The streets of Lochma pulsed with life, a chaotic symphony of voices, footsteps and the occasional clatter of merchants hawking their wares.
Malik moved through the shifting throng with ease, his tall yet weak frame cutting a path through the masses like a shadow slipping between the cracks of the city's bustling heart.
The air was thick with the scent of spiced meats, sweat, and mingling with the distant tang of the sea breeze that rolled in from the harbour.
Malik pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders, its deep midnight hue blending into the dim alleys and shaded corners he favoured. His keen, dark eyes flickered over the crowds as he traversed through them, always watching, always assessing. His presence was unassuming- just another scholar, another traveller- but not a single person in this city, or even further- this planet knew the true depths of darkness and danger that bubbled within him, concealed by his composed demeanour.
The Grand Library loomed in the distance, its spires reaching towards the sky like fingers grasping at forgotten knowledge. A bastion of wisdom and secrecy, it was both a sanctuary and a battlefield for those who sought power through understanding.
Malik's steps quickened, he had spent three years of his life chasing this forgotten knowledge, scouring the floors of the library daily and desperately trying to complete his goal which started at the age of sixteen, the day he received the system that bordered between a blessing and a curse.
The great iron doors of the Grand Solis Library stood proud before Malik, their ancient engravings catching the morning light like veins of gold. He took a steady breath, placing a hand on the cold metal before pushing them open.
The familiar scent of paper, parchment and ink assaulted his nostrils like an old friend, the nostalgic feel almost overwhelming if it wasn't for his daily visits to this enormous collection of pages.
It was a particularly important day today as this would be his final visit and his last step towards completing the Second Stage of his Vessel Quest. The same quest he had been working on for three straight years.
A million points of knowledge. That had been the requirement. It had taken years of relentless study, absorbing books on everything from alchemy to ancient warfare, from celestial navigation to long forgotten dialects. It was safe to say that through this arduous journey Malik had cemented himself as a true genius spanning the history of this world.
The knowledge swam within him, a vast and ever-expanding ocean, yet he could feel that he was on the cusp of something far greater than anything he had achieved to-date. He had reached 999,870 points. Just over a hundred more, and the second stage would finally be complete.
The thought sent a ripple of excitement through him, but it was tempered by something more subtle- a sense of finality.
'So close... All this time, all of this effort just to attain something believed unattainable.' Malik felt at ease, he knew he was merely a step away from the finish line and now it was time to make that final step.
This library had been his sanctuary, the place where he had honed his mind to near-perfection. More than that, it was the domain of Master Orlan Vasst, the floor manager and keeper of the Grand Library, the man who had guided him since he first stepped through these doors.
Malik owed much of his growth to Orlan's wisdom, his encouragement, and- though neither of them said it aloud- the quiet fatherly presence that he provided. Something that Malik hadn't received in what felt like his whole life.
"Ah, Malik, on time as always," came a warm, deep voice from behind the counter.
Orlan was exactly as he always was: his neat silver hair swept back, his eyes sharp but kind, his black suit dusted with the faint remains of an old book repair. He set down his quill and gave Malik a knowing smile. "I assume this is it? The final stretch?"
Malik returned the smile, his dark brown eyes gleaming and the surprise he felt visible through his expression. "It is. Nothing gets past you does it?" Malik let out an amused chuckle.
This wasn't the first time that Orlan read Maliks intentions, in fact it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that he was the only person Malik knew that could see through any smoke and mirrors, especially when it came to Malik who he'd grown to know like a son.
"Of course, since the beginning of this week I noticed your unrest, the usual stoic façade that you uphold cracking frequently, the slight shifts in your demeanour becoming more evident. And then there is today." Orlan scanned Malik as if he could see deeper than just the flesh, his eyes narrowing but not losing the hint of care they showed.
"I can tell that something is bothering you, you look apprehensive beneath that fake exterior, which can only bring me to speculate that this might very well be our last encounter..." Orlan trailed off, watching Maliks eyes shine with a slight glint of regret.
"I guess some things are impossible to hide from you huh?" Malik lowered his head in understanding. "I feel like this is it. I have been here every day without fail, learning everything that I could and absorbing the knowledge stored within these books. This is the final milestone, after this I don't think there will be any more that I can learn from this place."
'Well that's not exactly true, but keeping the truth of the system hidden is non-negotiable, even to someone I trust with my life.' Malik thought, maintaining the same outward appearance as his eyes stayed locked with Orlan's.
Since the system was introduced to Malik and he completed the first quest, he was presented with the second which led him to striving to obtain 1,000,000 points of knowledge, something that at first Malik could not begin to understand. But after testing and failing for a few days, he figured out that these so called 'knowledge points' were granted through learning new things, mainly done by reading.
Now he had spent the last three years in this constant cycle of learning, leaving him with what he expected to be his last venture to this library and the last steps of this quest.
Malik felt a small hint of hesitation growing in the deepest parts of his soul. He had no expectations or understandings for what would come next once he completed this quest, but he assumed that it would be something far from what he has become accustomed to.
'That doesn't matter for now, first I need to complete this, then I can deal with what follows...' Malik steeled his resolve, taking a step forward and erasing any doubt left lingering within his heart.
"What have you got for me today then? More forgotten dialects? Another training manual on hand-to-hand combat? Or something simple like the anatomy of animals of all shapes and sizes?" Malik speculated, his voice tinged with excitement as he probed for what Orlan had in store for him.
"You haven't changed in the slightest!" Orlan replied jovially, his smile widening and eyes squinting behind the golden monocle that adorned his left eye.
"Who would have thought that the young boy that turned up on my library doorstep all those years ago, malnourished, lost and broken- but with a clear hunger for more, something greater- Would have become the budding man that you are today."
Malik felt his heart warm at Orlans kind words.
It was true that many others would have turned someone away if they were in the state Malik was when he had first shown up at his doorstep, let alone at the doors to the largest library on Lochma.
'If only everyone could be as welcoming as him.' Malik thought greatfully, reminding himself to never forget the extent to which Orlan had helped him. A kindness that was rare on this planet, at least for an orphan-commoner.
"Enough chit-chat, lets not waste anymore time, I have something quite special for you today." Orlan smiled and stood up from his desk, pulling open one of the drawers and removing small lockbox.
"What is that?" Malik questioned, his gaze switching to curiosity as if the previous conversation no longer interested him.
Instead of answering, Orlan reached into his shirt and retrieved a key that hung round his neck, one clearly meant for the lockbox sat between the piles of paper infront of him.
He opened the lockbox carefully, finally deciding to speak. "This, my boy, is the true key to knowledge, something that a select few people on this planet have access to. I have deliberated showing you this even after all the time we have spent together, but that unyielding will of yours seems to have cracked this old fossil." Orlan chuckled as he retrieved another key from within the lockbox.
"Follow me." Orlan's entire demeanor shifted in an instant. The tone in which he spoke made all clear to Malik. This was not a request. It was a command.
Malik trusted Orlan and knew that he had no grounds to ask questions, so he confirmed with a nod and began to follow Orlans figure that was already disappearing through the door behind his desk.
Orlan led Malik through multiple doors and corridors that were never-ending, the hallways barely lit by candle lights that might as well be on their last flicker of life. With each step he took the shadows swallowed the light left in his wake as if a beast clung to his back.
Not a word was said during their walk.
Malik remained calm and followed at a steady pace, his eyes glued to Orlans formidable back, not once turning to check on him as if he believed that the boys curiosity far surpassed his apprehension.
Even with the trust between them Orlan wasn't ignorant enough to believe that his lack of explanation would give any sort of comfort to Malik, but he knew that his drive would not let him falter.