"Even if I've already promised you three years, I can still do this much."
[The loyalty of subordinate
The new prompt came as a huge relief for Lloyd. This was a monumental stride forward and one that, he hoped, would be the foundations of a relationship that'd endure the test of time.
"I'm glad you see my potential, and I guarantee that you won't be disappointed."
"Don't mess it up."
Alexander's retort was a bit derisive, which made him grumble. It was clear that their partnership still required a ton of work, but he at least didn't have to worry anymore about him leaving at the first sign of trouble.
"See you tomorrow then."
And with that, the engineer severed the connection, his mind at ease and slowly slipping into the void…
⁂
When he woke up, he felt refreshed. It had been a long time since he'd slept so well, especially considering his last few torturous days on Earth. After stretching for a bit, he also realized that he still wasn't hungry, something he found quite odd. However, he knew that his vitality was now higher than the average, which he assumed was reducing his need for food, or so was his theory. Still, if he ever got hungry, he'd just go to one of the restaurants.
Following this train of thought, he then looked outside and noticed that dawn hadn't yet reared its head, giving him ample time to go to the library before Alejandro's arrival. It was time to hurry and reap every benefit.
After quickly dressing up and getting ready, he rushed down the corridors leading to the library, arriving before the two magnificent doors in a matter of minutes. They were still as beautiful as he remembered, but he didn't admire them for longer than necessary before rushing inside.
As he ventured deeper, a well-appointed desk, presided over by an immaculately dressed and striking madam, drew his attention. While unfamiliar with her from their previous tour, he surmised that she was the librarian.
"Hello there!"
Unfortunately for him, his greeting was crude and rushed, compelling the woman to spare him but a brief glance as she continued her duties.
"My name's Dolores, and I'm the United Inn's librarian. How can I help you today?"
Her voice, laced with an undertone of disapproval, nudged him to hastily apologize for his indiscretion.
"I'm terribly sorry, but I'm in a bit of a hurry… I'd like to read some books about elementary magic and armaments."
Her eyes narrowed at the request before she raised her head to scrutinize Lloyd, clearly puzzled as to why a merchant wanted to learn about magic. Nonetheless, she still complied.
"Sure, give me a moment."
She then took out a small, wooden wand from one of her drawers and, delicately, waved it in the air, as if giving it a command. What followed next, however, was something the engineer had never expected. Out of nowhere, he saw that half a dozen books had taken flight simultaneously, finally coming to a rest on the desk in a near silent thud, a compliment to their gracious landing. Magic truly was something he'd never tire of. As for their size, they were all very daunting, each brimming with thousands of pages. He had expected the basics to be just that, but it appeared he had vastly underestimated the field.
"Which one would you like to read today?"
The librarian's voice roused him from his awestruck stupor, causing him to stumble over his words.
"I uh... would like to read this one."
He pointed towards a volume entitled 'Elementary Magic: The 101 Things You Should Absolutely Know!', leading Dolores to wave her wand again to send back the other books.
"Judging from your reaction, I believe it's your first time here. The rules are simple: Do not damage the books; Do not leave this room with the books; Do not copy the books. Do you agree to these terms?"
Her tone was cold and sharp, with her delivery making him shiver. These weren't mere guidelines; they were more akin to divine commandments, which made him fear for the poor souls that had dared to defy them.
"Yes, thank you very much."
But just as he was about to leave, he figured it'd be nice to learn about which enchantments the wand possessed.
[The
[Magic-imbued oak wand. The enchantment used is
The interaction barely took a few seconds, which made him look more interested than overly curious. He also figured that the more he used it, the lesser its activation time would become, an advantage he wanted to push further. Satisfied, he took what he now realized to be a heavy tome before swiftly navigating towards an unoccupied table, sinking into the welcoming comfort of the chair next to it. This was it, the moment he had yearned for and the start of his journey into the unknown. But just as he flipped open the cover, he felt his surroundings beginning to fade as an indescribable sensation suddenly took ahold of him. It was in fact so strong that it had begun to overwhelm him, his consciousness seemingly expanding and devouring the world around him. It simply felt like his soul had transcended the confines of his physical form, as if trying to become a celestial observer of the world.
[The
The notorious message materialized within the depths of his mind, rendering him momentarily speechless. Was this really the moment when his second skill would reveal itself?!
[
Lloyd was floored, with his heart rate going through the roof. What... What was this?! Was this the missing piece that
"Yes."
[The book is currently being assimilated. Estimated time remaining until completion: 2 hours.]
Ahhh, there it was. The restriction. This cold shower yanked him back from his reveries, although still leaving him in disbelief over his extraordinary fortune. He had somehow acquired two skills that synergized flawlessly, thus providing him with a clear path going forward. His day was just shaping up to be beyond his wildest dreams.