts. It's accessible by all our family knights, so it's not a big secret, but it can't be shared outside."
Lorian explained, pulling out a modestly bound book.
His cover was unadorned save for the embossed title: The Velk Guard Method.
"This is the one we use for our enlisted knights and soldiers. It's a Tier-1 method, but don't let that fool you— many families would kill for even this."
He handed her the book with a sense of reverence, clearly expecting her to share his awe, as he did so he spoke again.
"I trust you won't go telling others about it, right?"
While he trusted her and knew that she couldn't memorize it with a single glance, he wanted to make sure she wouldn't go talking about it with other people— just in case.
Seraphina accepted it with a nod, running her fingers over the cover as she opened it and began skimming the pages. In truth, her focus wasn't on reading but on committing the contents to her mental library.
Her violet eyes glimmered faintly as she absorbed the text, her ability working seamlessly.
"It's very comprehensive."
She said, nodding thoughtfully.
"Your family must have invested a great deal to acquire this as well."
"Naturally!"
Lorian said, his chest puffing out again.
"My father always says that the strength of a family lies in its soldiers. The Tier-2 method is reserved for the family's inner circle, but this— this is the backbone of our forces."
He paused, clearly waiting for her to say something more.
"It's impressive."
She said finally in an off-handed comment, closing the book and handing it back.
"I can see why your family has maintained such a strong reputation."
Lorian's grin widened.
"You flatter me, Lady Seraphina. I know you wish to be a knight, I know that you might not have a method of your own."
The man spoke, but his words trailed off into a hushed tone, as if shyness overtook him— his fingers fidgeting nervously.
"I could ask my father to share a copy with you if you're willing to..."
The man couldn't carry on but his intentions were clear on his face— Seraphina even felt uncomfortable watching him struggle so much.
She had no intentions of getting into any such relationship with the man— she was merely using him for the method, a friend was the most he could ever be.
"I wouldn't want to impose."
"Not at all!"
Lorian waved off her concern.
"But if that's what you want."
He seemed a bit dejected after the rejection, but he tried to keep his chin up by acting friendly regardless— not showing it on his face.
"Thank you for the offer."
She said, her tone soft but sincere enough to keep him placated.
The promise of a copy, though useful, wasn't her ultimate goal nor did she need it.
As Lorian carefully replaced the manual on the shelf, Seraphina's mind shifted to the vault where the Tier-2 method was kept. If she could gain access to it, even for a short time, it might provide the edge she needed for her group.
"Does your father manage all the vault's contents himself?"
She asked casually, feigning idle curiosity.
"Mostly, yes. Though I've been entrusted with a few keys to less sensitive areas. The vault is primarily used for storing artifacts and texts too valuable to leave unguarded."
"And how often is it accessed?"
"Rarely."
Lorian admitted.
"My father prefers to keep everything secure unless absolutely necessary. Even I haven't been in there for a while."
Seraphina nodded, filing the information away. It was clear that gaining access to the vault would require either Lorian's cooperation or an entirely different approach.
"I've taken up enough of your time."
She said after a moment.
"Thank you for showing me your collection— it's been enlightening."
"Anytime, Lady Seraphina."
Lorian said, bowing slightly.
"You're welcome here whenever you wish."
"I look forward to it."
She said with a faint smile.
She was shortly led out of the room, and out the mansion— making her way back to the inn with much gain today.