Arthur followed the directions given by the innkeeper, navigating through the winding streets of the city. The farther he walked, the more apparent it became that this district was wealthier than the rest. The roads were cleaner, the buildings more refined, and the people carried themselves with an air of importance. Lanterns lined the streets, casting a warm glow over the cobbled roads, and neatly trimmed hedges decorated the sidewalks.
After about fifteen minutes, he arrived before a grand building.
The Scholar’s Guild stood as a monument of knowledge and prestige, its towering structure built from smooth, white marble that gleamed under the fading sunlight. Tall columns lined the entrance, each carved with intricate depictions of historical events and legendary scholars.
The massive double doors were made of polished dark oak, adorned with golden filigree that shimmered in the evening light. Large stained-glass windows stretched across the upper levels, depicting celestial constellations and arcane symbols. The entire structure radiated an aura of authority and exclusivity.
Arthur stepped toward the grand gate, but before he could get far, two guards in pristine armor blocked his path with crossed spears.
"Halt!" one of them barked. "Only members are allowed entry."
Arthur stopped, unfazed, and asked, "How can I become a member?"
The guards exchanged looks before one of them, a tall man with a thin mustache, sneered. His gaze flickered over Arthur’s attire, simple, unadorned clothing, completely devoid of any noble insignia.
"Hah! You think a commoner like you can enter the Scholar’s Guild?" His voice was filled with mockery, and his fellow guards chuckled at his words.
Arthur blinked, genuinely surprised at their attitude. He thought, ‘They have really terrible customer service.’
The other guard smirked. "Why don’t you go back to whatever hole you crawled out of? The Guild is no place for the likes of you."
Before Arthur could respond, a firm voice cut through the laughter.
"What is going on here?"
The mocking stopped instantly. The guards straightened, snapping to attention as a well-dressed man stepped out of the Scholar’s Guild. He was in his late thirties, with neatly combed blond hair and intelligent blue eyes. His tailored dark-blue coat, embroidered with silver patterns, signified his high status within the Guild.
"Manager Elliot!" The mustached guard saluted hastily. "A poor fellow was causing trouble here…"
Elliot raised a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence, his sharp eyes landing on Arthur. Unlike the guards, there was no arrogance in his gaze, only curiosity. "Sir, are you here to become a member of the Scholar’s Guild?" he asked, his tone polite and respectful.
Arthur nodded. "Yes. I’d like to know the criteria for membership."
The guards stiffened in confusion. Why was their manager speaking so courteously to a commoner?
"Manager, this man is clearly…" one of the guards tried again.
Elliot’s gaze turned cold, and his voice dropped to an icy tone. "Did I ask for your opinion?"
The temperature seemed to drop a few degrees. The guards felt a chill run down their spines.
Elliot continued, "I will deal with your conduct later." His eyes promised punishment, and the guards instinctively shut their mouths, realizing their pay for the month might very well disappear after this.
Turning back to Arthur, Elliot gestured toward the entrance. "Please, follow me inside. I sincerely apologize for their behavior."
Arthur, unaffected by the whole exchange, replied casually, "No problem." He stepped past the guards, following Elliot through the grand doors.
The guards, now drenched in cold sweat, glanced at each other, cursing internally. ‘Just who the hell did we insult?!’
…
Inside the Scholar’s Guild
Arthur was led through a grand reception hall with high ceilings adorned with a painted mural of scholars gathered around a glowing tome. The floor was made of polished granite, reflecting the golden light of ornate chandeliers. Several scribes and scholars dressed in elegant robes moved about, engaged in quiet discussions or carrying stacks of parchment.
Elliot guided Arthur toward a reception desk, where an elderly woman with silver hair and round glasses sat, her quill scratching against parchment. She looked up as they approached.
"Sir Arthur is here to apply for membership," Elliot informed her.
The woman adjusted her glasses, peering at Arthur. "Are you a noble, sir?"
Arthur shook his head. "No."
"Then, as per Guild regulations, non-nobles must pay twenty-five gold coins per month to become a member," she stated matter-of-factly.
Arthur didn’t hesitate. He reached into his bag and withdrew the required amount, placing it on the counter. The woman counted the coins with experienced fingers before nodding in approval. "Your membership is valid for one month. You may now access the Guild’s resources, including the library and select research archives."
Arthur took the membership token she handed him and placed it in his pocket.
Elliot, meanwhile, wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead. He had sensed it earlier, Arthur’s aura. Even though Arthur wasn’t trying to exert any pressure, Elliot could feel it. It was subtle, but unmistakable. ‘A Peak-level martial artist… or something even greater.’
He internally cursed the guards again. Had they truly angered such a person? If Arthur had been the type to hold grudges, their fates would have been sealed. He made a mental note to discipline them severely.
…
Inside the Library
Arthur stepped into the Scholar’s Guild library, and his first thought was that it was massive.
The grand chamber stretched far into the distance, its towering bookshelves forming endless rows of knowledge. Each shelf was stacked with countless tomes, scrolls, and manuscripts, their spines marked with runes and elaborate titles. Crystal chandeliers hung from the domed ceiling, casting soft golden light across the room. A few people sat at reading tables, their noses buried in books, while others meticulously copied texts onto parchment.
Arthur moved deeper into the library, his eyes scanning the titles. The books covered a wide range of topics, history, politics, magic theory, alchemy, and even myths and legends.
Without drawing attention, Arthur discreetly released a swarm of nanobots from his sleeve. They were microscopic, invisible to the naked eye. The tiny machines dispersed into the air, moving between the shelves and copying the contents of the books and scrolls.
Arthur closed his eyes momentarily, connecting to the swarm. In mere minutes, the nanobots scanned every book within their range, converting them into digital twins stored in Arthur’s internal database.
Within a short time, he had access to an entire wealth of knowledge, far more efficiently than any scholar could ever hope to achieve.
‘Now,’ Arthur thought, ‘let’s see what kind of world this really is.’
He picked a random book from a nearby shelf, flipped it open, and began reading the contents on his system panel, blending in like any other scholar. The real work had just begun.
…
Arthur started with the most fundamental aspect, the language.
He took a seat at one of the large reading tables in the Scholar’s Guild library, surrounded by stacks of books and dimly glowing crystal lamps. The wooden chair creaked slightly as he settled in, but he ignored it, his mind already focused on the holographic panel before his eyes. The book, titled "The Foundations of Thyrandelan Script
Reviews
All reviews (0)