Published at 6th of March 2026 6:35 am

Chapter 137: Library Concourse

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After Sword Club is over, I head to the library to look for some new spells. The first one I find is called ‘shield construct’, which works on the same principles as the standard personal shield spell, but can be projected into the distance and moulded into much more flexible forms than the basic version. It can even mimic the shape of objects such as swords or the like, though there’s not much use for that until the next level, ‘mobile shield construct’.

The name of the upgrade naturally suggests the weakness of the original, being that they can’t be moved once formed, and the casting takes a considerable time for each one. Moreover, they’re much less durable than what the personal shield spell can produce, to the degree that even a full mundane could break through, possibly with their bare hands. Thus making it a somewhat unpopular spell.

But that doesn’t concern me, as it fulfils a different need for me than most, being that it’ll allow me to hoist bodies into the air so the ground won’t deform when I liquify them. Unfortunately, it’s a rather advanced spell, so I won’t be learning it anytime soon, but it’ll no doubt be vital when I do.

The next spell, or rather spells, will hopefully help with my problem of certain people finding my enhancement level odd. They’re called ‘boost’ spells, and they come in a series of different versions depending on what they’re boosting. They work in the same way as a divine boon, the only difference being the source and the fact that they stack with most other boosts.

The good news is that the basic levels are rather simple to learn, and my anatomy knowledge will help (though I’ll probably wish I had taken that class after all), so I might be able to learn one or two in a few weeks, or possibly a month. Moreover, the more of them I learn, the easier the rest become, both in learning and in casting. They can even be combined into one chant, and supposedly combining all of them is only a little bit more straining than using one.

The bad news is that the basic level only boosts the target around the level of a basic boon, but that should be enough to establish a precedent of a fluctuating enhancement level that’s just a little bit off. Supposedly mages who focus on these spells can provide boosts that put them to the level of knights, though only barely, and some knights make other knights look like mundanes.

Usually though, mages who learn these spells focus on the ‘mass’ versions, like the buffer mage from the entrance exam on Preston’s team. It’s certainly an effective tactic, but I think I’m only interested in them insofar as they can solve my problem. So, I’ll focus on the control version for obfuscation, plus perception to help with gambling, but I copy the rest of the basic versions to study off and on too.

While I’m there, I head to the enchanting section and ask about three-dimensional symbols. As expected, that information is restricted, but I manage to talk my way into it after showing them the dagger from the Empress. They’re still nervous about it, as apparently improperly constructed symbols of the type are known for exploding dramatically when improperly sequenced or, worse, creating lasting environmental contamination. But they figured that the empress obviously wants me to have access to the information; otherwise, why give me an item with it embedded in it?

They do however have restrictions that turn out to be conveniences. I’m not allowed to make copies, but when I tell them about having a client enchanter, they give me permission to bring him with me to the library whenever I need, which is actually better for me anyways, even if I have to stay with him while he researches. So, I send him a message as soon as I leave informing him about the opportunity.

After I’m done with that, I head to the ‘Spindle’ where I spend my weekly session learning the glide spell. There are others that are more urgent for me to learn – such as the illusion upgrades – but it does have the greatest synergy with the location and… well, Ellen will be happy to know there won’t be any chance of me dashing my brains out by messing up a jump.

The next day is Midweek, which starts off with my study group with Princep Theodore.

I was already not looking forward to it, but then it turned out that the only time available to everyone would prevent me from watching Ser Terry spar. Well, I suppose if it doesn’t last too long, then I might be able to catch some of the later matches.

I head over to the room the Princep reserved in the library with Emily, who half-heartedly complains about me dragging her to it on the way. Honestly, as much as Princep Theodore is annoying, I think she’s fascinated with the fact that he’s actually good at the subject and is curious about his approach to it. Or rather, how his way of treating a subject seriously appears so unserious on the surface.

“So, do you think we’ll actually come up with any novel insights like the Princep hopes?” She asks.

I shrug. “Probably not. At least not anything major, for a while anyways.”

“So, what you’re saying is that I’ve agreed to do this thing ‘for a while’ without even hope that something will come out of it, all because you needed a favour from a princep I haven’t even met?”

“Didn’t you express your support with the others when you found out about this? Saying that I needed to come to you all sooner so you could help me sooner?”

“Of course. I’m merely bringing it up so you don’t forget it. You do seem wont to do so after all,” she says with a completely flat matter-of-fact tone.

I side eye her suspiciously until finally a faint upturn of her lip reveals she’s speaking in some minor jest. “Well, I’m certain I won’t forget with you reminding me.” I try to keep my tone light and friendly.

“Then buy more of my frozen cream,” she softly exclaims. “You haven’t come around in a while, and sales are down.”

“Are prices up?” I ask with a dubiously raised eyebrow.

“Well…” she guiltily smirks, “that’s no reason for friends to stop buying it, is it?”

“What is it at?” I ask, calculating what I might be able to spend given my present income.

“Um… you know. Half a large.”

I nearly choke, though on what I do not know. Indignation, probably. “Gold!? Who can even afford that?!”

She looks away with an expression that’s clearly meant to be somehow goading. “Plenty of nobles. But, well, if you’re saying you’re not up for it, I might be willing to give you a friend discount… say, seven medium?”

I roll my eyes at her absurdity… though I do want to have some, now that she’s talking about it. “…Look, I have recently taken up high-stakes gambling. Perhaps I’ll come by and get a trencher if I get a big win.” Or, at the very least, Ellen still owes me one… though it might be awkward to collect with prices this high.

The library is fairly busy when we arrive, the week after the equinoctial being known for major assignments being handed out. In fact, I was expecting one from Count Vithal, but apparently the appearance of my imposter has distracted her.

I glance up at the elaborate mural, which almost seems to have changed since the last time I came – depicting not gods and emperors, but strange figures with elongated hairless faces and sunken eyes staring down admonishingly at those who are not sufficiently quiet in this place of study. Of course, they were probably there last time, and I just didn’t see them with all these high shelves blocking the view of the whole picture.

Eventually, we weather the withering painted looks to make our way to the reserved study room. Denton, the only one there when we arrive, scowls as we enter and looks pointedly away.

“What was that look about?” Emily says to him, going up to him directly and looming over his sitting form.

Denton, clearly having not expected to be called out for his look, shifts uncomfortably in his chair once then steels himself to return Emily’s direct stare. “Nothing much, I merely hoped that you might have the decency to not show up. The princep already has too many people like you hanging on to him.”

“People like me? What is that supposed to mean?” Emily asks, highly indignant.

“Greedy sycophants and social climbers.” I don’t know which one he says with more disgust.

“Sycophant? What are you talking about? You don’t even know me,” Emily says, leaning closer and crossing her arms intimidatingly.

He scoffs, tossing his head back with a contemptuous roll of his eyes. “I know what you charge for that novelty cart food. You would make more coin selling it to more people for less, but instead, you price it so that only high nobles can afford it. Why? Because that allows you to form relationships with those who buy it. And for those you want to form relationships with who are too poor or prudent to buy at those prices? No matter, you just gift them a scoop. It’s rather clever, artificially raising the value of a bribe only you can give.”

I snort in laughter, causing both of them to snap towards me. “I assure you,” I say with a sardonic grin, “she’s hardly that clever. She’s just too lazy to freeze enough cream for selling at lower prices to be worth it.”

Emilly rolls her eyes at me and resumes her cold stare at Denton. “You’re not helping, Malichi.”

“Indeed,” Denton says, cold stare remaining on me. “Once again, you prove yourself incapable of doing anything other than sow chaos.”

Emily glances questioningly between us, then snorts and looks back to him with a cold mirth. “You know, you’re always looking down on people, aren’t you, Denton? Judging them? Which, thinking about, it makes perfect sense that you’d invent some scheme for me to be using to form relationships. After all, you’re completely incapable of forming bonds even with schemes, and so resent those who don’t even need them.”

He half stands, face red and ready to lash out when the door opens to admit Princep Theodore and Addrian in the midst of conversation.

“You know, we really should make a habit of talking more, Adrian. You Blakerhals always have such novel ways of looking at things. Of course, I don’t mean to suggest that your opinions are merely those of your family, but that your family has a tendency of producing thinkers that are novel in their own right.”

“Of course, your highness, I would be happy to discuss any number of subjects with you,” Addrian says cordially, a faint amusement seeping in as they take in the scene in the room while Theodore’s gaze is still obliviously trained on them.

“Your highness,” Denton says, making a half bow more out of an attempt to hide his reddened face and agitated posture than any sense of formal obligation.

“Oh, enough of that,” Theodore waves him off. “What’s wrong with you, Denton? You know how much I abhor stuffy formality while studying. We can hardly get anything done if everyone’s stumbling over themselves to bow every time they speak.”

“My apologies,” Denton says, now hiding the redness of being nearly caught in an outburst with the redness of being admonished. What the distinction is, I cannot say, but the difference is obvious when seen.

“No worries,” Theodore smiles energetically, “let’s just get started. Now, I assume everyone has finished this week’s assignment?” Everyone nods. Once again, the last question was a bit hard, but nothing at the level of the first week. “Excellent. That means we can move on to what I wanted to get to. I thought I’d start simply and compile a short list of problems which have known solutions, but which are simply unsatisfactory.”

What he goes on to describe is hardly ‘simple’, each problem being of a greater complexity than anything we went over in class, save for on the first day. I must admit that I was unaware of a few of them, and the ease in which he discusses them shows a theoretical knowledge of the subject which far surpasses my own or anyone else’s in the room.

Not that he shows any disappointment or arrogance towards us, but rather is perpetually full of puppy-like exuberance. Playfully describing his ideas and unreservedly praising the ideas of others as novel when they differ from his own. Indeed, I get the impression that this group is less about coming up with new methods – which he would no doubt do on his own eventually – but the delight he feels when exposed to different approaches, even when they’re clearly inferior to his own.

About three-quarters of an hour into the discussion, I freeze as the listening token I slipped between books just outside the door (I dislike how the sound-dampening enchantment on the room cuts off warning of potential danger) detects two pairs of forceful footsteps coming directly towards us. My head goes slowly to the door (barely held back from an attention grabbing snap), and my hand creeps towards a dagger, only to snap back to the table as the doors burst open to reveal Princep Cecillia standing there with her arms outstretched dramatically, with Marquis Phillip standing haughtily behind her and to the side with a supportive glare.

“We’re reserved…! Cecillia, you came!” Theodore’s tone shifts from irate to ecstatic in the same breath.

“Why, of course,” she says, with a smile whose temperature somehow seems proportionate to the directness in which it is viewed – her face directed warmly at her brother, but her eyes boring coldly into me, “how could I stay away after hearing so much about your little group.”

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