Lucas wandered through the vast library, his eyes scanning the towering shelves for something specific. The soft glow of chandeliers above cast warm pools of light onto the polished wooden floor, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere. The faint scent of parchment and ink mingled with the cool air, making the space feel timeless. It was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of pages being turned or the distant clink of a librarian's cart.
Though Eldric had directed him to the section on elemental magic, Lucas had other intentions. He wasn't here just to learn more about his elements. His curiosity ran deeper. He wanted to understand this world—its monsters, its magic, its kingdoms, and, most of all, Nyxarion. What kind of beings roamed this land? What secrets lay hidden in its history? And what connection could he possibly have to a god?
He began roaming the aisles, pulling books from the shelves and skimming their titles. Most of them didn't hold what he was looking for, and he placed them back carefully, one after another. 'Not this one,' he thought, his fingers brushing against the spines of leather-bound tomes and faded manuscripts. The sheer variety of books was overwhelming—treatises on alchemy, collections of folklore, detailed maps of ancient territories. Time seemed to blur as he continued his search, the hours slipping by unnoticed.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, his hands landed on a few books that caught his interest. One was a compendium of monsters, detailing the creatures that inhabited this world. Another delved into the types of magical elements and the spells they could produce. A third outlined the kingdoms and their histories, offering glimpses into the political landscape. And then there was a book that introduced an entirely new concept to him—Aura. His brows furrowed as he flipped through its pages. 'Aura? You mean mana isn't the only source of power in this world?' The discovery left him both intrigued and unsettled.
Yet, despite his efforts, there was nothing about Nyxarion. He had hoped to find even a fragment of information about the enigmatic god, something that might explain their connection. But the shelves yielded no answers. His chest tightened with frustration, though he quickly pushed the feeling aside. There were still other mysteries to uncover, and this was not the time to dwell on dead ends.
With the books he had selected clutched in his arms, Lucas searched for a place to sit. He eventually found a quiet corner where sunlight streamed through a high, arched window, illuminating a sturdy wooden table. He placed the books down, their weight causing a soft thud, and settled into a chair. The world outside the library seemed to fade away as he opened the first book.
The cover was embossed with a faded illustration of a dragon, its scales rendered in intricate detail. As Lucas began to read, he discovered that the book was the work of a dedicated researcher, someone who had spent their life studying and cataloging the monsters and creatures of this world. It was an impressive feat, and Lucas felt a pang of gratitude for the author's efforts. 'Thanks to their dedication, I might actually learn something useful,' he thought.
Page after page introduced him to an array of creatures. Some were familiar—goblins, orcs, dragons, ogres. Others belonged to races he recognized from myths and legends—elves, dwarves, fairies, mermaids. But what truly caught his attention were the beings he had never encountered before, not even in the stories of his own world. Strange, otherworldly creatures with abilities and appearances that defied logic. Their names were foreign, their descriptions fascinating and, at times, terrifying.
Lucas leaned back in his chair, his mind reeling. He had assumed that this world's monsters would be nothing more than the mythical creatures of Earth brought to life, but he had been wrong. This world held far more than he had anticipated, and it humbled him. His earlier overconfidence now seemed laughable. He had thought his knowledge of Earth would give him an edge here, but the sheer diversity and unpredictability of this world proved otherwise.
'Could this world somehow be connected to Earth?' The question lingered in his mind, refusing to be dismissed. The similarities between the two were uncanny, but the differences were equally stark. He knew pondering it now wouldn't yield any answers, so he forced himself to focus on the task at hand.
When he finally closed the book, he felt a sense of accomplishment. He had gained valuable insights, though he suspected there was still much more to learn. The book likely didn't cover every creature in existence, but it was a start.
'Now for the second book,' he thought, reaching for the volume on elemental magic. As he opened it, the scent of aged paper filled his nostrils, and he felt a renewed sense of determination. There was so much to uncover, and he wasn't about to waste the opportunity.