The Lower Class Library was exactly as I pictured it to be. It was my first time actually entering, but we were shown the libraries of each Class, albeit briefly, during our Orientation.
The only Library in which we actually got the grand tour was the general campus library. It was larger than the others, having several layers and a wealth of books and other research materials.
However, the problem with this Library was that it was only accessible once a student had completed their first three months in Ainzlark Academy. They would be given a special library card that represented their access to the library. Of course, this card was bound by the Class Points a student had accumulated during the time of Library registration.
That was why three months were given to new entrants, so they could earn as many class points before registration.
The Library card a student possessed determined the level of services they could employ from the general library. Plus, since Library Registration only happened once a year, students had to amass as many Class Points as they could to get a decent Library card before the registration.
If they didn’t… they would miss out on a whole lot of useful materials for an entire year!
Edward and Anabelle entered the library, so I had to tail them. I picked up the pace and ensured I entered the large buildings at nearly the same time as them.
The pair looked surprised to see me. Edward beamed while Anabelle’s face darkened. I pretended not to notice them and made my way through the large hallway.
The Lower-Class library, while not as impressive as the others, consisted of three stories, having the ground floor mainly made up of a lounge, reading room, request counters, etc.
The first and second floors above contained the ‘goods’. They had books, materials, research centers, and many other facilities required for a prestigious academy. This may have seemed quite magnanimous to a layman, but it was just to be expected from the best academic institute in the Eastern Kingdom, no?
As for the third floor, it was only accessible to the top students of the Lower-Class, also known as the Elite Ten. A wry grin formed on my face as I remembered my academy days.
‘That name sure rings many bells…’
After passing the hallway in paced steps, I easily overtook the duo who were not quite over my sudden appearance. Climbing the stairs, I went to the first floor which mostly consisted of books for the first years and had a majority of the research facilities and other centers in the library—with the exception of the ground floor.
The second floor was home to the books and study materials of the second and third years. I had no idea what was beyond there, what was done on the third floor.
If my guess was correct, though, then it had to be…
“Oh well, I wonder if that has changed…”
I shrugged the feeling off and advanced to a particular section of the first floor for my prize.
“Okay, this should be it,” I muttered, while reading the name of the particular library section.
‘Books On History’
I entered the section, passing through what seemed like a small barricade that was used to separate this section from the others.
Walking through the wall of shelves, I turned my face and observed the many books that hung themselves on the furniture around me.
They were all old, outdated, and not-too-impressive.
Of course, what would you expect from the Lower-Class library? The materials of higher quality had to be monopolized by the cream of the crop. We at the bottom would only be left with the scraps.
Well, none of these books were really any of my concerns. I was after one book in particular. After scanning for a few moments, one of the books that seemed fairly better than the others stood out. The moment I saw the title, a grin formed on my face and I realized it was the one I was looking for.
“The History Of Magic Evolution By Lewis Griffith. Volume 4…” I smirked.
I reached out for the book and took it off the shelf. Compared to the other dusty books on the same shelf, this one had barely a speck. Why?
Someone must have used it recently. Of course, I already knew who it was.
After securing the book, I had nothing left to do in the history book section, or even in the library as a whole. My work there was done.
“Now then…”
With this whisper and the slight tilting of my head as I came out of the barricade, my eyes fell upon Anabelle and Edward who were only a couple of meters from me.
The hand I used to hold the book loosened, and I brought it closer to my chest as I walked. Of course, I naturally ignored them and went my way, but from the corner of my eyes, I could see Anabelle looking horrified and disappointed as she watched me leave the Library’s first floor.
Her body refused to move from her position, and her intense gaze didn’t leave me until I disappeared from her sight.
From my distance, I could hear her speak to Edward after he asked her several times why she was acting strangely.
“That… that’s the book I wanted to borrow!”
‘Perfect!’
I went to the ground floor and showed the book with me to one of the clerks who stood at the counter. After filling out a form—adding my mana signature to it—and collecting a tag, I left the counter with the book I had borrowed for two weeks, the maximum time allowed for a student to keep a library material in their possession.
I could still feel a gaze on me, no doubt it belonged to Anabelle. She was stalking me from afar, and it wasn’t too hard to guess why.
Gliding out of the library in a confident stride, whole carefully holding my prize, I made my exit.
‘Now, then, let the games begin!’