Cedric's words lingered in Kael's mind.
"The Association library is on the third floor."
Instead of heading home...
He climbed the stairs.
The higher he went...
The quieter the Association became.
By the time he reached the third floor...
The sounds from the mission hall had completely disappeared.
At the end of the corridor stood a pair of oak doors.
Above them hung a simple plaque.
Association Library.
Kael pushed the doors open.
The scent of old parchment filled the air.
Rows upon rows of bookshelves stretched across the spacious room.
Some shelves held thick books.
Others contained neatly arranged journals.
A few hunters sat quietly at wooden tables, reading in silence.
Behind a counter near the entrance...
An elderly woman adjusted her glasses.
She looked up as Kael entered.
"A new face."
Kael walked over.
"I was told I could use the library."
She noticed the bronze badge on his belt.
"So you passed."
He nodded.
"Congratulations."
She smiled warmly.
"Bronze Rank hunters and above may freely access everything on the first floor of the library."
"The first floor?"
Kael asked.
She pointed upward.
"There are three floors."
"The second floor is reserved for Silver Rank hunters."
"The third..."
Her smile deepened.
"...Requires special authorization."
Kael nodded.
That made sense.
The woman placed a small wooden token on the counter.
"Take this."
"It marks your reading table."
"When you're finished..."
"Return it before leaving."
Kael accepted it.
"Thank you."
...
He wandered through the shelves.
Most books covered familiar subjects.
Beast Identification.
Weapon Maintenance.
Field Survival.
Medicinal Plants.
He paused before another section.
Hunter Journals.
Each book carried a different name.
Some belonged to retired hunters.
Others...
To hunters who had never returned.
Curious...
Kael pulled one from the shelf.
The cover was worn with age.
Opening it...
He found handwritten notes rather than polished text.
The first page read:
"If you're reading this...
I'm either retired...
Or dead."
Kael blinked.
The old hunter certainly had a sense of humor.
He continued reading.
The journal wasn't filled with heroic stories.
Instead...
It described mistakes.
Poor decisions.
Misjudged beasts.
Failed techniques.
Lessons learned through blood.
Hours passed unnoticed.
By the time Kael closed the journal...
The sun was beginning to set.
He realized something.
Books could teach knowledge.
But journals...
Taught experience.
As he returned the journal to its shelf...
One thin book caught his attention.
Unlike the others...
It had no title.
Only a faded symbol embossed on its cover.
A single sword...
Surrounded by rippling circles.
Kael frowned.
He slowly reached toward it.
...
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