The early morning sunlight from the clear blue sky in the distance spread like a carpet, illuminating the scene Ventair was observing.
From his room window, he gazed down – at the undulating rooftops stretching across a bustling square, and the neatly arranged stone roads intertwining like the pulsating veins of a vibrant living organism.
Figures moved to and fro, the hustle and bustle reflecting the daily life of the people.
The murmuring from groups of adventurers chatting lively, mixed with laughter and the savory aroma of grilled food from a roadside stall – all formed a vivid tableau that gently stirred Ventair's heart.
He realized he had re-entered human civilization once more after days of wandering.
'This world... it's truly interesting,' he thought quietly, his eyes betraying an unmasked curiosity.
'This is a type of inn that caters to adventurers... If so, there must be a place that holds information – a library? A record room? A management center? I need to find that place to learn more about this world.'
He exhaled softly, his gaze resolute.
He picked up the silver-white mask, which emitted a gentle glow, and slowly put it on, covering half of his face as if to conceal his handsome and majestic features.
After adjusting his ivory-white cloak, he stepped out of the room, gently locking the door behind him.
His footsteps echoed rhythmically on the polished stone staircase, the light streaming through the glass windows making his figure shimmer as if merging with the architecture.
Upon reaching the main lobby, he walked straight to the reception desk – where the young woman from yesterday had greeted him.
Seeing that she was busy with another guest, he waited for a turn to free up before approaching.
She remained seated – her light brown hair neatly tied back, her uniform impeccable, and her eyes bright with a welcoming warmth.
When Ventair drew near, she immediately smiled and greeted him:
"Good morning, sir. How may I help you?"
Ventair politely inquired, his voice deep and steady, resonating slightly through his mask:
"Excuse me, is there a library here... or an area that contains information about the Adventurers' Guild? I am new here and don't have much information about these matters."
Upon hearing this, she extended her slender hand, pointing towards a less-frequented passageway on the left side of the lobby.
The receptionist spoke in a gentle, pleasant voice:
"Yes, of course, sir. The library is located down the left hallway from the main lobby. You just need to go straight down that path, and you'll see a room with an arched glass door. Inside, you'll find various documents, logbooks, and maps related to the Adventurers' Guild and the surrounding geographical areas."
"Thank you," Ventair nodded slightly, his voice soft and courteous.
He then headed to the left, his gaze following the long corridor.
Along the path on his left, the floor was paved with thick glass panels, beneath which lay layers of silver-grey stone patterns.
Outside the corridor, a blooming garden unfolded: various strange plants, and flowers of red, purple, and blue swayed gently in the breeze, as if whispering unknown secrets.
Small jade-colored birds darted across the clear sky.
Continuing straight down the path, he found it – an arched glass-fronted room, where the warm brown hues of wood and paper glowed within.
The Library.
As Ventair stepped through the tall wooden door, he suddenly felt a gentle wave, like a thin breeze, brush across his skin.
It felt as if he had passed through an invisible bubble. As he wondered what that sensation was, a voice resonated:
"You have just passed through an invisible magical barrier,"
Seraphiel gently said within his mind, her voice ringing like a silver bell.
"It functions to identify and record those who enter and exit – it's a measure to prevent book theft, my Lord."
Ventair nodded slightly.
"Clever," he thought.
The interior space was not as grand as the legendary libraries he had imagined. It consisted of only a few dozen tall shelves made of dark wood, neatly arranged in a square formation.
A few maps were hung on large pillars, and bright magical lights gently illuminated the space from the curved arched ceiling.
In a corner of the room, there was a man, about 35 years old, dressed in a simple robe, seated at a low wooden table.
He held a thick book, his eyes fully engrossed in its contents. Ventair approached him.
The man seemed to notice his presence, gently set his book down, and looked up – not exactly cold, but showing no particular warmth.
"What do you want, young man?"
Ventair met his gaze and spoke calmly but clearly:
"I wish to find books on world history, maps of various lands, and information about the Adventurers' Guild, especially regarding this plains region."
The man nodded briefly, his voice hoarse:
"The books you need are on shelves number 5 and 6, to the left of the library."
He said nothing more, lowering his head to resume his reading as if Ventair had never approached.
Ventair gave a slight bow of thanks:
"Thank you." – his voice soft, devoid of anger. He turned and headed towards the designated bookshelves.
Within his mind, the Angels immediately spoke. Seraphiel's voice was gentle but clearly annoyed:
"How disrespectful. He showed no respect at all when speaking to you, My Lord."
Abyzaria narrowed her eyes, cold as ice:
"I do not like that attitude one bit."
Belloniel grumbled:
"I want to come out and teach that fellow some manners."
Mechaniel, though her voice was even, showed a hint of coldness:
"Confirmed. He should not exist."
The librarian outside shivered slightly and looked around, wondering what that chilling sensation that had just appeared was.
Ventair sighed softly, his voice tinged with a hint of helplessness.
"Alright, that's just a small matter. You ladies shouldn't pay too much attention to it."
He wanted to keep things simple.
The Angels then fell silent.
Following the directions, he found the bookshelves he needed and began his search.
After some time, he had located the books he wanted, as well as detailed maps of the continent and various kingdoms.
He turned to find a seat, his gaze sweeping across the library – it was deserted.
He was the only one there. Indeed, apart from himself and the librarian, there was no one else in the library; perhaps only he had entered this place at this time.
Then he found a rather pleasant spot.
A corner of the library near a large window – where the sunlight slanted down, illuminating a warm patch of the wooden floor.
He walked over, placed his stack of books and maps down, pulled out a chair, and sat.
He began to read.
His back was straight, the silver mask subtly reflected the light, his long white hair gently swayed with every soft breeze, and his white cloak accentuated his tall, serene figure.
The light from the window streamed in, casting his silhouette long across the floor, like a deity seated within a temple of knowledge, silent and profound.
The very atmosphere seemed to become more sacred due to his presence.
The library was enveloped in a poetic, tranquil ambiance, broken only by the rustling of leaves outside and the gentle turning of pages.
Within his soul space, the Angels all witnessed the scene – their eyes wide and glistening as they stared intently at Ventair.
Seraphiel blushed and whispered:
"My Heavenly Lord... he is truly too handsome..."
Abyzaria narrowed her eyes:
"Your posture in the light... like the Supreme Deity stepping out of a legend."
Mechaniel's voice remained even:
"The reflectivity from the cloak and mask achieves maximum aesthetic appeal. Body proportions... perfect."
Belloniel merely scoffed softly:
"Hmph. He is handsome, yes... but that doesn't mean anyone gets to stare."
All their gazes were fixed on that image, filled with admiration, reverence, and profound affection – for he was their Heavenly Lord.
But Ventair heard nothing.
At this moment, he was completely absorbed in the pages, every word and diagram soaking into his mind, forming a clear picture of this world.
Time passed.
The brilliant golden light of midday gradually shifted to a gentle orange-red.
As the sun touched the horizon, its final rays slanted through the long window, bathing the last book Ventair had just closed.
He looked up, his eyes gazing out at the glorious sunset sky.
'I've... learned quite a lot. This world seems more complex than I thought... but also far more interesting.'
He smiled faintly behind his mask.
In the distant sky, flocks of birds were flying back to their nests.