The Royal Library was massive. It stood on its own some distance away from the Palace, made of white stone and walls decorated with reliefs and statues of beasts and warriors. Two pairs of guards stood at the entrance, standing straight and looking mean.

The door behind them was reddish-brown, almost like high-quality mahogany. At least that is what Gerald thought about it. Who knew if the trees here were the same as on Earth? Many of them sure looked similar.

As he was accompanied by a pair of servants, he had no trouble getting inside. The guards have even opened the door for him, letting him enter while he kept his hands behind his back, curiously observing everything around him.

The Royal Library was massive. The arched ceiling was at least five meters high, and wide just as much. Large windows made of stained glass let in soft and colorful light, made to portray important people of the past.

The place was like a long gallery with two floors, containing thousands of books. Each wall between the windows was filled with shelves and decorated with wooden ornaments and gilded stands.

Along the middle were wooden tables with glass cases on top, containing extremely old books that were on the edge of decay. A good way to protect them from moisture for sure, however, just the light from the sun would degrade the fragile pages over time.

'Not the best in terms of protection,' he thought.

A spiral staircase was on either side of the hall, leading to the balcony on the upper floor, where even more books were stored.

As Gerald entered, a librarian rose from his table and offered his services, in case he was searching for a specific book or article.

But he was denied, as his services were not required. Not because Gerald wasn't interested in specific things, but because he planned to read, at least partially, every single thing in sight! Nothing would escape his grasp, even if he had to spend a few months here!

He was ready to uncover the secrets of the King's power!

He performed a few stretches to increase his mobility and cracked his fingers, before taking hold of the first book. He started right at the beginning, first bookshelf, near the entrance.

And what a book it was!

[Records of Myrtana Vol. I]

Gerald opened the book and lightly skimmed through it. "Bron Wolfe, born in Auralba, 22.07.3 – died in Auralba, 17.12.61… What is this?" Gerald murmured as he read a line. He flipped a few pages, "Tony Palmer, born in Auralba, 11.09.7 – died in Auralba, 31.10.88…"

He scowled with one eyebrow lifted higher, closed the book, and put it back.

"Damn it, that's just the records of its citizens…" He took out a few more books and read the titles. [Records of Myrtana Vol. II], [Records of Myrtana Vol. IV], [Records of Myrtana Vol. XI]…

It was all the same! "Fucking death records, that's not what I need," Gerald grumbled and put the books back in their place.

Before him, the entire wall, at least ten shelves, were full of these books, every single one of them!

"So many… That's at least hundreds of books! Wait, what year is it anyway?"

He shook his head, it wasn't important. He quickly made his way to the other wall, picking up another book. This one was about taxes…

"Fuck…" Gerald placed it back and took another one. The result was the same. Since they appeared to have been placed according to age, he quickly checked the dates.

"Myrtana has been around for more than 700 years?! Damn!" he exclaimed. The last date was from this year, probably, and it said 20.4.713!

But he didn't come here to check the tax records! He placed the thick book back. Onward to the next wall!

"Land deeds, land sales, land purchases, land repossessions, occupied land, gifted land…" Gerald read the contents and shook his head. Another dud.

But he did not falter. Sooner or later he would find what he was searching for, and, of course...it was not the next book!

Mithril mines, iron mines, new and abandoned, operating and collapsed…

Records of noble families across the Kingdom, both fallen and those currently still going strong…

Alliances, trusted merchant families, old records of shipping accidents, and merchant vessels from the south...

Various documents, building designs, bridge designs, even plans for the current palace… Everything was there! Everything, except what Gerald was searching for!

"Say, is this place filled with only old records about the Kingdom, or is there some stuff about magic?" Gerald asked, having wasted a few long hours searching for stuff that clearly wasn't there.

"Oh?" The librarian pulled off his gaze from a book he was reading, and lifted his old head up, looking at Gerald with surprise. "Yes, of course, it's on the upper floor." He pointed at the stairs leading up on the balcony where a few thousand more books were neatly placed. "The bottom floor contains only the records pertaining to the workings of Myrtana."

Realizing his mistake, Gerald wanted to facepalm so badly but refrained from doing so. "Thank you," he said and quickly turned around, hiding his embarrassment.

He quickly made his way up the stairs and picked the first book that came under his fingers.

[Meditation for a Mage – Beginner]

"Well, that was something." He picked another one!

[Magic Metals Vol. V]

Wow! So cool! Another!

[Refinement and Uses of Pure Ether]

And another!

[Mithril Ore Refining Tips]

And another!

[Silver Foxes and Two Moons]

Another!

[Fire Manipulation Vol. I]

Another, another, another!!! He grabbed as many as he could carry.

[Magic Runes for Beginners], [Optimal Food for Foundation Building], [Swords and Spears Vol. III]

Gerald could barely hold any more books in his hands, as his eyes shined like stars. He was grinning from ear to ear. So much good stuff! Finally!

He wanted to cackle like a villain after his evil plan finally worked, but he managed to contain it. The old man on the bottom floor would probably think he went nuts if he didn't suspect so already.

He just carried the stack of books down and placed them on an empty table and sat down as well.

It was time to study! And none of that modern garbage where you had to memorize a bunch of useless facts, no! This was important, well-guarded, secret high knowledge!

"I have waited for this for so long!"

Gerald flipped open the first book and started devouring the pages.