Chương 17: Through The Eras

The Blackharbor Library is fairly reasonable. It sits just off the main thoroughfare, and the building isn't some towering monstrosity like one might imagine. Yet it is definitely one of the busiest places in the city. As I approach the front doors, I am forced to navigate the thick crowds waiting in line. I never thought of myself as one to hate people. In fact, a bit of conversation here and there is fun. But I can say that I certainly hate crowds. The press of bodies, noise, heat and worst of all, the smell.

Still, the lines move quite fast, and it only takes about ten minutes before I get to the entrance.

"Library card?" The guard asks me. Problem is, I've got no fucking clue what a library card is.

"Will this work?" I say, and show them the disc Reli gave me. The guard stands a bit straighter.

"Oh, of course. Apologies, sir. Right this way, an attendant will be with you shortly." With how these guards act, I wonder just what this disc Reli gave me actually means. It must be important for everyone to react as such. I walk through the door and notice an odd magic at the door. Once I cross inside, I realize that it was spatial magic. How do I know this? Well that is because the inside of the library is fucking massive. The entrance comes out onto some sort of balcony overlooking the entire thing.

As far as I can see, there are just rows and rows and rows of bookshelves. I walk over and look over the edge of the balcony, and I can't even see the bottom of them either. How the heck am I supposed to find a book in this place?

"Excuse me, sir." A voice says behind me. I turn around to see a figure clad in black robes and a blank white mask with the Blackvine emblem on it. They bow, "I shall be the one to assist you today. Do not fret, for we of the librarians can find any knowledge that one might seek." So I guess a librarian focused class makes sense. But like, what is with the totally shady getup? Not to mention the mask… oh well, guess that is just how things are done here.

"Quite a fancy place ya got here. Any chance I could get some information on the history of the world? Particularly about the heroes and such." I ask.

"As you wish. Please follow me." The librarian says and then begins to walk off. I follow them and get led to the side of the balcony, and a massive flight of stairs. But oddly enough, the stairs seem to be moving?! The librarian doesn't hesitate and steps onto the stairs, and begins descending. Not to look like a complete idiot, I quickly follow behind. As I step onto the first stair, I feel some magic wrap around me, as if making sure I don't fall as we descend.

"These devices are called escalators. They were introduced in the sixth era as a part of the Hero of Knowledge's mission. One of many such programs that have reshaped our world." The librarian says, as if sensing my question.

"So uh, what are these eras?" I ask.

"Each era is denoted by a set of nine heroes being summoned to our world. In fact, rumor is that heroes have just started to appear again. Which, if true, would mean we are at the dawn of the seventh era." The librarian answers, seemingly unaware that a hero is standing right beside them. At that moment, we arrive at the bottom of this escalator. There is another one that seems to be going further down, and one to go back up. But the librarian takes neither and walks into the stacks of books.

We walk for several minutes before stopping underneath a sign that says 'Eras & Five Realms History.'

"In this section, you should be able to find the information that you seek. On each of the bookshelves you may use this system interface to sort through books and find one that suits your exact needs." The librarian says and motions to several blue tablet things that are attached at the end of each bookshelf. Several other people are wandering about down here and I see a few interact with them. Seeing as it is likely safe to do so, I walk up to one and a fancy screen appears.

It has a ton of options for book sorting, from 'keywords' to 'mind-reading.' Intrigued, I select the mind-reading option. Some magic scans my mind, though I can tell it isn't doing anything crazy. Moments later, the screen shows me a list of a few books… all of which being exactly what I need. The most interesting of the bunch is one called 'The World-System for Dummies Volume One.' Seems like exactly what I need to round off some of my system knowledge.

Once I select the books, they float off some of the nearby shelves and come to rest beside me. The librarian then guides me off to a cozy reading room, and it even has some refreshments. The books even set themselves down conveniently on the room's table. Damn, the more time I spent here, the more I am starting to love magic. I start reading, and reading and reading and reading. Reading seems to go by much faster too.

Which makes sense, as in that system for dummies book, it mentions that the stats the system assigns provide benefits to all sorts of things. Apparently with a high enough wisdom stat, I could read this entire library and still remember it all. Though that could take thousands of years, I'd imagine. The book about the system sure is interesting. It doesn't go very deep into any one subject, just giving a brief overview. Most of it is stuff I have already heard from others by now.

Like how skills and such are gained, and how leveling works. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. I do learn what the whole 'stars' and 'corestone' thing mean on my statsheet. Apparently, at birth, every being in this world forms the start of corestone – which later fully forms around the age of fifteen years, allowing leveling and such. Based on all sorts of factors, it is assigned some nature.

Usually it is similar to that of the parents, but it can vary. There are powerful abilities that one can unlock as they gain stars, as well as classes that are specific to a single nature. Stars, in summary, are basically key markers of progression in this world. As I have seen with Lord Cathartic, even a single star difference is massive. In more depth, the book explains that stars are gained by refining one's corestone. Which can only happen once they have reached certain levels in their classes.

For the first star for instance, one requires a combined two hundred class levels. At which point there is a quest or something assigned to undergo the process. Unfortunately, the book says anything beyond that is out of scope and to go see volume two. Which doesn't exist in this library, to my dismay. Still, it gives me something to work towards. The next book I spend a lot of time studying is one about the five realms and how they exist. As is obvious, there are five realms.

They are not physically connected to each other per say. Or at least, you can't just walk between them in the traditional sense. Instead, one must prove their worth to the world system, by, you guessed it, gaining stars. For instance, once someone has reached one star, they are able to move out of the Realm of Humanity and into the second one, The Middle Realm. Which consists mostly of beastkin, dwarves and elves.

Most interestingly, it mentions that all creatures born in higher realms are inherently of higher stars. Plus, they can always move down between realms, thus meaning that dwarves, elves and beastkin can exist in the Realm of Humanity. Usually this happens by someone moving down the realms, and then falling in love with a local, or so the book explains. As an interesting side note, it would seem that the star level of the child is always the lowest ranking one.

Yet the race of the child is always the highest ranking one. Or random, if they are of the same origin realm. The book says that the reason is not known. It seems that a lot about how the world works in general, let alone that specific part. The book also mentions that the realms follow this order – lowest to highest: Lesser Beings (Goblins, Trolls, etc.), Humanity, Middle Realm (Elves, Dwarves, Beastkin, etc), Higher Realm (Fey, Angels, Dragons, Demons) and Elementals.

I find it quite odd that only one realm is named after a single race, but the book merely waves it away, citing that the goddess is very strange at times. It doesn't mention much about lesser beings, but they still have a realm all to themselves. Apparently their corestones are too weak to ever improve though, and are permanently stuck at level zero. So unless one ventures down there, one can never meet one. As one could guess, not many people bother, given there isn't much of value there anyways.

The book also mentions that there is theorized to be another step above the Realm of Elementals known as the pinnacle. It is where the Goddess lives, and oversees all five realms below her. Naturally, I know it to actually be real. After all, I was just there not too long ago. Apparently, it is also my goal to reach it once again some day. Something tells me that the path there is going to be quite a long one… Not that that matters, as I sink my mind into the next book. Which is by far the most relevant to me.

It is titled 'The Heroes of The Five Realms', after all. So in a way, it is a book about myself. The book opens up with a legend about how the world was created. It goes on and on about how the goddess is awesome, blah blah blah. But then it finally gets to the point where I am interested. I read it in full, not wanting to miss a single detail. Unfortunately, in this grand world, problems arose. The foremost amongst these was the problem of malice.

Malice crops up in the most unexpected places, and quickly spreads until it consumes all in its path. It is said that empires can prosper for millennia only to be wiped out in mere years by such a force. Malice is not merely an idea. Rather it is a physical presence that manifests in all sorts of ways. From corrupting the weak into horrifying monsters, to rifts that spawn creatures of untold horror, and even alterations to the very laws of the world.

With a problem of such scale, the Goddess could not simply magic it away, for it would always return. So, the Goddess split the world into several distinct realms to slow the progression of malice. Each realm poses challenges that impede the malice's progress, giving time for the mortals to act. But, slowing it down was not enough. So, the Goddess gave the people the power to put a stop to it. Naturally, the people of the world were unsure how to use this new power. Which is where the world-system came in.

Acting as a guide, the system empowered the people. They fought back against the malice, and stalled its growth, even pushing it back. But, the malice only grew stronger, smarter, and more adaptable. For every monster that fell, dozens rose in its place, and always more powerful than the last. When all was thought lost, they appeared. Heroes from beyond this world, come to aid in the fight against malice. As champions empowered by the goddess herself, they wield power of unimaginable scale.

With their help, the first wave of malice was fought off, thus beginning the first era of this new world. Naturally, the heroes did not vanish. Rather, they continued to live and improve the world they had come to call their own. Cities grew, and the people flourished under their influence. Malice tried to creep back in, only to be vanquished again and again. But, the heroes are still mortals, and mortals eventually perish. When the last hero fell, all seemed normal at first.

Centuries passed and the people continued to prosper. Until the day the malice returned yet again. Chaos once again consumed the realms, until once again, the goddess was forced to summon more heroes. So starting the cycle anew. Over time, it was accepted that the people could never fight off the malice alone. Thus, the grand cycle of the heroes was etched into the foundation of the world. An era of astounding progress, followed by one of less remarkable prosperity.

And, just before the world should be assaulted by the malice once more, brave heroes would appear to protect the realms. Well, shit. It would seem that I was right. The goddess most certainly has plans for us heroes. From what I can tell, they aren't too pleasant ones, either. Well, for the people it might be nice. But for us heroes, well, we will have to fight off this 'malice'. That must be the strange presence I always sense around the monsters.

I can see why it was called malice, the stuff just feels like pure evil. Honestly though, it doesn't sound that bad. Especially if we are given some sort of awesome power or whatnot. Heck, just finding Luma seems like an awesome perk for anyone. Though I am not sure if finding the little fox currently curled up on my lap was luck or divine intervention. The goddess did mention that things would not be all sunshine and mugs of ale in her speech. So I think I should take this story to heart.

Lest I end up overconfident and crushed under the heel of this malice. For now though, I need to learn how magic works.