Five hours and a case of sore feet later, Tim finally found his housing. “Well, I guess it could be better, but hey, better than sleeping in the streets!” The half-elf consoled himself as he walked around the sad sight of his room. “Sure, the blankets may be non-existent, there might be some holes in the wall, and I only have two silver coins left, but I could be getting mugged in an alleyway! Heh!” In fact, calling it a room would definitely be an understatement. Two massive holes in the ceiling, while offering a nice view of the stars, provided little in in the way of shelter. One might think of blankets and sheets being a staple of a bedroom, but this bedroom had neither, instead electing to have a wooden box with some loosely wrapped straw forming a mockery of a real bed.

“Ohhh boy. Fate really doesn’t like me right now,” Tim chuckled to himself, only slightly manic. “Well, all I can do now is calm down and pass the exams tomorrow. If I get a position as a government scholar, I can have access to the archives, and all the fantastic hero-given knowledge inside them. Who knows, maybe a forgotten hero has advice on how to get people to believe you!” With those heartening ideas in mind, Tim settled into his poor excuse of a bed and tried to get some sleep for the trial ahead.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Early next morning.

REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tim awoke with a start and a shout. “Holy shit and good morning to you too!” He half-yelled to the extraordinary enthusiastic rooster screeching outside of his room. “Nothing like an energetic alarm clock! Now, off to the Great Library.”

Tim gathered his meager belongings and set off towards one of the most distinctive landmarks of the city, the Great Library, towering high into the sky above the surrounding slums. It was the brainchild of multiple academic heroes and the city government, constructed in a modular fashion across the ages. Each new generation of heroes contributed, expanding the Great Library until it became the beautiful, wondrous patchwork of architecture it was today.

The lower, outer levels of the library were open to the general public. They housed general knowledge and classics like the fantastic “How to get babes like a true 80s man.” Brought over by the admittedly strange hero Iver, that book was truly was a work of art. That hero was truly a man among men. However, what truly interested Tim all throughout his life was the inner and underground parts of the Great Library, also known as the archives. Many rumors had been spread about the contents of the archives, but all Tim knew for sure was that they housed secret knowledge brought to this world by various summoned heroes. He had heard of all sorts of crazy possibilities. Odd ideas such as “science”, “chemistry”, and even large chunks of the history of the world the heroes came from, some place called “Earth” were supposedly kept safe inside those walls.

Tim was so excited he practically skipped down the main street towards the looming building that was his destination.

“If I could just do this, I can make my parents proud of me when I eventually meet them once more.” And with that slightly sobering thought, Tim had arrived at the doors. “Damn. I had heard these doors were built to withstand sieges, but seriously. These suckers be hekin’ large!” He whistled in admiration, eyes traveling up the massive 40-foot-tall stone double doors, slightly cracked open to allow visitors. How even could they move!? Were they lighter than they appeared? Tim was so caught up in his imagination that he didn’t notice the person speaking to him until he received a light punch to his shoulder.

“Hey! Are you awake in there?” A snarky voice floated towards him. Looking over his shoulder at his assailant, Tim was met with thin air. That is, until he looked down and saw a short older elf woman silver hair that looked rather cross with him. “Sorry, I was just admiring the doors,” Tim admitted, bowing in apology. The elf’s expression softened slightly.

“They’re beautiful aren’t they?” She sighed, and gazed up at them with Tim.

“Oh! Sorry for blocking your way,” Tim said, misinterpreting her silence. “I’ll get a move on now. Sorry for getting in your way. I just want to take the exams.”

“Good luck, pal.” And with that parting statement, she breezed past Tim. Well shit. She probably works here then. I haven’t even taken the test and I’ve already managed to annoy someone. With my luck, she’ll be a proctor for the exam or something. He thought, knocking at his head at his bad start. “Okay. I can’t get nervous from this. The hero Anna always said that failing nerves meant failing tests, and I can’t have that happen, not here!” With that declaration, and a light shining in his eyes, Tim strode forwards into the library as confidently as he dared.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

It was smaller than Tim had imagined. The certification, silver-bordered on a sheet of flimsy paper, still felt like it weighed hundreds of pounds as he held it in his hand. The huge, drafty exam hall, originally filled with a chilly atmosphere, felt just a bit warmer to him. Tim could feel his heart rate spiking, and the sheer excitement and relief at passing the exams, getting his certification, and officially becoming a government scholar almost made him forget what he had been through to get to this point. Almost. Mother, Father, Maria, John, everyone else, I made it. I might be alone now, but I am closer than ever to keeping your memories alive. With those thoughts invigorating him even more, Tim strode forward towards the tough-looking examiner to accept his robes.

“Here you are kid, congrats on passing the exam. These scholars’ robes and the certification are proof of your position. Dirty them, you dirty us. Lose them and forget about coming back until they are found again. From now on you are a researcher for the government and you are expected to act with the sincerity that position demands. You will report to Sir Nicholas Collinsby the Fourth of his Line, in room 108. Fourth door on the left. Any questions? The examiner asked with a small frown, seemingly never pleased.

“No sir! Thank you for everything sir!” Tim yelped out, slightly shaking from the unexpectedly serious lecture, and trying to suppress the excited grin that threatened to cover his face once again.

“Right then, if that’s all, bugger off now to Sir Nicholas Collinsby the Fourth of his Line to get your assignments. You should learn how to navigate the library like the back of your hand. She’s a complicated beasty. A word to the wise? If you get lost, don’t bother to find anything except for the doors, since that’ll mean you’re dogshit trash and don’t deserve to work here.”

With those stern parting words, the hostile examiner turned away from him, and Tim, catching the “subtle” signals the man was giving off, made his way to room 108.

“Hmmm, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised that the tests don’t end after the certification exam. Makes sense they would only want the best, and the layout is recorded in books anyone could have access to.”

Grinning to himself once again, Tim chuckled at the thought of someone passing the exams but actually managing to get lost. “Lets see, I believe it was a left and then down the stairs from here?” Tim walked down the hallway. By chance he saw the number on the fourth door to the left, 108. “Shoot! This is it. I’m an idiot aren’t I? Haha. Well here goes nothing,” Tim said, then he knocked.

“Enter,” a man called through the door, and Tim went in. “Tim?” the young man sitting behind an ornate desk wheezed nasally. He was tall, slender, and balding. His robes were obnoxiously fine, with gold embroidery and bits of sparkling jewels. They looked suspiciously like cotton, though.

“That’s me! Are you Sir Nicholas Collinsby the Fourth of his Line?”

“I am. You would do well to remember that. If you refer to me as anything else, I will have you deported.” The man sniffed, looking down on Tim even from his seat. “You will find employee manuals on the shelf behind you. Take one.”

Tim turned around, seeing a shelf stacked with beaten paperback manuals. He was momentarily distracted by the monogrammed globe next to the manuals, and he found it odd they were the only books in the cluttered, overly decorated room. He took one and turned back to Sir Nicholas Collinsby the Fourth of his Line.

“Every day you will report to me for your assignment.. Today it is to research Grain taxes in the City of Drassington, year 1097 PH, for the Assistant Tax Collector. Most material you will need can be found on the upper levels, but here is your key to access the archives, and here is your light.” Sir Nicholas Collinsby the Fourth of his Line handed Tim a fireless lamp and an iron key. “Each day you will report back to me in the morning with all the related material. Now begone, peasant.”

Tim found himself pushed out of the room. He stood by the door and flipped through his manual. Rules, rules, code of conduct… ah! A map! Alright, I am looking for the Archives, floor 0. So I go right and down the stairs, then two lefts? Tim questioned himself as he took the publicized route, eventually being rewarded with the sight of the carved oak doors of the archives. Double doors with carved krakens, heroes, and other amazing creatures decorating them. This is definitely the archives, he thought to himself, as he unlocked and pushed open the doors to reveal the quiet, cluttered bookshelves of the archives.

“Damn, it really does seem to go on forever!” Tim whistled, impressed by the sheer scale of the room. He looked left and right, admiring the never-ending stacks of bookshelves, some of which led far out of sight, and some that led towards various rooms. “Hehe, I have all night. What to research first.” Tim nearly salivated at the massive amount of knowledge that was at his fingertips. Down here, no one would question his research as long as he accomplished his goal first.

Okay. This is a bit too much. Time for Tansmith’s patented method, listing the facts. Fact one, as long as I am researching something, no one really cares what it is as long as it isn’t something that could harm the kingdom. Fact two, now that I am a scholar, I cannot forget about those bastards that destroyed my home, and how no one will believe me. Fact three, I need to find out why a demon surviving is so unbelievable. “I can’t forget where I came from and how I got here. I need information to convince the city to take action, and I am in the perfect place to find out more.” With his thoughts once again in perfect order, Tim set off with fiery purpose burning in his stomach.