Returning to reality, Furen decided he should first try the method of role-playing an Apprentice. After all, aside from a few sequences, he had no idea how to properly embody the pathway leading from "Apprentice" to "Door."
Suddenly, a possibility struck Furen: what if he had traveled to the same era as Klein? What if he, too, was one of the "Recipients" of the "Sefirah Castle"? This thought sent a surge of excitement through him. Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, it would still make a significant difference. His entire advancement plan could be scrapped and rebuilt from scratch.
With that hope burning in his chest, Furen disregarded his disheveled state, a faint blush of anticipation spreading across his face as he scrambled toward the kitchen.
Upon reaching the kitchen, Furen forced himself to calm down. A faint smile, born of speculation and tempered by caution, appeared on his face as he reminded himself: "Don't get too hopeful. Stay composed."
In this alternating state of joy and rationality, Furen found four local staples of Trier—golden bread rolls. Known for their golden hue and soft, flaky crust, these loaves were a Northern Continent delicacy.
Carrying the four golden loaves, Furen returned to his bedroom, pulled the curtains shut, and let the sunlight that filtered through bathe his face in a warm, hopeful glow.
Placing the four loaves in the four corners of the room, Furen waited a few minutes to steady his mood before beginning the ritual at the center of the room.
"Blessed Life, Mystic and Earthly Immortal Lord," he intoned solemnly, taking the first step.
"Blessed Life, Mystic and Heavenly Monarch," he continued, moving forward with unwavering determination.
"Blessed Life, Mystic and Earthly Supreme Deity," he said, his expression becoming even more solemn as he took the third step.
"Blessed Life, Mystic and Earthly Exalted of the Heaven," he concluded, exhaling a deep breath as though releasing a weight from his chest, before taking the final step.
Completing the ritual, Furen closed his eyes and waited in silence. However, three minutes passed, and nothing happened.
Seeing this, Furen sighed. "In the end, I was too hopeful," he murmured, smiling wryly at himself. "Really, I should've known better. Anyone connected to the Sefirah Castle has an item they can use to establish a connection. Roselle had a deck of cards, Klein had his fortune-telling ritual, and the Lady of the Night had... something unknown. But me? I have nothing."
Furen closed his eyes briefly, then shifted his focus back to the task at hand. For now, the most pressing issue was to embody the role of the "Apprentice."
In Trier, the best place to acquire new knowledge was undoubtedly the city's landmark building—the Trier National Library.
Without hesitation, Furen re-explored the rooms he had searched the day before, gathered any money and items he might need, and left his house.
Trier's architecture was distinctly Intis in style, its streets bustling with activity. Ornate streetlamps adorned the sidewalks, their gold accents lending the buildings a touch of opulence. The city was grand without crossing into excess.
The roads of Trier, however, were far from smooth. Regardless, every city had its wealthy districts, where the level of affluence often outstripped the times. The Gilded Hanson District was such a place.
Though Trier's slums were alarmingly vast and appallingly filthy, its noble and wealthy areas were opulent beyond compare. Outsiders were often awed by the city's grandeur, but only a trip to the slums—perhaps even the poorest quarters—would reveal the city's true future.
Furen hailed a four-wheeled carriage. As the coachman stopped, he climbed aboard and said, "To the Trier National Library, please. Thank you."
As the carriage began its slow journey, Furen reflected on his memories of the Trier National Library—a gem of Trier, a source of pride for the Republic of Intis, and one of the largest libraries in the world. The other, of course, was the Beacon of Knowledge Library in Lenburg.
The two libraries were associated with different forces. The Trier National Library was supported by the Church of the God of Steam and Machinery, while the Lenburg library was jointly maintained by the city of Lenburg and the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom. The Trier National Library was a repository of general knowledge, while the Lenburg library specialized in advanced academic materials.
In this age of steam, many groundbreaking theories and inventions were closely tied to these two institutions.
Admission to the Trier National Library had only one requirement: cleanliness. Dirty or damaged books were a source of deep regret and anger to the staff. However, as long as one wasn't excessively unkempt, even the poor were often allowed entry—thanks to the leniency of the Steam Church priests. Unfortunately, for many impoverished people, survival took precedence over accessing knowledge.
Knowledge was both invaluable and cheap—priceless when sought, yet so easily discarded.
The Trier National Library's exterior wasn't as ostentatious as the surrounding gilded buildings. Instead, it was a pure white structure. This simplicity did not alienate the followers of the Eternal Blazing Sun; in fact, the library had been jointly established by the Sun and Steam Churches. White, after all, was one of the favored colors of the Sun Church.
The coachman, familiar with the routes, deliberately avoided slum areas—not to lengthen the journey for profit, as fares were time-based, but simply because the roads through the slums were far too unpleasant. From the Gilded Hanson District to Hopetown District, no matter the route, the journey would take one to two hours.
Hopetown lay between the wealthy Hernk District and the working-class Winston District. The library had been built with the hope of sharing knowledge between the rich and the poor, offering a chance to change one's destiny.
After all, one of the doctrines of the God of Steam stated: "The Lord says, those who strive for self-improvement shall grow strong." And knowledge was one of the powers most favored by the God of Steam. Even so, the odds of transforming one's fate through the library were a mere fraction of a percent.
Soon, the carriage arrived in Hopetown. The cobblestone streets here were less luxurious than those in the wealthier areas but remained clean and functional. Unlike the slums, where stench and waste dominated, the streets here were orderly, free of foul odors.
The library's pure white exterior stood out, evoking a sense of awe. Such a large building, gleaming in spotless white, was both inspiring and intimidating. White was the easiest color to stain, and maintaining such purity was seen as a testament to divine greatness—a belief held firmly by the faithful.
Handing over six sous in change to the coachman, Furen said, "Keep the rest," and walked toward the library. He thought to himself, "Carriages are still a luxury for the upper-middle class. For most people, even six sous is an unaffordable expense."
The library's entry policy was relaxed. After a brief and subtle assessment by the gatekeeper, Furen was allowed in without issue.
And so, Furen entered this awe-inspiring place of knowledge.