The four Aarons managed to find some books worth their while after some hours of searching and the reading began. As if mimicking the original, they all sat in lotus position like old monks or sages only that this time they were not absorbing any strange energies or meditating, instead, they were reading.
What Aaron was reading about was not something usual. It cut across history, culture, food and anything a person would need to know about their environment. He had been put at a disadvantage since he reincarnated in this world and he wanted to make up for it.
The first was that he reincarnated without the full extent of his ability and he was yet to find out the upper limit of what he could do. However, Aaron knew that he could not use his full power as the Incubus Lord yet but he didn't know why.
In addition to that, he did not have complete access to the memories of the body he inhabited and this one, for some reason, annoyed him even more than the first. Maybe it was because that was the characteristic that would have given him away long ago if he hadn't looked exactly like Aaron.
He needed to know as much as the original Aaron knew or even more but not less than that and he had to continue that way until he gains access to his lost memories.
Aaron and his replicas went through different books, page after page, reading and absorbing the content of each book, not just glossing over them. The amount of information Aaron received broadened, his pool of knowledge widening.
"There are even other places beyond here," he muttered with profound astonishment, his eyes glimmering like a child who had just discovered something new.
They went on for hours and hours after until the darkfall came and Aaron had to go to sleep.
This was where he experienced some level of difficulty as the stability of his doppelgangers was threatened anytime he shut his eyes to sleep.
The real Aaron could receive any information his doppelgangers received but unfortunately, he won't feel refreshed if one of his clones slept while he stayed awake.
Aaron sucked his teeth out of frustration of having to stay awake through the night.
"And I've still not gotten enough," he complained to himself, knowing that he had to stay awake longer than he planned.
However, being an insightful person, Aaron knew such a sacrifice was nothing compared to the gain. It was worth it.
.
.
.
"It's still some hours before master is out of there," Elsa thought to herself.
She bit her finger and paced back and forth inside her chamber.
"Ahh!" a voice screamed, prompting Elsa to rush to her side.
It was Sister Elene, one of the chieftain's maids that she helped her with her wardrobe issues.
Elene placed her hands firmly over her lower abdomen, wincing in pain and squirming on Elsa's bed like a salted earthworm. She was in severe pain, so much that tears were rolling out from the corners of her eyes.
"Please, calm down, Elene. Please," Elsa pleaded with her.
Elene had tried both the chieftain's and Yana's medicine but neither of these potions were effective or even numbed the pain for a few seconds.
She gritted her teeth and rolled around the bed.
"Where are you, master?"
Meanwhile, King Elda and Yana were outside of Elsa's room wondering about the progress of their medicine was but hearing Elene scream was enough to tell them what they wanted to know.
The potions didn't work.
Growing impatient, the two ladies barged into Elsa's room.
"We'll have to get him out of the library if you're so confident that he can help," King Elda demanded.
Elsa shook her head, disapproving of the chieftain's decision to interrupt her master in the library.
"Let's wait a little longer," Elsa urged them, "the tea I've just given her is yet to kick in but I believe it would buy us a few hours at least."
King Elda clicked her tongue. "There's no time for that!" she exclaimed, about to rush out and fetch Aaron herself.
"You gave him your word, my lady!" Elsa shouted back, going down on one knee.
Her words and action made the chieftain to stop and rethink her decision. She had truly given her guest her word and pulling him out of the Crimson Star Library would be seen as breaking an agreement.
"Tch!"
Elsa continued to massage Elene's lower abdomen gently while making low sounds with her mouth to soothe her. King Elda and Yana watched for a short while before leaving the chamber.
Elsa looked at her door and sighed. "Please get here soon, master."
.
.
.
Hours later.
"Master!" Elsa's voice echoed within the Crimson Star Library as her footsteps hurried in a particular direction, accompanied by two others.
They were searching for Aaron inside the library.
Aaron's eyes fluttered open. Realising that he finally slept off while he was reading, he smacked himself on the forehead.
"Master!" Elsa's voice resonated again and this time, Aaron heard it.
He looked up and around him. "Is it time already?"
Aaron sighed and rose on his feet, shelving the books as the women approached.
"Mast—" Elsa paused. "Thank heavens, there you are!" she said with excitement, hurrying to take Aaron's hands but hesitating the moment she got closer as if second-guessing herself.
Aaron glanced at his hands and then his apprentice and went ahead to hold her hands.
"What is the matter, Elsa?" he asked.
"We need your help, master. One of the maid has been in pain since last night."
Aaron, who was still cranky from lack of sleep, raised his eyebrows in confusion.
"And?" he said, "Did you give her the tea?"
Elsa nodded. "Yes, but it only helped for a while. She is still in pain as we speak."
Aaron sighed and looked ahead to see the two guards waiting for them.
"I don't see how this is my problem but take me to her."
Aaron left the Crimson Star Library with Elsa and the female guards and as the doors closed shut, strange eyes peered from inside the library to the entrance.
The eyes of Aaron's clone.