CHAPTER 381: CORE OF THE LIBRARY

But before he could question further, the man smoothly continued, redirecting the conversation expertly.

"Anyways," he said, smiling warmly once more, "let me formally introduce myself. I am the Akashic Librarian. You may call me Librarian—or Tinkerer, as I tend to enjoy tinkering with and researching various fascinating things during my abundant free time."

Orion swallowed the questions swirling impatiently on his tongue. Clearly, Tinkerer would not offer any further insight into the profound implications behind his true dragon name, at least not yet.

Instead, Orion composed himself, breathing out calmly, and nodded respectfully. "Then, Senior Tinkerer, could you tell me more about this place? Since you mentioned you’re the librarian..."

Tinkerer nodded approvingly, eyes brightening in acknowledgment. "Yes, it’s exactly as you think. This is the Akashic Library, or rather, a small fragment of it." He smiled, extending a hand forward. "Come with me."

As his words settled, the tranquil space before them shattered like a delicate mirror, fragmenting into countless shimmering shards of light and shadow.

An immense, swirling wormhole opened, silently inviting them to step through into realms beyond mortal comprehension.

Without hesitation, Tinkerer calmly stepped forward, vanishing slowly into the mysterious passageway. Orion followed closely behind, anticipation fluttering softly in his chest.

In an instant, their surroundings transformed dramatically.

They arrived within an utterly bizarre space, one where time itself seemed an empty illusion and the fabric of space felt missing.

Boundless void surrounded them, vast and endless, marked only by a radiant sphere of primal, gentle yet overwhelming light shining brilliantly at the very center.

Around this luminous core, infinite streams of knowledge flowed gracefully like rivers of stardust, shimmering with billions upon billions of words, countless scripts, symbols, and characters from every conceivable language, culture, and civilization, both known and forgotten.

Each character glowed softly, humming gently with an indescribable harmony of existence itself.

Libraries, archives, tomes, and scrolls hovered in serene suspension, shelves arranged in impossibly elegant, infinite spirals and curves, without beginning or end that stretched for trillions of miles.

Each was a container of universal wisdom, holding within it the potential of infinite possibilities and truths.

Tinkerer smiled quietly, observing Orion’s amazed reaction. He swept an arm gently around him, voice steady yet full of pride.

"Welcome, Primus Xal’Zaryon Drakonis, to the true heart of the Akashic Library, the repository of infinite wisdom, knowledge, and truth."

"Here, every word spoken, every thought conceived, every secret whispered and forgotten by time is carefully preserved, eternally guarded by the Library and me."

Orion could only stare in silent, profound awe, his heartbeat a gentle but rapid drum of wonder and astonishment.

Lumi’s tiny window trembled vigorously, her excitement overflowing.

[This is... this is incredible, Master! Infinite knowledge all around us! (๑✧◡✧๑)]

Tinkerer chuckled lightly with pride. "What do you think, Young Man? Isn’t this quite the view?"

Orion took a deep, steadying breath, feeling his heart gradually calming amidst the astonishing scene before him.

He finally nodded his head gently, eyes sparkling with uncontained amazement as he replied softly, "Yes... this is a fascinating place."

Tinkerer’s lips curled into a faint smile, clearly pleased by Orion’s reaction. With patience, he allowed Orion to take his time, knowing well the magnitude of wonder this place could inspire.

The shimmering streams of infinite knowledge flowed endlessly around them, casting reflections like stars across the vast nothingness of space.

Orion slowly walked forward, eyes wide and eager, feeling an awe he rarely experienced. Each floating symbol pulsed gently, resonating softly with his heartbeat, as though acknowledging his presence.

Lumi’s window drifted around excitedly, her curiosity insatiable as she observed countless streams of information glistening in a cosmic dance.

After several silent moments, Orion eventually exhaled softly, gradually calming down as his astonishment receded into curiosity.

Sensing this shift, Tinkerer cleared his throat gently, drawing Orion’s attention back to himself.

"Now," Tinkerer began softly, his tone mild yet serious, "let me tell you more about this place."

Orion immediately turned his head, meeting the Librarian’s gaze seriously, showing his complete attention.

"Since you possess the Spell pass," Tinkerer continued, his voice firm and clear, "I’ll have to restrict your access to other knowledge. You may only select from the Spell section, as you already know."

Orion paused, processing this carefully before asking hesitantly, "So, can I only select a single spell?"

Tinkerer shook his head gently, a subtle amusement glinting within his wise eyes. "That, young Primus, will depend entirely on your own ability."

Orion’s brow furrowed slightly in confusion. "Huh? What exactly do you mean?"

Tinkerer’s smile grew lightly enigmatic, the corners of his lips rising faintly. "This," he gestured slowly around, "is not the place to choose books from."

As soon as those words left Tinkerer’s lips, the surreal, cosmic realm dissolved around them, reality blurring briefly before reforming anew.

Orion found himself standing once more on familiar farmland. But this time, they stood at a different spot, just outside the rustic farmhouse he’d first seen.

Without another word, Tinkerer stepped forward, walking toward the modest house. Orion quickly followed him, sensing that the answers he sought awaited him inside.

Upon entering, Orion paused briefly in surprise. The interior bore no resemblance to a regular farmhouse; instead, it opened directly into a small, neatly arranged room containing a single, sturdy wooden bookshelf.

Its polished shelves held meticulously placed tomes, their covers glowing faintly, each etched with intricate runes and titles indicating elemental affinities, martial techniques, and mysterious arcane subjects.

Tinkerer stood calmly beside the shelf, gesturing gently toward the rows of books, his voice soft yet carrying deep weight. "Since you can access only the Spell section, these are all books containing knowledge and techniques of various elements and weapons. Choose whichever calls to your heart. Every single book contains more words than the particles of mana in our entire Chiliocosm."

He paused meaningfully, holding Orion’s gaze with quiet seriousness. "But beware, young Primus, this is not merely a place of passive acquisition. Whatever you choose will test you accordingly. The quality of the reward you receive will be directly tied to your performance on that test."

Orion’s heart quickened in excitement, his gaze deepening as he carefully considered Tinkerer’s words. "Test...?" he murmured quietly, curiosity blending with cautious excitement.

"Yes," Tinkerer affirmed, nodding slowly. "The token that got you here was only an entry token, it didn’t guarantee any reward or skill. The Akashic Library never grants knowledge without ensuring the recipient is worthy. The test varies from person to person and also by what you choose."

His lips curled into a faint, encouraging smile, adding softly, "If your performance surpasses the standard expectations, your reward may exceed mere skills or spells. It might grant you something far more profound, but what that would be? Who knows."

Orion’s eyes flashed intensely, determination filling his expression as he stepped forward carefully, eyes scanning each tome on the shelf with thoughtful deliberation.

Lumi hovered silently, observing carefully while radiating intense curiosity.

As Orion’s fingers brushed against the ancient books and scrolls, gentle pulses of energy hummed softly beneath his fingertips, as though each tome whispered quietly, seeking his attention, challenging his willpower.

"Choose wisely," Tinkerer reminded softly, stepping back to give Orion ample space to make his decision. "Remember, this choice and its consequences will decide if you will get a Tier 1 Spell or something far beyond a spell."