Libraries: A Place Of Wisdom and Lies

“Alright, time for day number three of my research.”

I’ve been in town for three days now. I've spent my time getting to know the locals and helping people with errands whenever I can. My parents taught me kindness goes a long way after all, besides that my research has gone pretty well. I’m grateful I was able to find a good library where I could study up on this world and its customs. After my visit with Roman on my first day, I returned to the inn and had dinner. It was a nice and rich mushroom soup, apparently it’s the inn's specialty. On my second day, after having breakfast and saying hello to the Lutes, I left out to greet any other neighbors close by. After handling that, I moved onto something else I wanted to do.

As I mentioned before I found a library, it’s not the Rosarian Grand Library, it’s the neighborhood library called the “Nest for Knowledge”. After getting a library pass I started studying how to write this country's language. Apparently the language of Rosaria is the language of humans, so I should be able to use it anywhere. After some studying, I’ve managed to acquire most of the essential words I’ll need to write. I shouldn’t have much problems writing this world’s language, maybe it’s an effect of the comprehension ability Miss Fianna gave me. If only my time could go on uneventfully though, yesterday after getting the memorization down I was rewarded. The reward being a book shelf falling on top of me, I wasn’t hurt but needed to pay ten silvers for the damages. I better think of ways to make money, after all my bad luck doesn’t care about my wallet.

****

Now it’s day four of my time in Rosaria, now I’m finally researching something most fantasy lovers are interested in.

“Let’s see, where are books about the world's races?”

I’ve met many beasts during my time in Fantasia, however the only race I’ve seen so far has been human. Sure it’s welcoming, but also very jarring. There’s gotta be something I’m missing here, I made a long sigh as I reached another dead end. I decided to take a break and spotted a globe of Fantasia sitting on a table. I began to look at it, there were several continents on the globe. However, only a few of them were named and colored in. The rest of the areas were darkened out, which was odd because a territory close to Rosaria was a blackened area. What does all this mean?

“If you break that globe it’s another five silver.”

“THAT’S EXPENSIVE!”

I immediately backed away in a panic, only to turn and noticed the woman laughing at me.

“Really Whitney? After my scare from yesterday?”

“Sorry Sota, I couldn’t resist. You were just sitting there all gullible too, I just had to do it.”

Whitney is one of the Librarian’s assistants, although despite that her and the others handle stuff that the librarians back home would do. She fixed the glasses she wore and played with her silver blond hair. She then kneeled down to ask what I was up to.

“So what are you doing?”

“Researching about Rosaria and the land around it, I’m amazed to see so many undiscovered territories. I’m also surprised there’s no information on races here either, maybe I’m looking in the wrong place. Hey Whitney, what do you-”

When I glanced at Whitney, her face was white. She was trembling a little bit too, she even looked to her left and right.

“Uh, Whitney?”

“Ye-Yes! Oh, it’s just you Sota.”

“Of course it is, is everything alright?”

“*Sigh* I shouldn’t be doing this, but you have a right to know.”

Whitney told me to wait, she then went to a nearby shelf in the history section and pulled out a book. It was there the whole time, I’m an idiot aren’t I! Whitney walked over and handed me the book, I grasped it but she didn’t let go of it.

“Sota, no matter what happens, never ask about any races besides the ones in this book.”

“What?”

“I can’t say much, but just know that curiosity killed the cat. Don’t look into anything else okay?”

With that she released the book into my hands and walked away. However, while Whitney was leaving another book hit the table. Where did it come from? It’s probably nothing, for now let’s look at what this book is about.

****

“So that’s it? This is everything I need to know about the races that inhabit the world of Fantasia?”

I put down the book I was given and begin to ruminate on what I read. The way races work seems to work the same way as it did back on earth. That being your race is often determined based on nationality/where you were born. If you were born within the territory of Rosaria then you’re a Rosarian, if you’re born within the territory of the Protavian empire then you’re an Imperian, and the list goes on like that. There were some things that stuck out to me, for example people who inhabit desert territories are called Sandavians(people of the sand). Then there’s an interesting piece of information I saw, there’s a race of people who call themselves Alfs. Apparently, the Alfs are distant relatives of those who are ones with nature. In other words, the Elves! This proves to me that there’s more to this whole race thing that I don’t know about, including the fact that this book mentions territories that don’t appear on this globe.

There’s clearly more to this than meets the eye, but I can’t forget the words Whitney told me.

I can’t say much, but just know that curiosity killed the cat. Don’t look into anything else okay?

She was so scared, but why? Why was she so scared about my research into this world’s races? Well, I think I’ve peaked my curiosity for today and I’m now a bit hungry. I guess it’s about time to grab some dinner, apparently chicken is on the menu tonight. I would love to have some katsudon right now, even some BBQ wings sound good. I wonder if any of the shops here make Earth cuisine, I miss fast food so much right now! Well I guess I’ll take my leave, I’ll have to apologize to Whitney for scaring her before.

****

“He’s gone now, *sigh* why did he have to start looking into that? On top of that, why did I leave this book out for him. It’s best if he doesn't know the truth, a guy like that is too innocent for it.”

I remarked to myself noticing Sota was gone, I hope I didn’t scare him. Still the less he knows about this country the better. Thinking that I picked up the book I gave Sota, I couldn’t help but wince thinking about how someone could write such a thing. To have such propaganda in our library, how can we be keepers of knowledge? I took the book, “How To Stay Clear Of Fables” and placed the filth back where it belonged. Back in a cramped corner, on a shelf most people ignored.

****

BAD LUCK COUNTER: 8