With an overly desponded look, Aki was pouting in sadness. Beniko and Osuke did give him an earful afterall. They had seen through his haughtiness of completing the assesment without giving up. Finally Osuke came to his rescue.
'Kiddo, you did good by completing the assessment. It was unexpected but don't let this get to your head. Me and your mom know that you are acutely aware of your intellegence. But don't for one second think that you are the only one. If we could see through you, so will your enemies.'
'Aki, you will understand this very soon in more depth but this is not a peaceful world. Your dad and I just want you to not scumb to all of it. We both just love you. Sorry for being so harsh on you. Come, let mommy you a kiss.'
Beniko hugged Aki and gave him a kiss on his head. Seperating from her, he also calmed down and realised that he had been way too excited just now. He has to work on not just his physical but mental abilities as well. This world was on another level in both, compared to his previous one.
'I am sorry mom, dad. I'll be careful and follow your teachings.'
'Good boy.'
Beniko and Osuke nodded approvingly. They proceeded to explain him the training schedule. Also, when he would visit to library.
(Training Plan)
1. Morning training with Osuke: enhancing physicals, close-combats, stealth.
2. Middle of the day- Library first division.
3. Evening training - Weapon mastery with Beniko.
4. Meditative practice with Nozomi.
'Good, rest now. Then I'll take you to library.'
Nodding to her, Aki went to his room. Later, he followed her to the metropolis.
As soon as they appreared outside of their estate, he could see a the huge city spreading far wide. He had seen it earlier during attack but it was completely different from now. The city looked alive as if breathing. He could now appreciate the magnanimity of the city structure. More importantly, tall ancient looking structure whose smaller versions he had seen in his world but comparing them to it would be an offence, to this.. this huge monument of a being. Looking at it, Aki for once felt that Qutb was breathing into the world. He felt as if he could or maybe could not see it rhythmically radiate. Entranced by the site of it, he stopped in tracks staring at it for quite a while.
Noticing his state, Beniko said, 'It's always an amazing site to see.'
'It amazing', Aki murmured. 'Let's go Aki.' Beniko pulled him along and headed towards the expansive library.
'Yes, it would have been amazing if not for the horrors of it. It gives us progress but at what cost', Beniko sighed mentally at her thoughts.
...…
Located at the centre of the metropolis of Sakura was Qutb surrounding which from all sides was the expansive library (or site of thought awakening) available to all. The library had five divisions, each circular floor signifying one division. The first division only had archives and knowledge accumulated by the various estates and the house itself. Consequently, the floors above provided with knowledge, technique, teachers, training areas, visuals and manuscripts; which costed contribution points allotted for military, house efforts and achievements in Qutb.
Outside the library, there were five entries from which five grand roads spread into the thin network of streets of metropolis. Between the roads lay the five estate buildings giving the library a cover of protection. These buildings as they looked from outside were not that simple. There was space concealing and expansion barriers at play. Which looked like any normal mansion from outside was far wider than that on inside. When Qutb disables the barrier, the true space manifests as could be seen as during the attack.
...
Arriving at the library, Aki was amazed at its marvel structure, ceiling clear structured in glass for bright light to pass. He could see it had four floors. Central reading area was apparently available only on ground floor which was first division. Entering, he could see antique looking polished wooden tables with lamp like structure available for each seat on each side. As he gazed forward, he saw an old man sitting at a desk napping with hands behind his head and feet on the table; just opposite to the entrance wall. Suddenly, old man spoke:
'Oh what do we have here, The Crimson Beserker herself. Here for the little one?'
'Lazy old coot, stop calling me that and die already. How much longer are you going to cling those bones?'
'Good morning elder', Aki greeted amidst there banter.
'Ho… well mannered one. Hmmm…, must not be her child then. Who are you with kid?', he asked while stroking his grey beard over the chin and ignoring Beniko's remark.
The temperature started to rise as surrounding area turned bright crimson gradually; Beniko asked, 'Looking for a beating old man? As if a leecher like you deserves any respect. Hmph'.
Hearing that old man laughed, the pressure and color from surrounding dissipated; he said, 'Fiesty as always I see. So, he is your kid. What is your name little one?'
'Akizakura, sir.'
He looked at Beniko and said, 'Unique name… I wonder.'
Beniko quickly changed the topic, 'Mark his entry. He needs access to the first division'.
'Earlier than usual? Last attack?'
'He is ready. Also, last attack.'
He then called Aki closer and tapped on his left shoulder. A five petal flower tattoo manifested. 'It is only temporary but should suffice before he activates his system'.
'Thank you! Elder.'
He waved his hand and said, 'Go on little one'.
...…
'Mom, who was that elder.'
'He is the head librarian right now. You will find him sitting at each entrance of the library. Also, he's your grandpa's friend.'
'Who? Akira or Naoto grandpa?'
'Naoto grandpa. Also, refer to grandpa as Autumn Head when outside.'
'Ok mom.'
'Stay vigilant around the old man. He is not bad but secrets don't remain so in front of him.'
Aki nodded. As they passed over to the reading section, heads turned and few whispers of crimson could be heard. Children reading here didn't recognise Beniko but that doesn't mean adults didn't. Hearing whispers, Beniko released a pulse of energy as a warning; following which all the head turned back and continued reading as if it nothing ever happened.
'Aki, you see those vast array of books here. You have to read and assimilate all the knowledge provided here on ground floor. All your answers are here.'
Hearing that Aki's eyes went wide open. He asked, 'Mom are you serious? This whole floor is just first division? No way, I'll be able to finish and assimilate all of this.'
'You wanted privilege.This is what it takes, this is what it is. Get on with it. The sooner you finish, the sooner you'll get your answers and the sooner we can progress your training.'
Saying that she turned around and walked towards the exit.
Seeing her walk away Aki resigned himself to do the torturous hours of studying. He got chills while thinking of the time when he was studying for exams in previous life. But what could he do, it is how it is. If he wanted answers he'd have to get them himself.
'I wish that mom would have just shown me a section. This is way too humongous of a task. I wonder how long would it take for me to read and assimilate it all.'
Eventually, Aki sighed and walked towards the nearest of the racks. It read history.
'Arghh.. greaattttt… to start off I get history'. Breathing deeply, he tried to pick a book from the rack; when he noticed that each rack had five rows and every row was filled with copies of one or two books. So essentially in a rack there were no more than ten books for him to read. 'Oh!! Why did I not think of this. So many people reading from same library. Obviously they need more copies of same the book'. This gave him some motivation and he got to work while mentally laughing at his stupidity.
The title of the first book was: 'Accounts of battles with Invasions and Invaders'.
Aki sat down on an empty desk and sat there. Hours passed as he read through the accounts. The earliest of battle with invaders recorded here was in 3rd year of Mular calander when the House of Sakura was first established (current:- 335 mular years). He read about the various accounts and significant contributors of the house till 330 mular years. Next publication of any recent development were yet to be published.
He also read about why Beniko was called Crimson Beserker. It's related to how she took an entire army of Niröhès and the guardian of the realm all by herself on a mission to capture the secret realm now accessible to House. It also described a time when the house got nearly destroyed from the invasion in year 10.
Time passed as Aki finished the book. He closed his eyes to understand and calm his mind. Closing the book he got up and placed it back in the rack. Seeing how it already past the lunch time, he reached the main desk to ask for mom when he saw Beniko waving at him.
'Time to go?'
'Mhm.'