As Pragna got closer, he realised that the white building is much bigger than he assumed. After crossing the path, he reached the clearing in which the building is there. Pragna noticed that near the entrance of the building, to the either side there are two more buildings that are attached to the main building by Pavilions. These buildings are much smaller compared to the size of the white building that is in the centre of the estate. On each of the building there is a large sign saying, ‘Library reception counters’. At entrance of each of these smaller buildings there is sign board with big red letters saying, ‘Caution for the first time visitors’. Pragna found after reading the sign that entry to the library for the visitors is only allowed via the smaller buildings. The doors of the main building are only accessible to library’s employees.

The inside of the buildings are exactly as he thought. The entire building is well lit. There are 7 counters. Many visitors are lined up in queue at six counters. After finishing the monetary transaction, visitors are receiving a sheet of paper with the amount of time and name of the wing they can access in it. At the 7th counter there is a title saying registration. Pragna went to that counter. The receptionist asked him, “How can I help you?”

Pragna said,” I am here for junior librarian position.”

Receptionist said, ”Ok take this token. The entrance to the794th hall is on 3rd floor. There your first exam will be conducted. After tha- ”

“Actually I have a letter with title, ‘Application for junior librarian’. It stated that this job is mine if appear before the deadline. So where should i go to accept the job?”

The moment receptionist heard the words Application for junior librarian, her entire demeanour changed! With all the respect she could muster in her voice he said, “Please wait a minute Sir, I will call the senior librarian.”

After she left for few minutes, a door at the end of counter’s corridor opened and a very thin black man walked out. He is wearing a normal looking pant and t-shirt. But his eyes! Though they were just generic black coloured eyes, Pragna felt like this man got a good reading just by looking at him!

The man introduced himself smiling, “My name is Agarthala and I am senior librarian here. You must be Pragna. Follow me.”

Harima Echizen has never been this miserable his entire life. Harima is part of the main family of the prestigious Echizen clan. Due to the training recommended to him, at the age of 11 he got Young water lord title. Echizen family specializes in production of items. It does not matter what it is, you ask them and they can design and produce it! If you ask anyone in the major realms which clan is the most influential one, at-least 4 out of 10 people will tell the name Echizen. Though Echizen produced lot of famous individuals, it never gave birth to an elemental lord. So if Echizen family played its cards right it can gain influence in the elemental realms too. So Echizen family showered Harima with all kind of precious treasures. They did this so that when Harima goes to the elemental realm he will remember the favours he owns the main family.

Harima is actually a good kid, but with all this attention and prizes, the delusions of grandeurs finally got to his head. He behaved arrogantly wherever he went. He always surrounded himself with women, alcohol and huge-suck-ups who always prized him for whatever he did. No one could control him; He even sometimes misbehaved in-front of the clan leaders!

But as the saying goes, ‘Every snake has its mongoose’ there is one man who can make Harima act like a well behaved child, it is his big brother Toshiro Echizen.

Harima got to know about his brother when he was 2yrs old. He heard this story a lot times from his parents. Originally Harima’s parents are not part of Echizen main family. But after Toshiro’s unbelievable accomplishments and after the huge amount wealth he amassed for the Echizen family. To keep Toshiro in the fold tightly, they tried to absorb him and his parents into the main family. By that time toshiro is already an immortal. Toshiro made two conditions, one to make his parents immortals, two he should be given his own mini private realm and only under this two conditions he said he will stay with Echizen clan. Echizen main family complied with them. After this Toshiro’s parents never had to worry about anything. Toshiro rarely stayed with them. He lived in his own mini realm. After 1000 years Toshiro’s parents had a second son, Harima. When Harima was born, Toshiro did not even come to see him. But on Harima’s 5th birthday Toshiro suddenly came to see him, he did not mention anyone about his arrival.

When he came to the house even his parents were surprised. Without even talking to them, he first went to Harima and took out a thick silver book and floating globe of crystal clear water. Then he told Harima, “From today onwards you will practice water based skills. This is moon drip water. Drink one drop everyday till you finish it. I will give you new ones, after you finished this.”

When his parents tried to talk to him, he did not reciprocate much but only said one thing, “Make sure he practices every day.”

This is how Harima’s and Toshiro’s relation started. Harima rarely got to decide what is good for him. But Harima rarely got a chance to fight back because Toshiro’s judgement was always spot on! But as a child Harima did not care much about these things, as mentioned before he was a good innocent kid and did as his brother said.

As he grew up, Harima slowly started noticing few things. Wherever he went the entire family is respectful to him. At beginning he thought that this is how thing are. But then he realized that they are respectful to him not because he is part of main family but because he is Toshiro’s brother! To the entire family he is nothing more than a means to reach his brother. This fact slowly gnawed at his psyche. Each passing year made him only more miserable!

For him the Annual family meetings were the worst! While his brother sat with family leader himself, Harima and their parents sat with the rest of the main family at a distance. But that is not what annoyed him. It is when it came to the introductions, which ticked him off!

Most of the clan elders forget him. Only way he can jog their memories is by saying he is Toshiro’s brother. They do this every year, yet it is the same story!

But comparatively these elders are still better. It is the other group that makes him almost mad with rage. His brother is a very busy man. So for some people, even for some of the clan elders he is only available on the annual meeting day. To be in Toshiro’s good graces suddenly on that day Harima will have lot of new friends! Some of them don’t even put effort into this lie. They simply approach him and try to talk to him like, ”Hello Toshiro’s brother, how are you? ”

Toshiro’s brother! These idiots are not even trying to remember Harima’s name.

To escape from all of this political fiasco, Harima completely involved himself in practicing the water arts. At the beginning the progress was significantly less, but as he progressed he got better. He practiced so much that he learned a skill “Water healers.” A skill unique to water magicians and a skill that is very hard to acquire!

But Harima did not stop there. He practiced with more intensity! His learning curve became so steep that when he was 11 years old he acquired the title Young water lord!

From that day onwards he is not just toshiro’s brother. He is Harima Echizen!

Wherever he went people were prizing him, they were trying to fix him up with their daughters. People he never heard of before are lavishly gifting him so that he will just remember their names! His parents are so happy that their son succeeded. When he met his brother, Harima expected at-least a small prize from Toshiro. But all he got in return is a nonchalant reply, ”Practice more” and a book called ‘Moon’s reflection.’

But Harima did not get disappointed much about this. By now he already got used to his brother’s way of dealing with him.

As for Harima’s position in the family, he is being treated with same respect as an elder or even more. He was being given everything he wanted.

Unfortunately, Harima could not handle the fame and fortune very well. This is what he wanted recognition and fame. Once he got these he lost his biggest motivation!

He thoroughly indulged himself in the pleasures thinking he reached the pinnacle of his life. Slowly troublemakers started adding into his entourage.

Most of the rotten bunches in this group are the children of elders of the clan and some of them are even successors to some of the families other than Echizen!

Each day their antics got escalated. One day Harima got a letter from his brother,

“I am watching. Cut the bull crap and start practising.”

When Harima read that message he became unbelievably angry! He may have been afraid of it in the past but now? He has same status as a clan elder or even more, who does he think he is? Somehow Harima convinced himself that he is the Echizen clan’s future.

He spent his entire day in his favourite brothel. He and his entourage completely got wasted on whatever they could get their hands on. Late into the night one of his friends told him how a guy disrespected him. Finally in his drunk delusional state Harima found a scape goat for his anger!

Harima slurred and said, “Let find this bastard.”

All of them got into a flying carriage and started going towards that guy’ home. And that is the last thing he remembered. When Harima woke up again, he was lying in his bed, wet and his brother was staring at him with a bucket in his hand.

Toshiro simply said, ”You fucked it up.”

Harima mind still could not adjust to change of scenery. Last time he remembered he was with his friends. Right friends!

Harima asked, ”Where are the-“

Toshiro said before he could finish, “Your friends are not coming to the Echizen realm anymore. From today onwards you are on lockdown.”

Just like his usual self Toshiro went back to his mini realm, without giving Harima much information. Following days no matter how much Harima tried he could not find any information about his group. Even the clan elder’s children disappeared. When he tried to contact the elders all them said the same thing, “Please don’t drag us into your sibling’s fight”. No matter what he tried no was willing to join him in his shenanigans. He was miserable! As usually his brother approached him after few months and asked him, ”why are you not practicing?”

Finally Harima snapped, “No! I will not do this anymore. Stop dictating terms on my life.”

Toshiro calmly said, ”I am not dictating terms. I am just trying to lead you to your best self.”

Harima retorted back, “So you decided I should be a young water lord?”

Toshiro laughed dryly and said, “tell me in which field you are as good as you are in water elemental arts. Martial arts, forging, mana stone constructions, formations TELL ME WHICH FIELD YOU ARE GOOD AT! ”

Harima stared at his brother in surprise. His brother never got emotional with him. But what is more shocking is that Harima has nothing to say back. His brother is right, all of his forte lie in water elementals. But if he agrees with his brother now, he will always live in Toshiro’s shadow. He decided to play his trump card on him.

Harima said, “Fine you have a point, my strength is in water elemental skills. But do you think you are giving me the best resources?”

Toshiro looked at him, ”What does that supposed to mean?”

Harima could clearly see his brother’s anger rising! If he does not choose his next statement properly he will be screwed!

Harima hurriedly said, ”My point is that if you are going to give me an opportunity you should give me a correct one. Brother if you really want to help me, how about you get me Lazy man’s library exam token? ”

Toshiro was surprised, “Librarian position? You?”

Harima knew that his brother took the bait! He said, “Brother I know that you gained all this power only after working at the library. Only after passing the exam your fate changed. So get me a token too. If you can do that I will never question your judgement.”

Toshiro was calm for minutes and then said, “Alright then let’s make a contract.”

This time it was Harima’s turn to get surprised, “Contract?”

Toshiro replied, “Yes a contract in the name of spirits of vengeance and justice. If I can get you an exam token for the lazy man’s library, you will never question my judgement. But if I fail to get it, I will never intervene in your life again. ”

Harima knew he was taking risk when he is agreeing to this contract. But Harima thought about it rationally. The last batch that got admitted into the library was his brother’s, which was 1500 years ago! No one knows when the next notifications will come.

Secondly even if notifications did appear, the odds of his brother getting the token are almost zero. According to the information Harima heard, even primordials fight for this token, so that they can pass it to their descendants. Harima knew that his brother has very high influence, but definitely not as high as a primordial!

After thinking this Harima agreed and signed the contract.

After that Toshiro did not bother Harima. Harima was quite happy with his life slacking, doing nothing. He regularly indulged himself in pleasures. Harima knew that with his status as a young water lord, his life is set. Even with a snail pace he will reach his goal, Water lord. All he has to do is mooch of the family treasures and level up.

But sometimes fate sure does have interesting plans!

When Harima is 17 years old, he got a message from his brother.

“I got the token for the exam. Pack your bags; we are leaving to major realm of Anantha tonight.”

After reaching the Lazy man’s library, Harima cleared the two rounds of exam. Though Harima did slack off, at one point in his life he did study, so clearing these two trials was very easy to him. But he had a nagging suspicion that the final round is the actual exam. The final round is conducted by library owner himself!

Harima with his brother and rest of the examinees are waiting in a big hall that is attached to the entrance of owner’s office.

Harima in a moment of desperation asked Toshiro, ”Brother, what will you do if I fail the final round?”

Toshiro looked at Harima, smiled and said, “Don’t worry. I will simply send you to the next alternative. E.S. school.”

Harima stuttered when he heard that name, “E-E-E-E. school?!! Brother that is a place where all martial arts maniac join. I will not survive there. I am not going!”

Toshiro still smiled, “Oh! But you will still go. According to the contract you have to obey my judgement if I get you a token.”

Harima said weakly, “But if I fail the exam what is the point of getting the token?”

Toshiro said, “That is not my problem .As per contract I fulfilled my end of the bargain. Also you don’t have to worry about the E.S. school entrance exam. E.S. school dean owes me a huge favor, so I got you a seat as his direct disciple. ”

Harima barely could control his shivering, ”You got the Demon of nether realm as my teacher?”

Toshiro laughed, ”Yes!”

Harima started panicking. He heard so many horrifying tales about E.S. school’s dean. No! Harima knew that he cannot afford to fail the final round.

Just as he was panicking, two men entered the large hall and were going towards the owner’s office.

Toshiro, who was smiling while looking at Harima, suddenly stopped looking at his brother and started staring at this two people.

Toshiro said while getting up from his chair, “Harima it seems your luck is not as rotten as I thought it is.” Saying those words he made his way towards Pragna and Agarthala.